ZTE Axon 7 Smartphone Grabs Attention With Google Dream VR Support

ZTE’s Axon 7 smartphone includes support for the Google Daydream virtual-reality platform, which competitors currently aren’t offering in their devices.

Google Daydream is the technology giant’s VR development platform. The platform, announced in May, is designed for app developers, headset owners and smartphone makers to deliver devices and applications that deliver high-quality VR experiences. Smartphones, like the Axon 7, come with sensors that communicate with headsets capable of displaying VR-ready apps. Google thinks it could be the next big thing in mobile VR, but it’ll be put to the test later this year.

There’s nothing groundbreaking in the Axon 7’s design. In fact, the device comes with the standard curved edges, a big screen, a narrow bezel and antenna lines on the back. But that doesn’t mean it’s ugly. Quite the contrary, the device, which has a full metal unibody case to create what ZTE calls “a single, continuous curve,” is an attractive alternative to competing devices.

ZTE didn’t skimp when it came to power. The device runs on the 2.15GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and has the Adreno 530 GPU to handle graphics-heavy tasks. In addition, users will find 4GB of memory to round out what appears to be a powerful smartphone.

The camera bundled with the ZTE Axon 7 is outstanding. The rear-facing 20 megapixels camera comes with optical image stabilization. It’s capable of capturing 240 frames per second of slow-motion, high-definition video. It can even record 4K video.

Sound quality is another area where ZTE spent some time. The Axon 7 has dual speakers with HiFi audio output. Users will also find Dolby ATMOS support and Dolby Digital Surround for additional musical prowess. And on the chatting side, the Axon 7 comes with dual noise-suppression microphones to enhance call quality.

Like so many other Android-based devices, the ZTE Axon 7 comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back, just underneath the camera lens. It’s unknown how many fingerprints the handset will support, but ZTE calls it a “pointer finger scanner,” so expect to use that digit when unlocking the handset.

There are two SIM ports in the Axon 7. While that might not mean much to those who don’t travel globally, to those that do, it’s a major feature. Offering dual-SIM support means users can keep their home SIM in the phone and input another to connect to international networks. In essence, dual-SIM technology means users will never need to worry about connecting to wireless networks.

The Axon 7 comes with a surprisingly large 3,250mAh battery. Thanks to that, the device can last up to 16 hours during continuous talk time and 360 hours on standby. It also comes with the increasingly popular quick-charge feature, which can get its battery to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

ZTE is offering a warranty with the Axon 7. Dubbed the Axon Passport 2.0 Program, the service offers a full two-year warranty, coverage against repairs out of warranty and device exchanges when the smartphone is heavily damaged. Perhaps most importantly, the program will also automatically download new Android updates when they become available.

It’s hard to beat the ZTE Axon 7’s price. The smartphone is currently available for pre-order for $400 on Amazon, making it hundreds of dollars cheaper than high-end handsets, like Apple’s iPhone 6s. The smartphone, which comes with 64GB of storage, will launch unlocked in the United States on July 27.