ZTE Axon M

A lot of tech in a well-designed package ; Reliable, if uninspiring software ; Use cases are seemingly endless

Expensive ; Limited to AT&T in the US ; Some apps aren’t compatible with all dual-screen modes

Foldable phones are the future, but ZTE’s present-day take on the concept is here, bringing along some clever functionality to extend your work and play to a second screen. Be warned: this solid attempt is marred by its price, carrier exclusivity and...

Extra screen software works as advertised ; Solid unibody metal design ; 3.5mm headphone jack

Expensive price for last year’s hardware ; Second screen doesn’t add much ; Camera placement is quirky

But if the Axon M is the first dual-screen phone that can actually execute the idea of a two-screened device, using it in practice has me doubting whether the idea actually has practical merit. It is cool, on a purely technical level, to be able to...

Unique dual-screen design. Screens can be mirrored or extended for better multimedia and productivity. Smooth performance. Solid battery life.

Some software bugs. Distracting middle seam. Only one camera sensor. Bulky when folded.

At $725, the Axon M is priced similarly to the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8, but nearly $200 less than the Note 8. The thing to understand about the Axon M is that it isn't intended to be a flagship phone or a successor to the Axon 7. It's a niche phone...

two screens with various display modes ; camera with many adjustment settings ; excellent speakers

low battery life ; expensive ; low display brightness ; bad WLAN (in the pre-production model)

The ZTE Axon M is not just any smartphone. If you consider the hardware equipment and its performance in the benchmarks, the device should not cost more than 300 Euros (~$370). However, with the second screen, the phone receives a unique feature for...

The ZTE Axon M's two displays lend more real estate for viewing videos and double as a kickstand. It has a convenient quick-launch key and a headphone jack, and its camera takes great daytime shots.

The phone is heavy and has an uneven, cumbersome design. It's pricey for year-old specs and the black hinge down the middle of the display is irritating in full-screen.

The ZTE Axon M has a heavy and awkward design that's genuinely useful for gaming and multitasking. But if you're not down to go double, spend your money on either a top-tier phone, or a cheaper phone with the same specs as the Axon M.

Two screens are better than one for multitasking ; Loud dual-speaker setup for calls and media consumption ; SD821 and 4GB RAM deliver their typically fast performance

Ergonomic nightmare ; UI needs refinement in transitioning between screen modes ; Poor camera performance ; Extremely obtrusive black bar between screens in extended mode ; Most apps will only work in portrait mode when extended ; Poor fingerprint...