Skip to main content

ZTE's new Axon 7 model adds more RAM and storage, but jacks up the price

ZTE Axon 7 review
Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends
ZTE is pulling a OnePlus. The company is releasing a slightly improved variant of its 5-month-old Axon 7 smartphone, but unlike the OnePlus 3, you’ll still be able to purchase the older model.

The new Axon 7 adds two more gigabytes of RAM, bringing it up to six. That’s the same amount of RAM as the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T, smartphones that sit in a similar price category. The newer model also comes with 128GB of internal storage, up from the standard 64GB available right now.

ZTE also says this newer Axon 7 features “Force Touch technology,” meaning it has a pressure-sensitive screen. Android doesn’t support this type of display yet, but it’s a feature that shouldn’t be too far off. A ZTE spokesperson tells Digital Trends that “long-pressing on an app will have shortcuts, and it allows for other capabilities that Android provides.” The representative couldn’t offer any more information.

This Axon 7 model isn’t exactly new — it has been available in China for quite some time, and it looks like ZTE is just releasing it now in the U.S. Apart from the improvements to RAM and storage, the device features the same specs as the regular Axon 7. It sports a 5.5-inch Quad HD display and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor. It features a 3,250mAh battery, USB Type-C port, 20-megapixel rear camera, and an 8-megapixel front one.

It also features dual stereo speakers, and has two audio chips that support 32-bit 192kHz audio.

OnePlus just announced a slightly improved variant to the OnePlus 3 — the OnePlus 3T, which features improvements to the front-facing camera, battery, and processor. Unfortunately, OnePlus will soon stop selling the OnePlus 3 so you’ll be forced to opt for the newer version, which to be fair is priced almost the same as the original at $439.

With ZTE, the bump in RAM and internal storage comes at a higher cost — a $100 jump from the $400 Axon 7. If the boost in storage and RAM is worth $500 to you, you can grab the device on ZTE’s website.

Editors' Recommendations

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
The Honor Magic 6 RSR is my new favorite Android phone of 2024
Someone holding the Honor Magic 6 RSR outside.

There's no doubt that 2024 has already been an exciting year for Android phones. Samsung wowed us with the Galaxy S24 series at the beginning of the year, the OnePlus 12 and 12R are two of the best phones available right now, and Google is expected to impress later this month with the Google Pixel 8a.

But for the last few weeks, I haven't been thinking about any of those phones. Why? Because I've been using the Honor Magic 6 RSR. After launching in China this past March, the Magic 6 RSR is now available in the EU, and that's allowed more folks than ever to get their hands on the phone. And that's great, because the Honor Magic 6 RSR has quickly become my new favorite Android phone of 2024.
It has some of 2024's best smartphone hardware

Read more
5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
A Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus laying on concrete.

Looking to upgrade your phone this year? You may be considering Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 Plus, which is the middle child of the S24 lineup. Given how solid the S24 Plus is, that's not a bad idea at all.

But is the Galaxy S24 Plus the best phone you can get? Maybe not, as there are plenty of other great choices that you can choose from as well. Here are some of the best alternatives to the Galaxy S24 Plus that you should take a look at before spending your hard-earned dollars.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Taking a blood pressure measurement on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

Samsung has a strong presence in the smartwatch market with its Galaxy Watch series, which includes the Galaxy Watch 6 and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The company is expected to launch the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch 7 Classic later this year. However, rumors suggest that Samsung is also working on a new addition to its smartwatch lineup — the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra.

Information about this watch is sparse at the moment. However, that should change as we approach a launch date. Here's the latest information on the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra: release date

Read more