ZTE teases a Pro-grade 2021 successor for its under-display camera phone

ZTE recorded a world first in 2020 when it launched a new member of its Axon premium smartphone line with an under-display selfie camera. This technology might not be completely polished as yet, but certainly managed to deliver a truly edge-to-edge effect in the 20 5G (so long as its display is viewed straight-on, at least).

Now, there are hints that this kind of display will return in a 2021 device. ZTE has officially confirmed that this phone is to be called the Axon 30 Pro 5G, a name that suggests direct replacement of the 20 5G. On the other hand, its first teaser makes no mention of its screen or of special features therein.

Instead, the OEM may have chosen to focus on its rear cameras in its new Weibo post instead. The company's CEO, Ni Fei, has also taken to the same social media platform to hint at the 30 Pro 5G's "imaging system", which is apparently to be the "strongest" of 2021.

These (translated) comments are accompanied by a poster containing the upcoming Axon variant's logo, under an intriguing shape that somewhat resembles the outline of a SIM card. However, it could also be the 30 Pro's rear camera hump, which have been trending towards the massive and overwhelming in new phones thus far.

Should this really be a new ZTE mobile camera housing, it would make it both rather unique among 2021 smartphones and also potentially capable of accommodating a particularly large number of sensors (or large sensors, perhaps). The "tab" of the "SIM card" could thus be present in order to shoe-horn smaller parts such as flashes or depth sensors in.

Then again, this new official leak still gives no hint as to the Axon 30 Pro 5G's launch date, never mind any other specs. There is arguable scope for the Snapdragon 888 as a processing platform, although again nothing is definite yet.

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