The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the ZTE Blade V40 Pro and Honor X8a are two contenders vying for your attention. Both offer attractive features at accessible price points, but which one truly delivers the best value? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The ZTE Blade V40 Pro takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster 65W charging and a slightly more powerful chipset. While the Honor X8a boasts a sleek design and potentially better camera software, the V40 Pro's charging speed and performance edge make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 01 | 2023, February 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 08 | Available. Released 2023, February 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.9 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 162.9 x 74.5 x 7.5 mm (6.41 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 179 g (6.31 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T618 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali G52 MP2 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Triple | - | 100 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30ps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (CRT-LX1 only) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 15 min | 22.5W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Green, Iridescent White | Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, Midnight Black |
| Models | - | CRT-LX1, CRT-LX2, CRT-LX3 |
| Price | About 350 EUR | About 170 EUR |
ZTE Blade V40 Pro
- 65W Fast Charging
- Slightly Better Performance
- Competitive Price
- Decent Display
- Unisoc Chipset (less known)
- Camera Software might be basic
- Design less premium than Honor X8a
Honor X8a
- Sleek Design
- Potentially Better Camera Software
- Polished Software Experience
- Good Value
- Slower 22.5W Charging
- Slightly Weaker Performance
- Less Powerful Chipset
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.6-inch display, likely with a resolution around 1080 x 2400 pixels. While specific panel types aren't always detailed, expect LCD panels on both. The Honor X8a might have slightly better color accuracy due to Honor's software optimizations, but overall, display performance will be comparable. Brightness and viewing angles are likely similar.
Camera Comparison
The Honor X8a is expected to have a more refined camera software experience, potentially offering better image processing and more features. Both phones likely feature a main camera around 64MP, with ultrawide and macro lenses. Low-light performance might be slightly better on the Honor X8a due to software enhancements. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, with 1080p recording at 30fps.
Performance
The ZTE Blade V40 Pro's Unisoc Tiger T618 chipset, while not a flagship, generally outperforms the Honor X8a's Helio G88. The Cortex-A75 cores are clocked slightly higher, and the overall architecture provides a noticeable boost in responsiveness and app loading times. Gaming performance will be adequate on both, but the V40 Pro will handle more demanding titles better.
Battery Life
The ZTE Blade V40 Pro's 65W charging is a game-changer. It can charge the battery (likely around 4500-5000mAh) to 50% in just 15 minutes. The Honor X8a's 22.5W charging is significantly slower, taking around 30 minutes to reach 50%. Battery life itself will likely be similar, lasting a full day with moderate usage on both devices.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade V40 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and decent performance for everyday tasks and light gaming. The Honor X8a is a good fit for those who value aesthetics, a potentially more refined camera experience, and a slightly more polished software feel, even if it means sacrificing charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both phones offer similar battery life for typical usage. However, the ZTE Blade V40 Pro's significantly faster charging makes it more convenient.
❓ Is the Unisoc chipset in the ZTE Blade V40 Pro any good?
The Unisoc Tiger T618 is a capable chipset for everyday tasks and light gaming. It's not as powerful as some other options, but it provides a smooth experience for most users.
