ZTE Axon 9 pictured in a new leak, rumoured to receive flagship specs


ZTE Axon 9

The ZTE Axon 9 will eventually succeed the successful ZTE Axon 7/7s this year. With the company CEO basically confirming there won’t be a number 8 in their flagship lineup, it means that ZTE Axon 9 will be the next ZTE torchbearer.

A new set of images has now surfaced that give us a pretty good look at the upcoming premium handset. The images sourced from Weibo show what is an expected design in 2018. The Axon 9 maintains some physical traits of its predecessor including the circular capacitive home button flanked by two other keys. Notably, the front speaker grill has gone missing to be replaced by a back placed speaker. This might disappoint some as the sound quality of the ZTE Axon 7 was top notch.

Gizchina News of the week


Dual cameras retain their position and are accompanied by dual lenses at the front this time around. More importantly, the handset might employ the new Synaptics fingerprint reader like the Vivo X20 Plus UD.

Also, the ZTE Axon 9 won’t compromise on firepower if this leak is to believed. It will be armed with the latest Snapdragon 845 SoC and a AMOLED QHD+ display with 2880 x 1440p resolution. Also, the rear camera is rumoured to be a 20MP snapper. The handset is tipped to house 4GB/6GB RAM. Further, in terms of storage 64GB/128GB/256GB options will supposedly be introduced.

The ZTE Axon 7 was announced in 2016 and it launched in mid-year. If ZTE continues that history, then we might see a device around June 2018. Finally, the handset might be priced between $550 and $629.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Previous Here's the winner of the KOOLNEE K1 Trio (6GB + 128GB)!
Next Xiaomi Mi 7 Renderings Look Quite Realistic

28 Comments

  1. David Martrano
    February 12, 2018

    Will it keep it’s stereo speakers. They are very good. One of the best!

  2. gogulica000
    February 12, 2018

    That’s not the Axon 9… It’s just another phone without the iconic front stereo speakers…

  3. Nishikanta
    February 12, 2018

    If no dual dac and front speakers it’s not axon

    • Jay
      February 13, 2018

      Fully agree. The DACs on the Axon 7 were terrific! Hope they don’t compromise on audio.

  4. David Martrano
    February 12, 2018

    Will it keep it’s stereo speakers. They are very good. One of the best!

  5. gogulica000
    February 12, 2018

    That’s not the Axon 9… It’s just another phone without the iconic front stereo speakers…

  6. d340b
    February 12, 2018

    I’m using the Axon 7 but was planning on a 9. Not gonna happen since good speakers are gone.

  7. LazarusLives
    February 12, 2018

    Why do these manufacturers consistently not listen to their customers. We love the front stereo speakers! Do not get rid of them!

  8. Nishikanta
    February 12, 2018

    If no dual dac and front speakers it’s not axon

    • Jay
      February 13, 2018

      Fully agree. The DACs on the Axon 7 were terrific! Hope they don’t compromise on audio.

  9. Arefin
    February 12, 2018

    One of the key feature of Axon lineup was front facing stereo speakers. Not lot of phone has this feature though people love them. So why the heck are they getting rid of that???

  10. Cesc Fabregas
    February 12, 2018

    they dont get that brand consitency also means design refining! not every year complete change all.. look at samsung and apple !!
    people are too stupid =(
    is that a plastic back????????

  11. d340b
    February 12, 2018

    I’m using the Axon 7 but was planning on a 9. Not gonna happen since good speakers are gone.

  12. LazarusLives
    February 12, 2018

    Why do these manufacturers consistently not listen to their customers. We love the front stereo speakers! Do not get rid of them!

  13. Arefin
    February 12, 2018

    One of the key feature of Axon lineup was front facing stereo speakers. Not lot of phone has this feature though people love them. So why the heck are they getting rid of that???

  14. Cesc Fabregas
    February 12, 2018

    they dont get that brand consitency also means design refining! not every year complete change all.. look at samsung and apple !!
    people are too stupid =(
    is that a plastic back????????

  15. Kurt Edward
    February 13, 2018

    The front facing speakers are exactly why i chose this brand, without them i will not be upgrading, sorry ZTE!

  16. Garett Wolff
    February 13, 2018

    Axon 7 is the second best android I’ve ever owned behind the Essential PH1. And I’ve owned dozens of androids from the pixel XL 1 and 2, galaxy s8, moto z force, nexus (from 5-6P), LG G6 etc…So I have had plenty of competitors to compare the axon to and yet no flagship sans the Essential can touch it. Truly ahead of its time (even with the ~80% screen to body ratio)

    iPhone X and the Essential are the only two phones that beat it in every hardware category (although the audio on the axon 7 may be superior to essential)

    Cannot wait for the Axon 9. Soo psyched!!

  17. Kurt Edward
    February 13, 2018

    The front facing speakers are exactly why i chose this brand, without them i will not be upgrading, sorry ZTE!

  18. Krystalmyth
    February 13, 2018

    LoL the one reason the Axon 7 did well at all they’re going to get rid of… For a BACK speaker? I can’t remember a phone with a back speaker since 2012…. I’m going to assume this is fake and respect ZTE as not entirely fielded by idiots. They have to know that would be the dumbest thing ever for a flagship to have. I know. The Axon M. Still… They’re not a small company. I respect them too much for this.

  19. Garett Wolff
    February 13, 2018

    Axon 7 is the second best android I’ve ever owned behind the Essential PH1. And I’ve owned dozens of androids from the pixel XL 1 and 2, galaxy s8, moto z force, nexus (from 5-6P), LG G6 etc…So I have had plenty of competitors to compare the axon to and yet no flagship sans the Essential can touch it. Truly ahead of its time (even with the ~80% screen to body ratio)

    iPhone X and the Essential are the only two phones that beat it in every hardware category (although the audio on the axon 7 may be superior to essential)

    Cannot wait for the Axon 9. Soo psyched!!

  20. Krystalmyth
    February 13, 2018

    LoL the one reason the Axon 7 did well at all they’re going to get rid of… For a BACK speaker? I can’t remember a phone with a back speaker since 2012…. I’m going to assume this is fake and respect ZTE as not entirely fielded by idiots. They have to know that would be the dumbest thing ever for a flagship to have. I know. The Axon M. Still… They’re not a small company. I respect them too much for this. Phone looks like it’s plastic. Haha.

  21. Ordinary Geek
    February 14, 2018

    There’s no way this is an accurate picture. Must be a different phone in the Axon lineup.

  22. Ordinary Geek
    February 14, 2018

    There’s no way this is an accurate picture. Must be a different phone in the Axon lineup.

  23. beachtrax
    February 15, 2018

    If you have ever used a Google Daydream View with the Axon 7 the front facing speakers really add to the experience. Hope they keep them.

  24. beachtrax
    February 15, 2018

    If you have ever used a Google Daydream View with the Axon 7 the front facing speakers really add to the experience. Hope they keep them.

  25. dg54321
    February 16, 2018

    If true, then the Axon 7 will be the first, and last, phone I ever buy from ZTE. They just don’t listen to their customers on what they want.

    The Axon 7 apparently was a fluke, rather than the rule.

  26. dg54321
    February 16, 2018

    If true, then the Axon 7 will be the first, and last, phone I ever buy from ZTE. They just don’t listen to their customers on what they want.

    The Axon 7 apparently was a fluke, rather than the rule.