The newly announced ZTE Axon 30 isn’t the first 5G smartphone with an under-display camera—that distinction belongs to the Axon 20 5G—but it does seem like an improvement. While there is interest in a smartphone screen that isn’t disrupted by a divot or notch in order to house a selfie camera, the Axon 20 5G’s selfie camera and screen just weren’t up to snuff. ZTE is looking to change that with the Axon 30, boasting better screens and more advanced integration with the front-facing camera. The entire point of an under-display camera is that it’s practically invisible, so Axon 30 is using an independent screen display chip to better synchronize the display around the camera. This, along with the “in-house selfie algorithm,” should provide better display performance and improved transitions between the phone’s screen and the front-facing camera area. ZTE also states that a larger light-sensitive selfie camera and added processing technologies will make the under-display camera more light-transmissive than its predecessors. Aside from the under-display camera, the Axon 30 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870G CPU as well as “self-developed memory fusion technology” to add up to 5 GB of running memory. It also uses a 5G super antenna 3.1 to improve 5G connectivity, and a dual Wi-Fi antenna, so you won’t block the signal when you’re holding the phone horizontally or vertically. The ZTE Axon 30 will be releasing in China on August 3, starting at ¥2,198 (about $338 USD). Global pricing and availability details haven’t been revealed yet, but according to ZTE you’ll be able to find it on the official website “soon.”
