Why You Can Trust CNET ZTE's Axon 7 Mini prepares for budget battle (hands-on)
The mostly-metal Android phone drops its size and yes, specs, to compete at an even lower price than the full-size Axon 7.
It's funny when you think anyone could refer to a phone with a 5.2-inch screen as "mini". But with the ZTE Axon 7 Mini and many other so-called diminutive devices, smallness is about cost and scaled-back hardware goods even more than it is about size.
On the outside, the all-metal 5.5-inch ZTE Axon 7 flagship and this mostly-metal 7 Mini look almost identical. Look closely and you spot a textured plastic material on the double speaker grilles.
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Inside, the Mini has been almost completely rebuilt. The ZTE-inflected Android software, fingerprint reader (with NFC support) and front-facing camera are the same. Everything else is scaled-back, from the main camera and processor (which won't support Google Daydream, unlike the Axon 7) to the phone's battery-charging speed, and yes, the battery capacity itself.
What you get in exchange is a really good-looking device in gold or grey, that will cost €249 when it comes to Europe and China this month (we don't have prices in RMB) and $300 when it comes to the US in October through direct-to-consumer channels. The price in Euros converts to about £215 and AU$370.
| ZTE Axon 7 | ZTE Axon 7 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 5.5-inch; 2,560x1,440 pixels | 5.2-inch; 1,920x1,080 pixels |
| Pixel density | 538ppi | 424ppi |
| Dimensions (Inches) | 6x3x0.34 in | 5.8x2.8x0.31 in |
| Dimensions (Millimeters) | 151.8x75x8.7 mm | 147.5x71x7.8 mm |
| Weight (Ounces, Grams) | 6.53 oz; 185 g | 5.4 oz; 153 g |
| Mobile software | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| Camera | 20-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Front-facing camera | 8-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 1,080p HD |
| Processor | 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 820 | 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB (varies by region) | 32GB |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB | 2GB |
| Expandable storage | Up to 128GB | Up to 128GB |
| Battery | 3,000mAh (nonremovable) | 2,705mAh (nonremovable) |
| Fingerprint sensor | Back cover | Back cover |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Special features | Dual-SIM option | Dual-SIM option |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $400 | $300 |
| Price (GBP) | Converts to £345 | Converts to £215 (from Euros) |
| Price (AUD) | Converts to AU$605 | Converts to AU$369 (from Euros) |