Two weeks ago, I was telling a friend that I see today’s phones as more evolutionary rather than revolutionary. She asked what I’d consider revolutionary, and I said I’d like to see a phone company create a dual-screen device that could fold into either a phone or a tablet. Would you believe that ZTE has gone and done just that?!
Unless otherwise noted, photos are courtesy of Helena Stone
To digress for a moment, I feel like phone companies have been playing it safe for some time. They have found a phone style that 95% of the public seems happy enough with, and they have created every variation they possibly could with it.
While with each successive generation we see better cameras, better screens, thinner bezels, better battery life, the addition of AI, and other minor and major upgrades dealing with what will fit in that rectangle, we haven’t seen something that disrupts our idea of a mobile phone in ages. Right?
At the time I was listing the things I’d like to see to my friend, I had no idea that ZTE was even exploring the possibility of doing a dual-screen device. So imagine my shock when I found out that my virtual fairy godmother had been listening!
This is the ZTE Axon M; yes, it has two screens, yes, it is foldable, and yes — it can either function as a phone or essentially as a connected tablet.
Based on ZTE’s research, they found that most people do prefer a larger screened phone, but the minute the phone is over 6″, it is no longer pocket-friendly. The Axon M will have two 5.2″ screens. You’ll be able to unfold the Axon M by 180º to reveal a second screen; you’ll be able to use the device as a phone, as a tablet, or opened up like a laptop.
There are a couple of different modes that allow you to use the Axon in whichever way best suits your needs. Mirror Mode will allow two people to view or use the same app from two sides. So picture the Axon M in tent mode; you and a friend sitting on the other side of the table can watch the same movie together from your own screen, or you can play a game together in real-time.
ZTE Axon M in Mirror mode
Extended Mode will allow you to take a single application and stretch it across two screens — so it’s basically a tablet mode so that you can see magazine pages more clearly or have a larger screen for reading. Granted, there will be a line through the middle of the page when the ZTE Axon M is in tablet mode, but I think I can deal.
photo of ZTE Axon M in Extended Mode courtesy of ZTE
Dual Mode is a powerful multitasking tool that will allow you to run a different app on each screen, so you can use this mode to open an email on one side while reading a book on the other, or you could write an article on one screen while using Viber to talk to your friends as they pop up on the other. You could theoretically run HBO Now on one side and Amazon Prime Video on the other — picture it in tent mode while two people are watching different content — that’s really cool.
ZT Axon M specifications:
• The ZTE Axon M will measure 5.93″ tall by 2.8″ wide by 0.47″ thick, and it will weigh 8.11 ounces.
• It will have a 2.15 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (MSM8996 Pro) with integrated Qualcomm ARMv8 Processor.
• It will have a 3180mAh battery, and it will use Qualcomm QuickCharge; it will take 2.05 hours for a full charge, 5 minutes for a 6% charge, 10 minutes for a 14% charge, and 30 minutes for a 47% charge.
• Both 5.2″ screens will be Gorilla Glass 5; they will each have 1920 x 1080 FHQ and 426ppi.
• It will run Android 7.1.2 (Nougat).
• There will be a single 20-megapixel camera that can (easily) be used for selfies. That camera will feature: PDAF, F/1.8, Alternate VCM for better autofocus; Super Auto mode (contain Night Shot, Auto HDR); Dual Image Stabilization (Photo and Video); Multi-Function (Manual, Beauty Selfie, Slow Motion, Live Photo, Multi Exposure, Long Exposure), and a Powerful dual LED flash.
• It will have Dolby Atmos playback; there will be dual speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
• The ZTE Axon M will have a full aluminum unibody design.
• Video mode will include the following settings: 4K 30fps, 1080P 30fps, 720P 30fps, VGA 30fps, and MMS video 15fps.
• It will have a USB Type-C charging port.
• It will have 4GB RAM + 64 GB ROM, emmc v5.1, and a MicroSD Memory slot expandable up to 256 GB.
Although ZTE doesn’t necessarily consider the Axon M to be a flagship model, it is easily one of the most exciting devices I have seen in years; will it be the phone I’ve always dreamed of? Maybe — maybe not, but it’s a step in the right direction! If people like it, I can imagine ZTE going all-out and adding all kinds of upgrades to future devices. Let’s make that happen!
In the next month, you’ll be able to get the ZTE Axon M from AT&T for $24.17 for 30 months on AT&T Next with eligible service.
