When you start shopping for smartphones, your head might spin looking at the Chinese manufacturers' offerings alone. Between OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi, the options go on and on. Still, Chinese developers and manufacturers are working hard to understand and refine the modern smartphone user's every need at a highly competitive price. Each brand is working to break Apple's and Samsung's two-way stranglehold on the mobile market. But it seems like ZTE is raising the bar even higher with the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.

Fetching a price in the mid-$700 range, this is not a budget smartphone. So make sure to explore top extended smartphone warranties with accident protection to protect your new device.

Let's see what the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra has to offer you.

As a partially state-run Chinese technology corporation, ZTE has specialized in telecommunications, terminals and networks since 1985. So the company isn't new to serving consumer technology needs. Now today, the brand's core focus lies in wireless, data telecommunications equipment, telecommunications software, exchange, optical transmission, and, of course, mobile phones.

By the early 2010s, ZTE was already an early leader in mobile technology, noted as the fourth-largest mobile phone vendor in 2012. The company has followed plenty of industry-leading trends, adding its own twist, and has stayed competitive for over a decade. However, the push to take a bit out of Apple and Samsung monopolies is strong. According to Ben Sin at Forbes, "The recent springtime flagship releases from Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo and Oppo are so good they’re all in a virtual tie with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as the best Androids of 2021 so far." That means ZTE needs to deliver with the new ZTE Axon 30 Ultra.

As the flagship line for ZTE, Axon has a lot of weight on its shoulders going head-to-head with all competitors this spring and summer. From all accounts, the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra delivers on multiple fronts. You'll find plenty to appreciate in this smartphone, such as, first and foremost, its flagship-level performance that features a beautiful, high-quality screen. But there's a lot more going on with this phone, good and not so great.

Let's take a deeper look at all the reasons to give this contender a shot and some issues to consider carefully.

Released in April 2021, critics and consumers have had a few months to check out this latest ZTE offering to see how it stands on its own merits. The first thing to consider is that this is a high-end device that fits right in with the rest of the cool kids' devices and checks off all the right hardware boxes on your list.

Take a look at the top specs and features:

One of the most compelling reasons to consider this smartphone over the competition, along with all its high-end specs and features, is the price. Starting at $749 where competitors lead at the $1,000 mark, ZTE has its sights set on edging the competition with quality and a significantly lower price. It's tough to beat.

The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra features all the hardware you need and want. However, the ZTE has left out a few flagship features to make the necessary cuts to stay in such an attractive price range. Two prime examples of the smartphone's shortcomings include the lack of an IP rating for water resistance and no wireless charging.

The next piece of information might be a deal-breaker for some: the mobile phone only works on T-Mobile and AT&T mobile service plans but not on Verizon. Further, 5G T-Mobile is limited to one brand.

There are some issues that might seem subtle to some, if even noticeable at all, depending on your goals and phone usage. The mild bugs aren't something that would stand out when reviewing specs and features, but when in use, you might recognize them.

Allison Johnson from The Verge cites the novel camera array as a pretty big letdown, for instance. A few additional issues include:

Whether the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra meets your specifications depends on how you like to use your smartphone and the carrier you use. However, if you can get past some bugs and a few omissions, you'll love the overall experience with this mobile phone that costs substantially less than the competition.

In an ever-expanding market, it becomes more challenging to determine which smartphone is best for you. No matter which one you choose, protect yourself from any issues you might experience by investing in an Upsie subscription insurance plan. Upsie will help you feel confident and happy knowing that your phone is protected from unexpected accidents and malfunctions.