Foldable smartphone makers are trying immensely hard to bring down the manufacturing cost of their devices, but so far, it has been an arduous journey. Fortunately, ZTE, a Chinese firm, could be looking to change all of that with the Libero Flip, a clamshell device that sports decent specifications, but its most attractive feature is its sub-$500 price tag. This particular model is currently available for pre-order at an even lower price, but unfortunately, it will likely be out of your reach geographically.
The Libero Flip costs $420 using direct currency conversion, but if you live in Japan, you can pre-order ZTE’s clamshell phone for just $265
Looking at the specifications, it is clear that ZTE is not marketing the Libero Flip to those who want the absolute best in Android smartphone hardware. The foldable handset is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series chip, along with a tall, 6.9-inch, 2790 x 1188 OLED panel that is slightly bigger than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5. Another area where it manages to trump the Korean giant’s premium foldable offering is the battery capacity, as the Libero Flip sports a 4,310mAh cell, which should be sufficient to last you the entire day, but that will depend on your mileage.
To make the smartphone experience a little less painful to use on a day-to-day basis, ZTE has incorporated a small, 466 x 466 resolution circular cover screen that measures 1.43 inches and can be used for widgets or when you want to fire up that selfie shooter. Another specification where the Libero Flip takes a hit is the RAM department, as it sports just 6GB of memory, whereas even mid-rangers ship with 8GB. Coming to the camera setup, there is a 50MP main unit, followed by a 2MP depth sensor, and at the front, you get a 16MP selfie cutout.
You will also get 128GB onboard storage, with the Libero Flip running Android 13 right off the bat, and supports decent wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. For those who want to top up the battery really quickly, ZTE’s affordable foldable smartphone can charge at 33W through the USB-C port. In terms of water resistance, the Libero Flip is only IP42 certified, so it is not recommended that you start using it even under light rainfall.
At the time of writing, ZTE Libero Flip’s pre-order price comes in at $265, making it one of the most affordable pieces of portable computing hardware you can get your hands on now. Sadly, if you do not live in Japan, it is unlikely that you can purchase it, but you can try your luck and place an overseas order.
News Source: Ymobile
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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