If you thought getting onto the 5G bandwagon was going to be expensive, think again: ZTE has launched the Axon 11 5G in Germany. At €599, it’s not a cheap phone, but it’s still far more affordable than other 5G devices (for comparison, the Samsung A90 5G is €649.00, while the Galaxy S20 series hovers around the €999 mark), and might be a decent option if you absolutely must have 5G. Sure, it’s not a flagship-class device, but given the specs, it’ll do just fine for most people – thanks to a Snapdragon 765, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge 4.0, a 6.47 inch FHD+ AMOLED display, ian in-display fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and 802.11ax Wi-Fi.
As for cameras, there’s a 20MP one at the front. Flip it over, and you’ll find a quad-cam array at the rear: A 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro camera, and a depth-of-field sensor, and yes, it’ll take 4K video at 60fps.On the software front, there’s Android 10, as well as ZTE’s Z Booster 2.0 system management app, which claims to allocate system resources for faster, snappier usage. But if you don’t need 5G, you could save a bit and get the 4G variant of the Axon 11, which is quite similar barring the processor (a MediaTek P70) and the cameras (a 48MP main camera).
Interestingly, ZTE, which was once banned from the US, is reportedly planning on bringing its 5G devices stateside, according to a report in CNET. As of now, the most recent ZTE phone available in the US is the low-mid range Blade 10 Prime ($192; sold via Visible), and if this comes true, the Axon 11 5G could represent a major shift in strategy and help ZTE get a foothold in the nascent 5G market.