ZTE to bring designated security chip with the Axon 40 series, Pro incoming with a 100 MP camera

2022-05-02

ZTE is introducing the Axon 40 series next Monday, and we do know it will have at least three phones - Axon 40, Axon 40 Pro, and Axon 40 Ultra. The vanilla will come with a full-screen experience thanks to a third-generation technology for an under-display front-facing camera, the Ultra will have three 64 MP shooters on the back, and now we have a spicy camera-related teaser about the Pro as well - it will have a 100 MP shooter.

The company also confirmed the series will bring a designated security chip which would elevate hardware protection to another level.

ZTE Axon 40 Pro cameraZTE Axon 40 security chip
ZTE Axon 40 Pro camera • ZTE Axon 40 security chip

The 100 MP claim likely means ZTE will implement the Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor in the Axon 40 Pro. The Korean manufacturer is currently the only company able to manufacture mobile image platforms with such high resolution, and the HM2 is the latest iteration.

The size of the sensor is 1/1.33” and it supports PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS - we expect all this tech to make it to the Axon 40 Pro. The image also showed 6 layers in front of the actual sensors, meaning it will be a proper 6P lens with an f/1.8 aperture.

ZTE Axon 40 series promo imagesZTE Axon 40 series promo images
ZTE Axon 40 series promo images

The security chip will also be a first for ZTE. While we have no details on its features, we can expect it will house sensitive data like fingerprint scanners, passwords and credit card info, so it doesn’t sit in the storage where it might be more vulnerable to attacks.

All details will be revealed in a week’s time but we expect ZTE to tease more features in the days leading to the event.

Source 1Source 2 (both in Chinese)