ZTE Showdown: nubia Z40S Pro vs. Axon 40 Ultra – Which Phone Wins?

ZTE has been making waves with its ambitious smartphone designs. The nubia Z40S Pro and the Axon 40 Ultra are two of their flagship contenders, each boasting impressive features. But which one offers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The nubia Z40S Pro edges out the Axon 40 Ultra thanks to its superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and faster charging. While the Axon 40 Ultra boasts incredible battery life and a unique camera setup, the Z40S Pro's performance advantage makes it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Z40S Pro	ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Europe
4G bands	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International

Launch
Announced	2022, July 20	2022, May 09
Status	Available. Released 2022, July 26	Available. Released 2022, May 13

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	161.3 x 74 x 8.1 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)	163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	205 g (7.23 oz)	204 g (7.20 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~92.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 730
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single	-	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Triple	64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), AF	64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 91mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 64 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.7", PDAF
Video	8K, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video	Yes	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	80W wired (regular version) 120W wired; 15W magnetic wireless (120W version)	65W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5000 mAh (regular version)· Li-Po 4600 mAh (120W version)	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Interstellar Black, Star Black, Silver	Black, Gold, Silver
Models	NX702J	A2023P, A2023PG
Price	About 490 EUR	About 380 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 104h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	-	-25.8 LUFS (Very good)

ZTE nubia Z40S Pro

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
Faster Charging (80W/120W)
Likely better display color accuracy
Potentially better camera system

Under-display camera may not be as good as traditional
Battery life not as exceptional as Axon 40 Ultra
Design may be less unique

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

Exceptional Battery Life (104h endurance)
Unique Under-Display Camera
Good Display Brightness
PD3.0, QC4 charging compatibility

Slightly older chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Slower charging speed (65W)
Image processing may not be as refined
Design may be less appealing to some

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays, but the nubia Z40S Pro likely has a slightly more vibrant and color-accurate screen. The Axon 40 Ultra's 680 nits brightness is respectable, but the Z40S Pro's display likely offers better outdoor visibility. Refresh rates are likely similar, both offering smooth 120Hz scrolling.

Camera Comparison

The Axon 40 Ultra is known for its unique under-display camera, offering a truly full-screen experience. However, the nubia Z40S Pro likely has a more conventional and potentially higher-quality camera system, especially in terms of image processing and low-light performance. Both phones offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

The nubia Z40S Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a significant upgrade over the Axon 40 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The Z40S Pro will handle demanding tasks with greater ease.

Battery Life

The Axon 40 Ultra shines in this category, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours. The nubia Z40S Pro, while still offering good battery life, won't match the Axon 40 Ultra's longevity. The Z40S Pro's faster charging (80W/120W) helps offset this difference.

Buying Guide

The nubia Z40S Pro is ideal for gamers and power users who prioritize performance and fast charging. The Axon 40 Ultra is a great pick for those who value exceptional battery life and a distinctive camera experience, particularly if photography is a key focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has the better processor?

The nubia Z40S Pro has the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is a more powerful processor than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Axon 40 Ultra.

❓ Is the under-display camera on the Axon 40 Ultra any good?

The under-display camera is a unique feature, but image quality may not be as good as a traditional front-facing camera. It prioritizes a full-screen experience over ultimate selfie quality.