ZTE Libero Flip: The cheapest foldable to date is exclusive to Japan
The Japanese smartphone market is a fascinating place where we can marvel at devices that, unfortunately, will never be available in our market. This exact scenario is probably also the case with the new ZTE Libero Flip. The competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 has a big trick up its sleeve: it is the cheapest foldable on the market to date. ZTE’s list price is JPY 63,000 (€388/$420). However, those who pre-order will receive a hefty discount, bringing the final price down to JPY 39,800 (€245/$265). This makes it by far the cheapest folding phone on the market.
The ZTE Libero Flip has a 6.9-inch foldable OLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 1.43-inch round cover display with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. The secondary screen, called Sub Display, can be used to answer calls, control media playback, or use it as a viewfinder for the 50-megapixel main rear camera. There is also only a 2 megapixel depth sensor and of course the 16 megapixel front camera in a punchhole cutout.
ZTE has also included a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The smartphone launches Android 13 with the ZTE interface, which also integrates some foldable features, such as the separation of menu items on both sides of the main foldable display.
A 4,310 mAh battery that charges with up to 33 watts via Quick Charge 4+ and PD 3.0 keeps the package running. There is also protection against water and dust according to IP42. But you shouldn’t rely on that under any circumstances – you’re not even safe from splashing water with IP42.
The ZTE Libero Flip is available in white, gold and blue and ZTE also offers a variety of back covers for customization. The device is already available for pre-order from Japanese mobile operator Y, while official pre-sales begin on February 29th.
