ZTE announces Canadian availability of the Axon on Fido

On Tuesday ZTE held an event in Toronto to announce their launch of the ZTE Axon.  We had heard about this for a while, but nothing about when or if it was coming to Canada.

Well, it's now an exclusive for Fido customers.  (press release below)

I'm looking forward to testing this out.  QuickCharge will definitely be a desired feature.  32GB storage is now my minimum.  Free on a plan or $400 outright.  Not bad for the price.

What do you think of it?

Meet Axon, a phone made entirely with you in mind

ZTE launches the first smartphone in Canada with Hi-Fi audio in a you-focused revolution

TORONTO, ON – October 28, 2015 — ZTE, the fourth-largest smartphone supplier in North America, today announced the ZTE Axon, a phone designed with you entirely in mind. Much like the axon nerves that help keep the mind and body connected, the ZTE Axon is the nerve center of everything you do.

“With 44% of Canadian smartphones running Google’s Android platform, the Canadian market is an increasingly important one for ZTE’s global success,” said Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE North America. “Axon is not only our flagship series; it is a revolution for all smartphone consumers. We put consumers at the heart of everything we design, build and deliver so we listened when consumers told us that they wanted a better sound experience, bringing the first smartphone with Hi-Fi audio to North America. And we listened when consumers told us they wanted a better camera experience so we delivered a dual-lens camera to give fast auto focus. Celebrating 10 years in Canada, ZTE is excited to continue to offer Canadians choices when looking for a premium device at an affordable price.”

The ZTE Axon is available exclusively at Fido for $0 on a two-year Tab24 agreement on a Smart plan, $100 on a two-year Tab24 agreement on a Standard plan or $400 without a Tab24 agreement.

First smartphone in North America with Hi-Fi sound

Excellent sound quality was a feature missing from other smartphones. In a North American first, Axon features two dedicated audio chipsets that allow you to experience in-ear sound quality unlike anything you've ever experienced in a smartphone. High-quality sound playback and balanced harmonics gives you a deep sense of atmosphere like you're right there with your favourite band.

You can also record in Hi-Fi with advanced noise reduction, dual microphones, auto level controllers and long-distance voice pickup. Whether you're making calls or recording music to send or share, it will sound better with Axon.

Captures 4K high quality video and action shots so you don’t miss a beat

Dual rear-cameras capture high-resolution images and videos that can be viewed or played on a 4K TV. The second lens delivers advanced functionality such as sophisticated bokeh photography effects. A large f/1.8 aperture that spans to f/1.0 helps produce quality images in low-light settings. The dual cameras auto focus in milliseconds and a fast shutter speed at 1/90,000 of a second can capture and freeze frame a moving subject with crisp details and clarity.

Photo adjustments can be made in real-time with multiple camera modes and filters. With a dedicated camera button and the ability to refocus before and after a shot is taken, you can capture moments that had previously passed you by.

A style icon that fits in your pocket

Axon was designed with the consumer in mind. The premium metal and glass casing evoke a fashion forward design with a modern colour that together, are best described as urban prestige.

The distinctive grill pattern highlights standout phone features that grab attention without shouting. Ergonomic button placement, a smooth metal casing, and glass Full HD display make the phone marvelous to hold and use.

Delivers a premium experience every time you use it

The performance is smooth and never hesitates when delivering the content you need when you need it. Axon comes ready with the latest Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system, powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB memory, and a large 3000 mAh battery with Quick Charge™ 2.0.

ZTE Axon Product Specifications

Audio	Hi-Fi Audio Chipset		AKM 4961
	Microphone		2-microphone noise suppression with Hi-Fi Recording
Battery	3000 mAh		Quick-charge 2.0
Connectivity	Bands High-Speed Data		Optimized for Rogers/FIDO LTE networks LTE B2/B4/B5/B7/B12/B17 USM/HSPA  850/1700/1900/2100 MHz GSM/EDGE  850/900/1800/1900 MHz CA      Band 4 +  Band 17/12 LTE (Cat 4)
Dimensions (HxWxD)	154.69  x 75.24 x 9.7mm  (6.09" x 2.96" x 0.38")
Display	5.5"  IPS LCD
	Resolution: 1920x1080 Full HD PPI 401 Antimicrobial Corning® Gorilla® Glass
OS/Platform	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Memory	2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM
Materials	Metal back cover (aluminum)
Photo & Video	Rear-Facing Camera Front-Facing Camera Video Capture		Dual lens 13MP + 2MP, Dual LED Flash 4K UHD resolution 8MP, 88 degree wide-angle 1080p Full HD resolution 4K UHD resolution (25 FPS) 1080p FHD (30 FPS) 720p HD (120 FPS)
Processor	2.3 GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
SIM Card	Nano (4FF)
Weight	170 g (6.0 oz)