Zte Axon 40 Ultra Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

Welcome to my review of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra, a flagship smartphone released in May 2022. This device has been generating a lot of buzz in the tech world due to its impressive specs and unique design.

Design and Build Quality

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra boasts a sleek and modern design that is sure to turn heads. The phone features a glass front and back, with an aluminum frame that gives it a premium feel. Its dimensions of 163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.33 in) and weight of 204 g (7.20 oz) make it comfortable to hold and operate with one hand.

The phone's ergonomics and comfort are top-notch, with the placement of buttons and ports being intuitive and easy to reach. The device also has a durable construction that can withstand daily wear and tear.

One of the standout features of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is the under-display camera, which is invisible to the naked eye when not in use. This innovation provides a seamless viewing experience and adds to the phone's aesthetic appeal.

Overall, the design and build quality of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra are impressive and exude a sense of luxury. It is a phone that is sure to catch the eye of those who value both style and substance.

Display

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra boasts a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1116 x 2480 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 400 pixels per inch. The screen is incredibly vibrant and boasts 1 billion colors, making it a pleasure to look at for extended periods. The display also supports a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, which results in smooth scrolling and a more dynamic image with deeper blacks and brighter whites.

The Axon 40 Ultra's screen is also incredibly bright, with a peak brightness of 1500 nits, making outdoor visibility a non-issue. Additionally, the display features an under-display selfie camera, which is a novel and unique feature that allows for an uninterrupted viewing experience.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the display are also top-notch, making scrolling and swiping through apps and menus a breeze. Overall, the display on the Axon 40 Ultra is a standout feature, and it's hard not to be impressed by its size, clarity, and vibrancy.

Performance

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset which is based on a 4nm manufacturing process. The octa-core CPU is composed of a powerful 3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 core, three high-performance Cortex-A710 cores clocked at 2.5 GHz, and four efficient Cortex-A510 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz. This powerful configuration allows for smooth multitasking and snappy app performance.

The phone offers multiple storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB, and a RAM capacity of 8GB or 12GB depending on the storage option chosen. This is ample storage for most users, and the phone's UFS 3.1 storage technology ensures lightning-fast read and write speeds.

Gaming on the Axon 40 Ultra is a breeze, thanks to the Adreno 730 GPU which delivers excellent graphics performance. The phone's large 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth and immersive gaming experience.

In terms of benchmark scores, the Axon 40 Ultra performs exceptionally well. It scored 1086 in single-core and 3823 in multi-core on Geekbench 5, which is among the highest scores we've seen on a smartphone. In real-world usage, the phone handles everything from basic tasks to heavy multitasking with ease.

Overall, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra delivers top-notch performance and is a great choice for power users who demand the best performance from their smartphones.

Software and User Interface

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra runs on Android 12 with the company's own MyOS 12 on top. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making the phone easy to navigate. The operating system provides several customization options, including the ability to change themes and toggle features on and off. While the phone comes with some pre-installed apps, they are minimal and do not feel intrusive.

Overall, the software and user interface provide a smooth and seamless experience. The phone is responsive and app performance is quick and snappy. ZTE has done an excellent job of optimizing the software for the hardware, resulting in a phone that feels fast and efficient.

One downside of the software is that it does not offer a lot of unique features or innovations. While it is still a solid offering, it may not be as exciting or feature-packed as some other phones on the market.

In terms of updates and software support, ZTE promises to provide regular updates and security patches. This is good news for buyers who want to keep their phone up-to-date and secure.

Overall, the software and user interface on the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra are impressive. They provide a fast and responsive experience that is easy to navigate. While the phone may not offer as many unique features as some of its competitors, it is still a solid choice for buyers who want a reliable and efficient phone.

Camera

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra boasts an impressive camera setup that takes smartphone photography to the next level. This device features a triple rear camera configuration that includes a 64-megapixel standard lens, a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 64-megapixel ultrawide lens with a 112-degree field of view. This makes it one of the most powerful camera setups on the market.

The Axon 40 Ultra's camera produces images with excellent detail and color accuracy, especially in well-lit environments. The telephoto lens allows for sharp and detailed shots even when objects are far away. Additionally, the camera's optical image stabilization (OIS) feature ensures that images are crisp and clear even when there is movement.

The device's camera also excels in low light environments thanks to its large aperture and advanced image processing algorithms. Even in near-darkness, the camera produces images with little-to-no noise, and with great contrast and detail.

The Axon 40 Ultra's camera also offers impressive video capabilities, with the ability to shoot 8K video at 30 frames per second. The camera's gyroscopic electronic image stabilization (gyro-EIS) ensures smooth and stable footage even when in motion.

Overall, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra's camera is one of its strongest features, offering excellent image quality, versatile shooting modes, and a variety of features that make it a standout device in its class.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

When it comes to connectivity and networking, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a powerhouse. It offers compatibility with a variety of cellular networks, including GSM, CDMA, HSPA, CDMA2000, LTE, and 5G. This means that you can stay connected no matter where you are in the world.

In terms of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, the Axon 40 Ultra impresses with its support for Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e and Bluetooth 5.2. This makes for fast and reliable wireless connectivity, whether you're streaming music or video, or simply browsing the web.

NFC is also supported, which means you can use your Axon 40 Ultra for wireless payments and other NFC-enabled functions. GPS accuracy and navigation are top-notch, thanks to the inclusion of L1+L5 GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and GALILEO.

The Axon 40 Ultra also features an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, which provides quick and secure access to your device without the need for a physical fingerprint sensor. Other sensors on the device include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.

Overall, the Axon 40 Ultra is a well-connected device that offers a wide range of connectivity and networking options. Whether you're looking to stay connected to the internet, make wireless payments, or simply navigate your way around town, the Axon 40 Ultra has got you covered.

Additional Features

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra has a range of additional features that help it stand out from other smartphones on the market. Firstly, it boasts a water and dust resistance rating of IP68, meaning it can withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This is a great feature for those who enjoy outdoor activities or who are prone to spilling liquids on their phone.

In terms of audio quality, the Axon 40 Ultra does not disappoint. It comes equipped with stereo speakers that deliver high-quality sound, and it supports 24-bit/192kHz audio for a truly immersive listening experience. However, it's worth noting that the phone does not have a headphone jack, so users will need to rely on Bluetooth headphones or a USB-C adapter for wired audio.

The phone also features an under-display fingerprint scanner, which is both fast and accurate. This is a great security feature that ensures only the owner of the phone can access it, and it's also a more convenient option than a physical fingerprint scanner on the back or side of the device.

Lastly, the Axon 40 Ultra has a range of innovative camera features that make it a great choice for photography enthusiasts. These include 10-bit video recording, which allows for a wider range of colors and greater detail in video footage, as well as 3.5x optical zoom for capturing distant subjects with clarity. Overall, the additional features of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra make it a well-rounded and versatile smartphone that is sure to please a wide range of users.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When looking at the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra, there are a few other phones that come to mind as potential competitors. One such phone is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Both of these phones offer impressive camera setups, with the Axon 40 Ultra boasting a triple 64 MP rear camera setup and the Galaxy S21 Ultra featuring a quad-camera setup with up to 108 MP. In terms of display, both phones offer large, high-quality AMOLED screens with high refresh rates. However, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has a higher resolution and a slightly larger screen size. Additionally, the Samsung phone offers a more well-known brand name and a wider range of accessories and support.

Another comparable phone is the OnePlus 9 Pro. Like the Axon 40 Ultra, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a high-end Snapdragon processor and up to 12 GB of RAM. It also has a similar camera setup, with a triple 48 MP rear camera and a 16 MP front-facing camera. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly smaller screen size and a lower refresh rate than the Axon 40 Ultra, as well as a slightly lower battery capacity. On the other hand, the OnePlus 9 Pro is known for its fast charging capabilities, with the ability to charge up to 50% in just 20 minutes.

Overall, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra offers a unique set of features and specifications that make it stand out in the crowded smartphone market. While it may not have the same brand recognition as some of its competitors, it offers a high-quality display, impressive camera setup, and powerful performance capabilities.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a powerful and impressive device that combines cutting-edge technology with sleek design features. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, 120Hz AMOLED display, and triple-camera system, the Axon 40 Ultra is capable of handling any task with ease. Its long-lasting battery life and fast charging capabilities make it a reliable choice for those on-the-go. Furthermore, the device's under-display selfie camera is a unique feature that sets it apart from its competitors.

While the Axon 40 Ultra has many strengths, there are a few potential weaknesses to consider. The lack of expandable storage and absence of a headphone jack may be a downside for some users. Additionally, the device's high price point may be a barrier to entry for those on a tight budget.

Overall, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a great choice for those seeking a high-performance smartphone with impressive features and capabilities. Its sleek design and advanced technology make it a top contender in the market. However, potential buyers should weigh the device's strengths and weaknesses against their personal needs and preferences before making a final decision.