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

ZTE's new flagship phone, the Axon 7. (Image courtesy ZTE.) [1]
ZTE’s new flagship phone, the Axon 7. (Image courtesy ZTE.)

ZTE has officially released the Axon 7 [2], the first smartphone with support for Google’s new Daydream virtual reality platform [3].

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 [4].

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 [5].

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.) [6]
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.) [7]
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.