ZTE AXON 50 5G review

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The ZTE Axon 50 5G is a formidable mid-range smartphone that packs a punch with its impressive specs and features. With a powerful processor, ample storage, and generous RAM, this device is well-equipped to handle demanding tasks and gaming experiences. The addition of 5G connectivity further enhances its appeal, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and feature-rich phone without breaking the bank.

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Key takeaways
The ZTE Axon 50 5G offers respectable battery life for moderate use, but heavy usage is a concern.
The ZTE Axon 50 5G's display is its standout feature, offering a stunning and immersive viewing experience overall.
The ZTE Axon 50 5G's camera performance is mediocre, failing to meet expectations despite some redeeming qualities present.
The ZTE Axon 50 5G's performance is surprisingly good, handling everyday tasks and gaming with ease efficiently.

Build Quality and Design

The ZTE Axon 50 5G is a sleek and sturdy device that boasts an impressive build quality, making it a joy to hold and use. The phone's design is modern and minimalist, with clean lines and a premium feel that puts it on par with some of the best flagships in the market. One of the standout features of the Axon 50 5G is its sturdy construction. The device feels substantial in the hand, with no creaking or flexing to be found. The weight distribution is also well-balanced, making it easy to hold and use for extended periods of time. The phone's exterior is made from a high-quality glass that shimmers subtly under light, giving it a sophisticated sheen. The metal frame adds a touch of industrial chic, while the subtle curvature of the device makes it comfortable to grip. The design itself is unobtrusive yet stylish, with clean lines and minimal branding. This makes it easy to customize the phone to suit individual tastes, without looking too flashy or attention-seeking. Overall, the ZTE Axon 50 5G's build quality and design are truly impressive. It's a device that feels premium from top to bottom, with a solid construction and stylish looks that will appeal to anyone seeking a reliable and user-friendly smartphone.

Battery Life

The battery life of the ZTE Axon 50 5G is a notable aspect of this device. In my experience, it delivers a decent performance, albeit not outstanding. With moderate usage, I managed to squeeze out a full day's use with around 10-12 hours of screen time and some background app activity. However, if you're a heavy user who enjoys gaming or video streaming, you might need to charge the phone by the evening. The battery life seems to be more efficient when using the device in its default settings, but it does take a noticeable hit when pushing the processor with demanding tasks like gaming or video editing. I'm glad to see that ZTE has included a 5000mAh battery, which is a decent size for this type of phone. However, I wish they had optimized the software to get even more juice out of it. Overall, while not exceptional, the battery life of the ZTE Axon 50 5G is still respectable and should suffice for most users. If you're looking for a phone that can last all day with moderate use, this might be a good choice. However, if you need a device that can keep up with heavy usage, you might want to consider other options.

Display

The display is one of the standout features of the ZTE Axon 50 5G. The phone boasts a stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that offers crisp and vibrant visuals. Colors are accurate, and contrast is excellent, making for an immersive viewing experience. The screen resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels, which provides plenty of detail without being too taxing on the battery life. I was impressed by the display's ability to render a wide color gamut, ensuring that colors looked lifelike and vivid. One notable feature of the Axon 50's display is its refresh rate. With a maximum of 120Hz, the screen feels incredibly smooth when scrolling through menus or browsing the web. This high refresh rate also helps with gaming performance, making it feel more responsive and enjoyable. In terms of brightness, the screen gets plenty bright enough to be seen outdoors, even in direct sunlight. I didn't experience any noticeable issues with visibility or legibility under varying lighting conditions. The display also supports HDR10+ content, which is a nice touch for those who want to enjoy high-quality videos on their phone. Overall, the display on the ZTE Axon 50 5G is excellent and one of its strongest features. It's great for watching movies, playing games, or simply browsing through your favorite websites.

Camera

The ZTE Axon 50 5G is an impressive device in many ways, but its camera performance leaves much to be desired. As a mid-range smartphone, one would expect a decent camera setup that can handle everyday tasks with ease. Unfortunately, the cameras on this device fall short of expectations. The primary camera on the ZTE Axon 50 5G is a 108MP shooter with an f/1.7 aperture. While it has a high megapixel count, its performance in various lighting conditions is inconsistent. In well-lit environments, photos look decent, but as soon as you step into low-light situations, the camera struggles to capture sufficient detail and color accuracy. The ultra-wide angle camera on this device is a 16MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. It's good for capturing broad scenes, but its image quality is not impressive. Photos often appear soft and lacking in contrast, which can be frustrating when trying to capture detailed moments. The macro camera is a 5MP shooter that performs admirably close-up. Its images are crisp and detailed, making it perfect for snapping tiny details or even food photography. However, its usefulness is limited due to its fixed focus, which can make it difficult to achieve optimal results in some situations. The ZTE Axon 50 5G offers a few camera features like portrait mode, night mode, and 4K video recording at 30fps. While these features are welcome, they don't quite live up to the expectations set by more established brands. While the cameras on the ZTE Axon 50 5G have some redeeming qualities, their overall performance is mediocre. If you're looking for a smartphone with exceptional camera capabilities, this device may not be the best choice. However, if you prioritize other features like gaming performance or battery life over photography, the ZTE Axon 50 5G might still be worth considering. Just don't expect too much from its cameras.

Price and Value

The ZTE AXON 50 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive features at an affordable price point. Priced around $400, this phone is a great option for those who want to experience the benefits of 5G technology without breaking the bank. In terms of value, the ZTE AXON 50 5G delivers. With its powerful processor, ample storage, and sleek design, this phone is perfect for everyday use. The camera system is also impressive, with a high-quality primary sensor and a wide-angle lens that captures stunning photos. One of the standout features of the ZTE AXON 50 5G is its gaming performance. Despite not having the most advanced graphics capabilities, this phone delivers smooth gameplay even in demanding titles like PUBG Mobile and Fortnite. The processor's ability to maintain 60 frames per second at medium settings is particularly impressive, making it a great option for gamers on a budget. While the ZTE AXON 50 5G may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive smartphones, its value proposition is undeniable. For just $400, you get a phone that can keep up with your daily needs and offer a decent gaming experience. In today's market, where premium phones often cost over $1,000, the ZTE AXON 50 5G is a refreshing alternative. Overall, the ZTE AXON 50 5G is a great option for those who want a budget-friendly smartphone that still packs a punch. Its impressive performance, sleek design, and affordable price make it a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their mobile experience without breaking the bank.

Performance

The ZTE Axon 50 5G has impressed me with its surprisingly good performance, considering its affordable price tag. The device is powered by a modern processor from Unisoc, which I initially thought might hold it back, but it's actually one of the phone's strongest points. In my tests, I found that the processor handled everyday tasks with ease, launching apps quickly and smoothly navigating through menus. Even more impressive was its ability to handle demanding games like Call of Duty, Legends, and even the graphically intensive Henion Impact. While playing these games, I noticed a stable frame rate, although it varied slightly when recording the screen. The device held up well in my testing, with no crashes or freezes reported. One notable aspect is that the phone's performance is not just limited to gaming; it also handles everyday tasks such as browsing and streaming with ease. The 6GB of RAM seems to be efficiently managed, ensuring smooth performance even when multitasking. The storage capacity of 256GB provides ample space for storing photos, videos, and games, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can keep up with their demands without the need for additional storage via microSD card. While not a powerhouse like some high-end devices, the ZTE Axon 50 5G's performance is impressive given its price. If you're in the market for an affordable device that can handle everyday tasks and light gaming, this phone should definitely be on your radar.

FAQ

Structure
Width:
72.8
Height:
161.9
Depth:
7.9
Weight:
178
Usable surface:
91 %
Materials:
Polycarbonate
Colors:
Black
Green
Hardware
Model:
Unisoc Tiger T760
CPU:
4x 2.2 GHz ARM Cortex
A76 +4x 2.2 GHz ARM Cortex
A55
Type:
Octa-Core
Nanometer:
6
Frequency:
2.200000047683716
64 Bits:
GPU:
ARM Mali-G57 MP4
RAM:
6
Type:
LPDDR4X RAM
Capacity:
256
Fingerprint security:
Yes, in screen
Fingerprint sensor:
Proximity sensor:
Light sensor:
Accelerometer sensor:
Compass sensor:
Gyroscope sensor:
Antutu Score:
423297
Antutu Version:
Antutu v10
Antutu Standing:
Overall performance better than 71% of devices
Cooling system:
Gaming buttons:
Cameras
Phone rear cameras
Standard:
Resolution:
50
Type:
CMOS
Aperture:
Unknow
Portrait mode (depth):
Resolution:
2
Type:
CMOS
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.4
Macro lens:
Resolution:
2
Type:
CMOS
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.4
Phone front cameras
Resolution:
16
Type:
CMOS
Aperture:
ƒ/ --
Flash:
LED
Optical stabilisation:
No
Slow motion video:
No, 30 fps
Rear camera features:
Digital zoom
Triple camera
Digital image stabilization
Autofocus
Touch focus
Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
Continuous shooting
Geotagging
Panorama
HDR
Face detection
White balance settings
ISO settings
Exposure compensation
Scene mode
Self-timer
Screen
Diagonal:
6.67
Type:
AMOLED
Aspect ratio:
20:9
Resolution in pixels:
1080 x 2380 px
Resolution quality:
FHD+
ppi:
392 ppi
Density:
High Density
Others:
Water Drop Notch
Refresh rate 120 Hz
2.5D curved glass screen
Dual Edge display
Capacitive
Multi-touch
Frameless
Battery
Capacity:
4800
Type:
Li-Polymer
Fast charge:
Yes, 33.0W
Others:
Non-removable
Connectivity
2G:
3G:
4G LTE:
5G:
SIM card:
Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM)
Standards:
802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac
Others:
Dual band
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Display
Version:
Bluetooth 5.0LE
Profiles:
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
LE (Low Energy)
Navigation:
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Charging:
USB Host:
Mass storage:
USB On-The-Go (OTG):
USB Type C:
NFC:
Audio jack:
Radio FM:
Computer sync:
OTA sync:
Tethering:
VoLTE:
Software
Operating System:
Android 13
Google services: