ZTE confirms it will launch its third-gen under-display camera smartphone soon in one of Weibo's most unique teasers to date

ZTE is something of a pioneer in the mobile under-display camera (or UDC) camera space, getting to this kind of truly edge-to-edge screen in its Axon 20 smartphone long before Samsung and Xiaomi got there with the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Mi Mix 4 flagships. Now, it seems this device's third-gen descendant has inherited this probably on-trend feature.

The Axon 40 has reportedly appeared in a highly unique in-the-wild leak that may set the presence of its new UDC panel in stone. It has been spotted by famous leaker Digital Chat Station in the news outlet Xinhuanet's coverage of the Shenzhou 13 mission, brought to a successful end on April 15, 2022.

The Axon 40 was apparently used as the 'official' smartphone to connect the 3 astronauts involved to Xinhuanet's studio, in a manner that clearly showed its new and punch-hole-free screen off. This official leak may thus have proven an innovative way to tease the smartphone.

It may also serve to establish that not only are we already in a place in which space-travel is sponsored by electronics companies, but that 2022's Axon-brand UDC panel has curved edges. The phone is still slated to be revealed in full in April 2022.