Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G 5G vs. ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Moto G 5G | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2020-12-07 | 2022-05-13 | The Axon 40 Ultra is a newer device, likely having more up-to-date features and software. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 163.3 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | The Moto G 5G is larger and thicker, making it less pocketable and potentially less comfortable to hold for long periods. The Axon is more compact and sleeker. |
| Weight | 212g | 204g | The Axon 40 Ultra is slightly lighter, which can be noticeable during extended use, reducing hand fatigue. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in screen size. Both offer an immersive visual experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1116x2480 | The Axon 40 Ultra provides slightly sharper images due to its higher resolution, though the difference is minimal. |
| Pixel Density | 393 ppi | 400 ppi | Very similar pixel density, resulting in comparable sharpness. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The Axon 40 Ultra's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors and better power efficiency, especially for dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Axon 40 Ultra provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the user experience during gaming, browsing, and general interaction. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1500 nits | The Axon 40 Ultra is dramatically brighter and is much more usable in bright sunlight. The Moto G5G brightness is unknown, making the Axon superior. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Axon 40 Ultra's chipset offers considerably better performance, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 390,000 | 1,061,300 | The Axon 40 Ultra has a much higher benchmark score, indicating a vast difference in overall performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 730 | The Axon 40 Ultra's GPU delivers much stronger graphics processing capabilities, which benefits gaming and graphically intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 64MP | The Axon 40 Ultra has a higher resolution main camera allowing for more detailed photos. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.6 | The Axon 40 Ultra's wider aperture allows for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 16MP | Similar selfie camera resolution in both devices. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.0 | The Axon 40 Ultra's wider aperture in the selfie cam allows better low light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP | The Axon 40 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, allowing higher quality zoomed shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | None | The Moto G 5G includes a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing more of a scene. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | 0.3MP | The Axon 40 Ultra features a time-of-flight sensor to help with depth data for portrait mode effects. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | The Moto G 5G has a dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up details. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 64MP | The Axon 40 Ultra has a wide-angle + macro camera for versatile shooting |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | The Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly higher video recording capabilities, suitable for professional content creation. |
| Camera Features | Triple Camera | Quadruple Camera | The Axon 40 Ultra has more advanced camera features. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 20W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The Axon 40 Ultra charges significantly faster, allowing users to get back to using their device quickly. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Both have non-removable batteries, with Axon using newer Li-Polymer tech. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12 (upgradable to 13) | The Axon 40 Ultra uses a newer OS out of the box and has guaranteed upgrades, offering more up-to-date features, performance and security |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Up to Wi-Fi 5 | Up to Wi-Fi 6 | The Axon 40 Ultra has faster and more efficient WiFi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | The Axon 40 Ultra offers a newer version of Bluetooth, resulting in better connection stability and efficiency, but both should be comparable for most uses. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1) | The Axon 40 Ultra supports more GPS systems, leading to faster and more accurate location locking and navigation. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both devices feature dual SIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1024 GB | The Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly more storage, useful for users who store a lot of media or apps. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, or 18 GB | The Axon 40 Ultra has substantially more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster performance when running multiple apps. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The Axon 40 Ultra offers a superior audio experience with stereo speakers and advanced surround sound tech, while also having more microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both phones have fingerprint sensors for biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown screen protection for both phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, Hall | Both devices include the necessary sensors for standard usage, but the Axon offers Gravity and Hall sensors as well. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:
- Wider Angle Lens: Has a dedicated wide-angle lens, which the Axon 40 Ultra lacks for capturing more of a scene.
- Macro Lens: Has a dedicated macro lens for detailed close up shots.
- Compass Sensor: Includes a compass sensor.
- Affordability: The Moto G 5G is likely more affordable than the Axon 40 Ultra, offering a budget-friendly option.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate and significantly higher brightness, providing a much better viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Much Higher Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset provides significantly faster processing speeds and better overall performance, leading to smoother gaming and multitasking.
- Significantly Faster Charging: 65W fast charging allows for quicker charging times, a substantial benefit for frequent users.
- Higher Resolution & More Versatile Cameras: Offers a higher resolution main camera, a telephoto lens, and an under-display selfie cam, with improved video capabilities. Also includes wide-angle and macro functionality combined.
- More Storage and RAM: Offers much larger storage options and RAM for improved multitasking and handling larger files.
- More Advanced Audio: Stereo speakers and DTS/DTS X audio, along with an extra microphone, offer a much better audio experience.
- Newer OS and Upgradeability: Ships with a more modern operating system out of the box and is guaranteed upgrades to Android 13, providing better security and new features.
Trade-offs:
- Moto G 5G: Cheaper but lacks the premium features, performance, and display quality of the Axon 40 Ultra. It is also older, so support might end sooner.
- ZTE Axon 40 Ultra: More expensive but provides a much more superior user experience in almost every aspect, except a dedicated macro and wide-angle lens
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G 5G:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who need a reliable smartphone for basic tasks such as communication, social media, and light browsing. Suitable for those who occasionally use their cameras and don't require top-tier performance.
- Use Cases: Daily communication, social media, light web browsing, basic photography, media consumption, general everyday use
- Value: Good for a user on a budget, however, will have to suffer some drawbacks on performance and screen quality.
- Limitations: Not suitable for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing due to weaker processing power.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra:
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, content creators, or anyone who wants a premium smartphone experience. Suitable for individuals who value top-tier performance, high-quality displays, fast charging, and a versatile camera system.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, video editing, professional photography, graphic design, media creation and consumption, multitasking, general heavy daily use.
- Value: The Axon 40 Ultra provides value in terms of features, performance, and user experience, despite its higher price tag.
- Limitations: Likely a more expensive purchase than the Moto G 5G.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a new phone?
- Performance: Do you need a phone for basic daily tasks or demanding applications like gaming and video editing?
- Display Quality: Do you value a high-quality display with excellent brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, or is a basic display sufficient?
- Camera Versatility: Do you need multiple camera lenses, or is a single main camera adequate?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget User: If your budget is tight and you only need a phone for basic tasks, the Motorola Moto G 5G could be a reasonable choice.
- Performance User: If you value performance, a high-quality display, fast charging and a versatile camera system, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is the better option.
- Photography Enthusiast: If you value a versatile and higher-quality camera system, especially with telephoto, 8k recording and a wide range of features, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is the way to go.
My Choice
I would choose the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra. Although it is the more expensive device, the performance difference, the superior display, and the faster charging make it the clear choice for me. I prioritize performance and a high-quality display for daily use, multitasking, and media consumption. The camera versatility, especially with the inclusion of a telephoto lens and higher video recording capabilities, are also significant factors. The Moto G 5G, while functional, feels like a compromise on user experience, and I would prefer to invest more for the dramatically improved performance and display offered by the Axon 40 Ultra.
