{"id":283102,"date":"2021-06-24T21:00:54","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T18:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2021-06-24T21:00:54","modified_gmt":"2021-06-24T18:00:54","slug":"a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#A Great Phone in Its Own Right \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a919bc62d\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a919bc62d\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#Spec_Talk\" >Spec Talk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#Specs\" >Specs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#A_Mellow_but_Exciting_Flagship_Design\" >A Mellow but Exciting Flagship Design<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#Killer_Performance_Cool_OS_Weird_Translations\" >Killer Performance, Cool OS, Weird Translations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#ZTEs_Best_Cameras_Yet_but_Is_That_Enough\" >ZTE\u2019s Best Cameras Yet, but Is That Enough?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#The_Gist_Buy_It_for_Its_Merits_Not_Its_Price_Tag\" >The Gist: Buy It for Its Merits, Not Its Price Tag<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-great-phone-in-its-own-right-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#A Great Phone in Its Own Right \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\">\n<div class=\"rating\">Rating:<br \/>\n<strong>7\/10<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <strong>$750<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-88229 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/10fb15c7-2.png?width=1200\" alt=\"The Axon 30 Ultra's backside.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019ve looked into the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra at all, then you\u2019ll know that most reviewers and enthusiasts are pointing to it as an affordable alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S21. I think that\u2019s a disservice to the Axon 30 Ultra, which is really a great phone in its own right and not all that much cheaper than the phone that it\u2019s supposedly undercutting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Flagship performance<\/li>\n<li>Awesome 144Hz display<\/li>\n<li>Impressive, flexible camera selection<\/li>\n<li>65-watt fast charging<\/li>\n<li>Android 12 update coming late 2021 or early 2022<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>No wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>No IP water resistance rating<\/li>\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t work on Verizon, poor 5G compatibility<\/li>\n<li>Often over-processes photos<\/li>\n<li>Can&#8217;t turn off camera shutter sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>I\u2019m genuinely impressed by the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s specs, performance, unique 144Hz display, and impressive camera array\u2014no lie, it has one of the most flexible camera selections of any phone available today. It\u2019s not a perfect device by any means, and its warts are hard to ignore, but I don\u2019t think that its buy-ability depends on pricing so much as it depends on its unique features and other strengths.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is an affordable flagship, and your budget might be the deciding factor in whether you buy it or another device. But in the month that I\u2019ve tested this handset, I\u2019ve seen the Galaxy S21 go on sale for $780, just $20 more than the Axon 30 Ultra. For that reason, I\u2019m going to try and focus on the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s strengths and weaknesses without letting the price tag cloud my judgment.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_note\"><p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra only works with AT&amp;T and T-Mobile\u2019s networks. It does not work with Verizon. Also, it only supports T-Mobile\u2019s 5G network, and even then, it can only connect to one band. If you use Verizon or care about 5G, skip the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spec_Talk\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_SpecTalk\">Spec Talk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Good googly moogly, this phone is juicy! ZTE stuck some of the best available hardware in the Axon 30 Ultra, and it shows. Just look out for some of the quirks, like the lack of wireless charging.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Specs\"><\/span>Specs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Display:<\/strong> 6.67-inch, FHD+ (2400\u00d71080), 20:9 aspect ratio, 144Hz, AMOLED curved display<\/li>\n<li><strong>Processor:<\/strong> Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G<\/li>\n<li><strong>RAM:<\/strong> 8GB (Reviewed), 12GB<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> 128GB (Reviewed), 256GB<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rear Cameras:<\/strong> 64MP Wide Angle Lens (Sony IMX686\/OIS\/F1.6), 64MP Ultra Wide-Angle Lens (Samsung GW3\/120\u00b0 Wide\/ Ultra-Low Distortion\/F2.2), 64MP Portrait Lens (Samsung GW3\/F1.9), 8MP Periscope Telephoto Lens (OIS\/5x Optical Zoom\/60x<br \/>Hybrid Zoom)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Front camera:<\/strong> 16MP Selfie Camera<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ports:<\/strong> USB-C<\/li>\n<li><strong>Headphone Jack:<\/strong> No<\/li>\n<li><strong>Battery:<\/strong> 4,600mAh with 65-watt Fast Charge (Charger included)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wireless Charging:<\/strong> No<\/li>\n<li><strong>Biometrics:<\/strong> In-display fingerprint reader, Face Unlock<\/li>\n<li><strong>Connectivity:<\/strong> Wi-Fi 6E 802.11a\/b\/g\/n\/ac\/ax, 4\u00d74 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.2; NFC<\/li>\n<li><strong>5G Compatibility:<\/strong> 5G: n1\/n3\/n28\/n41\/n78 (Only works with T-Mobile\u2019s 5G networks)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ingress Protection:<\/strong> None<\/li>\n<li><strong>Android Version:<\/strong> Android 11 (MyOS 11)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Colors:<\/strong> Black<\/li>\n<li><strong>Price as Reviewed:<\/strong> $750 (Reviewed), $850<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Mellow_but_Exciting_Flagship_Design\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_AMellowbutExcitingFlagshipDesign\">A Mellow but Exciting Flagship Design<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>ZTE stuck with a subdued but modern design for the Axon 30 Ultra. It has a large display with <em>slightly<\/em> curved edges (very tasteful), a giant camera hump (not tasteful), and a glass backside. All in all, it looks and feels like a mellow version of the newest Samsung phones (as many Android flagships do).<\/p>\n<p>Of course, because it\u2019s piggybacking off of Samsung\u2019s design, the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s camera hump keeps it from laying flat on a table if you don\u2019t have a phone case. ZTE includes a clear, hard, plastic case\u00a0in the box, and while it isn\u2019t the most stylish thing, it gets the job done.<\/p>\n<p>I spent a bit of time using the Axon 30 Ultra without its case and found that the phone can be difficult to use with one hand. Reaching across the 6.67-inch display is a challenge, and the phone\u2019s slippy, glass backside doesn\u2019t help. Of course, this is just part of using a large phone, and the glass back won\u2019t be an issue if you use a case.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-88230 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/09dd8c26-1.png\" alt=\"The Axon 30 Ultra homescreen.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yeah, the screen could be a touch brighter. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While I\u2019m not a big fan of under-screen fingerprint readers, the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s is quick and reliable. I had some trouble with it at first, but only because I wasn\u2019t paying attention during the setup process. Oops! My mistake led me to try the phone\u2019s face unlock feature, which is impressively fast and works well even in poor lighting. (I should mention that Android face unlock <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/403453\/why-face-id-is-much-more-secure-than-androids-face-unlock\/\">isn\u2019t very secure<\/a>\u2014anyone with a picture of your face can break past it.)<\/p>\n<p>As for the display, it\u2019s just as badass as you\u2019d expect. The colors and contrast of the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s FHD+ AMOLED panel are totally on point, and with a 144Hz refresh rate, animations look buttery smooth (although I fail to see a major difference between 144Hz and 120Hz). My only note is that the display could be a tiny bit brighter, but to be fair, it\u2019s a lot brighter than OLED displays from just a few years ago.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve tested the Axon 30 Ultra for about a month, and with regular use, its 4,600mAh battery lasts a little over a day\u2014maybe longer if you cap the refresh rate at 60Hz or 90Hz. That said, I haven\u2019t tested the phone on 5G, so your mileage might vary.<\/p>\n<p>Now\u2019s a good time to reiterate that the Axon 30 Ultra offers very limited support for carriers. It only works with AT&amp;T and T-Mobile networks, and even then, only T-Mobile customers can take advantage of its 5G capabilities (and that\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/428337\/not-all-5g-is-equal-millimeter-wave-low-band-and-mid-band-explained\/\">Sub-6 5G<\/a>, not the faster mmWave). Maybe ZTE is focused on the Chinese and European markets, and that\u2019s fine, but releasing a flagship device in the United States without supporting Verizon (which has <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightreading.com\/4g3gwifi\/us-wireless-snapshot-subscribers-market-share-and-q3-estimates\/d\/d-id\/764688\">a 40% market share<\/a>) is stupid.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Killer_Performance_Cool_OS_Weird_Translations\"><\/span>Killer Performance, Cool OS, Weird Translations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-88228 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/fb5c81ed-1.png\" alt=\"The Axon 30 Ultra notification shade with big UI elements.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">BIG BEAUTIFUL UI BUTTONS <span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Equipped with a Snapdragon 888 chip and 8GB of RAM, the Axon 30 Ultra offers flagship-level performance during everyday use or gaming. Despite my best efforts, it never lags or stutters. I expect that the Axon 30 Ultra will last for a very long time thanks to its hardware, and ZTE tells me that an Android 12 update is coming in late 2021 or early 2022, which is assuring (though I\u2019d prefer a guaranteed, years-long commitment to OS updates).<\/p>\n<p>But performance isn\u2019t everything. Crappy software can often ruin an otherwise great phone. While I wish that ZTE stuck to a more stripped-down version of Android, I have to admit that the company\u2019s MyOS 11 software is pretty badass. It looks great, it\u2019s easy to navigate, and I haven\u2019t encountered any bugs.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-89734 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/8380dbac.png\" alt=\"While I'm a big fan of MyOS 11, it has some poorly-translated menus.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"855\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">While I\u2019m a big fan of MyOS 11, it has some poorly translated menus. <span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One of the defining features of MyOS 11 is its large UI buttons, which have grown on me. I had my reservations at first, but they look really cool and are easy to press without making silly mistakes. Funny enough, using MyOS 11 makes me excited for the upcoming Android 12 release, which features larger UI elements than previous versions of Android. (I\u2019m also excited for MyOS 12, as the Android 12 experience seems right up ZTE\u2019s alley.)<\/p>\n<p>My only complaint with MyOS 11 is that some of its menus are unpolished and poorly translated. It\u2019s a very weird problem that I should have screencapped more. The only example that I thought to capture was the Dual Wi-Fi menu, which reads like something out of Google Translate and has some seriously inconsistent punctuation. It\u2019s not a big deal, but it\u2019s annoying.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ZTEs_Best_Cameras_Yet_but_Is_That_Enough\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_ZTEsBestCamerasYetbutIsThatEnough\">ZTE\u2019s Best Cameras Yet, but Is That Enough?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-88231 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/8266e4bf-1.png\" alt=\"The Axon 30 Ultra from above.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Why do Apple, Google, and Samsung dominate the mobile phone market? I\u2019m sure there are a ton of reasons, but as a customer, I tend to stick with these brands because their camera technology is years ahead of the game. Even competitors that dump tons of resources into camera tech, like OnePlus and Sony, are always one step behind the big dogs.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a crappy situation. Even if a manufacturer matches the processing power or display quality of big-name flagship phones, it still needs to sell a device with a great camera. Otherwise, many customers and critics won\u2019t be happy with it, regardless of the price.<\/p>\n<p>So, it\u2019s hard to talk about the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s cameras. They take great photos\u2014way better than any other ZTE phone. The camera selection and software are also impressive. The main, ultra-wide, and portrait cameras have 64-megapixel sensors, and you can shoot with all three lenses at once to improve your chances of getting a great shot. There are also a ton of built-in filters, a night mode, and 8K video support.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/c2f6218a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-88236\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/c2f6218a.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of my cat.\" width=\"347\" height=\"261\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-88240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cad5a724.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up photo showing the details of water on a leaf.\" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-88239\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/b6ea10af.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of bright red flowers.\" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-88238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/b8071276.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a metal sculpture \" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Images shot by the Axon 30 Ultra have a crisp, detailed look, which is what you\u2019d expect from such high-megapixel sensors. The ultra-wide lens is a real winner and will definitely appeal to those who are sick of using the low-megapixel ultra-wide lenses found in most phones. I\u2019m also a big fan of the portrait lens, which feels really wide, and the 8-megapixel telephoto lens offers OIS and 5x optical zoom.<\/p>\n<p>But the Axon 30 Ultra has a habit of overprocessing images. Its night mode doesn\u2019t live up to the big brands, and low-light performance is unreliable. There\u2019s also a noticeable difference in color, saturation, sharpness, and contrast between each camera. And while I\u2019m a fan of the portrait lens, it doesn\u2019t have OIS, so it\u2019s nearly useless in low-light environments, and the blurred background effects just don\u2019t look good. (Funny enough, the best portrait mode photo I shot was the one of my cat shown above.)<\/p>\n<p>In the below images, which don\u2019t look very good, you can see two examples of the Axon 30 Ultra\u2019s night mode and a pair of outrageously overprocessed pictures shot in the daytime. I found that the night mode is <em>usable<\/em> but often produces blurry shots, and that the Axon 30 Ultra has a lot of trouble processing vibrant subjects, like bright green grass and magenta flower petals, even in favorable lighting.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-89756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/266568af.jpg\" alt=\"A colorful worm art piece.\" width=\"347\" height=\"261\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-89757\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/b7ac6ea5.jpg\" alt=\"A very blurry photo shot in night mode.\" width=\"347\" height=\"261\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-89758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/a5e82d0a.jpg\" alt=\"An over-processed photo of some grass and dirt.\" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-88241\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/f24f6c5d.jpg\" alt=\"An over-processed photo of some flowers.\" width=\"347\" height=\"260\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/>T<small>op: Night mode; Bottom: an example of overprocessed shots in bright lighting.<\/small><\/p>\n<p>If I were to describe the camera experience on this phone with one word, I would call it \u201cinconsistent.\u201d As shown in the above photos, the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra <em>can<\/em> take gorgeous pictures, even indoors if the lighting\u2019s right. All of its lenses are useful and usable, providing more flexibility than the average camera phone. But for every good photo shot on the Axon 30 Ultra, there\u2019s a handful of pictures that look like they were overedited in Lightroom by a high school photography student.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, one more thing. The camera has a shutter sound that you can\u2019t turn off. Hopefully ZTE fixes this problem with a future update because it\u2019s one of the most annoying things that I\u2019ve ever seen in a phone. I also dislike how the Axon 30 Ultra adds a watermark to all photos, though it\u2019s easy to disable.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Gist_Buy_It_for_Its_Merits_Not_Its_Price_Tag\"><\/span>The Gist: Buy It for Its Merits, Not Its Price Tag<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-88227 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/06\/4a47a0db-1.png\" alt=\"The Axon 30 Ultra outside.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Andrew Heinzman\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Andrew Heinzman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If ZTE had released this phone a few months ago, I think it would be an obvious buy. But things are a little complicated right now. In the month since ZTE sent me this Axon 30 Ultra, I\u2019ve seen the Samsung Galaxy S21 go on sale for around $780. (I assume that future sales will go even lower.) Plus, RedMagic is preparing to launch a Snapdragon 888-equipped phone <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/86765\/powerful-redmagic-6r-gaming-phone-costs-just-500-arrives-in-u-s-june-24th\/\">for just $500, and Samsung is expected to announce the affordable Galaxy S21 FE this fall (last year\u2019s Galaxy S20 FE cost just $700 at launch).<\/p>\n<p>To that end, I think that the Axon 30 Ultra might be a hard sell for some people. It\u2019s a killer phone with one of the most flexible camera selections I\u2019ve ever seen (even if photo quality is inconsistent), but it isn\u2019t <em>the best phone ever<\/em> and really isn\u2019t that much cheaper than the competition.<\/p>\n<p>So if you buy the Axon 30 Ultra, I suggest doing it for the phone\u2019s merits, not its price tag. Maybe you\u2019re looking for a more usable ultra-wide lens, or a 144Hz display, or a flagship Android phone that comes from anyone other than Samsung. The Axon 30 Ultra is a fantastic phone in its own right\u2014just don\u2019t ignore its flaws or let its price cloud your judgment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Flagship performance<\/li>\n<li>Awesome 144Hz display<\/li>\n<li>Impressive, flexible camera selection<\/li>\n<li>65-watt fast charging<\/li>\n<li>Android 12 update coming late 2021 or early 2022<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>No wireless charging<\/li>\n<li>No IP water resistance rating<\/li>\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t work on Verizon, poor 5G compatibility<\/li>\n<li>Often over-processes photos<\/li>\n<li>Can&#8217;t turn off camera shutter sound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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