The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra has impressive specifications and a beautiful design, as well as an under-display selfie camera, and is competing to be one of the finest smartphones available in 2022. ZTE may not be a household name, however, the company has already produced several fantastic smartphones, like the Axon 30 Ultra. The Axon 40 Ultra has a unique design, with a concealed selfie camera hiding beneath the display. The specifications appear to be excellent as well, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU and a triple 64-megapixel camera array.
Yes, you’ll have to put up with the Android-based os MyOS, and the smartphone market hasn’t yet worked out how to produce an under-display selfie camera that works effectively, but ZTE is closer than most. There are certainly many things to point out about a reasonably priced Ultra phone with these types of features.
But will the 40 Ultra land safely? Is this a solid Android flagship with what it takes to compete with the best? Let’s have a look.
What will you see here?
Specs at a glance:
- Advanced UDC Technology- UDC display chip embedded within
- 6.8-inch AMOLED display
- available in two variations: 8GB+128GB configuration
- glass cover rear design with curved waterfall edges
- 64MP Triple Primary Camera System
- two Sony IMX 787 sensors
- 35mm lens
- Multi-camera filming function that allows you to open three screens and get different focal lengths of video shooting with one click.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Processor
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 360Hz touch sampling rate
- 5000mAh battery
- 65W Quick ChargeBattery capacity
- multi-layered heat dissipation system
- HDR10+ compatibility
- 1500-nit peak brightness
- 8K video and 120 FPS at 4K,
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Price & Availability
The Axon 40 Ultra is now available internationally, however, for the most part, it can only be purchased straight from the ZTE website. It is available in two variations: 8GB+128GB configuration cost $799/£709 whereas, 12GB+256GB cost $899/£809.
That’s a relatively reasonable price for what you’re receiving. In terms of size, specifications, and camera features, this is practically a match for the Xiaomi 12 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, or Oppo Find X5 Pro. However, it is less expensive. If you don’t mind the selfie camera limitations, this would be a nice option for lovers of those phones whose finances won’t go much further.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Design
This is a huge slab at 6.4 x 2.9 inches, just like the ZTE Axon 30 5G, but its curvature feels more narrow in the palm than it has any right to be thanks to its compact 0.3-inch frame & 7.2-ounce weight. In terms of dimensions, this is nearly equal to the OnePlus 10 Pro. However, it’s somewhat smaller & lighter than the Pixel 6 Pro. This curved glass and aluminum sandwich with a frosted back appears and feels smooth and luxurious. The camera hump is noticeable, but it’s a dead giveaway that there’s a lot of technology within.
This isn’t a deal-breaker. However, the speakers aren’t up to par for such a high-end phone—current Samsung flagships sound better. The sound quality is a little inconsistent, especially while watching in landscape mode, which is likely owing to the device’s asymmetrical positioning on the top and bottom. Still, I’ve heard far worse. The speakers do become loud, so if you want a group listening experience without sacrificing quality, the Axon 40 Ultra will suffice.
Furthermore, the device lacks an IP classification. So we don’t know how well the Axon 40 Ultra would fare if subjected to dust or water, and there aren’t many optional accessories like a 3.5mm headphone socket or an SD card slot if you wanted to use wired headphones or extend the onboard storage.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Display
Because the selfie camera is concealed behind the display, you get an unbroken 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1116 x 2480, a refresh rate of 120Hz, HDR10+ compatibility, and a stated 1,500-nit peak brightness. The ultimate effect is a stunningly colorful, bright display that can be seen in any lighting condition. What about the chunk of display over the front-facing shooter? As with the Axon 30 5G, the pixel matrix was insufficient to hide the lens. The camera on the 40 Ultra, on the other hand, is totally hidden.
This technology has advanced dramatically in just two years, and it’s difficult to envision it improving much further in terms of display. There is no discernible loss in image clarity, no obtrusive outline or pixelation, and no notch. Just look at the clumsy implementation on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 from a year ago to see how much ZTE is ahead of the curve here.
The curvature of the display is its most serious flaw. However, this ‘waterfall’ gradient is a touch too steep for any user to like, and more significantly, ZTE’s palm recognition is inadequate. That means it will frequently detect touches along the screen’s edge when you’re holding the phone, activating controls, or, worse, registering as a ‘back’ swipe.
Overall, the display provides a pleasant visual experience for gaming, binge-watching, and getting things done.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Performance
Although this phone cost much below £1000, it retains the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU seen in many high-end Android devices, such as the OnePlus 10 Pro, Oppo Find X5 Pro, and Xiaomi 12 Pro, to mention a few. This implies it provides a lot of power for the money. However, does it get as much out of the silicon as the best of the best?
In a nutshell, the answer is yes. Its results in benchmark testing demonstrate that it can compete with many flagship smartphones. Browse through the table below to discover how it compares to the greatest Android handsets available. Geekbench scores refer to CPU capability, which governs the majority of the phone’s performance activities, whereas 3DMark assesses GPU capabilities, which are vital for gaming. However, keep in mind that benchmarks may not always reveal the complete story.
Simply put, there are no complaints regarding the performance of this phone but be notified: if you put it through its paces, the back rapidly becomes extremely hot. It’s not so bad that it’s painful to handle, but it’s visible.
In terms of security, there’s an in-display fingerprint scanner and even face unlock. And, yes, it works through the screen – it’s as fast as any I’ve used, although it struggles with sunglasses.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Camera
ZTE spent a lot of money on cameras, as it would with the Axon 30 Ultra: three 64MP rear-facing cameras. It’s a large array, but if you like to zoom, it may be a nice fit. After the first shot, the detail in the main 35mm images was visible. This is also an excellent focal length for use when traveling. Without any processing, the colors were vibrant, the image was clear, and they just looked fantastic. Even photos with the ultrawide don’t lose their beauty, and the 0.4x zoom gets in plenty of shots.
However, the 64MP cameras outperformed expectations. Which is surprising given the AI capability behind the set on the Pixel 6 Pro, for instance. While the telephoto lens produces excellent images in bright light, it’s generally underwhelming with the painting nature of anything beyond the optical zoom. Even at 10x, the image begins to blur, and each step up to the maximum of 40x worsens the situation and cannot match with Google’s or Samsung’s digital zoom. To summarize, unlike the Samsung S22 Ultra, this camera array is not designed for zoom, although it is like more of a novelty than a need.
Video Recording
One can also shoot up to 8K video and 120 FPS at 4K, which works OK in practice, but the auto-focus is just too damn sluggish for any serious filmmaking purposes, such as vlogging – stick to recording family videos.
Selfie Sensor
Given the unique placement of the 16-megapixel selfie camera beneath the screen, you may be wondering how well it functions as a camera as well. Unfortunately, here is when it becomes very bogged down. Selfies are of poor quality, with photos that are hazy and unclear. Choose another one if you enjoy snapping selfies or making video calls with your phone.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Software
The MyOS 12 UI layer atop Android 12 maintains the sleek combination of tiles and widgets seen in version 11, as well as a slew of personalization and quality-of-life options like Z-Pop. A customizable alternative of Apple’s AssistiveTouch that makes one-handed navigating a breeze on this beast.
However, there is still a concern about software support, since ZTE has not said how long they expect to give software upgrades for the 40 Ultra. Based on previous experience, the Axon 30 5G just received Android 12, but further upgrades are unknown. Compare this to three years of major OS upgrades and four and five years of security updates for the OnePlus 10 Pro & Pixel 6 Pro, respectively.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra – Battery Life
The Axon 40 Ultra comes with a 5000mAh battery, which is exactly what I’d expect from a device with such demanding screen specifications. Still, this is one specification that has to be tested in the field to see if it stands up because statistics alone don’t often tell the whole picture.
Even if you don’t have one of these super-fast adapters, the Axon 40 Ultra charges flawlessly. Even with a measly 18W Google charger, the gadget charged from 0% to 100% in 70 mins while powered on. To summarize, we’re getting near to a future where smartphone charging isn’t such a pain as it has been for years, and the Axon 40 Ultra is a huge step in the right direction.
Is ZTE good brand?
ZTE is now one of the most outstanding phone brands on the market. As previously said, their products are well-received in the IT sector due to the flawless specifications that they provide. However, ZTE smartphones are not as widely available as other phone companies.
Conclusion
If you don’t like selfies and like the concept of an interrupting display with a few additional pixels of useful space, then go ahead. It’s not a flawless phone. However, you can count on powerful specifications and a great rear camera arrangement to back up that distinct viewing experience.
Yes, there are better, more costly smartphones available. However, the ZTE has brought an “Ultra” smartphone experience to a more affordable price range. Moreover, it cost like the Pixel 6 Pro, and that phone comes with five years of assured update support, something ZTE cannot match. And, while the Pixel’s screen isn’t as quick or as brilliant, it’s still quite impressive. If you don’t like Pixels or don’t want to pay $300 more on Samsung’s top-of-the-line handsets. Then the Axon 40 Ultra might still be a solid option.
