Overall love

[shirakani]

2 weeks owner from Note4 as well. This is also my SECOND china/south east asia phone purchase.... First was the Zenphone3 Deluxe which came with an extremely clean almost stock ROM which was excellent. But due to no dev scene/root for that phone yet, I bought the 6gb/128gb Axon 7 as there was a root method available.... I'm one of those that MUST have root so I can kill Google Aids (ads) among other things.

One can only imagine my first extreme disappointment with MiFavor4's bloat, which very quickly turned to irritation, then extreme annoyance, then outright burning hatred. I HATED this phone within the first few hours, unlike the Z3D and was cursing ZTE to every known unholy realm of undeath for unleashing this level of bloat GARBAGE of a UI/Launcher on ANYONE... But, then I remembered aha, I bought this coz I could root etc etc etc.... So I immediately grabbed the equivalent of a chainsaw and went to work.

Fast forward to now, after finally completely gutting out MiFail4 and making NovaLauncher the default.... having root achieved plus unlocked bootloader and all of my entire laundry list of 'required tweaks and changes' done to the phone... I can safely say it is an excellent device that, the more I use, the more I grow to love. It is definitely first class hardware and aesthetics, top class... world class design and hardware.... dragged down to the absolute pits by a horrendous piece of utter GARBAGE custom UI/Launcher/OS that has absolutely no right to exist...

My rating for this phone, with MiFail4 completely utterly removed and root/unlocked bootloader = 9/10, easily.
My rating for this phone if you are forced to use MiFail4 = Just return the damn thing and buy something else...... spare yourself.

 

[ipmanwck]

2 weeks owner from Note4 as well. This is also my SECOND china/south east asia phone purchase.... First was the Zenphone3 Deluxe which came with an extremely clean almost stock ROM which was excellent. But due to no dev scene/root for that phone yet, I bought the 6gb/128gb Axon 7 as there was a root method available.... I'm one of those that MUST have root so I can kill Google Aids (ads) among other things.

One can only imagine my first extreme disappointment with MiFavor4's bloat, which very quickly turned to irritation, then extreme annoyance, then outright burning hatred. I HATED this phone within the first few hours, unlike the Z3D and was cursing ZTE to every known unholy realm of undeath for unleashing this level of bloat GARBAGE of a UI/Launcher on ANYONE... But, then I remembered aha, I bought this coz I could root etc etc etc.... So I immediately grabbed the equivalent of a chainsaw and went to work.

Fast forward to now, after finally completely gutting out MiFail4 and making NovaLauncher the default.... having root achieved plus unlocked bootloader and all of my entire laundry list of 'required tweaks and changes' done to the phone... I can safely say it is an excellent device that, the more I use, the more I grow to love. It is definitely first class hardware and aesthetics, top class... world class design and hardware.... dragged down to the absolute pits by a horrendous piece of utter GARBAGE custom UI/Launcher/OS that has absolutely no right to exist...

My rating for this phone, with MiFail4 completely utterly removed and root/unlocked bootloader = 9/10, easily.
My rating for this phone if you are forced to use MiFail4 = Just return the damn thing and buy something else...... spare yourself.

Could you share your list of must haves with root ?

I stopped rooting phones after the s4 and am interested now what are the major things which would improve the phone. Mines a USA model not arrived yet though.

 

[shirakani]

Root is mostly to:

1) Remove unwanted system apps/background processes and garbage like MiFail4
2) Disable or block (or both) Google Ads, and any sort of ads in general
3) Allows you to replace system apps w/ better options.... say if there's a better messaging app or camera app or what not, you can't replace the stock one w/o root

There's other things but the top 3 are above, the rest is up to the individual. Unlocking the bootloader also lets you play around with other region ROMs safely. I have yet to try the USA ROM, which may be better/less garbage'd than the stock China one, who knows....

 

[ipmanwck]

Root is mostly to:

1) Remove unwanted system apps/background processes and garbage like MiFail4
2) Disable or block (or both) Google Ads, and any sort of ads in general
3) Allows you to replace system apps w/ better options.... say if there's a better messaging app or camera app or what not, you can't replace the stock one w/o root

There's other things but the top 3 are above, the rest is up to the individual. Unlocking the bootloader also lets you play around with other region ROMs safely. I have yet to try the USA ROM, which may be better/less garbage'd than the stock China one, who knows....

I have heard the USA version has better software but doubt by much. My issue is I need banking apps to work and previously I root it breaks the apps even if I turn off root to make them work.

 

[shirakani]

I have heard the USA version has better software but doubt by much. My issue is I need banking apps to work and previously I root it breaks the apps even if I turn off root to make them work.

Yeah depending on your needs, root may not be for you. Root has always been a double edged sword and a thorn in the side of corporations who want to maintain security of walled gardens.

Either way, YMMV on what you will get out of rooting if you choose to do it.

 

[presley07]

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the ZTE Axon 7, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the ZTE Axon 7 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.

Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

I am falling in love with this phone but it is hard to let go of 6p, all things considered I think this might be a better phone, we'll see as time goes

 

[eMadman]

Some quirks in UI decisions that ZTE made which make no sense, but generally speaking, it'm pretty happy

 

[tranemonk33]

I have both the Axon 7 and the Nexus 6p and I'm having a very hard time deciding whether or not to keep or sell the Nexus 6p. Both are really good but the Axon seems to be getting much better battery life.

I am falling in love with this phone but it is hard to let go of 6p, all things considered I think this might be a better phone, we'll see as time goes

---------- Post added at 11:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------

Not to mention the damn Pixel phone looks like an iPhone. They should have stuck with Huawei.

Google are having a joke with these pixel phones. I honestly am so shocked at what they are trying to sell..... Can you imagine trying to sell the phone of you worked in a mobile phone shop. Ois - no, micro sd card - no, good speakers - No , sleek design with small bezels - No and what were they thinking !!!! Why are the bezels so big. Someone at Google should be sacked for this crap the phones this year are
LG v20
S7 and S7 Edge
isheep 7 plus (sorry I couldn't resist but it's a good phone the best one yet and its magical )
Axon 7
One plus 3

No order however v20 is gonna be a sleeper hit along with axon 7.

I am actually really disappointed after the great nexus 6p. :crying:

 

[presley07]

I have both the Axon 7 and the Nexus 6p and I'm having a very hard time deciding whether or not to keep or sell the Nexus 6p. Both are really good but the Axon seems to be getting much better battery life.

I have now let the 6p rest, I am using the a7 all the time since I got the camera issue resolved. This is a better phone, but will keep my 6p

 

[tranemonk33]

I'm really struggling with this one. I have a hard time keeping a $500 phone (Nexus 6p) I don't use even if it is really good. I'm SO disappointed with Google on this Pixel biz. Took a big step back and they're going to make a lot more $.

I have now let the 6p rest, I am using the a7 all the time since I got the camera issue resolved. This is a better phone, but will keep my 6p

 

[presley07]

I'm really struggling with this one. I have a hard time keeping a $500 phone (Nexus 6p) I don't use even if it is really good. I'm SO disappointed with Google on this Pixel biz. Took a big step back and they're going to make a lot more $.

We will get android 7.1 soon enough and side load all this pixel stuff, you'll see

 

[iamian36]

It's got some quirks but I'm enjoying my firs non-Sammy phone.

 

[LeKeiser]

2 Days with it and i'm pleased with this device ( coming from LG G4 H811 ) what will make me love even more and keep it till the SD823 or SD830 devices will be Unlock Bootloader + Root, having the ability to Change DPI per App with Xposed (miss Gravity Box and App Settings ) is a HUGE plus , but let hope for ZTE to release an OTA with unlock bootloader



you either Turn it on using the App in your Drawer or in your ZTE Music player

Hello
Damned, I can't find the icon of the Dolby app.... I can access it through the music app, or in the settings, but otherwise, can' find it anywhere else

 

[daedren]

Hello
Damned, I can't find the icon of the Dolby app.... I can access it through the music app, or in the settings, but otherwise, can' find it anywhere else

You can use Nova Launcher for that. Go to widgets -> Nova -> Nova Launcher Activities -> Dolby -> Dolby Main Activity et voilà!

 

[LeKeiser]

You can use Nova Launcher for that. Go to widgets -> Nova -> Nova Launcher Activities -> Dolby -> Dolby Main Activity et voilà!

Hello daedren
I haven't installed Nova Launcher, and to tell you the truth, I do like the MiFavor interface, I got used to it and...
Would there be a way to get back that icon using MiFavor then? Weird that it disapeared...

 

[thefiqs]

I have mixed feeling with this phone.
However, I like the build quality, the screen itself, the sound quality of the speakers pretty much and Dolby Atmos is superb.
I'm not pleased with the volume using earphones. It should have been higher output level trough the 3.5mm connector than other phones. But still isn't so loud as my LG G4 using my HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2. And I don't know why, but people have very good experience with the overall speed of the phone, but not me. It has lag, even in the app drawer for me, using Nova Prime. Over and above I'm not happy with the signal strength of the handset and the features of the fingerprint reader should be much better. (This is only my 2nd phone with FR but I'm telling you, the Huawei P9 has much more features using the scanner.)

 

[ipmanwck]

I have mixed feeling with this phone.
However, I like the build quality, the screen itself, the sound quality of the speakers pretty much and Dolby Atmos is superb.
I'm not pleased with the volume using earphones. It should have been higher output level trough the 3.5mm connector than other phones. But still isn't so loud as my LG G4 using my HiSoundAudio Wooduo 2. And I don't know why, but people have very good experience with the overall speed of the phone, but not me. It has lag, even in the app drawer for me, using Nova Prime. Over and above I'm not happy with the signal strength of the handset and the features of the fingerprint reader should be much better. (This is only my 2nd phone with FR but I'm telling you, the Huawei P9 has much more features using the scanner.)

When I had the USA version the output on the 3.5 was so loud I could not even put it to the maximum. Shame I had to return it but it was faulty waiting for my European version now and will test it with my klipsch x10 in ears and hope it will be loud enough because with my lg g4 they are really quiet and output level is crap..

Update -
Got my global model and have been using my klipsch x10s which unfortunately do not get loud enough with the phone there is a significant difference with loudness between the USA and global models. What helps is if I use a different set of headphones which at actually really good called KZ-ATE-hifi. The difference is the later has dedicated drivers where the x10s are really tiny and rely on whatever you plug it into. Looks like I will have to re purchase a USA model somehow. Pain but it's so annoying when the volume doesn't get quite high enough !!

 

[dodo34]

i am wondering why ZTE has not put the fingerprint reader in front?

How to unlock the phone with fingerprint when it is in the car holder ?

 

[LeKeiser]

i am wondering why ZTE has not put the fingerprint reader in front?

How to unlock the phone with fingerprint when it is in the car holder ?

lots of people, like me, prefer it on the back of the phone, easier when you have it in your hand. Dunno, matter of taste. Maybe there should be two fingerprint readers?

 

[Masterjuggler]

I personally like having the fingerprint reader on the back. It makes it easier to unlock it without changing hand positions. I'm not sure why you'd have your phone in the car dock with the screen turned off in the first place. The screen stays on with the gps going. If the gps isn't on, It's in my pocket, not being used because I'm driving.

One issue for me is the fingerprint reader needs to be reset every few days. I know exactly what the reason is, and I really can't blame ZTE for this one. My fingerprints get mangled all the time due to using hand and power tools all day. I actually lost the fingerprint on my right index finger after some sanding work, and now only my left hand can unlock my phone via fingerprint reader. I've been using the PIN a lot recently *shrug*