Happens at school, going on a job interview and passes on mobile: highlight is increasingly difficult even bet to be the best of the best.Despite this, manufacturers continue chest out terminals trying not to get in the shade, but others, and ZTE made that very clear intention with ZTE Axon 7 when recently brought it to the market.
How do they expect to remain in the high – end pole? According to them, with the “best of the best.” One of the textual phrases Waiman telling us convinced Lan in the interview that could make after having highlighted a presentation that highlighted camera, construction and especially audio. Does the Axon 7 all promises? For now what we do have are the first impressions after its launch.
What passed in the presentation, repeating it every few minutes for quested the message is that ZTE listening to users and the Axon 7 meets the highest requirements of these basically five levels: battery, power, design, camera and sound, especially in the last three aspects. Let’s see what feelings this order gives us the ZTE Axon 7, which sheet will detail below…
| ZTE AXON 7 | |
| SCREEN | AMOLED 5.5-inch 1,440 x 2,560 pixel resolution (about 538 dpi) |
| PROCESSOR | Snapdragon 820 |
| KERNELS | 2 x 2.15 GHz Kryo + 2 x 1.6 GHz Kryo |
| GPU | Adreno 530 |
| RAM | 4/6 GB |
| STORAGE | 64/128 GB (expandable to 256 GB via microSD) |
| SOFTWARE VERSION | Android 6.0.1 with 4.0 MiFavor |
| CONNECTIVITY | Cat 6 LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac |
| REAR CAMERA | 20 megapixels, f / 1.8, autofocus, OIS, dual-LED / Video 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @ 30 / 60fps, 720p @ 240fps |
| FRONTAL CAMERA | 8 megapixel, f / 2.2 / Video 1080p |
| OTHERS | Fingerprint sensor, USB connector type-C |
| BATTERY | 3250 mAh |
| PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS | 151.7 x 75 x 7.9 mm and 175 grams |
The first great promise: Design and construction
Gradually the metal has been covering more spectrum in smartphones going beyond the top end and jumping to the lower hand of some manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi. The new flagship ZTE continues this almost “mandatory” trend and also the wake of Axon Elite, dressing metal with a matte finish that does not slip and that gives a sense of strength without excessively.
Mounts a 5.5 – inch screen size that is becoming more average and in this case we speak a terminal quite content. In addition to seize the front well and add the minimum frames both upper and lower and lateral support that has a curved edges almost a full hemisphere with a fairly small diameter, leaving an edge of about 4.5 millimeters and a thickness total approximately 7.9 millimeters.
The correctness of the position fingerprint reader always ultimately depends on usage and grip that we are used to doing. In the Axon 7 we have it in the back, like the Nexus 5X and 6P and when we hold with one or two hands is accessible comfortably. Yes, it allows only record two tracks and is quite demanding when the tread surface necessary for recognition.
Maybe you could do here to implement the double tap to unlock, having the reader in this position face to unlock comfortably when we have relied on a surface, but for now do not have it (in ZTE told us that yes would have it). And a very favorable point: we must not turn the screen to recognize us, with mobile at rest footprint reads us (and quite fast if we put enough surface).
In thin metal mobile heat is something inherent, but in this case not noticeable or bothersome exaggerated although rather constant. In my most demanding as video games or Snapchat it is when we notice an increase in temperature located in the bottom of the top half, roughly in the area of the fingerprint. Something that perceive touch level but also affects the operation of the phone (no processes stop or jump warnings).
Perhaps the point to improve or further decreases the feeling of quality are the side buttons. The location is correct, but tact gives a false sense of fragility to “dance” a little, although the pulsation occurs smoothly the first time.
AMOLED colonizing the front
The Axon 7 is the side AMOLED, riding a 5.5 – inch panel with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels (about 538 pixels per inch). As mentioned, here we highlight the good use of frontal they have achieved despite choose to place the speakers here.
The automatic brightness adjustment functions properly, with rapid adaptation to changes in lighting, but may cut a little more when there is enough light. The maximum brightness is 319 nits, a value that is not of the highest if we look at other terminals but is more than enough, having a correct visibility both in the sun and in low light situations. Good contrast and, yes, somewhat excessive saturation (although the latter always influence the tastes and what the eye is used).
This software allows some adjustment, with three options for temperature saturation and white, although it is missing instead of predefined options are sliders to adjust the degree to our liking. The default temperature is in a medium, rather warm point. Whites tend to be somewhat reddish and the viewing angles are good, unable to avoid variations in the current color AMOLED panels.
The second great promise: The camera
The average user of a flagship does not have to be demanding in this respect, but over time has become a sine qua non for a top of the range have the best in terms of camera. In this case, we have a 20 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilizer and f / 1.8. 8-megapixel f / 2.2 if we talk about the front.
But beyond the numbers, a strong point is the app with a comfortable and smooth interface and a full manual mode. There are three main sections (automatic firing, manual and video) and also has some pre-configured to get trajectory of stars or the silky effect on the water (which can also be done from the manual mode) modes.
The camera starts up and shoots quickly acceptable (though here probably keep winning the Samsung S7). The autofocus is fast and tap approach is obedient, and the app allows us to obtain a satisfactory photography in most scenarios. Automatic mode also helps a user rather not drive too with HDR settings, flash and automatic night mode (optionally except for the last).
However, cameras tend not escape it difficult to scenarios in low light and loss of detail is quite sharply as we are on a cloudy atmosphere, half sunset or indoors. The advantage is that we can go looking for what is right more shot between the configurations, but still the noise appears very easily.
In favor it is that the manual save mode allows photography in terms of noise and can better adjust ISO and shutter speed settings automatically. With more light we get satisfactory pictures, although sometimes you are missing something more than vividness in colors (at noon and indoor). In some shots we find a somewhat aggressive in detail processing, probably looking for the correction of the loss of sharpness.
The subjective camera has some added as the trigger smile detection (with three degrees of detection, the youngest and very sensitive) and retouching of “beauty” that is automatically applied if set, which is based on enlarging the eyes blur and soften the factions. Here always it is a lower lens and watercolors and noise also appear soon in low light, but manages to get still satisfactory snapshots, but tends to obscure enough, although this is favorable light situations where the cameras usually overexpose.
Then there is the live button, which allows you to create something similar to the Lumia Live photos or Apple, with a series of shots to reproduce the impression mini video or GIF. The app editing, in fact, possible to create GIFs from photos (if you have made some timelapse shots or intervals these are the spins ideal for this), while the share (by Twitter, Telegram, etc.) loses enough quality although the photos originally had.
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The third great promise: Audio
If anything stood out in its presentation it was sound, with the two front speakers as protagonists. Here the Axon 7 fights in quality and intensity, in fact already in the demo after hearing the presentation made at a particularly noisy environment.
The sound is successful both headphones and speakers, reaching these up to 116 decibels and can challenge them in volume and holding enough until it begins to lose quality by excess thereof. This means that, if we do not mind the sound vibration in high volumes causes in cases like this (terminal with powerful and relatively thin speakers) and temperature, the multimedia experience is satisfactory.
Of course, things change slightly if we hear the sound from the speakers with the terminal supported on a surface from the rear. Although the speakers are placed at the front, the sound is peripherally because by putting a rear surface against all its quality is reduced, giving a feeling similar to we get when we cover the fingers.
However, the power does also hear what trouble when we took him in the pocket or in a bag, and can also set different volumes quickly from the widget set that out when you press one of the corresponding buttons. Thus the ZTE Axon 7 meets in this sense quite well, either music, video or multimedia in general.
MiFavor style that prevails
While in this case our disposal in the Asia version of the terminal, except for the language barrier in some particular apps we could test the phone at the software level virtually unimpeded. After setting the language and downloaded the Google apps store, we can make a completely normal use and evaluate performance, fluency and other aspects.
Although the hardware is not everything, with specifications Axon 7, the user expects no problems found in use. Here we remember that we talk about a Snapdragon 820 processor and in this case it was the model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage memory (there is a model with 6GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage). All under Android 6.0.1 and software layer MiFavor home.
This layer is quite “aggressive” about modifying the appearance. We forget my drawer and menu settings tab has a first rapid or frequent access, where we will see if there is a software update available. Allows certain configuration, in terms of icons and photographs, with pre-installed themes and the ability to buy more.
The only complaint here is that when arrange the icons, drag them is expensive if we do not support either the mark, especially if we want to place the icon in the column on the right or left. In this case usually it costs us several attempts, ending several times on page desktop do not want.
Leaving aesthetics aside, the handling is completely fluent both the system and apps , opening them quickly either from the icon or running multitasking. The system also adjusts the consumption that make apps separately and some other settings to improve the use or performance.
The software itself, in fact, is quite insistent on the information the user receives the use of the terminal. By default actions they are activated as my close whose consumption exceeds a certain limit background, better storage management or ask at each installation the user if he wishes to review the permissions that gives the app it.
Thus, the terminal executes games without any trouble (such as Asphalt). Here again what we notice is the temperature rise, especially in high graphic games or apps load requiring continuous use of the screen and the camera as Pokémon Go or Snapchat. Use generally stable, finding only one problematic app like Dropbox or stoppages in updates, but we must remember that the version of software may be related.
Autonomy: A very good combo
Perhaps the battery is what generally more need to improve when it comes to the terminals seeking to be a perfect combination of power, resolution and slimness. A triad also seek in the case of Axon 7 and that in terms of autonomy does not come out at all badly.
Typically, it lasts us more than a day, unless we make an intense multimedia and 3G use. The Axon 7 squeezes the 3,250 mAh quite well because usually given for one day and the next few hours (up to 12 hours), which almost makes us forget the external batteries. Especially because also has fast charging, so that at about 1:30 hours back to have 100% of the load.
This contributes in part the software, since MiFavor has some extras for performance monitoring, storage and consumption. Something that helps retain more autonomy is what we were saying before the option to close apps in the background (which can be disabled from the first warning to do it or not to lock the screen) and paragraph control apps that consume “too much” (according to the preset criteria of the system, an example DropBox).
A worthy rival
The league stops range ever charged more expensive ticket and not all are up for you to you to the members of that elite, in which the data – sheet does not always ensure the input. A good processor, enough RAM and a good camera are central to this, and apparently the metal, and at least seven ZTE Axon does aspire to be measured with the top end of the competition.
The bet: a very careful design clothing to one of the most powerful CPU accompanied by an audio and a camera that, although they are improvable, stand out above the average. All for a starting price also somewhat lower than other terminals as the Galaxy S7 or Sony X Performance, and quarreled with his fellow countryman OnePlus 3.
The design is key for it to be considered by those who at first shy away from “big” terminals to be compact (with a very good use of screen despite the front speakers), although heating is quite common and, as mentioned, the layer is quite aggressive (with the good and bad that entails). A favor is the position of the buttons, although they gave this feeling of “dancing” and the fingerprint reader is too demanding (often have ended unblocking by pattern or voice).
Do with the software is about to do such acts in general and as for the battery, although we could try many ways despite some specific impediments (and in the absence of that double tap to unlock or activate screen in principle see). Waiting also more products for this year, because as we said Waiman seek to have pleased audiences with different needs.