ZTE releases world’s first ‘Daydream ready’ smartphone, the Axon 7

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ZTE's new flagship phone, the Axon 7. (Image courtesy ZTE.)
ZTE’s new flagship phone, the Axon 7. (Image courtesy ZTE.)

ZTE has officially released the Axon 7, the first smartphone with support for Google’s new Daydream virtual reality platform.

Right now, it’s only available in China, but is expected to hit the US in mid-June for around $450, and will be available from ZTE itself, as well as Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and other distributors.

It has a 5.5 inch screen and 538 PPI, which is a measure of screen resolution. By comparison, the Nexus P6, which Google recommended to developers working on Daydream applications, has a 5.7 inch screen and 518 PPI. As a general rule of thumb, you want a sizeable screen and the highest PPI you can find for virtual reality.

However, while Google recommends the Nexus P6, it’s not officially considered a Daydream-ready phone, reported Road to VR.

In fact, no phones available on the market prior to the Daydream announcement are Daydream ready.

“I can tell you that there will most likely not be any ‘retroactively’ Daydream-ready phones,” Google’s VR chief Clay Bavor told Road to VR. “We want to hold a very high quality bar, and for that to happen all the components need to be just right. So, to VR fans, I would say, hold off for a few months to get your next phone… and get a Daydream-ready phone.”

He did not comment on ZTE’s Axon 7.

Read more about the Axon 7 on CNET.

ZTE also has a VR headset

ZTE has also announced its own VR headset, which is very similar in form and functionality to the Gear VR.

ZTE VR headset. (Image courtesy ZTE.)
ZTE VR headset. (Image courtesy ZTE.)

The main difference is that while the Gear VR only runs the 250-or-so apps in its Oculus store, ZTE VR will run the 1,000-plus Google Cardboard apps, and is expected to work with Daydream apps, as well.

Also, it’s a different color.

However, ZTE VR does not follow the Google Daydream reference headset design, and it will only work with ZTE phones.

Google's Daydream headset reference design. (Image courtesy Google.)
Google’s Daydream headset reference design. (Image courtesy Google.)

That means that I won’t be testing this headset out, since odds are that I won’t be buying a ZTE Axon 7 phone. I’m waiting to see what Apple will do, and what other Daydream phones and headsets will be on the market.

Maria Korolov
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