In the last couple of years, the Chinese smartphone makers are all racing to achieve the same goal: Launch a premium, flagship phone at a fraction of the price of an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy.
ZTE is no exception. On paper, its new flagship Axon 7 passes the specs test with flying colors -- even surpassing most rivals in certain areas. In fact, its performance is high enough to be one of the first phones to claim support for Google Daydream -- the mobile VR platform Google just launched at its I/O developer conference.
SEE ALSO:Android N gets enhanced VR functions with DaydreamThe 5.5-inch device is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor; it has a 2,560 x 1,440 AMOLED screen, a 20-megapixel rear camera (coupled with an 8-megapixel camera), a 3,250 mAh (milliamp-hour) battery, and either 64GB or 128GB of storage, expandable via microSD card.
Credit: ZTEThe Axon 7's biggest claim to fame, however is RAM: The phone comes in two configurations, either with 4GB or a whopping 6GB of RAM, which is 2GB more than the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, or 4GB more than an iPhone 6S Plus.
Of course, it's not just how much RAM the phone has -- how the memory is handledmakes far more difference in real-world performance. Still, more RAM probably can't hurt, and even the cheapest ZTE Axon 7 variant has plenty.
Other specs of note are a fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers (coupled with what ZTE calls a dual Hi-Fi chipset) and Force Touch tech (similar to Apple's 3D Touch display), which is only available in the most expensive variant.
This leaves us with the question of price. The Axon 7 is available in two versions: The Basic edition goes for 2,899 RMB (yuan) or $442. The Standard edition costs 3,299 RMB or $503, while the Force Touch-equipped Premium edition costs 4,099 RMB or $625.
The combination of extremely powerful specs and the pricing makes ZTE Axon 7 a pretty attractive option for anyone looking to buy an Android phone. Yes, it costs more than the Xiaomi Mi 5, or the OnePlus 2 but its specs are better. And it's cheaper than most other flagships, including the Huawei P9, the iPhone 6S Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S7, even though it beats all of them in terms of specifications.
Credit: ZTEOn Thursday, ZTE has also launched the ZTE VR, a virtual reality headset with a 96-degree field of vision, and a built-in 9-axis gyro sensor. It's priced at 518 RMB or $79.
The prices are for China; there's no word on when the ZTE Axon 7 or its VR counterpart might reach U.S. shores.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
TopicsAndroid
(责任编辑：綜合)
Here's what 'Game of Thrones' actors get up to between takes
Yes, the new Rams coach is old enough to drink
YouTube is removing North Korean content and no one knows why
Woman eats two entire durian fruit because she couldn't bring them onto a trainDog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota townNew Zealand designer's photo series celebrates the elegance of aging
Not only is age nothin’ but a number -- it can be a asset when it comes to style.。 That’
...[详细]Google Maps swaps MLK Day for Confederate holiday in several Southern states
It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day across the United States, but if you're searching Google Maps for bu
...[详细]MacBook Pro might become a lot more 'pro' this year, report claims
There was no shortage of complaints about Apple's refreshed, 2016 MacBook Pro line, be it shoddy bat
...[详细]Improved Apple Pencil 2 could launch with new iPad Pro
A new, improved version of the Apple Pencil could be introduced alongside a new iPad Pro this year,
...[详细]This coloring book is here for all your relationship goals
LONDON -- We are living through the golden age of celebrity relationships. Gone are the days of tort
...[详细]'A Dog's Purpose' premiere canceled, after outcry over frightened dog video
This weekend's premiere of A Dog's Purposehas been canceled, after videos of handlers forcing a frig
...[详细]Trump finally gives Rudy Giuliani a job ... kind of
Former New York City Mayor and recent Donald Trump superfan Rudy Giuliani has finally been blessed w
...[详细]6 ways to push your online activism into the real world in the Trump era
Using social media to be vocal about important issues is second nature in the digital age. As margin
...[详细]Donald Trump's tangled web of Russian influence
Donald Trump has had ties to Russia for decades, but they've thickened as his campaign for the White
...[详细]Novak Djokovic schooled in wheelchair tennis, is unsurprisingly very bad at it
Novak Djokovic is one of the world's top tennis players, but don't expect him to excel in all versio
...[详细]Twitter grants everyone access to quality filter for tweet notifications
The internet roasts a photo of Donald Trump writing his inauguration speech
