1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | 163.3 × 73.6 × 8.4 mm | Virtually identical size, negligible difference in handling. |
| Weight | 208g | 204g | Both feel similarly weighted in hand. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1116x2480 | Xiaomi has significantly sharper display with more detail; noticeable difference when viewing text and high-resolution content. |
| PPI | 515 | 400 | Xiaomi's display appears noticeably crisper and less pixelated than ZTE's. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both have vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good viewing angles. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1700 nits | 1500 nits | Xiaomi is slightly better for outdoor viewing under bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | ZTE has a newer and slightly more powerful chipset leading to faster performance in demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 854,267 | 1,061,300 | ZTE scores higher in benchmarks and will perform better with heavy tasks, smoother for games and heavy apps. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | ZTE has a more capable GPU for graphics intensive applications and gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 50MP | 64MP | ZTE captures slightly more detail, but final image quality depends on many factors. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.95 | f/1.6 | ZTE's wider aperture is better for low-light photography. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.12" | 1/1.72" | Xiaomi has larger sensor for better low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | Xiaomi captures slightly more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.3 | f/2.0 | ZTE's wider aperture is better for low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 64MP (f/3.5) | ZTE offers optical zoom capabilities; Xiaomi lacks dedicated telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP (f/2.2) | No | Xiaomi offers an ultrawide lens for expanded perspective. |
| Macro Lens | No | 64MP (f/2.3) (shared) | ZTE's Ultrawide doubles as a macro, providing more versatility |
| ToF 3D Sensor | No | 0.3MP | ZTE has additional depth data sensor for portrait mode. |
| Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | ZTE offers higher frame rates for 4k; both are capable of capturing professional-grade video |
| DxOMark Score | 124 | N/A | Xiaomi's camera has been benchmarked as having good photo and video quality. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both should offer similar battery life on a single charge. |
| Charging | 67W fast charging | 65W fast charging | Xiaomi charges slightly faster wired, with wireless charging as a huge plus. |
| Wireless Charging | 67W | No | Xiaomi offers wireless charging for convenience. |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 10W | No | Xiaomi can wirelessly charge other devices; added functionality and convenience. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12, upgradeable to 13 | ZTE offers a newer OS out of the box and will likely receive an additional update. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6 | Similar WiFi performance for both phones. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 (A2DP, LE, aptX, LDAC, AAC) | 5.2 (A2DP, LE) | Xiaomi has wider codec support for higher fidelity wireless audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1) | Xiaomi offers wider GPS support leading to slightly better location accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 128/256/512/1024 GB | ZTE offers more storage options, and higher capacities. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 8/12/16/18 GB | ZTE offers higher RAM options, better suited for heavy multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Both have good audio, Xiaomi offers Hi-Res while ZTE has DTS support. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer a similar fingerprint sensor for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Xiaomi has superior screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Heart Rate, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, Hall | Xiaomi has heart rate sensor and compass while ZTE has gravity and hall sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Higher Resolution Display: The 1440x3200 resolution and 515 PPI result in a visibly sharper and more detailed screen, ideal for viewing high-res content, reading, and general clarity.
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers significant protection against scratches and drops, enhancing device durability.
- Comprehensive Camera Features: While it lacks a dedicated telephoto, it has a wide angle camera, and the main sensor is larger; paired with great video recording specs it excels for general photography.
- Wireless Charging: 67W wireless charging is a major convenience factor for users who prefer cable-free charging, and 10W reverse wireless is a bonus for charging accessories.
- Wider Audio Codec Support: Includes aptX, LDAC, AAC for better Bluetooth audio quality.
- More Satellite Systems: Includes QZSS, BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Advantages:
- Newer and More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers better overall performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Higher AnTuTu Score: Confirms real world performance improvement in benchmarks.
- Telephoto Lens: Provides dedicated optical zoom capabilities, crucial for users who take zoomed-in photos.
- Larger Main Camera Aperture: F/1.6 aperture allows better low-light performance for the main camera.
- More RAM Options: Up to 18GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking even with many heavy apps running.
- More Storage Options: Up to 1TB of storage offers much more space for media and files.
- Upgradable Android OS: Ships with Android 12 and will likely receive Android 13, staying up to date for longer.
- Wider Aperture Selfie Camera: f/2.0 selfie camera aperture is better for low-light selfies.
- Additional Features: ToF 3D sensor, under display camera, macro lens, night mode, and exposure compensation.
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi: Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens and has older hardware.
- ZTE: Lower resolution and ppi display, no wireless charging, and unknown screen protection.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro:
- Ideal Users: Users who prioritize display quality, wireless charging convenience, and good all-around camera capabilities. Also those who use high quality wireless audio devices.
- Use Cases:
- Media Consumption: The high-resolution display is perfect for streaming videos, reading e-books, and browsing images.
- General Photography: The well-rounded camera system excels in most scenarios, with great detail and dynamic range.
- Wireless Charging Enthusiasts: Perfect for users who prefer the convenience of wireless charging at home and while traveling.
- Travel and Navigation: The additional satellite systems will provide more accurate location data in more places.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra:
- Ideal Users: Users who prioritize performance, gaming, and camera flexibility with a focus on zoom capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming: The powerful chipset and GPU are ideal for demanding games and smooth graphics.
- Photography with Zoom: The telephoto lens is essential for users who frequently take zoomed-in photos.
- Multitaskers: The higher RAM capacity makes multitasking seamless, even with many apps running at once.
- Storage Heavy Users: Up to 1TB of storage is ideal for users who require massive amounts of local storage.
- Low-Light Photography Enthusiasts: The wider apertures make this camera excel in low-light.
Price-to-Value: *The price-to-value ratio will depend on current market pricing. The Axon 40 Ultra generally sits at a higher price point and has an increased feature set. The Mi 11 Pro will generally be priced lower and provides a focus on display, wireless charging, and a good general camera experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Do you prioritize display clarity and sharpness (resolution, PPI), or overall performance, gaming, and zoom capability (chipset, telephoto lens)?
- Is wireless charging essential for your daily use, or is wired charging sufficient?
- Do you need a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed photography, or is a good general camera with a wide angle sufficient?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Heavy Media Consumption & Wireless Charging: If you watch lots of movies/TV shows and prefer the convenience of wireless charging, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is the better choice due to its high-resolution display and wireless charging capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Zoom Photography: If you are a gamer, multitasker, or regularly take zoomed photos, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is better, offering a more powerful chipset, a telephoto lens, and more RAM.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Experience: If you want a balanced experience with good performance, a good main camera, and wireless charging, the Xiaomi is sufficient; if you want a cutting edge performance, telephoto lens, and more storage, the ZTE is better.
- Scenario 4: Low-Light Photography: If you take a lot of pictures in low-light conditions the ZTE may perform better due to the wider apertures.
What I Would Choose
Personally, I would choose the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra. While the display on the Xiaomi is superior on paper, I find the performance boost, telephoto zoom lens, and larger storage capacities of the Axon 40 Ultra to be more compelling for my needs. I value smooth operation and camera versatility, which the Axon 40 Ultra provides, plus the potential for a longer software update lifespan. Though the Xiaomi has wireless charging, I prefer the higher performance and newer tech provided by the ZTE. The versatility offered by the included macro lens also increases usability. While it may not be the absolute best display, I find the performance, storage options, and versatility of the ZTE to be more compelling.
