Mobile Technology

A high-end flagship smartphone for $450 unlocked? ZTE's Axon makes it so

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ZTE's Axon is a promising-looking, high-end smartphone
ZTE's Axon is a promising-looking, high-end smartphone
The Axon packs an expansive 5.5-inch QHD 2,560 x 1,440 display, a beefy 4 GB RAM, runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop
The Axon is not the thinnest handset around, but it features an all metal build with a fairly slick looking design that includes a tiny bezel to the sides of the display
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ZTE isn't nearly as big a name in theUS as Samsung or Apple, but that's something the company is trying to change with the Axon. Unlike many of ZTE's previoushandsets, the new device has the premium design and specs you'd expect from a flagship.

According to ZTE USA chairman LixinCheng, the company's new smartphone is “designed in the US, for theUS,” and at least on paper, there's a lot to like about the newflagship. It has an expansive 5.5-inch Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) display, abeefy 4 GB RAM, runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and is powered by aquad core Snapdragon 810 – the same chip you'll find in flagship2015 handsets like the HTC One M9. Not bad at all.

The positive impressions continue whenyou take a look at the housing for those components. At 9.3 mm (0.37 in),it's not the thinnest handset around, but it features an all metalbuild with a fairly slick looking design that includes a tiny bezelon the left and right of the display.

The Axon is not the thinnest handset around, but it features an all metal build with a fairly slick looking design that includes a tiny bezel to the sides of the display

Its camera specs also look promising. On therear, there's a 13 MP dual lens setup that's capable of shooting 4Kvideo at 30 fps, while the front-facing shooter offers an 8 MPresolution.

Elsewhere, the device offers twodedicated sound chips and dual microphones for Hi-Fi quality recordingand playback. As you'd expect, both LTE and Bluetooth 4.0 tech isincluded.

The ZTE Axon is a solid-lookinghigh-end offering from a company that we're not used to producingtruly great smartphones. Of course, without some significant hands-ontime with the handset, it's impossible to say whether it's as good in thehand as it looks on paper, but it's definitely a promising, if notmind-blowing, piece of kit.

Considering that spec sheet, the Axon is priced at a very reasonableUS$450 unlocked, and will be available in blue, gray and silver. It's scheduledto arrive towards the end of this month.

Source: ZTE

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3 comments
phissith
Wow if you look at the case for Oneplus two leaked, this just like it!!
pmshah
I don;t have much experience with ZTE products except for their ADSL wifi modem / routers. I have 2 of these operating in 2 different location through 2 different ISPs. One is 7 years old and the other 8 years old.
So far as build quality reliability and performance go I would rate them at A+. In fact I have seen a whole telephone exchange being upgraded by equipment from ZTE. Additional telephone lines and a whole lot of additional internet services. I know quite a few people that fall under this exchange who have also subscribed to land line + internet service They are all praises for it.
BuffyBuff
Seems powerful.Id give em a try .Remember LG Optimus G lg first major flagship after making low n mid range phones Now ZTE been here in USA longer then AlcaTel and has great SPECS On there AXON then IDOL 3 lets just wait and see.And By The Way The SnapDragon 810v2 is Octa Core not Quad