Since ZTE launched the Axon M foldable phone earlier this year, courting some of the world’s attention with its foldable nature, the company has been expected to release a follow-up. The Axon M features two 5.2-inch displays connected by a hinge which is clearly not the same technological design used by Samsung, LG, Huawei and others that are expected to be released next year. However, it seems ZTE could be working on a new foldable smartphone, but one with a flexible display.

ZTE has filed a design patent application earlier this year for the aforementioned device with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). The patent was filed on February 27 and the design is shown in the sketch to feature an external screen in front, which differs from the Axon M but comparable to the concept of the prototype released previous month by Samsung. The foldable device also features a dual camera setup at the rare coupled with a fingerprint sensor. The device becomes a tablet when it’s unfolded.

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The size of the device is not included in the issued patent application, but the display size of the tablet is twice the size of the external screen. Also, according to the patent application, the internal and the external screen will be of similar height, different from the device featured by Samsung previous month. With the accusations and allegations of the US towards Huawei and ZTE being national threats, it’s uncertain if ZTE’s foldable device would make it to North America.

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ZTE first unveiled the Axon M with a foldable display back in November in the U.S. The device was launched in collaboration with U.S carrier AT&T. The smartphone also made its debut in China this January. The Axon M has received positive reviews so far but in reality, it is just a step towards developing a foldable smartphone because the Axon M is a smartphone with two screens. In case you are wondering how ZTE was able to mount the two screens on a single smartphone, here is a dismantling video by Zack Nelson on his YouTube channel JerryRigsEverything.

The Axon M dual-screen foldable smartphone is available online via MyZTE.com and JD.com in China. Interested individuals in China can also get the device offline via China Telecom stores. The device will also come to Europe where it will be available via Vodafone and TIM as well as other “leading carriers”. The ZTE Axon M sells for $725 in the U.S when buying outrightly. Customers also have the option of accessing the device through instalment payments via AT&T Next scheme which enables them to pay $24.17 each month for a period of 30 months.

Read More: ZTE Axon M Will Have A Successor: The Company Will Release Another Foldable Smartphone

As a reminder, the Axon M comes with an innovative foldable design which accorded ZTE a CES 2018 Innovation Award. The foldable device packs a pair of 5.2-inch screens with full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a single 20MP camera at the rear with image stabilization, PDAF, and 4K video recording. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 821 chipset paired with 4 GB of RAM and there is 64GB of internal storage onboard. The handset is preinstalled with Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS and keeping the lights on is a generous 3,180mAh battery.

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Last year, ZTE announced the Axon M, its first foldable smartphone. Although the phone is foldable, the screen technically isn’t as the Axon M uses two displays that are connected via a hinge. A new leak that surfaced online shows OPPO has patented its own foldable smartphone but one that uses a foldable display.

The patent shows sketches of the phone which uses a single flexible display. The back of the device where the fold occurs has a different texture from the rest of the body. On one side, we can make out a vertically arranged dual camera system and on the other side is a cut-out with the same shape as the camera housing. Our guess is that the camera fits into that groove when the phone is folded.

The front is where the magic happens. When the phone is stretched out, you get a single large display unlike ZTE’s Axon M where there is a black bar in the middle that is sure to distract you when using the phone in “Extended Mode”.

When folded, the device looks like a phone with a one-sided curved display irrespective of the side you are using. OPPO is not gunning for thin bezels here, so the aspect ratio when the phone is folded appears to be the traditional 16:9. In the folded mode, the front facing camera and sensors are on the left side of the top bezel while the earpiece is on the right side of the top bezel.

Other images provided in the patent shows that the phone has a uniform thickness when laid out flat unlike the Axon M which has one side thicker than the other.

READ MORE: OPPO Will Be Among The First Manufacturers To Release A 5G Smartphone: CEO

There is no info as to when OPPO will release its foldable phone but it is interesting to see that the manufacturer has plans for one. It also hints  at a possible OnePlus phone with such a design since both brands are sister companies.

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Chinese smartphone maker ZTE first unveiled the Axon M with a foldable display back in November in the U.S. The device was launched in collaboration with U.S carrier AT&T. ZTE is yet to bring its first foldable smartphone home to its Chinese fans and was expected to do that yesterday (January 16). However, it turns out that yesterday was just another promotional event where the company announced that the device would be available in China on January 20. 

The foldable smartphone is already up for pre-order online via MyZTE.com and JD.com. Interested individuals in China can also get the device offline via China Telecom stores. In addition, the Axon M will also be launched later the present quarter in Europe and would be available via Vodafone and TIM and other “leading carriers”. Unfortunately, we are yet to get the price it would be sold for. The ZTE Axon M sells for $725 in the U.S when buying outrightly. Customers also have the option of accessing the device through installment payments via AT&T Next scheme which enables them to pay $24.17 each month for a period of 30 months.

Read More: ZTE Axon M Will Have A Successor: The Company Will Release Another Foldable Smartphone

The Axon M comes with an innovative foldable design which accorded ZTE a CES 2018 Innovation Award. The foldable device packs a pair of 5.2-inch screens with full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a single 20MP camera at the rear with image stabilization, PDAF, and 4K video recording. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 821 chipset paired with 4 GB of RAM and there is 64GB of internal storage onboard. The handset is preinstalled with Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS and keeping the lights on is a generous 3,180mAh battery.

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ZTE’s foldable smartphone, the Axon M will be launching in China on January 16. This will be its first country after its launch in the US last November.

The Axon M is a unique smartphone with dual displays that folds like a book. Both 5.2” 1080p displays can function independently or together.

You can decide to use it as an extended display where both screens function as “one”, or independently like two separate monitors for multi-tasking, or even in mirror mode where both screens show the same thing.

The Axon M may have been released in 2017, but its specs are mostly from 2016. It is powered by a Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The phone has a single 20MP F/1.8 camera with OIS which serves as both the selfie and rear camera. It also has an audio jack, a 3180mAh battery, and runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat.

READ MORE: ZTE Joins The 18:9 Display Train With The Blade V9

The launch will take place at the Beijing Olympic Tower at 7:15 PM (local time). The Axon M will also be released in Japan and Europe later this year.

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ZTE announced the Axon M flagship back in October, and the phone is available for purchase only in the US right now. The company had promised a release in other markets like China and Europe, and it looks like ZTE is going to launch the phone in the home country real soon. The ZTE Axon M has just been certified by TENAA, confirming its launch in China in the coming weeks.

It looks like isn’t any difference between the international version and the Chinese Axon M version. The phone comes with 150.8 x 71.64 x 12.10 dimensions and 230 grams weight. Given the two screen design, the bulky form factor and the heavy weight is not surprising. The two screens feature the same size and resolution: 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p. So, unlike the 18:9 displays that have taken over the flagship market, this dual screen phone still sticks with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio for both its screens. Other features of the phone include SD821, 4GB / 6GB of RAM, 64GB/ 128GB storage (expandable up to 128GB), 20MP single camera, and Android 7.1.2.

Despite its bulky profile, the two screen design has garnered praises from fans. So, it will be interesting to see the phone’s reception in the company’s home country, China. Currently, the Axon M is priced at $725 in the US, but it could be cheaper in China at launch.

The company will also showcase the device at CES 2018 which will be held from 9 January to 12 January in Las Vegas.

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The ZTE Axon M foldable smartphone was unveiled earlier in this month. In the U.S., the smartphone was expected to be available through AT&T. Fresh information suggests that the pre-orders of the Axon M will begin from Nov. 1 and it will be available at the AT&T stores from Nov. 17.

The ZTE Axon M can be purchased with an outright pricing of $725 in the U.S. Customers who are interested in availing it through installment payments can opt for AT&T Next scheme to pay $24.17 each month for a period of 30 months. The smartphone is expected to be available in other markets like China, Europe and Japan by Q1 2018.

Read More: ZTE Blade A3 Brings Dual Selfie Cameras, 4000mAh Battery for Just $120

Even though the Axon M is known as a foldable phone, it does not feature a flexible display. The smartphone houses a pair of same-sized displays that are attached to each other by means of a hinge. It offers various kinds of screen modes through which users can run two different apps on each display or both the screens can be used simultaneously to enjoy a larger view of an app.

The Axon M has a pair of 5.2-inch screens that carry support for full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a single camera of 20-megapixel that is equipped with features like image stabilization, PDAF and 4K video recording.

The Snapdragon 821 chipset is present under the hood of Axon M. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB of RAM. It has an internal storage of 64 GB. The handset is preinstalled with Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS and it has a 3,180mAh battery to keep the lights on.

Do you like the ZTE Axon M? Are you waiting for its arrival in your country? Let us know your thoughts by adding your comments.

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