ZTE Axon 7, this is the high-end Android smartphone with the best value for money

ZTE was falling one step behind its competitors. Its high-end terminals did not sell enough in Europe and, despite having great solutions like the ZTE Axon Elite, its annoying personalized layer and unattractive design meant that sales were not as expected. The solution? The new ZTE Axon 7, a terminal that reaches the market with the lesson learned.

That the European public does not want terminals in gold color? We solve it. That the front design of the Axon Elite range does not just work? We redesigned the terminal to offer an impressive Android smartphone at a groundbreaking price: 450 euros. Now I bring you a ZTE Axon 7 video review, undoubtedly the high-end Android smartphone with the best value for money. 

Design: metal is in fashion and the ZTE Axon 7 wears it with great pride

The trend towards the use of premium materials in high-end terminals it is a fact: smartphones with aluminum finishes are here to stay. When Samsung decided to move from polycarbonate in its flagships a couple of generations ago it was clear that this was the way to go. And ZTE was not going to be less.

Learning from previous mistakes, such as that horrible fake leather of the Axon Elite, the Asian manufacturer has decided to bet on a unibody body made entirely of aluminum to provide the ZTE Axon 7 with an attractive and quality design.

In the case of the new workhorse of the Chinese manufacturer, we find a phone made of aluminum, not a trace of plastic. For this they have decided to follow the path set by HTC by offering some small bands that surround the terminal and that is where the telephone antennas are located, avoiding breaking the aesthetics of the smartphone.

The ZTE Axon 7 sports a curvature that makes the phone feel great in the hand. The grip is more than correct and, although a protective rubber sleeve comes in the box, I have been using the ZTE Axon 7 without any protection and it has not slipped at any time.

And the phone looks really good, it is held comfortably and, despite its impressive 5.5-inch screen, the device can be used comfortably thanks to its very restrained dimensions: the ZTE Axon 7 It measures 151,7 x 75 x 7,9 millimeters.

The terminal is robust, its 185 grams of weight They confirm it, although it does not bother in the day to day. On the front we find a screen that takes advantage of the sides really well, reaching a ratio of 72.2% thanks to minimal frames. And taking into account that this phone incorporates two speakers on its front, we must recognize the good work of the manufacturer.

The volume control and on / off buttons of the phone are located on the right side of the ZTE Axon 7. These buttons offer a good travel and good resistance to pressure, giving their metallic finish a great feeling of durability.

The left side is where we will find the slot to insert the nano SIM card and a micro SD card, while at the bottom there is only the type C port to charge the phone. Already at the top is where the 3.5mm audio output.

ZTE has done an excellent job in this regard, creating a phone with a very attractive design, quality finishes, great grip and the feeling that this is a truly premium phone. And seeing its benefits, it is clear that the ZTE Axon 7 goes on to encompass the highest range in the sector.

Technical characteristics at the height of a high-end range

Looking at its technical characteristics it is clear that the ZTE axon 7 is a beast. While it is true that Qualcomm recently introduced the Snapdragon 821, It must be said that the power of the ZTE Axon 7, added to its 4 GB of RAM, extol ZTE's new terminal at the top of the sector.

The phone works really smoothly, I have not noticed any type of lag or stop in no time and, as expected, I have been able to enjoy any game without any problem, no matter how much graphic load it requires.

My Favor UI 4.0 suits the ZTE Axon 7 very well

One of my least favorite things about ZTE phones was their custom MI Favor layer. A very annoying, intrusive and bloatware-filled interface. In the case of the ZTE Axon 7 I have to admit that, although My Favor UI 4.0 continues to customize the aesthetics of the terminal in a remarkable way, few similarities with a pure Android can be found, the truth is that it is much less annoying than previous versions.

Also the new version of the manufacturer's customized interface offers a high level of privacy and consumption, blocking applications that are in the background and notifying us of it, a detail that I like a lot.

In this way we will have to configure so that applications such as Spotify or Instagram do not close automatically, but once we have configured these parameters we will see how the battery life increases significantly thanks to this system.

Speaking of appearance, My Favor does not have an app drawer, using a desktop-based system seen in other interfaces of Chinese manufacturers who prefer to opt for the Apple OS system. Although I do not like the solutions from Cupertino, I have to say that personally I like the desktop system much more in the application drawer, although you like the colors and remember that you can always install a launcher that allows you to customize this function .

Notifications on the lock screen are hidden in a bell-shaped icon, instead of the usual curtain. A different system but to which I have not taken long to get used to. My conclusion is that, although the aesthetic change is quite remarkable, I do not have too many complaints about this custom interface, much improved compared to previous versions.

AMOLED QHD screen, the perfect combination

ZTE bets on QHD resolution for your new flagship. In this way the ZTE Axon 7 mounts a AMOLED panel  5.5 inch with nothing more and nothing less than 538 pixels per inch. Both the resolution, brightness and the vividness of the colors are evident when you turn on the phone.

For this the manufacturer you have forced the saturation of the colors to the exact limit so that it is not forced, getting it right when choosing a perfect color temperature. We can adjust it but I recommend you leave it as it comes as standard since it is where the colors are more balanced.

An overall great result with a resolution much higher than necessary and that invites us to read for hours without tiring our eyes. Note that the brightness level is perfect, being able to see the screen without problems on a really sunny day and its viewing angles are more than correct.

With 319 nits of peak brightness This panel is below other panels like the one on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, but it is more than enough to make viewing any multimedia content a true delight. And much of this merit goes to the audio section of the ZTE Axon 7, the other great strength of the device.

Impressive sound quality that invites you to enjoy movies with your friends

This is a section that most manufacturers unfortunately neglect. Until now it was HTC who dominated this aspect with its front speakers but ZTE has managed to surpass the Taiwanese manufacturer with its speaker system with Dolby Atmos technology.

In the video analysis that heads this article I have left you an example so that you can hear what good sound the speakers of the ZTE Axon 7 that, I tell you, are without a doubt the best on the market. They simulate surround sound and allow you to fully enjoy any multimedia content or video game, appreciating all the nuances. Of course, do not put the volume to the maximum, lower it a point so that the sound is not distorted.

I have shown several examples to family and friends and they have all been impressed with the sound quality. By connecting headphones, the quality is maintained but if you want to make the most of its possibilities, put on a movie or a game and play with its stereo speakers to see the possibilities of this terminal. Excellent work done by ZTE in this regard.

A great fingerprint sensor

I like that the fingerprint sensor It is located at the back so the position of the biometric reader in the ZTE Axon 7 seems more than correct. Although about tastes, colors.

The position is comfortable and easy to reach, and the grip of the terminal invites the index finger to rest on the reader. Yes, though the sensor works really well you have to make sure that you place your finger correctly since sometimes it took me more than once to get the screen unlocked. In this regard, Huawei's solutions remain, by far, the best on the market.

There are manufacturers that force you to turn on the screen in order to unlock the phone, a system that I find really annoying. Fortunately  with the ZTE Axon 7 it is not necessary to activate the screen to unlockAll you have to do is rest your finger on the fingerprint reader and it will unlock the terminal instantly. Easy and comfortable

Correct autonomy

The ZTE Axon 7 invites you to play games and watch videos on its screen, more with its impressive sound quality. But how does your 3.250 mAh battery? The truth is that within the average, without standing out too much, although it does not fall short.

In this way, with normal use, with an average of 1 hour or an hour and a half of Spotify, surfing the Internet and using social networks and instant messaging services, the phone has lasted all day. coming home to 20-25% battery. Hurrying a bit I have reached 7 hours on the screen.

You will not have to worry about the phone leaving you lying down during the day, although it is very likely that you will have to charge it every night. Luckily it has a good fast charging system that allows us to have 100% of the battery charged in just over an hour. Y in about 20 minutes the battery will charge between 30 and 40% which can save us from more than one hurry. I said, a good autonomy but without great fanfare.

A good camera that will more than meet the expectations of any user

The ZTE Axon 7 mounts a 20 megapixel Samsung sensor on the back with a maximum aperture f / 1.8, optical image stabilization and really good results. The ZTE Axon 7's camera performs really well, taking excellent captures in well-lit environments and performing well in low-light situations.

The truth is that the main camera of the phone offers a excellent performance and a really high speed when it comes to capturing. In addition, the app is very complete, offering a wide range of possibilities in the form of filters and functions that will delight photography lovers.

And like a good high end, the ZTE Axon 7 has manual camera mode that allows us to adjust any parameter to take excellent photographs, being able to vary the level of noise, speed and shutter, ISO and other functions that allow us to make the most of the possibilities of its powerful camera.

Also the interface is very intuitive which invites us to be constantly playing with the camera. Special emphasis on the results achieved with macro, both in very or dimly lit environments, blur lovers will be very satisfied with the result, especially if they play with the corresponding manual adjustment.

La 8 megapixel front camera It more than fulfills its function by taking quality selfies that will allow you to bring out your most perfect side thanks to the beauty mode. In short, a great camera that, without reaching the quality of the lens that mounts the LG G5 or the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, I have to say that it has surprised me for the better.

Examples of photographs taken with the ZTE Axon 7

Final conclusions

Given that the ZTE Axon 7 costs less than 450 euros And seeing its power, design and characteristics in general, I have to say that it is one of the best options to consider. I have been captivated with the quality of its screen and the impressive sound of its speakers.

I longingly remember my beloved HTC One M7 and how my friends envied me when I showed them its sound. I have taken it out of the drawer, loaded it and compared the sound of both terminals and, although the first member of the One range continues to far outperform many of the current terminals, the result achieved by ZTE in this section is superb.

And the fact that its custom layer is no longer so highly intrusive makes ZTE go up a notch over its competitors. If it follows this path, I am sure that the Chinese manufacturer is going to become a benchmark in the sector.

ZTE Axon 7 Image Gallery

Editor's opinion