ZTE Axon 40 Ultra launches in the US: A flagship with under-display camera

Update: June 21, 2022 – The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is now available for sale in the US. You can buy the phone on ZTE’s site with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $799 or upgrade to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $899.

Original story: June 8, 2022 – ZTE launched the Axon 40 Ultra in China last month, packing flagship-level specs and a third-generation under-display selfie camera. We didn’t have to wait long for a global launch though, as the company has done just that today.

The new phone stands out thanks to that 16MP under-display camera, as ZTE promises a new subpixel arrangement and 400 PPI display area to help the camera blend in with the rest of the screen. Speaking of the screen, you’re getting a 6.8-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED curved panel here.

Our verdict: ZTE Axon 40 Ultra review

Core specs include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, 8GB to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 128GB to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. ZTE’s phone is also equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and 65W wired charging support, complete with the requisite charger in the box. Unfortunately, wireless charging isn’t available here.

ZTE’s 2022 flagship also touts a triple 64MP rear camera system, featuring a 64MP main shooter (IMX787, 35mm, OIS), a 64MP ultrawide camera (IMX787, 16mm, autofocus), and a 64MP periscope shooter (91mm or ~2.6x, OIS). The camera app offers a variety of options too, such as simultaneous shooting from all three rear sensors, a macro mode via the ultrawide sensor, and 8K recording support for all three cameras (not simultaneously).

Other notable features include a “nine-layer heat dissipation system,” Bluetooth 5.2, dual stereo speakers, NFC, three microphones, Wi-Fi 6E, and ZTE’s MyOS skin atop Android 12. We’ve asked ZTE about an update pledge for the new flagship and will update our article if/when it gets back to us.

Expect to pay $799/€829/£709 for the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra when it goes on sale on June 21. However, the company says there’ll be a pre-order discount from June 8 allowing you to pay $1.99/€1.99/£1.99 for a coupon that slashes $50/€50/£40 off the sale price. Either way, this puts it in the same segment as devices like the Samsung Galaxy S22.

The Axon 40 Ultra will be available in a wide number of markets, namely Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and South Africa.