Got myself a ZTE Axon 7 (UPDATED WITH CAMERA SAMPLES)

[thilanliyan]

Liking it so far after 24hrs. Beautifully designed, fast fingerprint scanner, and blazing fast. Haven't really tested the camera but there was a software update recently that fixed issues from before apparently.

Any questions about it?

Edit: photo comparison with Nokia 1020.
Nokia 1020 With flash:

Nokia 1020 without flash:

Axon with flash:

Axon without flash:

1020 with flash:

1020 without flash:

Axon with flash:

Axon without flash:

 

[quikah]

Hows the camera? Heh, seriously though, that is the only thing I actually care about in a phone these days.

 

[sweenish]

Not to appear too rude, but fast fingerprint scanning isn't a feature, it's a pretty strict requirement set by Google. I get some may still work faster than others, but the requirement they set for fingerprint scanning times already qualifies as fast.

 

[sammykhalifa]

Thanks--this is one of the phones I'm considering.

How big does it seem to you?

And most importantly, what color?

 

[Red Storm]

If only the fake front facing speakers were actually front facing speakers. I dunno why they made them look like that.

 

[thilanliyan]

I'll update with some camera impressions when I actually use it in some difficult conditions. AFAIK the camera works fine in good light so I'm not really gonna test that. I'll post some comparisons with my Nokia 1020.

As for the fingerprint scanner, lol its the first phone I've had with one so I can't really compare to anything else. If being fast is a requirement from Google then okay, I guess it is

Size wise I can use it one handed but my hands are probably larger than average. I was considering the 6p but that felt just a bit too big. I am coming from a blackberry passport and it feels a bit less unwieldy... although I will definitely miss the passport keyboard.

I got the gold version which I think looks really good. I think the silver version looked a bit bland.

 

[thilanliyan]

If only the fake front facing speakers were actually front facing speakers. I dunno why they made them look like that.

What do you mean 'fake'?
You must be talking about the first Axon. This Axon 7 has real stereo speakers. Watch some YouTube videos detailing the speakers.

 

[Red Storm]

What do you mean 'fake'?
You must be talking about the first Axon. This Axon 7 has real stereo speakers. Watch some YouTube videos detailing the speakers.

Oh really? Well then, I take back what I said. It's nice that this time they actually are speakers rather than just looking like speakers.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Would love to see comparisons with the 1020 (although I believe the Nokias were kinda slow with regards to how quickly they take pictures, and that's one of the major things they've improved on phone cameras).

Have been waiting to see feedback on if the update improves the low-light and some other camera issues (in video I think it was hunting focus a lot?). I saw quite a bit of conflicting stuff (some reviews said the camera was good but not as good as Samsung and several others, some people in forums showed pictures that looked atrociously bad but most reviews showed decent if sometimes wonky image quality). Plus there were a few other software issues that I was hoping would be worked out.

Also waiting to hear them offer more details on Daydream and their VR headset. They claimed they'd be the first phone to be Daydream certified.

I played with one quickly at BestBuy and it seemed nice enough that I'll consider it even though it'll be mostly a sidegrade to my V10 (mainly want it since it'll have a better chance of having newest Android, and for the OLED and VR; I could handle a mildly worse camera and headphone quality). I don't know that it'd be worth it, but I have a family member that could use a new phone so I might get one and compare it to the V10.

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

I'm considering one of these. Can't decide between this and the Zenfone Deluxe. They seem to have comparable specs but the resolution on the Zen is lower than this one. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not. I'd like higher rez, but not if it means sacrificing performance! I am using a crap Samsung Avant now and it's sluggishness is driving me crazy. I want something FAST.

 

[Baron Fel]

I might get one and sell my still decent Nexus 5.

I'm considering one of these. Can't decide between this and the Zenfone Deluxe. They seem to have comparable specs but the resolution on the Zen is lower than this one. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not. I'd like higher rez, but not if it means sacrificing performance! I am using a crap Samsung Avant now and it's sluggishness is driving me crazy. I want something FAST.

Isn't the Zenfone Deluxe like twice the price? The days of cheap Zenfones with great Atom cpus are over

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

I can pre-order a Zen 3 Delux 5.5" 64GB with 4G gig ram for 400 bucks. Aside from the resolution, specs are comparable to ZTE for the exact same price.

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

Anyway, essentially, I want to go with the ZTE but only if I won't suffer a performance hit. Otherwise I will go with the 1080 Zen 3

 

[Baron Fel]

I can pre-order a Zen 3 Delux 5.5" 64GB with 4G gig ram for 400 bucks. Aside from the resolution, specs are comparable to ZTE for the exact same price.

It looks like the $400 5.5" only has snapdragon 625, which will be quite a bit slower than an 820. They have a 5.7" with an 820 but it's $500.

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

The Zen I'm looking at on Newegg has "Octa Core 64bit 2.0GHZ CPU, Adreno 506 GPU"

Thanks for the heads up if that's the one you are talking about. Looks like this Axon 7 is the way to go.

 

[techmax123]

How do you find the front facing camera for selfies so far, is colour reproduction and detail good?I am trying to decide between this and one the op3, but camera is one of the main features I am looking for.

 

[thilanliyan]

Updated with photo comparison between Axon and Nokia 1020.

 

[quikah]

That Bokeh with the 1020. Too bad it is soooo slow.

Thanks, this is nice comparison. Could use a bit more varied subjects, some colors would be nice.

 

[core2slow]

DOF on the 1020 is pretty good.

 

[beginner99]

Hows the camera? Heh, seriously though, that is the only thing I actually care about in a phone these days.

Basically all phone cameras suck compared to even a mid-range compact camera not to mention compared to a real DSLR. Even an old one with half the megapixels than your phone will but said phone to shame.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

Basically all phone cameras suck compared to even a mid-range compact camera not to mention compared to a real DSLR. Even an old one with half the megapixels than your phone will but said phone to shame.

And, so?

Smartphone camera is far more practical. And you can take photos in bars, restaurants, on the beach and all other social crap. You would look weird taking your dslr in a bar or a night out. Not to mention you would probably lose it.

My 2004 A-class is nowhere near as good as a ferrari in driving, but it sure does come in handy when there's 5 of us or lots of luggage.

 

[thilanliyan]

That Bokeh with the 1020. Too bad it is soooo slow.

Thanks, this is nice comparison. Could use a bit more varied subjects, some colors would be nice.

You're right, I didn't think of that. I'll upload some more pics with more varied subject matter.
Yeah, the 1020 still takes great pics, but I definitely cannot use that as a daily driver anymore...too many features and apps missing.

 

[thilanliyan]

How do you find the front facing camera for selfies so far, is colour reproduction and detail good?I am trying to decide between this and one the op3, but camera is one of the main features I am looking for.

I don't think I've taken a selfie in my life lol so can't comment on that, but maybe I'll include a couple of pics taken with the front camera as well.

 

[beginner99]

And, so?

Smartphone camera is far more practical. And you can take photos in bars, restaurants, on the beach and all other social crap. You would look weird taking your dslr in a bar or a night out. Not to mention you would probably lose it.

My 2004 A-class is nowhere near as good as a ferrari in driving, but it sure does come in handy when there's 5 of us or lots of luggage.

It's probably because I'm old and if I take a picture it's for memory and not just everyday crap for posting it on Instagram to show how cool you are.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

It's probably because I'm old and if I take a picture it's for memory and not just everyday crap for posting it on Instagram to show how cool you are.

I do also own an entry level canon, but it's just such a PITA to handle it, remember to take it.. We do use it for photos that we want to print, but those are very rare. i think it would have been much more cost effective to hire a photographer for that

Also, a lot of the memories are a thing of the moment. vast majority of which you will most definitely have a dedicated camera on you.