ZTE Axon 40 Ultra overview: Skip the selfies

At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Strong specs
• Versatile triple rear digital camera
• Almost invisible under-display digital camera

Cons

• Rubbish selfies
• No wi-fi charging
• No IP score

Our Verdict

The Axon 40 Ultra is ZTE’s third try at an under-display digital camera. The firm has completely nailed making that digital camera invisible, nevertheless it’s a special story on the subject of really taking photographs.

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Price When Reviewed

$799 (8+128GB) | $899 (12+256GB)

Best Prices Today: ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

How usually do you utilize your selfie digital camera? If the reply lies someplace between ‘never’ and ‘not often’, then the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra may simply be the proper telephone for you. Otherwise, nicely… 

You see, the Axon 40 Ultra is ZTE’s newest flagship to cover its selfie digital camera underneath the display itself. This is ZTE’s third technology of the tech, and positively its greatest but – and miles past rivals together with Samsung. 

But simply because it’s the very best round doesn’t imply it’s ok, and whereas ZTE has managed to make its digital camera primarily invisible, it hasn’t solved the trickier physics downside of constructing positive the digital camera itself is definitely value a rattling. Like I stated although, in the event you don’t use it a lot anyway, then does that basically matter? 

Design and construct 

• Big however surprisingly slender 
• Curved display and rounded physique 
• No IP score 

The Axon 40 Ultra is a giant telephone, let’s get that proper out of the best way. Thanks to a 6.8in show this factor has some severe heft, although ZTE has accomplished its greatest to maintain it svelte, and it solely is available in a hair over 200g in weight. 

At 8.4mm it’s additionally pretty slim, and truly feels slimmer than that because of curved edges to each the show and the physique of the telephone itself. That signifies that regardless of its sheer dimension, the 40 Ultra is generally snug sufficient to carry. 

Only accessible in black for its world launch – although gold and silver fashions launched in China – the telephone is completed in frosted glass. It not solely seems to be the half, however the end ZTE has chosen can also be impressively fingerprint-resistant and grippy sufficient to cease the telephone sliding off surfaces. 

The glass will nonetheless depart it a bit of weak to drops and scratches, particularly since there’s no signal of Gorilla Glass or different protecting supplies. There’s additionally no IP score of any variety, so mud and water harm may very well be an issue too – primarily, this telephone might be a bit of weak so that you’ll most likely need to use a case. 

Between the black end, the dearth of visible prospers, and the restrained digital camera design, the ultimate impression is a telephone that’s understated – easy, even. It seems to be simple, skilled, and unassuming – although is unlikely to win any design awards. Well, from the again a minimum of. 

Display and audio 

• Almost invisible under-display digital camera 
• Excellent show high quality 
• Lots of unintended touches on the curved edges 

So yeah, there’s a selfie digital camera underneath this display, however I’d be impressed in the event you may discover it. In over every week of utilizing the Axon 40 Ultra I’ve solely noticed the digital camera by the show as soon as, and even then I had to make use of excessive brightness and a white background to simply make out the define. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

This tech has come on an unlimited means in simply two quick years, and from a show perspective it’s exhausting to see it getting significantly better. There’s no perceptible discount in image high quality, no distracting define or pixellation, and completely no notch. You simply have to have a look at the awkward implementation on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 a yr in the past to see how far forward of the curve ZTE is right here. 

The remainder of the show impresses too. I’ve already talked about that it’s huge at 6.8in, nevertheless it’s additionally a 120Hz AMOLED with excessive peak brightness of 1500 nits – all prime specs. 

This doesn’t use the dynamic LTPO refresh price scaling tech of some rival flagships, so received’t get the identical energy saving advantages as these. And it’s capped at a Full HD+ decision, which I not often see as a problem, however does appear value mentioning given that almost all of telephones this dimension provide WQHD+ screens. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

The show’s largest fault is the curvature. Before you begin, I like curved telephone screens. But this ‘waterfall’ curve is a bit of too excessive for my tastes, and extra importantly ZTE’s palm detection isn’t as much as the duty. That signifies that all too usually it can detect touches alongside the sting of the display whereas I’m merely holding the telephone, by chance activating controls or, worse, registering as a ‘back’ swipe. 

Audio is spectacular sufficient too. There’s no headphone jack, unsurprisingly, however you’ll find stereo audio system. They’re loud, punchy, and pretty crisp – not distinctive by any means, however actually not dangerous. 

Specs and efficiency 

• Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip 
• Up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage 
• 5G connectivity 

In a way there’s not loads to say about efficiency right here: it’s glorious, and comfortably on a par with different high-end handsets. 

The 40 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the most well-liked flagship telephone chip this yr. It’s little shock then that the telephone performs nicely in benchmarks, falling roughly in keeping with this yr’s different premium telephones. It sits forward of many within the graphics-focussed GFXBench checks, however not that the telephones we’ve picked to match in opposition to principally have extra demanding, increased decision screens. 

It’s the same story in real-world use, with no lag or stutter in my time utilizing the telephone. This will maintain as much as multi-tasking and productiveness simply in addition to it can gaming, and has sturdy sufficient specs that it ought to run easily for years to return. 

My overview unit is provided with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is the fundamental spec for the telephone’s world launch – with an choice to improve to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. In China the telephone may even be upgraded to 16GB RAM and a whopping 1TB storage, however sadly that mannequin isn’t launching worldwide. 

Beyond the core specs, the telephone nonetheless impresses. 5G connectivity is of course included, along with NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, and the newest Wi-Fi 6E commonplace.  

As for safety, there’s a succesful in-display fingerprint scanner, and even the choice for face unlock. And sure, that works by the display – it’s as fast as any I’ve used, although does wrestle with sun shades. 

Battery and charging 

• More than a day’s battery 
• Fairly quick 65W charging 
• No wi-fi charging 

I don’t have any actual complaints concerning the telephone’s energy, nevertheless it’s equally not the place it excels. 

The 5000mAh battery is huge on paper, however between the massive, vibrant display and the high-end chip it nonetheless drains quick. This is a telephone that may fortunately final a full day’s utilization – and a bit extra – however received’t actually make it to 2 except you’re an exceptionally gentle consumer. 

To be honest, that’s higher than the typical flagship – battery is the one spec that tends to worsen once you spend more cash – so whereas that longevity isn’t distinctive, it’s actually no failing both. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

It’s the same story for charging. 65W wired charging is pretty quick, sufficient to revive 81% of battery in half an hour. It’s nippier than any telephone offered by Apple, Google, or Samsung, however nicely behind rival gadgets from Oppo and Xiaomi. Again, good however not nice. 

Finally, there’s no wi-fi charging possibility in any respect. At this worth that’s a slight disappointment, as most rivals would pack it – particularly for a telephone pitching itself as an ‘Ultra’ possibility. 

Camera and video 

• Triple 64Mp rear digital camera 
• Good outcomes, however barely over-processed 
• Selfie pictures are typically advantageous, however usually smooth and poorly uncovered 

The selfie digital camera is never essentially the most thrilling a part of a telephone’s pictures setup, however right here we’re.  

Dominik Tomaszewski

I’ve already waxed lyrical about how nicely ZTE has hidden the front-facing digital camera behind the show, however that’s solely half of the technical problem the corporate faces. The different half is, sadly, much less of a tour de power. 

ZTE applies all types of algorithmic trickery to permit the selfie digital camera to take photographs by the display with out the show’s pixels being seen within the last shot. That software program leaves its mark although, and selfies fairly clearly look altered. Aggressive softening is the obvious affect, with pictures clearly missing intimately and facial options blurred. 

In good lighting the outcomes actually aren’t that dangerous. Even at their greatest pictures are normally fairly washed out, and most different selfie cameras will come out tops, however you’ll be able to most likely take an honest shot or maintain a video name with out grievance. 

The downside is the certain of ‘good lighting’ is exceedingly slender. If your setting is just a bit too vibrant, or a bit of too darkish, or the sunshine is only a smidge too direct, every thing goes unsuitable. Bright selfies look particularly softened, low gentle selfies are frankly unusable, and direct gentle sources are blown out and riddled with bloom, glare, and visible artifacts.  

In quick, this can be a selfie digital camera that can be good, however not usually – and is just by no means nice. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

The different cameras fortuitously impress extra. There are three rear cameras, and ZTE’s technical flourish is to make use of a 64Mp sensor for every, that means the ultrawide and three.5x telephoto lenses are each increased decision than rivals.  

The result’s that every one three of those lenses produce crisp pictures with oodles of element, and also you don’t usually really feel like it’s important to downgrade picture high quality once you swap lenses. Colours are vibrant and punchy, and keep simply on the suitable facet of over-saturated. These actually aren’t subdued, true-to-life tones, however they don’t seem aggressively edited at a look. 

Dynamic vary might be the rear cameras’ most evident weak point in daylight, with vibrant spots like home windows usually solely blown out. 

One welcome tweak to the standard format right here is that the principle lens makes use of a 35mm focal size, which primarily means it’s zoomed in a bit of additional than most. That units it at a snug midpoint between the opposite two lenses, and permits completely different framing to most telephone cameras. It’s higher suited to portrait pictures of individuals, and likewise helps product some pure bokeh and topic separation. 

There are larger issues at night time. Only the principle lens delivers in restricted lighting, even with night time mode on. Helped by optical stabilisation, this digital camera does alright at night time, capturing particulars and preserving colors surprisingly nicely, however the ultrawide and telephoto can’t salvage as a lot from darkish environments. More and extra, that is what separates the pack within the flagship pictures area, and the Axon 40 Ultra is firmly on the unsuitable facet of the hole. 

As for video, every of the rear cameras can shoot at as much as [email protected], or [email protected] The stabilised important and telephoto cameras have an edge right here, although the ultrawide is ok, if a bit of wobblier. One welcome contact is fast entry to an choice to report audio from both the entrance, rear, or each in encompass – useful choices for vloggers particularly. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

Selfie video is capped at [email protected], and primarily suffers from the identical flaws as for stills. It’s advantageous for a video name, however not a lot else. 

Software and updates  

• Runs Android 12 with MyOS 
• No agency Android replace promise 

As you’d count on, the Axon 40 Ultra ships with the newest Android 12 working system, operating ZTE’s merely named MyOS pores and skin on prime.  

As Android skins go, MyOS is unobjectionable, but additionally unexceptional. It doesn’t ship filled with bloatware or sluggish your telephone down with aggressive battery optimisations, however there are just a few smaller annoyances and little new that it brings to the desk. 

Dominik Tomaszewski

To my style it’s a reasonably ugly tackle Android, with a UI that feels just a few years behind rivals and particularly ugly implementations of fundamentals just like the climate app and clock. While there are some personalisation choices, there’s no signal in any respect of Android 12’s Material You, which redesigns your interface palette based mostly on the hues of your wallpaper. 

There are additionally easy, small irritations all through. The one which bothers me essentially the most is that the immediate that an app would require your fingerprint doesn’t pop up on the identical little bit of the display because the fingerprint sensor – regardless of utilizing the very same fingerprint icon because the precise sensor does. I nonetheless by no means know the place I’m speculated to press. 

Updates are additionally a problem. ZTE hasn’t promised any particular variety of Android model updates or years of safety patches for the telephone, and its monitor report right here isn’t nice. I wouldn’t purchase this telephone with any confidence of multiple or two Android updates, so its longevity could also be restricted – although getting a minimum of Android 13 is all however assured. 

Price and availability 

The Axon 40 Ultra is out now worldwide, although for essentially the most half you’ll solely be capable to purchase it straight from the ZTE web site. It is available in two variations: 

• 8GB+128GB: $799/€829/£709 
• 12GB+256GB: $899/€949/£809 

For what you’re getting, that’s arguably a fairly aggressive worth. In phrases of the dimensions, specs, and digital camera options that is arguably nearly a match for the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Xiaomi 12 Pro, or Oppo Find X5 Pro, however is available in cheaper than all of them. This can be a welcome selection for followers of these telephones whose budgets received’t stretch any additional, as long as they don’t thoughts the selfie digital camera compromises. 

For extra comparable choices, make certain to take a look at our rating of the very best Android telephones proper now. 

Verdict 

So, must you purchase the Axon 40 Ultra? 

Dominik Tomaszewski

If you’re not a selfie fan and you like the concept of an interrupted show with just a few further pixels of usable area, then positive. It’s not an ideal telephone, however you’ll be able to count on sturdy specs and a strong rear digital camera setup to again up that distinctive viewing expertise. 

In case I didn’t make it clear earlier although, anybody who expects to get a lot use of out of the entrance digital camera ought to actually look elsewhere. This tech is spectacular, and that is the very best it’s been but, however there’s nonetheless work to be accomplished. In observe, this isn’t the telephone for you in the event you ever select to make use of your selfie shooter.