Joining the trend, ZTE also joins the folding mobiles with the Free Flip, a model that comes to become a serious alternative to other smartphones that lead the segment, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Your main argument: Some interesting specifications at a very affordable price.
Of course, in order to offer such a competitive sales price, some sacrifices must be made. In this sense, ZTE has been very sensible and the cutting scissors have focused more on aesthetic aspects than on technical ones. They have also been very clear about the target audience of this new proposal: users who do not plan to use their mobile phone to play.
Integrated
The ZTE Libero Flip belongs to the variety of foldable mobile phones that open and close just like a book. In this sense, we would be talking about a design that can already be considered as Retro (this is what folding phones were like in the late 90s), although golden with current technology and functionalities.
From an aesthetic perspective, the design of the Libero Flip is compact and elegant, but also practical thanks to its clamshell format, which makes it easy to store in your pocket. It is quite thin (7,33 mm) but somewhat heavy (214 grams). We also know that it will be Available in three colors: gold, white and blue.
Screen
As is usual in this type of mobile, the ZTE Libero Flip has double screen: one interior and one exterior, both AMOLED. The main one is a flexible HDR10+ panel (it is the one that folds when we fold the device) with a size of 6.7 inches when open and 2.7 inches when closed. Its resolution is 2790 × 1188 p, its brightness is 1.600 nits (HBM) and the refresh rate is 120 Hz.
The external screen, round in shape, is what allows us to view notifications, information on the main widgets and calls without having to open the mobile. Its size is 1,43 inches and its resolution is 466 × 466 p.
Processor and battery
One of the outstanding technical characteristics of this mobile is its processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen1, not bad for a device of this price. This chipset guarantees truly fluid performance when it comes to the most common uses.
This processor combines perfectly with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. In general, a figure that most users consider more than enough. Refering to battery, this one has a 4310 mAh capacity, which gives us an autonomy of 24 hours with moderate use. The charging type is QC4+ 33W, without the possibility of wireless charging, at least for now.
Cameras, software and connectivity
The ZTE Libero Flip camera set is made up of one 50 MP main camera at the rear. It is a sensor with enough capacity to capture high-quality photos even when we are in low-light environments. This camera is associated with a 2MP depth sensor.
On the other hand, it is necessary to highlight the presence of a 16 MP front camera for selfies and video calls.
The ZTE Libero Flip works with the customization layer My OS 12 based on Android 13. It is an intuitive interface that is very easy to use that the Chinese manufacturer has already tested successfully in other of its models.
While waiting to know more details in the official presentation, it is known that the device will have the most common connectivity options in the current landscape: 4G, 5G, VoLTE, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, USB-C v2.0, etc.
Price and launch
The ZTE Libero Flip will be released in Japan in just a few days, specifically the February 29th 2024. It will be sold in three colors: gold, white and blue.
According to information from the brand itself, there will only be a single version with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and its sales price will be 63.000 yen (about 389 euros). For a few days, users will be able to benefit from an introductory offer of 39.800 yen (about 246 euros).
This means that the Libero Flip will be cheaper than the Motorola Razr, another mid-range folding mobile phone with very similar features. In short, a bet with which ZTE aspires to make a splash, although it is not clear that it will finally reach other markets or on what dates.
Conclusion
The first folding phone from the ZTE brand could be an interesting proposal for users who intend to get their hands on a mid-range folding mobile phone, cheap but with certain guarantees. As a summary, we can make a small balance:
- Strengths: Apart from the price, we must highlight the size and quality of the screen.
- Weak points: The processor has limited power (it is not suitable for games) and the battery is somewhat small.
There are other much more complete models on the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 or the Huawei P50 Pocket, with better screens and more powerful processors, but their price doubles and even triples that of the ZTE Libero Flip.