Alright, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the Realme C51. These two phones sit at very different ends of the smartphone spectrum, and understanding their differences is key to figuring out which one fits your needs.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a detailed look at the specs, translating the tech jargon into real-world implications:
| Feature | ZTE Axon 40 Ultra | Realme C51 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 73.6 x 8.4 mm | 167.2 x 76.7 x 8 mm | The Realme C51 is slightly taller and wider, while the Axon 40 Ultra is marginally thicker. This difference is minor, but the C51 might feel a bit larger in hand. |
| Weight | 204g | 186g | The Realme C51 is noticeably lighter by 18g, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, not foldable or anything fancy. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.74" | Both phones have similar sized screens. The difference is negligible at 0.06" diagonally |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 | 720 x 1600 | The Axon 40 Ultra's higher resolution means much sharper and clearer visuals. Text, images, and videos will be noticeably more crisp on the Axon 40 Ultra. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 400 | 260 | The Axon 40 Ultra has a much higher pixel density (140 PPI difference), leading to a more detailed and refined display, especially noticeable when reading text or looking at high-resolution images |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | The Axon 40 Ultra's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better energy efficiency for dark themes, enhancing the overall visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | The 120Hz refresh rate on the Axon 40 Ultra makes scrolling and animations smoother and more fluid compared to the 90Hz refresh rate on the C51, providing a more responsive feel. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 0 nits | The Axon 40 Ultra's screen is substantially brighter, making it much easier to view in direct sunlight, a vital feature for outdoor use. The provided spec for Realme C51 is not correct as it cannot have zero nits. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12nm) | The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Axon 40 Ultra is significantly more powerful, offering vastly superior performance for gaming, multitasking, and heavy apps. The T612 in the C51 is more for basic tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,061,300 | 220,000 | The Axon 40 Ultra's higher score translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming experiences. The C51's score indicates it will be suitable only for less demanding activities. |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Mali-G57 MP1 | The Adreno 730 in the Axon 40 Ultra is a high-end GPU capable of handling graphically intensive games and applications. The Mali-G57 MP1 in the C51 is a lower end GPU suitable only for lighter use cases. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.6, 1/1.72", Sony IMX787 | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", Samsung S5KJN1 | The Axon 40 Ultra has a higher resolution, wider aperture, and a larger sensor, which translates to better low-light performance and overall image quality with more details and less noise. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.0, Omnivision, 1.22µm | 5MP, f/2.2, Samsung S5K5E9, 1.12µm | The Axon 40 Ultra’s selfie camera offers significantly higher resolution and wider aperture, providing clearer and more detailed selfies, especially in low-light conditions. |
| Telephoto Lens | 64MP, f/3.5, 1/2" , Omnivision OV64B | None | The Axon 40 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens, enabling optical zoom for capturing distant subjects without losing details. The C51 lacks this capability, relying on digital zoom which is lower quality. |
| ToF 3D sensor | 0.3MP | None | The Axon 40 Ultra has a ToF 3D sensor, which assists with depth perception in photos and AR applications. The C51 lacks this feature. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 64MP, f/2.3, 1/1.72" , Sony IMX787 | None | The Axon 40 Ultra has a wide-angle lens, allowing it to capture much more in a scene, especially helpful for landscape and group photos. |
| Video Recording | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | 1080p@30fps | The Axon 40 Ultra can capture up to 8K footage, offering professional-grade video capabilities. The C51's 1080p recording is adequate for casual use but far below that of the Axon. |
| Camera Features | Quad, OIS, Laser AF, Under-display cam | Dual, Autofocus, Touch Focus, PDAF | The Axon 40 Ultra includes optical image stabilization (OIS), laser autofocus, and an under-display camera for a clean, notch-free screen. These result in better low light, stable, more precise photos and videos as well as a more immersive screen. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have the same battery capacity, suggesting similar battery endurance in general use. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | The Axon 40 Ultra’s 65W fast charging can recharge the battery much faster than the C51’s 33W, reducing downtime and keeping you on the go. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12, upgradeable to 13 | Android 13 | The C51 ships with a newer Android version out of the box, although the Axon 40 Ultra can be upgraded to it. This can mean longer software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | 802.11ac | The Axon 40 Ultra supports a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster network performance, better stability and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 LE (LDAC, SBC, AAC) | Axon 40 Ultra has a newer version of bluetooth, and Realme C51 has more audio codex support. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5) | GPS | The Axon 40 Ultra supports more GPS satellite frequencies for better accuracy in location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both devices support two sim cards and Dual Standby. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | The Axon 40 Ultra provides options for much larger storage capacities, better for storing high res photos and videos and other large files. |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB, 16GB, 18GB | 4GB, 6GB | The Axon 40 Ultra offers much more RAM, allowing for smoother multitasking with numerous apps or heavy games. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Noise cancellation microphone | The Axon 40 Ultra provides a higher quality audio experience with DTS / DTS X support, stereo speakers and a dedicated microphone array. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor | The Realme C51 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, more convenient compared to the in-display sensor of the Axon 40 Ultra. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | The Axon 40 Ultra has a gyroscope that makes it better for gaming, while both phones have standard fingerprint, proximity, and accelerometer sensors. |
2. Key Insights
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
- Strengths:
- Display: The standout feature is its high-resolution AMOLED display with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a very high brightness level, which is great for outdoor use. The 120Hz refresh rate is very smooth.
- Performance: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it offers flagship-level performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Camera: Its versatile camera system, featuring three 64MP sensors, supports 8K video recording and optical zoom, excelling in various shooting scenarios.
- Charging: The 65W fast charging significantly reduces charging times.
- Storage and RAM: Comes with multiple options for storage and RAM that outclass the Realme C51.
- Audio: Offers a higher quality audio experience
- Competitive Advantages: The Axon 40 Ultra aims for high end users that need the best display, performance and camera capabilities.
- Limitations: Heavier and thicker than the C51, and lacks expandable storage.
Realme C51
- Strengths:
- Lightweight and Compact: It is noticeably lighter and slightly smaller, making it more comfortable to handle and carry around.
- Battery Life: With a similar battery size to the Axon 40 Ultra, it will likely offer decent battery life, however, there's no information regarding its standby time or power management to make a proper judgement.
- Price Point: It is intended to be much more affordable than the Axon 40 Ultra.
- Fingerprint Sensor: A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is a bit more convenient.
- Competitive Advantages: The Realme C51's main advantages are its lower price point and lighter form factor, aiming for budget-conscious consumers.
- Limitations: The Unisoc T612 chipset is entry-level, limiting performance. Lower resolution and quality display, coupled with a basic camera system make this a bare bones phone. It also lacks a lot of features that come standard in the Axon 40 Ultra.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
- Best For:
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want top-tier performance and cutting-edge features.
- Gamers: The powerful chipset and smooth display provide an exceptional gaming experience.
- Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: The high-quality camera system and 8K video recording make it an ideal choice for creative professionals and enthusiasts.
- Power Users: People who need a phone that can handle heavy multitasking and demanding applications.
- Use Cases:
- Playing graphics-intensive games, editing high-resolution photos and videos, and seamless multitasking.
Realme C51
- Best For:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for an affordable phone for basic daily tasks.
- Casual Users: People who primarily use their phone for calls, texting, social media, and light browsing.
- Users who prioritize lightweight devices: Those that value comfort and portability.
- Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing, social media, calls, and messaging.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help users decide:
- What is your budget? If you have a flexible budget and want the best, the Axon 40 Ultra is the clear choice. If your budget is limited, the C51 is worth considering.
- How important is performance and camera quality? The Axon 40 Ultra offers significantly better performance and a more advanced camera system. If these are critical for you, opt for the Axon. The C51 is suitable if you are okay with bare-bones camera performance and entry level processing power.
- What are your primary use cases? If you're a heavy user who plays games, edits media, or demands fast performance, the Axon 40 Ultra is ideal. If you need a simple, lightweight device for basic tasks, the C51 should be enough.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- The Power User: Go for the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra due to its superior performance, display, camera and storage.
- The Casual User: The Realme C51 is adequate for light use and is the better option if budget is your top priority.
- The Photographer: The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra with its high-resolution cameras and diverse feature set is much better for photography and videography.
- The Gamer: The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is the only choice for serious gaming with its high performance chipset and display.
Final Thoughts and Personal Choice:
After a thorough look, the choice for me is clear: I would choose the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra. The massive gap in performance, camera quality and display is too much to ignore. As a tech journalist who constantly tests and uses my device for heavy tasks, having a phone that can keep up is essential. The Axon 40 Ultra's strengths in performance, the camera system and display are too compelling to pass up. I also personally dislike sacrificing a good display for form factor. While the Realme C51 is lighter, its compromises are just too significant for my usage patterns.
The Axon 40 Ultra is the phone to get if you want something that excels in nearly every area. It has all of the bells and whistles and performs very well overall. The Realme C51 on the other hand, makes too many compromises for my liking.
