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The Nubia Flip 5G is the first budget Razr rival
ZTE has unveiled a flurry of Nubia devices on Day 1 of MWC 2024
While ZTE phones are not allowed to be sold in the US, the company has a flourishing market in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere under the Nubia brand. Similar to last year, the manufacturer unveiled a series of smartphones at the annual Mobile World Congress, which officially kicked off today in Barcelona, Spain. The headliner is ZTE's first-ever flip phone, which also has the honor of being among the cheapest foldables you can get anywhere.
ZTE’s latest Nubia tablet uses AI for glasses-free 3D
One of the more eye-popping announcements so far at MWC 2023
Yes, mobile devices with 3D screens have been tried before. And yes, they’ve even been done in a way that doesn’t require glasses for the content to appear to jump off the screen. Consumers haven’t exactly hopped on the 3D bandwagon, but that hasn’t stopped ambitious electronics companies from dreaming of a holographic future. The latest endeavor in this field comes from a partnership between ZTE and 3D AI company Leia that was just unveiled at MWC 2023.
With 18GB of RAM, ZTE breathes new life into the old Axon 40 Ultra
So much RAM, the phone is worthy of its 'Space Edition' badge
ZTE is no longer the force it used to be on the global scene due to the US's longstanding sanctions against it. However, these obstacles haven't hindered it from making some pretty snazzy phones such as this year's Axon 40 Ultra. The manufacturer is now launching a special version of the flagship in its home market of China called the Axon 40 Ultra Space Edition. While most limited edition models accentuate design as the standout feature, ZTE has chosen to rocket one hard spec up and out of this world.
The FCC is snuffing out Huawei and ZTE's American comeback hopes
More Chinese firms join the commission's 'naughty list'
In June of 2020, the United States officially declared Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE as national security threats because of the amount of data they handle and their close proximity to the Chinese government. In the time since, American wireless carriers have been busy using public funds appropriated by Congress to "rip and replace" Huawei and ZTE equipment from their respective grids. Then, just last week, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel sent out a proposal to ban approvals for telecommunications equipment made by companies deemed to be a national security risk, including Huawei and ZTE. The proposal was also sent to the three FCC commissioners and it now seems like a complete ban on equipment approvals is imminent.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra review: An 'ultra' smartphone for less
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra offers impressive hardware with a few notable flaws
When you see the word “Ultra” in the name of a smartphone, your first inclination might be to worry about your wallet. That is certainly the case with some of the best Samsung phones, where this buzzword typically means you’re going to be spending upwards of $1,000 for a high-end device. However, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra bucks that trend by offering a wide range of advanced features – like an under-display fingerprint sensor, super-speedy charging, and a robust camera array – all at the almost-reasonable price of $799.
ZTE's Axon 40 Ultra gets ready to go global, and early birds can score a discount
You can snag $48 in savings through June 21
ZTE remains one of the few Chinese brands that will happily sell Americans a maximalist Android smartphone and it'll do so at a relative bargain to your Samsung or Apple. Last month, we got a sense of what the new Axon 40 Ultra, such a maximalist device, would have in store for the world. You won't be able to buy one just yet, but today, you'll be able to snag some pre-sale savings.
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra subtly refines its cutting-edge camera tech
Multiple 64MP rear shooters and unseen selfie cameras aren't new to this phone maker
Chinese telecoms company ZTE may have been a more familiar name to phone buyers a decade ago, but thanks to a mess of political and economic issues, it is rarer to see in the news these days. That said, we've been reviewing the company's Axon phones year after year to partial acclaim and we can't fault its persistence. For 2022, ZTE is "playing the hits," so to speak, with the new Axon 40 Ultra.
ZTE Axon 30 5G review: Not enough bang for your buck
The under-display camera is invisible, but the results aren't great
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Innovative features don’t make or break a smartphone, but they certainly make the ZTE Axon 30 a more attractive option. With an invisible under-display camera and in-display fingerprint sensor, this almost-flagship device from ZTE does have a wow factor, which is hard to come by nowadays. Unfortunately, some of the device’s more glaring faults are hard to ignore, even at the reasonable mid-tier $500 starting price, which is a good bit cheaper than the Axon 30 Ultra at $750.
ZTE has some must-see early Black Friday deals, and they won't last long
This article is sponsored by ZTE
You’ve heard about the awesome early Black Friday deals ZTE’s running on its flagship Axon 30 and Axon 30 Ultra smartphones. Today, they’re launching a flash sale with big discounts on earbuds, phone cases, and more — but it’s all happening at specific times and dates, so you’ll need to be precise if you want these deals.
Save big on the ZTE Axon 30, Axon 30 Ultra, and more from now through Black Friday
This article is sponsored by ZTE
Looking for a new phone this holiday season? ZTE has big discounts on its two flagship phones, — the Axon 30 for $449 ($50 off + perks) and Axon 30 Ultra for $549 ($200 off) — plus a mound of other products for Black Friday. They’re all time-specific, though, so you’ll have to wait until the optimal moment to grab these deals.
The RedMagic 6S Pro ups its gamer cred with an RGB-lit internal fan and a transparent back
The less expensive variants come without a transparent back and more toned-down colorways
The RedMagic brand may not ring a bell for many outside the mobile gaming community, but the Nubia brand has made a name for itself by selling affordable high-end gaming smartphones. And that's exactly the niche the company is aiming its next device at again, the RedMagic 6S Pro. It's a step-up compared to the RedMagic 6R and 6, though the similarities are striking outside a few key specifications.
ZTE's Axon 30 has something to show Samsung about making under-display cameras really disappear
A true full-screen experience
Last year's ZTE Axon 20 5G was the first device to ship with an under-display front-facing camera, giving users a full-screen experience without hole-punches or notches. Although the pixels on top of the camera weren't exactly invisible — something Samsung is currently experiencing with its first hidden selfie cam — it was still some impressive tech. ZTE has returned with the Axon 30, offering the company a chance to improve its display technology, all contained in a solid mid-range smartphone.
ZTE Axon 30 Ultra review, one month later: A question of commitment
Might I suggest: "ZTE Axon 30 Pretty Good?"
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Do you miss the days when you could get a spec-heavy smartphone for less than a thousand bucks? Well, you're in luck because ZTE is finally launching a new flagship phone in the US, and it's competitively priced. For $749, the Axon 30 Ultra packs a Snapdragon 888, a big camera array with multiple zoom levels, and premium build quality. However, there are still rough edges abound, and the phone's 5G connectivity in the US is lacking. While, the Axon 30 Ultra doesn't earn that "Ultra" name like the Samsung and Xiaomi ultras do, but it's still a pretty good phone. Might I suggest: "ZTE Axon 30 Pretty Good?"
RedMagic 6R long-term review: One-trick pony
A more pocketable and affordable gaming device brought down by software woes
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Last year, RedMagic refreshed the RedMagic 5G as the RedMagic 5S, but there weren't many differences between the two, raising the question of why the 5S was necessary to begin with. This year, the RedMagic 6 is seeing a significant change with the looming launch of the RedMagic 6R. The 6R has slimmed down significantly while retaining the majority of its high-end gaming features. For $500, you get a Snapdragon 888, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, a quad camera, a 4200mAh battery that supports 30W charging, all in a package that's easily pocketable. The software still stinks, but there's no arguing that this hardware is a stupendous value.
The complete list of phones that can get the Android 12 beta today
Available for Pixels, as well as devices from eleven other OEMs
For the last few years, the Android Beta Program has been one of the biggest highlights of Google I/O, which continues to be the case this year. Now that Google has announced the exciting changes coming to Android 12, many of us will be eager to try it for ourselves. Naturally, the Beta will only be available on select devices, so find out if your phone is eligible below:
You probably didn't even know you wanted a gaming phone, but this one is worth a second look
The RedMagic 6 has killer specs and a great screen for just $600
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RedMagic isn't a big name in the US, but it's been busy carving out a niche for budget gaming phones. Gaming phones almost always come with compromises, and a budget option even more so. Still, for $600, the RedMagic 6 is killer on paper with a Snapdragon 888, 12GB of RAM, and a 165Hz display, but prodigious specs aren't always enough when poor support is on the table. Still, some mobile gamers might make that trade-off for super-smooth gameplay when the RedMagic 6 launches later this month.
Wi-Fi Calling gets the ax on more than a dozen T-Mobile devices
A number of classics are being made *that much* more obsolete
T-Mobile is about to turn off Wi-Fi Calling to a number of older phones. Have you been prudent enough to see the day when your phone's been made obsolete? Well, at least in one small factor.
ZTE's Axon 30 Ultra and its triple 64MP cameras will be sold globally in May
It's packed with flagship hardware, including a Snapdragon 888 and 144Hz screen
ZTE isn't exactly a household name for US smartphone buyers. Part of that is because very few of the Chinese company's phones make the journey here, and part of it is because those that do tend to be low-cost budget models given away by carriers. (Also, you know, some other things.) But ZTE is trying to buck the trend: it's bringing its 2020 flagship, the Axon 30 Ultra, to America and everywhere else.
ZTE's second-gen under-display camera tech is starting to look like it's finally ditching the compromises
No proof of performance just yet
When it comes to smartphone design, the ultimate goal of minimalists seems to lie with a slab containing no protrusions, no ports, just a constant surface with a large, fascia-filling display. ZTE has done some grunt work in bringing a few user-facing features beneath the surface and is showing off some of it at the in-person MWC in Shanghai.
The Blade X1 5G is one of the cheapest Verizon-compatible 5G phones yet
All the bells and whistles you could ask for in a sub-$400 phone
5G was the leading factor making phones more expensive over the last year or two, but now that the new standard is starting to mature and becoming more widely available, 5G phones are finally getting cheaper. The TCL 10 5G UW is an example, packing a Snapdragon 765G processor and mmWave support for just $400, but now ZTE has undercut its competitor with an even more affordable 765G phone: The Blade X1 5G, costing just $384.