Although ZTE is no longer a major player in the smartphone industry, it still plays a significant role. The Chinese smartphone maker is often among the first to adopt bleeding-edge technologies and make them accessible to buyers at an affordable price. For instance, ZTE debuted under-display camera tech back in 2020 with the Axon 20 5G, long before more prominent players like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Samsung got it to the market. Similarly, its sub-brand Nubia offers gaming phones featuring innovative tech at a cheaper price than other OEMs.

While ZTE doesn't make the best Android phones on the market, its devices certainly offer excellent value for money. So if you're looking for a new phone that gets you access to the latest tech without burning a hole in your pocket, you might want to consider ZTE's current offerings. To help you find one that fits your needs, we've rounded up the best ZTE phones on the market.

Our favorite ZTE phones in 2023

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra on transparent background.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
Best Overall

Flagship specs with an under-display camera

The Axon 40 Ultra is ZTE's latest flagship featuring an under-display selfie camera, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, up to 12GB RAM, and a large 120Hz AMOLED display. The device also packs an impressive triple camera system and a massive 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging support, making it the best overall ZTE phone on the market.

Pros
  • Great performance for the price
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Impressive display
Cons
  • Not the best software experience
  • Below-average under-display camera quality
  • Poor software support

The Axon 40 Ultra is currently the best smartphone in ZTE's portfolio, offering pretty much everything you expect to see on an affordable flagship. Although it doesn't feature the latest Qualcomm SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powering the phone is more than capable enough to blaze through any task you throw at it. It's paired with up to 12GB of RAM and a massive 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, which means that it also offers impressive multitasking performance.

For imaging, the Axon 40 Ultra packs a triple camera system with a 64MP primary shooter, a 64MP periscope zoom camera, and a 64MP ultra-wide camera. All three cameras deliver decent shots in most scenarios, but the best part is that the images have a consistent quality and color profile. That's something you won't get on smartphones from most other brands, as they don't utilize the same sensor for all rear-facing cameras.

The Axon 40 Ultra also features a 16MP under-display selfie shooter that remains completely hidden when not in use, giving its display a unique, uninterrupted look. But that's the only good thing about the front-facing camera. Selfies captured using the phone lack detail and appear soft. In addition, the camera struggles when in direct light, and any light sources shown in the viewfinder bloom heavily. As such, you shouldn't get this phone if you're big on selfies.

You also get a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery with 65W wired fast charging support, stereo speakers, up to 256GB storage, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and 5G connectivity. On the software front, the device runs ZTE's MyOS based on Android 12. The software skin isn't the best one out there, and ZTE has a poor track record with software updates, so you should keep that in mind before purchasing the device. If you're not deterred by the below-average selfie camera and lackluster software experience, the Axon 40 Ultra is the best ZTE phone you can buy right now.

ZTE Axon 40 Pro on transparent background.
ZTE Axon 40 Pro
Best for Value Seekers

Flagship-like performance at an affordable price

The ZTE Axon 40 Pro is an affordable flagship featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 chipset, an impressive 144Hz AMOLED display, a large 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging, and a decent set of cameras.

Pros
  • Great price
  • Crisp, high refresh rate display
  • Long-lasting battery
Cons
  • Snapdragon 870 isn't the best for demanding games
  • Poor software support

The affordable Axon 40 Pro is another great phone in ZTE's portfolio. It's the perfect buy for those who want a phone that performs well, has a fantastic display, offers great battery life, and doesn't cost a pretty penny. The Pro model checks all those boxes and has a couple of extras that will further elevate your experience.

The phone is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 chipset. It isn't the latest or greatest Qualcomm chipset on the market, but it's more than enough for most day-to-day tasks and a bit of light gaming. The SoC is paired with up to 12GB RAM, which is more than sufficient for multitasking, and a large 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that supports a peak refresh rate of 144Hz. However, unlike the Ultra variant, the Axon 40 Pro doesn't feature an under-display selfie camera and utilizes a hole-punch cutout to house the front-facing shooter.

Since the Axon 40 Pro features a regular 16MP front-facing camera, it delivers significantly better results than the under-display camera on the more premium model. The phone's main 108MP camera also captures more detail than the Ultra's 64MP primary shooter, but its 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors are mediocre at best.

Although the Axon 40 Pro doesn't feature the same camera setup as the Ultra model, it packs an equally large 5,000mAh battery that supports 65W wired fast charging. Therefore, you shouldn't face any issues with battery life and charging. But the software experience is just the same with MyOS 12 based on Android 12, and the software update situation is equally bad.

ZTE Axon 30 on transparent background.
ZTE Axon 30
Under-Display Camera on a Budget

Flagship hardware and a UDC at an attractive price

$295 $421 Save $126

Although ZTE's latest flagship is the best phone to get if you want to experience an under-display selfie camera, the last-gen Axon 30 is a great alternative. It's a budget-friendly option that offers impressive performance, a gorgeous display, and great battery life at a nominal price.

Pros
  • Massive high refresh rate AMOLED display
  • Great battery life
  • Impressive performance
Cons
  • Poor selfie camera performance
  • Lackluster software experience

If the under-display selfie camera is the only reason you wish to buy a ZTE phone, you might want to consider the last-gen Axon 30. Like the Axon 40 Pro, it packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 SoC, so you can expect the same level of performance. But instead of a hole-punch selfie camera, the device utilizes under-display camera tech for the front-facing shooter.

The Snapdragon 870 is paired with up to 12GB RAM for a great multitasking experience, a massive 6.92-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and a substantial 4,200mAh battery with 65W wired fast charging support. For photos and videos, the phone packs a quad-camera setup on the back consisting of a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. Over on the front, it has a 16MP under-display selfie shooter that performs about the same as the under-display camera on the Axon 40 Ultra.

Despite its affordable price tag, the Axon 30 offers almost all the miscellaneous features you get with a much more expensive flagship, including 5G support, an under-display fingerprint reader, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and a fast USB Type-C 3.0 port. However, given that it's an old phone, you get an older version of ZTE's MyOS based on Android 11, which isn't as good as MyOS 12. Therefore, the software experience will feel dated. On top of that, the device will reach end of life much sooner, as ZTE isn't the best when it comes to software updates.

ZTE Blade A71 on transparent background.
ZTE Blade A71
Best ZTE Phone Under $100

Budget-friendly device at a throwaway price

The Blade A71 is the best budget-friendly device in ZTE's portfolio. It offers decent specs, including a 6.52-inch display, an octa-core Unisoc SoC, a triple camera setup, and a 4,000mAh battery for under $100.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Large 6.52-inch display
  • Decent battery life
Cons
  • Below-average performance
  • Unimpressive software experience

The ZTE Blade A71 is a decent option for those who just want a basic smartphone for under $100. It's a budget-friendly device that good enough for taking calls and texting, but you shouldn't expect it to offer a smooth, lag-free experience. That's because it packs an entry-level Unisoc SoC, 3GB of RAM, and slow eMMC storage. While the phone has a large 6.52-inch IPS screen, it isn't a particularly bright panel and only offers an HD+ resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and large bezels with a dated water drop-style notch to house the selfie shooter.

On paper, the Blade A71's triple-camera setup may seem decent, but images captured using its 16MP main shooter are barely passable. The 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP depth sensors don't amount to much either, and you should keep your expectations in check if you plan on buying this phone. The 8MP front-facing shooter is also below average, and it's only good enough for the occasional selfie or video call.

Possibly the only bright side to getting the Blade A71 is its large 4,000mAh battery that will easily last you more than a full day of use on a single charge. But you might not appreciate the amount of time it'll take to charge back to full, as the phone doesn't offer fast charging support. The software experience, like all the other phones on this list, will also be lackluster, and you shouldn't expect to receive timely security or performance updates either. I'd recommend the Samsung Galaxy A03S over the Blade A71 unless you're on a very tight budget, as the former offers significantly better performance and a larger battery at a small premium.

Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro on transparent background.
Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro
Best for Gamers

Top-notch performance at a great price

The Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro is one of the best gaming phones you can buy right now. It packs Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset, a high refresh rate display, a massive 6,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging, and several gaming features you won't get on regular smartphones.

Pros
  • Flagship-grade performance
  • Uninterrupted, high refresh rate display
  • Fantastic battery life
Cons
  • Not the best software experience
  • Below-average selfie shooter

If you're big on mobile gaming and want the best performance possible, ZTE's sub-brand, Nubia, has a great phone for you. The RedMagic 8 Pro is a fantastic flagship smartphone that offers top-of-the-line hardware, blazing-fast performance, a gorgeous display, and a long-lasting battery at a non-flagship price. Specs-wise, the RedMagic 8 Pro is a far more capable phone than the Axon 40 Ultra, but its design and cameras might not appeal to all buyers.

The RedMagic 8 Pro packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring you don't face any issues no matter what games you play on the device. It has a bezel-less 6.8-inch FHD AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1300nits of peak brightness, which offers an immersive gaming experience. The device also features customizable shoulder triggers that further enhance the experience.

Keeping the lights on is a massive 6,000mAh battery that will easily last you almost two days on a single charge on a light workload and a full day with a few hours of gaming thrown into the mix. The RedMagic 8 Pro's camera hardware and software are the only reasons why you might want to pick up a different smartphone. That's because it features an unimpressive triple camera setup on the back with a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera, coupled with a 16MP under-display selfie shooter. As is the case with all the other ZTE phones, RedMagic OS on the phone offers a terrible experience, and you shouldn't expect to receive timely (or any) updates.

Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro on transparent background.
Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro
Affordable Alternative for Gamers

Last-gen hardware, but still pretty capable

The RedMagic 7S Pro is a top-of-the-line gaming smartphone from 2022, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, a smooth 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, decent cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery with 65W charging support.

Pros
  • Great price
  • Impressive performance
  • Edge-to-edge notchless display
Cons
  • Poor software experience and support
  • Below-average selfies

For those who don't mind settling for last-gen hardware to save some money, the RedMagic 7S Pro is a great alternative to the latest gaming smartphone from Nubia. Despite featuring older hardware, it's still quite capable and will blaze through any task you throw at it. It packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, up to 18GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED notchless display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

As you can probably tell, the newer RedMagic 8 Pro is only a small upgrade over the RedMagic 7S Pro, so you won't miss out on much while saving some cash. You'll still have a fantastic gaming experience with the older model, complete with the customizable shoulder triggers, immersive display with an under-display camera, and impressive battery life. However, the phone won't last as long as the 8 Pro, as it packs a slightly smaller 5,000mAh battery. You will still get the same 65W fast charging capabilities, though.

The RedMagic 7S Pro's cameras are also a slight downgrade, with the device featuring a mediocre 64MP main shooter, the same 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. The 16MP under-display selfie shooter is just as bad as it is on other ZTE phones, so that shouldn't make much of a difference in your purchase decision. If you're open to making the aforementioned compromises to save some money, you should grab the RedMagic 7S Pro over the newer model.

Best ZTE Phones in 2023: Final Thoughts

ZTE's smartphone portfolio is not expansive by any means, and its latest Axon 40 Pro and Axon 40 Ultra are undoubtedly the best phones you can buy from the company. However, if you're confused between the two, we recommend getting the Ultra model over the Pro, as it offers significantly better performance and an uninterrupted display at a slightly higher price. But if you want to click decent selfies, you'd be better off with the Axon 40 Pro.

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra on transparent background.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
Best Overall

The Axon 40 Ultra is ZTE's latest flagship featuring an under-display selfie camera, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, up to 12GB RAM, and a large 120Hz AMOLED display. The device also packs an impressive triple camera system and a massive 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging support, making it the best overall ZTE phone on the market.

In case you're someone who doesn't use smartphone cameras all that much, the Nubia RedMagic 8 Pro is a great alternative to the Axon 40 Pro. What it lacks in the camera department, it more than makes up for in the performance department. The RedMagic 8 Pro should also be the preferred pick for mobile gamers and those who want an ultra-long-lasting battery.