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ZTE Blade V9 passes through FCC, set for an MWC launch?
The handset is coming with 2 GB RAM / 16 GB ROM and 3 GB RAM / 32 GB ROM memory versions, running Android 8.0 Oreo with the January security patches.
This news follows the reveal of the V9 on the official ZTE website in December. That listing was quickly pulled, but with the promotional materials ready, and the device hitting the FCC, it looks like the V9 could be shaping up for an MWC 2018 launch. Find out more in the original coverage below.
Previous coverage (12/28): It’s almost been a year since ZTE announced the Blade V8, which lacked the Pro moniker but remained a solid option for those not wanting to break the bank. Fast forward to today, and someone at ZTE must have jumped the gun a bit, because the product page for the Blade V9 went up for a bit before being taken down.
Even with the page no longer available, TechAndroids was still able to get all the information about ZTE’s upcoming smartphone. That information starts with the Blade V9 being the company’s first phone to feature an 18:9 aspect display, which possibly brings the 5.7-inch display to a 2160 x 1080 resolution. There still appears to be a good amount of bezel above and below the display, so take that as you will.
Above the display sits a 13 MP selfie shooter, while a dual 16 MP and 5 MP camera system is found around back. Interestingly, only the 16 MP sensor is capable of autofocus — the 5 MP camera has a fixed-focus lens — so we assume that secondary camera is used for depth information than anything else.
Under the hood sit Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 chipset and either 2 GB, 3 GB, or 4 GB of RAM. We assume the amount of RAM corresponds with the amount of internal storage, since there are also three options to pick from: 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB. Regardless of the choice, the microSD card slot will net you additional storage, should you need it.
MicroUSB is what you’ll use to charge the phone, and all I can do about that is sigh. Ending on higher notes, the 3,200 mAh battery should be sufficient for all-day use, while Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box is always a good thing.
The question now becomes when the Blade V9 will be announced and for how much. My money is on an announcement during CES 2018, seeing how the product page briefly went up, and given the specifications, don’t expect to pay more than $300. We’ll find out for sure once the annual meet-up gets rolling, so stay tuned as we deliver all the news from the ground floor at Las Vegas.