This week ZTE has taken the opportunity to unveil a new smartphone, a successor to the Star 1 device that went live back in April.

Obviously, the new arrival has been baptized Star 2, but oddly enough the device doesn't resemble the model having received certification from the Chinese website TENAA.

The Star 2's advanced voice controls set it out from the crowd

Anyway, the most prominent feature of the newly unveiled Star 2 is the fact that if offers extensive voice support. Don’t be fooled, the smartphone doesn't come equipped with just a simple app onboard, but actually lets you perform a lot of operations by virtue of voice.

You will be able to open, close or switch between apps. On top of that, owners of the Star 2 will get to snap pictures or play music just by saying the right words out loud.

When you take your phone out and place it next to your ear, you will be asked who you want to call, which makes the whole operation a lot easier. The neat part is that the phone doesn't necessarily have to be connected to the Internet for the vocal commands to work.

ZTE seems to be particularly proud of the system is has set up on the Star 2 and says you should notice a response time of 1.2 seconds. The technology is advanced enough to register 90% success rate, even in noisy environments like a busy pub.
Star 2 lives off a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801

When it comes to specifications, you should know the new ZTE Star 2 brings to the tablet a 5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and relies on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core chipset clocked at 2.3GHz and fitted with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card).

On the back lives a 13MP rear camera with dual-LED flash, while in the front resides a 5MP wide-angle snapper.

The ZTE Star 2 might not be the thinnest smartphone around and it’s certainly no match for the Vivo X5 Max’s 4.77 mm / 0.18 inches, but it’s not chunky either, coming in with a respectable profile of 6.9 mm / 0.27 inches.

The ZTE Star 2 comes equipped with 4G LTE functionality and relies on a 2,300 mAh battery. The handset will ship out with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, with the company’s own MiFavor 3.0 UI plastered on top.

There’s no mention of whether the handset will receive the Lollipop update at some point, but we certainly hope this is the case.

Anyhow, the new ZTE Star 2 will be launched on the Chinese market and won’t come cheap. The company will be marketing the device for $400 / €325 a pop, but given the advanced voice recognition tech inside, we shouldn't be surprised.

Hide Press ReleaseGUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZTE, a global manufacturer of smartphones and mobile devices, held an official launch today in Guangzhou, China for the ZTE Star 2, its latest 4G LTE flagship voice controlled device. Key highlights of the ZTE Star 2 include intelligent system-level voice control, an enhanced mobile entertainment experience, and a brand new customizable UI.

“ZTE is pleased to announce the launch of the ZTE Star 2, which offers superior voice control functions that redefine the smartphone experience,” said Shi Lirong, Executive Director and President of ZTE Corporation. “Building on the success of Star 1, Star 2 represents the latest product from our biometrics voice integration strategy. ZTE is committed to changing people’s lives and how they interact with mobile devices in the connected world era via mobile broadband internet.”

The innovative ZTE Star 2 is supported by more than 1000 patents, of which 158 are related to voice control, further demonstrating the strength of ZTE Star 2’s intelligent voice technology in the industry.

In China, ZTE Star 2 is one of the few devices to support China Mobile’s new RCS service, representing a significant milestone for smart devices. ZTE Star 2’s voice control technology will integrate with RCS voice messaging and call features, offering an advanced and seamless voice experience across different platforms within China Mobile’s RCS service.

Smarter Voice Control

ZTE Star 2 features the industry’s first system-level voice and speech recognition solution that is fully functional even when the device is offline and without a network connection. Its improved recognition technology offers a rapid response rate of just 1.2 seconds, with a 90% success rate even in abnormal noise ambience conditions. ZTE Star 2’s wide array of voice control functions allow users to unlock the device with their own unique voice tone, make phone calls, open third-party apps, play music, take photos and much more. The device also offers a number of smart voice functions for both business and entertainment purposes, such as real-time voice-to-text input and a function that allows users to play music using voice commands.

Star 2 also comes with ZTE’s newly improved driving mode, which offers a safer and more convenient hands-free driving experience. Its driving mode features a range of voice control functions, such as automatic GPS navigation, message replying, call answering, and music control.

ZTE Star 2’s voice control functions are complemented by an array of motion sensing features that offer added convenience to users. For instance, a user can simply hold the device by their ear and say the name of a contact to call them, without having to activate the touch screen or unlock the device.

Customizable UI – MiFavor 3.0

ZTE Star 2 is the first device to come with the latest MiFavor 3.0 UI, which offers customizable and pre-defined color schemes for a vibrant, fashionable and flat user interface. With over 100 different combinations to choose from, MiFavor 3.0 features a variety of icons, wallpapers and color options, taking personalization to a new level.

Minimalist Design

Designed for optimal voice control, the beautifully crafted ZTE Star 2 comes with thin bezels (1.18 mm) and a thin body (6.9mm) that offers comfort for everyday use. It is built with an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame and a 5-inch dual-layer Gorilla Glass 3 screen for durability and scratch resistance.

Enhanced Entertainment Experience

For photography enthusiasts, the ZTE Star 2 is equipped with a 13 megapixel rear camera, with f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash, offering powerful camera performance. Its 5 megapixel front camera comes with an 88° ultra-wide-angle lens and f/2.2 aperture, which is perfect for capturing group selfies. The cameras can be controlled by voice, smile, timer and touch, and users can launch the camera application by drawing a ‘C’ on the screen.

ZTE Star 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a 2.3GHz quad-core CPU, a premium tier processor that offers sharper image capture, improved performance and outstanding battery life. It comes with 16GB ROM + 2GB RAM internal memory and a 2300mAH battery.

Availability

ZTE Star 2 will be available for purchase via a number of online platforms in China from December 18, 2014, priced at 2499 RMB. More information about its availability in additional markets will be announced at a later date. ZTE is looking forward to showcasing an array of flagship devices at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas.

About ZTE Mobile Devices

ZTE Mobile Devices is a division of ZTE Corporation, a global telecommunications equipment, networks and mobile devices company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. ZTE is a publicly traded company listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges.

ZTE is one of the global leaders in the mobile handset manufacturing industry in the world, offering a complete range of mobile devices, including mobile phones, tablets, mobile broadband modems and hotspots and family desktop integration terminals.

ZTE has strategic partnerships with 47 of the world’s top 50 carriers. Additionally, ZTE ranked No.1 in PCT patent applications in WIPO table in 2011 and 2012.