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Here are the best ZTE phones you can get in 2023

ZTE has a few great phones in its lineup, although some are a bit older at this point.
By
February 25, 2023
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
MSRP: $799.00
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Positives
Innovative under-display camera
Plenty of power
Long-lasting, fast-charging battery
Negatives
Poor quality selfies
No IP rating
No wireless charging
ZTE Axon 40 Pro
MSRP: $599.00
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Positives
Great price
144Hz screen
Good battery life
Good performance
Negatives
Limited availability
No IP rating
ZTE Axon 30
MSRP: $499.00
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Positives
Rapid 65W charging
Excellent performance
Solid price
Beautiful full-screen 120Hz display
Negatives
No IP rating
So-so cameras
Software quirks
Limited software updates available
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
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Positives
Classy hardware
Beautiful screen
Excellent performance
Negatives
No wireless charging
No IP rating
Speakers distort easily
ZTE Blade X1
MSRP: $384.00
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Positives
Near-stock Android experience
Impressive main camera
Comfortable design for a large phone
Negatives
Stuck on Android 10 with poor update support
Fingerprint magnet
No Gorilla Glass protection or IP rating
ZTE Blade V40 Pro
MSRP: $799.00
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Positives
Low price
Large battery
Fast charging
Negatives
Lower-end performance
Limited availability

There is a lot to like about ZTE phones on the whole. They tend to have solid designs and pretty good specs, and they’re typically much more affordable than the competition. If you’re ready to take the plunge into a new smartphone, here are the best ZTE phones to try.

However, the company doesn’t announce new phones often, so this list is quite short. But the good news is that all the ZTE phones in this post are available in the US and are backed by a warranty.

The best ZTE phones:

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best ZTE phones as new devices launch.

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra face down with mug
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

This is the best ZTE phone you can currently get. It has much to offer, including plenty of power, a long-lasting battery, fast charging, and even an innovative under-display camera. Then there’s the price, which undercuts a lot of its rivals.

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is quite a big phone with its 6.8-inch display. But while it’s a flagship, it doesn’t have all the features expected from a phone in this segment. There’s no wireless charging, and no IP rating, for example. There’s also no long-term update commitment, which is a shame.

Axon 40 Ultra specs:

  • Display: 6.8-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 64 and 64MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

ZTE Axon 40 Pro

ZTE Axon 40 Pro

If the Axon 40 Ultra is too rich for your blood or you just don’t need all the bells and whites it offers, the Axon 40 Pro may be more suited for you. There are plenty of similarities between the two, with both sporting a 5,000mAh battery with 5W charging, a 16MP selfie snapper, and top out at 12GB/256GB in the US.

However, the Axon 40 Pro sports a slightly smaller display, a slower — but still powerful — chipset, and a completely different camera setup. But the biggest difference is the price, with the Axon 40 Pro costing $300 less than its bigger brother.

Axon 40 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 870
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 108, 8, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

ZTE Axon 30

ZTE Axon 30 2
Luke Pollack / Android Authority

This is a monster of a device — the ZTE Axon 30 fills your pocket with a massive 6.92-inch display. Backing up that display, you’ll find a modest 4,200mAh battery with 65W wired charging to keep you on the go. In addition to the giant screen and battery, the Axon 30 packs up to 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage.

The phone sits a step below the premium Axon 30 Ultra listed below with a Snapdragon 870 chipset instead of the flagship-grade 888. However, you still get a smooth 120Hz display with a plenty capable rear quad-camera array. ZTE’s 64MP wide sensor is the star of the show, with an ultrawide, a macro, and a depth sensor to back it up. On the front, you get a 16MP selfie shooter to boot.

This device is starting to get older now, but it is still a goodie if you want to save some money while still getting a premium experience from some years ago.

Axon 30 specs:

  • Display: 6.92-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 870
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 8, 5, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,200mAh
  • Software: Android 11

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra rear to the right
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Axon 30 Ultra marked ZTE’s return to the true flagship realm, and it packs just about everything you could ask for in a premium device. You can snag either 8 or 12GB of RAM to go with up to 256GB of storage. Keeping the whole rig afloat is the powerful Snapdragon 888 processor.

ZTE didn’t skimp on the primary camera, either, and the rear bump is impossible to miss. That massive bump houses a trio of 64MP lenses, and there’s also an 8MP telephoto sensor on board for good measure.

The Axon 30 Ultra offers a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate alongside the beefy camera unit. The 4,600mAh battery packs a punch to keep you moving. When you do tick down to zero percent, the 65W wired charging will have you on your feet in no time.

Axon 30 Ultra specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 64, 64, 64, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,600mAh
  • Software: Android 11

ZTE Blade X1 5G – Visible

ZTE Blade X1 dark blue
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Verizon’s MVNO, Visible, is the best way to get your hands on this ZTE phone in the United States. For your money, you’ll get a 5G-ready device that’s complete with a Snapdragon 765G chipset.

The Blade X1 is essentially a repackaged version of the Blade V, and it carries a quad-camera setup on the back. You’ll find 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage inside, as well as a solid 4,000mAh battery. Most of the ZTE Blade X1 is made of plastic, which helps to keep costs down. It’ll run you just about $240, but there’s a payment plan available for $20 per month.

Blade X1 specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 765G
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 48, 8, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 10

ZTE Blade V40 Pro

ZTE Blade V40 Pro camera closeup
Eric Zeman / Android Authority

If you want one of the best ZTE phones you can get on a budget, but don’t want to get the Visible option listed above, the ZTE Blade V40 Pro comes unlocked. It also happens to be a pretty good phone and is affordable.

Specs include a Unisoc Tiger T618 processor, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display, and a sizeable 5,100mAh battery. It can also charge pretty quickly at 65W.

Blade V40 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Unisoc Tiger T618
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 64, 2, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,100mAh
  • Software: Android 11

FAQs

ZTE originally created nubia as a subsidiary of the largest company. The secondary branch became independent in 2015. ZTE still owns a large percentage of the company, but it’s now under 50%, making nubia more of an associate company.

ZTE may not be a recognized brand in the USA, but you’d be surprised to know it’s actually much more popular in other markets. Actually, the Axon line-up usually competes with high-end flagship devices. These offer great build quality, competent specs, and an overall good experience.

ZTE phones can be expensive, given that you purchase the higher-end ones. That said, the company offers plenty of budget options at very accessible price points.

ZTE is based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It is partially owned by the Chinese government and has been in business since 1985.