The world has appeared two screen smartphone as two screens both front and back like YotaPhone, own both front screen as LG V10, LG V20. The ZTE Axon M is a bit more specific when it comes to the combination of both.
Advantages:
Two-screen smartphone with unique design.
Extreme multitasking experience owning two screens.
Disadvantages:
The experience was not good as the two separate screens were separated by two middle borders.
Performance is not high due to the use of two monitors at the same time.
Camera does not work well in low light environment.
The screen is prone to scratches due to its special design.
- Design two unique screens
The ZTE Axon M has a dual-screen design that looks almost identical to the Nintendo DS, but the other is that the two screens are on the outside.
It is important that Axon M only has one camera at the back and you have to rotate them to take regular shots or switch to selfie mode.
When looking closely at the left side of the machine looks something quite similar to the smartphone of Sony. The other side is the hinge to open the second screen.
Overall, the Axon M is quite solid, but owning two front and rear screens makes you feel extremely scared if you drop the smartphone. Maybe you will break a screen, worse than both screens.
- Experiencing two monitors at the same time is not really perfect
Axon M owns two 5.2-inch Full HD monitors, while in extended mode, we will have a 6.75 inch screen.
The best experience to use is probably multitasking, and if you use two monitors like one, most of us will feel a little uncomfortable with a black midline like this.
- Performance and Battery Life
Hardware and Specifications
The ZTE Axon M runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset, and it has a quad-core setup. Two of those Kryo cores can reach up to 2.35 GHz , while the other two are clocked up to 1.6 GHz, so it feels kind of balanced day to day. You also get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and yes it supports a microSD card so you can stretch that space up to 256GB. Overall this combo is made to keep things moving well across a range of normal, real world activities.
Day to Day Performance
Day by day , the ZTE Axon M feels decent and steady. The Snapdragon 821 gives it enough muscle for everyday stuff like web browsing, social apps and general productivity tools. In practice the phone is smooth, with only slight moments of delay, and usually no annoying stutter when you are just using it regularly.
One of the standout points is multitasking, largely because of the dual screen layout. It is easy to swap between apps, or keep two apps running next to each other, and the extended screen approach can really help if you want more room for work. With 4GB of RAM , the device can juggle several apps and background tasks, without a big drop in speed or noticeable slowdowns.
Benchmarks
In benchmark tests, the ZTE Axon M kinda performs as you’d expect from a phone that has the Snapdragon 821 chipset. On Geekbench 4 it sits at about 2,000 for single-core performance and near 5,000 for multi-core performance too. Overall these results point to solid mid-to-high-end capability, not exactly flagship territory, but still pretty aligned with other devices that run similar specs.
In 3DMark results, the Axon M turns in respectable scores which kinda suggests the Adreno 530 GPU can manage casual gaming and everyday multimedia chores without much drama. It’s not the absolute top GPU you can find, but it’s enough for most people’s needs, and that’s what really matters.
Battery Capacity and Performance
The ZTE Axon M comes with a 3180mAh battery, and honestly that’s a bit modest for something with a dual-screen setup and higher power demands overall. Battery life is still a big part of the experience here, since the form factor pushes you toward longer screen time, even when you don’t mean to.
In normal day to day use, the Axon M usually delivers moderate battery longevity. It can often get through a full day if you’re doing web browsing, social apps, watching stuff, and some work type tasks. But if you lean hard into the extended screen mode, or run demanding apps for a while, the charge can drain a lot quicker, so yeah, plan accordingly.
Charging Speed
The Axon M supports Quick Charge 3.0, this lets it recharge faster than the usual chargers so yeah it seems quicker overall. With Quick Charge 3.0 , users can refill the battery at a much faster pace, so there is less idle time and the gadget is ready for daily stuff sooner.
If you charge the battery from 0% all the way up to 100%, it usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, but it kind of depends on the charger you use and also how the device is being handled while it is charging. The fast-charging option is a pretty clear plus, it brings convenience for people who need a quick top up instead of just waiting around, and honestly that matters sometimes.
- Camera
Rear Camera
The ZTE Axon M comes with a 20MP back camera, f/1.8 aperture, plus phase detection autofocus PDAF. Basically it’s built to grab high-quality photos, with solid detail and dependable color accuracy. With that f/1.8 lens opening , low-light shots get a little more help, so you can end up with clearer images even when lighting is less than friendly.
When the scene is bright, the rear camera turns out sharp photos that look vivid, colors stay pretty on point. And the PDAF tech, does that quick focusing thing, letting the phone lock on fast so the subject stays crisply framed. You also get a bunch of shooting tools, like HDR and panorama, so users can tinker with different styles of capture , without feeling too limited.
Down in dim conditions the camera holds up decently, but yeah, some noise can show up and detail may feel a bit softer compared to higher-end phones. Still, overall the Axon M rear camera is a pretty steady choice for a mid-range device, giving good flexibility for daily photos and casual shooting.
Front Camera
The Axon M has a 20MP front camera, with an f/2.2 aperture. It is meant mostly for selfies, and also for video calls, you know the usual stuff. In real use the front camera tends to do a solid job, it gives images that look crisp and fairly detailed, not just kind of “okay”. You also get basic beauty modes and a few filters, so selfies can look a bit more polished , with skin smoothed out and facial details adjusted in a softer way.
Overall the front camera works well enough for casual selfies and day to day video calls, though it doesn’t quite reach the same depth of detail as some higher resolution front cameras you can find on newer phones. Still, that 20MP count helps keep selfies looking sharp and bright, so it’s a decent option if you care about sharing to social media or keeping in touch through calls.
- Merit plus points on Axon M
Of course, dual monitors are multitasking. You can read the newspaper, watch Youtube on two separate screens. But what I like most is playing the game and can watch Youtube to see through the screen when obstacles.
For the gamer or live stream, the Axon M is definitely a good choice when playing games that can interact with the community.
Software Experience
Operating System
The ZTE Axon M originally came out with Android 7.1 Nougat, plus ZTE’s own software tweaks , enhancements and all. Android Nougat brings a pretty steady, feature-rich system, and the ZTE changes are meant to polish things further , adding extra bits of functionality while trying to improve the whole user experience in practice.
User Interface
The Axon M’s user interface is built to feel both easy and flexible, mostly because the setup uses dual screens. The phone has a few different modes and options that are basically there to help you get the most out of it, like this:
Single Screen Mode: when the device is closed, the Axon M works like a normal smartphone. You get one 5.2-inch display, and the interface mostly matches what you’d expect from other Android phones , so apps , settings, and notifications are all straightforward.
Dual Screen Mode: when you unfold it, the device switches to two separate screens. In this setup, you can keep two apps going at the same time, drag and drop items between the screens, and use the multitasking style tools that go with it.
Extended Screen Mode: the screens can also be merged into one broader display. This is handy for things like watching videos, playing games , or working through documents. With the extended screen mode you get a more tablet-like feeling, which makes it simpler to touch, read, and manage content across a larger area.
Software Features
The ZTE Axon M’s software has a bunch of features that are meant to boost productivity and make day to day use feel a little more natural, less hassle, that sort of thing. You get things like app multitasking where the dual screens let you actually run and interact with more than one app at a time. So, for example, one screen can be showing a video, while the other is doing the whole web browsing or messaging routine. In practice it helps a lot with juggling different duties without constantly switching back and forth, which then kind of pushes the efficiency up.
Then there’s Dual View Mode , where you can mirror content across both screens, or you can send one screen for one job and keep the other screen doing something else. Like, you might read an article on one side, and on the other you have related material or even your notes sitting there, waiting. Split Screen is also supported, and that’s basically the classic “two apps at once” idea, with two applications shown next to each other on a single display. It’s especially handy for work flows like taking notes while you’re researching online, cause you don’t have to alt tab or swap windows every few seconds.
Next comes Screen Extension. In that extended screen mode the phone can run apps and media in a full-screen kind of way, and it feels more immersive. It’s good for watching videos, playing games, or even focusing on bigger documents when you need more room to spread things out.
On the performance side, the Axon M’s software is usually pretty smooth. Touch input feels responsive, and multitasking stays efficient enough that things don’t bog down immediately. The Snapdragon 821 chipset with 4GB RAM also helps, so you can keep multiple apps active and do normal tasks without running into major lag or obvious slowdowns. Plus the custom software tweaks from ZTE fit the dual screen concept, so it’s easier to move around and actually use the device’s special setup rather than feeling like everything is awkwardly stitched together.
Connectivity and Additional Features
Connectivity Options
The ZTE Axon M gives a pretty solid set of connectivity options so you can remain plugged in and reach different networks and services, without much fuss. It handles Network Connectivity with 4G LTE ,so browsing, streaming, and downloading feel quick and smooth. You still get 3G and 2G support too, which helps keep it compatible with a broad set of carriers, even when the coverage is not the best.
For Wi‑Fi the phone supports Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, letting you jump onto wireless internet wherever it’s available. In day to day use the Wi‑Fi performance feels reliable, the links stay steady, and the signal strength is generally pretty decent. There’s also Bluetooth 4.2, that supports wireless pairing with accessories like headphones, speakers, and smartwatches, and it tends to stay stable, with a good range and not too much interference.
On top of that, there’s GPS built in, for location tracking and navigation tasks. GPS behavior is usually trustworthy, with reasonably quick satellite lock and positioning that comes across as accurate.
Additional Features
There’s a Fingerprint Sensor on the back, offering a more secure and convenient unlock routine. It’s responsive and seems accurate, so you can open the phone quickly with just a simple touch. The device also includes a USB Type-C port ,used for charging plus data transfer. That Type‑C connection supports fast charging and keeps data movement efficient, which makes the whole experience feel a bit more modern.
For audio , the Axon M comes with a 3.5mm headphone socket , so if you want wired listening it can work, no special adapters really needed. As for the output it’s good overall, with pretty clear sound and a volume level that’s adequate for most situations, honestly.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Innovative Design: The dual-screen setup on the Axon M feels kind of fresh, giving a more flexible user experience , so multitasking becomes easier and multimedia looks more immersive.
Good Build Quality: It has a solid build with premium materials , plus a durable hinge mechanism that should last, and stay dependable over time.
Multitasking Capabilities: Running multiple apps at once is pretty smooth, and the expanded screen mode adds both productivity plus that “just- for- fun” entertainment vibe.
Fast Charging: Quick Charge 3.0 is kinda helpful, it makes the device charge faster, so you spend less time waiting around…
Fingerprint Sensor: The fingerprint sensor, located on the back panel is secure and convenient, easy to reach in a hurry and pretty straightforward to use.
Cons
Bulkiness: Because of the dual screen arrangement , it ends up thicker and heavier than normal smartphones, and that may mess with portability and comfort.
Battery Life: The 3180mAh battery might not be enough for heavy users, especially if you keep the extended screen going for long stretches .
Camera Performance: The rear and front cameras are decent, sure, but they probably won’t match higher-end devices for image quality or features.
Limited Software Updates: The Axon M software may get updates less often than more mainstream phones , which can impact the overall experience and also security.
Conclusion
The ZTE Axon M is kinda an ambitious, still pretty creative take on smartphone design, mainly because it brings that dual-screen setup which gives you a quite specific kind of multitasking and multimedia enjoyment. The build quality feels sturdy enough, and day to day performance is solid, you get a smooth user interface and touch response that feels quick. With the two displays working together, the overall experience can feel more immersive and also more flexible, so it can be a good choice for people who really care about productivity, along with multimedia stuff.
That said, the Axon M is also not totally free of issues. It can feel bulky in the hand, and the battery life lands in the “okay, not amazing” zone which could bother some users. Also, the camera results, though fine for casual use, probably wont satisfy anyone expecting top tier photographic performance. Even with those limits, the ZTE Axon M still stands out as a notable and distinctive phone in the market, it basically gives you a look at where foldable and multi-screen tech might head next.
All in all, the ZTE Axon M is a singular and inventive device that targets users who want to try out fresh smartphone styles and practical functions. That dual-screen arrangement delivers a bunch of advantages for handling multiple apps and enjoying media, so it can be a worthwhile pick if you want a more adaptable and immersive mobile experience, compared to the usual single display phones.
ZTE AXON M DUAL SCREEN ATT UNLOCKED CELL PHONE MODEL Z999: Buy it now
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.