ZTE Axon

“The Axon isn’t a perfect phone, or even a perfect mid-range phone, but it’s got a lot going for it anyway. Describing it as ‘premium value’ is accurate. The build and materials used should be considered premium, and for $330 unlocked, it’s hard to argue with the Axon.Performance isn’t a concern unless you consider yourself a truly heavy-duty user, and camera inconsistencies notwithstanding, it takes good photos, some even on par or better than phones double the price. The Axon faces stiff competition from the OnePlus 2, which can be purchased for around the same price, and has a similar specification, with the benefit of a fingerprint sensor and the excellent OxygenOS installed. If you have a little more money to spend the Moto X Pure is highly recommended, along with the 32GB Axon Pro.If dealing with the carriers is against your core beliefs as a consumer, and you want something that’s unusual and truly yours without breaking the bank, the Axon is definitely worth a hard look.”

“The overall performance picture falls in line with what mid-range smartphones are typically capable of today, and the Axon is no exception. It sits nicely within that space, but doesn’t quite have enough to leapfrog ahead of the pack in every aspect. It does some things better, but not everything.Even so, it’s worth the $400 it costs to buy it outright. The problem is that it’s exclusively available to Fido customers (at $0 on a two-year contract). You could also buy it from Fido and then get it unlocked from a third-party immediately thereafter. The exclusivity is especially unfortunate, given the device is sold unlocked directly from ZTE south of the border.”