Soon after launching the Blade Force smartphone in the US market, Shenzhen-based handset manufacturer ZTE has expanded its smartphone portfolio with the launch of a new dual-screen foldable smartphone, called the “ZTE Axon M” in the US tech market. With the launch of its dual-screen foldable smartphone, ZTE now becomes the first company to bring first dual display smartphone with a hinge in the smartphone industry. The key highlight of the ZTE Axon M is its two 5.2-inch full-HD (1080p) LCD panels with a hinge that allows users to use their handset in a variety of different positions. The device can be used as a traditional smartphone, positioned as a tent or opened up side by side to form a book shape.
With these two screens, the ZTE Axon M offers a dual screen experience with four different operating modes, which include Dual mode, Extend mode, Mirror mode, and Traditional mode. The Dual mode allows users to run two different applications simultaneously on the two separate displays. With this mode, you can watch your favourite TV shows on one screen, while you replying your girlfriend message on the other screen. The Extend mode combines the two displays into one, making the device a full 6.75-inch full-HD display and extending one display content across both screens. With this mode, you can watch your favourite movies or TV shows on a full large screen. Mirror Mode shows the same content on both the screen so that you and your friends can watch the same content on one device. Lastly, the Traditional mode turns one display off, making the Axon M like an everyday smartphone that is easy to use and hold in one hand. Note that, all these modes can be toggled via the onscreen M button in the navigation bar.
As for pricing, the ZTE Axon M has been launched in the US with a price tag of $725 (approximately Rs. 47,200) and will be made available for purchase in the US exclusively via US mobile carrier AT&T. For qualified customers, ZTE Axon M will be available at $24.17 (approximately Rs. 1,570) for 30 months contract on AT&T. The Chinese vendor has also confirmed that the Axon M will also be available in other markets including China, Europe, and Japan sometime later of this year.
As far as specifications are concerned, the ZTE Axon M comes equipped with two 5.2-inch full-HD TFT LCD displays with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and a scratch resistance Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a blazing-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Now, users can store videos and photos, download/update applications, and install the latest games without worrying about their storage space running out. Talking about its software (OS), the smartphone runs on Google’s Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box.
For photography, the ZTE Axon M features a single 20-megapixel camera with Sony IMX350 sensor, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), an f/1.8 aperture and dual-tone LED flash for excellent low-light photography. Unfortunately, the smartphone doesn’t feature a front-facing camera. But don’t worry, the single 20-megapixel camera can be used both as the primary and front-facing camera. The rear camera can be turned into a front-facing camera by folding the handset.
Connectivity options offered by the smartphone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/A-GPS, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port for superfast charging and data transfer. The ZTE Axon M sports a full aluminium unibody design and comes with a dual speaker system with Dolby Atmos audio support for an immersive audio experience. On the battery front, the new ZTE Axon M comes packed with a powerful 3,180mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. Dimensionally, the handset measures at 150.8 x 71.6 x 12.1 mm and weighs 230 grams.
“The Axon M creates an entirely new foldable smartphone category, one that ZTE is committed to invest and lead the way in,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices. “Our customers continue to demand more from their mobile entertainment experience. Pairing DIRECTV with the dual screen capabilities of the ZTE Axon M will deliver a new and transformative way to enjoy the entertainment they want on the network they need,” said Kevin Petersen, SVP of Device and Network Services Marketing, AT&T Entertainment Group.
