ZTE Axon 7: Top Budget Smartphone?

ZTE Axon 7 burst onto the "Smartphones under $400" scene! Thanks for blowing up my Twitter about it. Turns out it's pretty good.

Intro Track: Equilibre by Hocus Pocus

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[scottmiller]

To anyone who may considering picking up this phone. The bell on the lockscreen is now optional and can be turned off so you can get your notifications normally.

[YesItsMario]

The Oneplus 3 has the better camera, better OS, and is the faster phone(wins all speed tests and benchmarks)

The Axon 7 has the better screen, speakers, and comes with microsd slot.

Battery life seems to be equal as some reviews give it to the Axon and others give it to the OP3.

The OP3 has the fastest charge time with Dash charge, so that might be something to consider. You get 0 to 63% in 30 minutes.

Can't go wrong with either phone.

[hermanstokbrood]

$400 a budget phone? I dont think a lot of people get the idea of calling this phone 'budget'

[luciddrem]

I love watching these in 360p. Viewing a non-crispy Marques is so rare.

[FubarMike]

Is 400$ really budget phone territory? I clicked on this assuming the phone cost in the 200-300$ range.

[Dani-nvns]

I like the idea of having to click the bell to see notifications, since it allows you to see the background without obstruction. Helps keep the clutter down.

[sahilsanil]

Why do people call this phone a budget a flagship at a low price, thats all.... those terms are used for phones having very visible compromises and low specs for the If Samsung released the Galaxy S8 for $400, would u call it budget?

[WiissttaaLive]

$400 worth smarthone is a "budget" phone?

[samdavid]

I'm watching this video on the Axon 7!!

[SerpentineGraphicsOfficial]

>Budget smartphone
>$400 Smartphone

Choose one.

[JZMartinez]

I miss how awesome my Axon 7 sounded. So loud and clear. Replaced by a Note 9 which is nearing it's end of life for me. The Note 9 couldn't touch the Axon 7 for sound quality and honestly, even the feel in my hand. Perfect size.

[mds]

anyone remember when budget smartphones were not anymore than 250-300$? Harambe remembers

[kyleliu]

Last time I was this early Harambe was still alive.

[Blackmamba]

I've had this phone and I absolutely love it! Great display, amazing audio output and also fast charging!

[azrl]

Now get ready for the Olympic committee to take down your video...

[andypejman]

When is your note 7 review coming out my friend

[YasssStitch]

Just picked up Axon 7 at Best Buy in USA; I've been messing around with it for about half hour. All I can say is WOW...The build quality is superb, during setup it asks if you want to use in-house UI or stock Android (no debate on that for me); it is fast, fast, coming from a OnePlus One (CM13 6.0.1) and I can say this phone is twice as fast. I have 14 days to take ti back, no questions asked but the way it's going, I think I got a 2 year keeper (ZTE offers 2 year warranty on this phone!).

[My-Pal-Hal]

Wow.
5yrs now, .. and watching this on an Axon 7 🤗

[dgeri]

Look, Marques, I like your content, I respect your opinions, but $400 is not really "budget"... The OnePlus 3 is not budget, and this ZTE is not budget. For me, under $250 is budget, $250-$450 is midrange, and above $450 is high-end, but let's just simplify things and say under $300 is budget...
Don't get me wrong, the price for the specs is beyond great, and yeah, a phone with the current top chipset, current most RAM you actually need, and current highest resolution they actually use should never be cheap, but the $400 price just makes it "great value", not "budget".
Just my 2 cents tho

[chrisrodgers]

I wanted this phone so bad when it first came out. I fell in love with the front facing speakers and amoled display. Also if it gets the MKBHD approval, then it's a win in my book. Bought it about a month ago and have no regrets. Good job ZTE.