Motorola Moto G 5G vs ZTE Axon 40 Ultra - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date December 7, 2020 May 13, 2022
Release Year 2020 2022

Physical

Volume 125.14 cm³ 100.96 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.16 "/g 3.33 "/g
Weight 212 g 204 g
Height 166.1 mm 163.3 mm
Width 76.1 mm 73.6 mm
Thickness 9.9 mm 8.4 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Frosted Silver
  • Volcanic Gray
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Black

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.8 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1116 x 2480
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 85.7 % 92.9 %
Pixel Density 393 PPI 400 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A 1500 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 111.38 mAh/in² 108.13 mAh/in²
Battery Density 39.96 mAh/cm³ 49.53 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU Adreno 619 Adreno 730

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 3.1
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 3.1, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 12
Maximum OS Version 13

Comparison Summary

Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G 5G vs. ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureMotorola Moto G 5GZTE Axon 40 UltraPractical Impact
Design
Launch Date2020-12-072022-05-13The Axon 40 Ultra is a newer device, likely having more up-to-date features and software.
Dimensions166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm163.3 × 73.6 × 8.4 mmThe 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.
Weight212g204gThe Axon 40 Ultra is slightly lighter, which can be noticeable during extended use, reducing hand fatigue.
Display
Size6.7"6.8"Negligible difference in screen size. Both offer an immersive visual experience.
Resolution1080x24001116x2480The Axon 40 Ultra provides slightly sharper images due to its higher resolution, though the difference is minimal.
Pixel Density393 ppi400 ppiVery similar pixel density, resulting in comparable sharpness.
TechnologyIPS LCDAMOLEDThe Axon 40 Ultra's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors and better power efficiency, especially for dark mode.
Refresh Rate60Hz120HzThe Axon 40 Ultra provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the user experience during gaming, browsing, and general interaction.
Brightness0 nits1500 nitsThe 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
ChipsetQualcomm 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 Score390,0001,061,300The Axon 40 Ultra has a much higher benchmark score, indicating a vast difference in overall performance.
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 730The Axon 40 Ultra's GPU delivers much stronger graphics processing capabilities, which benefits gaming and graphically intensive applications.
Camera
Main Camera Resolution48MP64MPThe Axon 40 Ultra has a higher resolution main camera allowing for more detailed photos.
Main Camera Aperturef/1.7f/1.6The Axon 40 Ultra's wider aperture allows for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field.
Selfie Camera Resolution16MP16MPSimilar selfie camera resolution in both devices.
Selfie Camera Aperturef/2.2f/2.0The Axon 40 Ultra's wider aperture in the selfie cam allows better low light performance and shallower depth of field.
Telephoto LensNone64MPThe Axon 40 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, allowing higher quality zoomed shots.
Wide Angle Lens8MPNoneThe Moto G 5G includes a dedicated wide-angle lens for capturing more of a scene.
ToF 3D SensorNone0.3MPThe Axon 40 Ultra features a time-of-flight sensor to help with depth data for portrait mode effects.
Macro Lens2MPNoneThe Moto G 5G has a dedicated macro lens for capturing close-up details.
Wide Angle + MacroNone64MPThe Axon 40 Ultra has a wide-angle + macro camera for versatile shooting
Video RecordingUp to 4K@30fpsUp to 8K@30fps, 4K@120fpsThe Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly higher video recording capabilities, suitable for professional content creation.
Camera FeaturesTriple CameraQuadruple CameraThe Axon 40 Ultra has more advanced camera features.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth phones have similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life.
Charging20W Fast Charging65W Fast ChargingThe Axon 40 Ultra charges significantly faster, allowing users to get back to using their device quickly.
Battery TypeLi-IonLi-PolymerBoth have non-removable batteries, with Axon using newer Li-Polymer tech.
Software
OSAndroid 10Android 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
WiFiUp to Wi-Fi 5Up to Wi-Fi 6The Axon 40 Ultra has faster and more efficient WiFi connectivity.
Bluetooth5.15.2The Axon 40 Ultra offers a newer version of Bluetooth, resulting in better connection stability and efficiency, but both should be comparable for most uses.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GalileoGPS, 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.
SIMDual SIM Dual StandbyDual SIM Dual StandbyBoth devices feature dual SIM support.
Storage
Internal64 GB or 128 GB128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1024 GBThe Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly more storage, useful for users who store a lot of media or apps.
RAM4 GB or 6 GB8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, or 18 GBThe Axon 40 Ultra has substantially more RAM, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster performance when running multiple apps.
ExpandableNoNoNeither device supports expandable storage.
Audio
Audio Quality2 microphonesDTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphonesThe Axon 40 Ultra offers a superior audio experience with stereo speakers and advanced surround sound tech, while also having more microphones.
Security
Security FeaturesRear-mounted fingerprint sensorBasic fingerprint sensorBoth phones have fingerprint sensors for biometric security.
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionUnknownUnknownUnknown screen protection for both phones.
Sensors
SensorsFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, GyroscopeFingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, HallBoth 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:

  1. Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a new phone?
  2. Performance: Do you need a phone for basic daily tasks or demanding applications like gaming and video editing?
  3. Display Quality: Do you value a high-quality display with excellent brightness, contrast, and color accuracy, or is a basic display sufficient?
  4. 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.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.