ZTE Axon 20 5G: Pioneering the Era of Under-Display Cameras
The ZTE Axon 20 5G made headlines as the world’s first smartphone to feature an under-display front camera, marking a significant milestone in smartphone innovation. Launched in September 2020, this device brought a futuristic vision to reality, eliminating the need for notches, punch-holes, or pop-up mechanisms that had dominated smartphone designs for years. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the ZTE Axon 20 5G a groundbreaking device and how it performs beyond its revolutionary camera.
Design and Display
At first glance, the ZTE Axon 20 5G looks like a typical modern smartphone, but its standout feature is its 6.92-inch OLED display that stretches from edge to edge, uninterrupted by any visible camera. This 1080 x 2460 pixel display delivers vibrant colors and sharp details, providing an immersive viewing experience. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making it a pleasure to use for gaming, video streaming, and general browsing.
The design is sleek and minimalistic, with a slim profile and a glass back that feels premium in hand. The absence of a visible front camera gives the Axon 20 a clean and futuristic look, setting it apart from other smartphones on the market.
Under-Display Camera Technology
The most talked-about feature of the ZTE Axon 20 5G is undoubtedly its under-display front camera. This 32MP camera is hidden beneath the display, only visible when activated. To achieve this, ZTE employed a combination of special materials, dual-control chips, an integrated driver circuit, a special pixel matrix, and a unique selfie algorithm.
While the concept is impressive, the execution, at the time of release, had some limitations. The camera quality was slightly compromised due to the light diffusion caused by the display layer. Images lacked the sharpness and clarity typically expected from modern front-facing cameras, particularly in low-light conditions. However, ZTE’s innovation laid the groundwork for future improvements in under-display camera technology.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the ZTE Axon 20 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, a capable chipset that supports 5G connectivity. Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, the device handles multitasking, gaming, and daily operations with ease. The inclusion of 5G ensures that the phone is future-proofed for the next generation of mobile networks, offering faster download and upload speeds where available.
The Axon 20 5G comes with up to 256GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSD card, giving users ample space for apps, photos, and videos. The phone runs on ZTE’s MiFavor 10.5 UI, based on Android 10. The interface is customizable and user-friendly, although it lacks some of the polish found in more mainstream Android skins.
Camera Capabilities
Beyond the under-display selfie camera, the ZTE Axon 20 5G features a quad-camera setup on the back. This includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. The main camera delivers good results in well-lit conditions, capturing detailed photos with accurate colors. The ultra-wide-angle and macro lenses add versatility, allowing users to capture a variety of shots.
However, the camera performance does drop slightly in low-light scenarios, with noise becoming more noticeable. The macro and depth sensors, while useful, are not as strong as the primary sensor, and their results can be hit-or-miss.
Battery Life
The ZTE Axon 20 5G is equipped with a 4,220mAh battery, which provides reliable all-day battery life under moderate usage. The phone supports 30W fast charging, which is a welcome feature, allowing users to quickly top up the battery when needed. While it lacks wireless charging, the fast wired charging compensates for this omission.
Conclusion
The ZTE Axon 20 5G is a trailblazer in the smartphone industry, being the first to bring under-display camera technology to the masses. While the technology was not perfect at launch, it represented a significant step forward, showcasing ZTE’s commitment to innovation. Beyond its groundbreaking camera, the Axon 20 5G offers a solid overall package with a vibrant display, decent performance, and 5G connectivity.
For those who prioritize cutting-edge technology and are willing to embrace new innovations, the ZTE Axon 20 5G is an exciting option. It’s a device that not only serves as a daily driver but also as a conversation piece, marking the beginning of a new era in smartphone design. As under-display technology continues to evolve, the Axon 20 5G will be remembered as the phone that started it all.