Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
The Chinese company ZTE has stopped producing smartphones. To take such a step was forced by the US government, which prohibited the company from ordering American processors. However, sanctions cannot last forever. And devices under the ZTE brand, which were released before the spring of 2018, did not disappear from store shelves. In this regard, we see the point in the story of the best ZTE smartphones, the purchase of which should not disappoint.
Rating of the best smartphones ZTE
| Nomination | a place | Name of product | price |
| Rating of the best smartphones ZTE | 1 | ZTE Nubia Z17S 8 / 128GB | RUB 30,005 |
| 2 | ZTE Nubia Z17 mini 6 / 64GB | RUB 15 510 | |
| 3 | ZTE Nubia M2 64GB | RUB 11,090 | |
| 4 | ZTE Blade V8 64GB | RUB 11,990 | |
| 5 | ZTE Blade A6 | RUB 8,990 | |
| 6 | ZTE Blade A330 | RUB 4,790 |
ZTE Nubia Z17S 8 / 128GB
Rating: 4.7
The most advanced smartphone among those released by the Chinese company ZTE. This device is of the frameless type. This means that the screen here reaches the side ends – the frames are present only on the top and bottom sides. This allowed us to make the device with a 5.73-inch display quite compact. Most of the operations can be done with the thumb without using the other hand. At the same time, the screen is created using IPS technology, which indicates the maximum viewing angles. The display resolution is 2040×1080 pixels. There is no question of any pixelation, it can only be viewed with a magnifying glass. But the operating system is responsible for what is happening on the screen Android 7.1. Unfortunately, its update will definitely not take place, which is due to the cessation of the active activities of the mobile division of ZTE. However, in any case, this version will not become obsolete for at least three years.
Like the vast majority of Chinese smartphones, the Nubia Z17S is capable of accepting a pair of SIM cards. With their help, not only conversation, but also data transmission can be carried out. At the same time, the product supports LTE-A, so the user will enjoy a high speed Internet connection. Other wireless modules present here include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. You can even replace a bank card with a smartphone, for which an NFC chip is used. The GPS chip that supports two types of navigation satellites does not have any problems either. However, how could it be otherwise with such a high cost of the device?
Nothing bad can be said about the rest of the smartphone components. For example, the rear camera is close to ideal here. It is double, and its matrices have a resolution of 12 and 23 megapixels. The aperture is opened to f / 1.8, which allows you to hope for gorgeous picture quality even in the dark. Best of all, this camera manages to take portrait photos, beautifully blurring the background. The Chinese manufacturer also did not save on the front-end – a double module is also used here. Under the lenses are 5 megapixel sensors. The optics have different focal lengths, as a result of which you can use the zoom when shooting selfies.
If we talk about the processor, then the top-end Snapdragon 835 is installed here. The power of this eight-core chipset together with the Adreno 540 graphics accelerator is enough for absolutely any games, not to mention applications. Even under the body of the Nubia Z17S, there are 128 GB of permanent and 8 GB of RAM. Against this background, you absolutely do not regret that the Chinese cheated their creation with a slot for a microSD card. Well, the battery life of all this stuff is provided by a battery with a capacity of 3100 mAh. Of course, there is also support for fast charging technology.
Advantages
- Excellent bezel-less display with high pixel density
- There is a fingerprint scanner;
- A huge amount of RAM and permanent memory;
- A very powerful processor is built in;
- There is an NFC chip;
- There is support for LTE-A;
- Excellent front camera with optical zoom;
- Uses a dual camera with a wide aperture;
- A battery with fast charging technology is used.
disadvantages
- High price;
- Multitasking has not been improved in the firmware used;
- High energy consumption.
ZTE Nubia Z17 mini 6 / 64GB
Rating: 4.7
Another smartphone in our ranking, which can be called frameless. But only conditionally – the side frames are still present here, even if they are not visible from certain angles. The area above and below the display has also been significantly increased. It was impossible to avoid this, because the manufacturer tried to reduce the dimensions of the device. He installed only a 5.2-inch display here, which greatly simplifies the management of the operating system and various applications. The screen resolution is 1920×1080 pixels. With such a small diagonal, this resulted in a pixel density of 424 PPI. Great result!
In some respects, this device is close to the flagships. In particular, the buyer is unlikely to be disappointed with the rear camera. It consists of a double module with 13-megapixel sensors hidden under the lenses. In this case, one of the sensors is supplemented with optical stabilization, thanks to which the shutter speed can become very long. And it will be done as such, because the aperture here is opened only up to f / 2.2. It should be noted that the camera handles 4K video without difficulty. However, if you get carried away with it, you will need to install a memory card, because the volume of built-in storage does not exceed 64 GB. We also have no complaints about the front camera, the matrix of which has a resolution of 16 megapixels.
Of course, such a device cannot have outdated communication facilities. The Chinese have built their best practices here – Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and LTE. They did not forget the NFC chip, which will most often be used to pay for purchases.
An eight-core Snapdragon 653 is used as a processor, supplemented by an Adreno 510 graphics accelerator. It seems that their power will be enough for most applications and games. 6 GB of RAM should also please. The product also includes a battery with a capacity of 2950 mAh – the maximum for this size.
Advantages
- Implemented support for fast charging technology;
- Very good front camera
- Solid IPS display with high pixel density;
- There is an NFC chip;
- There is support for LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
- Installed a powerful processor;
- Large amount of memory;
- There is a fingerprint scanner;
- Weight does not exceed 155 g.
disadvantages
- Difficult to find on sale;
- Not the best firmware;
- Marked case.
ZTE Nubia M2 64GB
Rating: 4.6
This smartphone, available in two color options, belongs to the mid-budget price segment. You can buy this model for 13 thousand rubles. While it is possible, because new copies are not replenished with new copies. The device differs from analogs by its 5.5-inch display. No, its resolution is not surprising – it is 1920×1080 pixels. But if you look at the screen in the dark, you will immediately notice that the eyes practically cannot notice black colors. This indicates that the display was produced using technology OLED – that is, there is no separate backlit layer. Previously, such screens were extremely rare in inexpensive smartphones. The product is also able to boast of very narrow frames, which made the device quite compact. Well, what is happening on the display is processed by the operating system Android 6.0. Unfortunately, it will never be updated again. But the most frustrating thing is the firmware implementation. A large number of untranslated lines of text and various glitches are not what the buyer of such a smartphone is expecting. All sorts of slowdowns are even more surprising when you find out about the presence of a Snapdragon 625 processor under the case, consisting of eight cores. Also, the device has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. There is also a slot for a memory card. The manufacturer claims that the system recognizes external drives up to 200 GB.
Basically, this device is bought for its cameras. Perhaps, in this price segment, a rare device is capable of boasting better quality shooting. The Chinese have introduced a dual rear camera here, which hides 13-megapixel sensors. Only the aperture is somewhat limited here – it is only open up to f / 2.2. If we talk about the front camera, then it has one lens, but the resolution of the matrix underneath is increased to 16 megapixels. There is no point in talking about the cameras of this model in full detail – instead, you need to look at the photos, evaluating them yourself.
Everything is in order with the gadget and with the wireless modules. Internet connection is via LTE and Wi-Fi. At the same time, the second module supports the high-speed 802.11ac standard, which even some more expensive smartphones cannot boast of. The sound is transmitted to the headset here either through Bluetooth 4.1, or through a 3.5 mm audio jack. Nothing bad can be said about the navigation chip supporting the three most popular satellite systems. Finally, there is also a fingerprint sensor, which provides an excellent level of security.
Advantages
- Battery capacity increased to 3630 mAh;
- Decent front camera
- Nice rear camera with two lenses;
- High speed wireless modules are available;
- There is a fingerprint scanner;
- Extremely powerful processor;
- Large amount of memory;
- In use AMOLED – High pixel density display.
disadvantages
- There is no NFC;
- Weight reaches 168 g;
- The operating system is not very stable.
ZTE Blade V8 64GB
Rating: 4.5
A solid, albeit not surprising, smartphone running Android 7.0. On its front panel there is an IPS display with a diagonal of 5.2 inches and a resolution of 1800×1080 pixels. The device turned out to be very compact, and the pixelation on its screen can be discerned only under a magnifying glass.
You can watch videos on the screen of this smartphone without any problems – no discomfort is felt. This can be done online, using LTE-A support of the 6th category. Also, no one prohibits accessing the Internet through a router. However, remember that Wi-Fi 802.11n is supported as much as possible. However, higher speeds are not required for such a smartphone. To connect a wireless headset, the technology is used here Bluetooth 4.1. The 3.5mm audio jack has not gone anywhere, no adapter is required to connect wired headphones. It is a pity that there is no NFC – this chip would have taught the device the capabilities of a bank card. The work of all wireless modules and the operating system is provided by Snapdragon 435 – an eight-core processor, supplemented by an Adreno 505 graphics accelerator. The power of this chipset is small, so problems are possible in some games. The capabilities of this processor are quite enough for applications. In addition, the device is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. By the way, there is also a slot for a microSD card.
On the back of the device there is a dual camera using matrices with a resolution of 13 and 2 megapixels. You don't need to rely on the perfect shooting quality, but it certainly cannot be called lousy. As for video filming, it takes place with a resolution Full HD. The product also includes a 13-megapixel front camera and a fingerprint scanner. A 2730 mAh battery is hidden under the back cover of the device. They could have built in a more capacious battery, but then the weight would definitely not have been 141 g. Namely, many smartphones from the ZTE Blade series are famous for their low weight.
Advantages
- Large amount of memory;
- There is support for LTE;
- Quite good front camera;
- Decent rear camera being dual;
- Good IPS display with an aspect ratio of 5: 3;
- Not the greatest weight;
- Excellent metal body;
- The fingerprint sensor is not forgotten.
disadvantages
- The firmware is poor;
- Not the most capacious battery;
- There is no NFC;
- A micro-USB connector is used for charging.
ZTE Blade A6
Rating: 4.4
Another ZTE smartphone belonging to the mid-budget segment. You will spend a couple of thousand rubles less on its purchase. But you will also get a device with not the most impressive characteristics. For example, the display used here has a diagonal of 5.2 inches and a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. Modest settings that led to a pixel density of 282 PPI. But the operating system Android 7.1 and the Snapdragon 435 processor do not have to strain. Above the screen is a 5-megapixel front camera lens. She does not have enough stars from the sky, but sometimes you still want to share the resulting selfies with friends. The easiest way to do this is through LTE-A networks. The product also supports Wi-Fi 802.11n. But the NFC chip is traditionally missing for ZTE products. It's sad.
Like many other budget devices, the ZTE Blade A6 has an FM radio. It only works when connected to a 3.5mm jack of wired headphones. Ordinary music can also be listened to through a wireless headset – for this use Bluetooth 4.1. There is also a light indicator of events – an increasingly rare guest in modern smartphones. The device also includes a rear camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels. Somewhere under the body of the smartphone there are 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. Some users won't even think about installing a microSD card. Nevertheless, one must not forget that there is such a possibility here.
Despite the relatively low cost, the device received a fingerprint sensor. But most of all, this model surprises with its battery. It has a capacity of 5000mAh. A couple of days of battery life is guaranteed! But no more, since the Chinese firmware is not optimized in the best way. However, you should not worry in any case, because there is support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology. It is also amazing that with such a capacious battery, the gadget weighs only 160 g.
Advantages
- Extra large battery with fast charging support;
- Decent amount of memory;
- Adequate cost;
- There is an FM radio;
- There is support for LTE;
- Not the worst rear camera;
- Light weight for such a device;
- There is a fingerprint sensor.
disadvantages
- Not the best display;
- No NFC chip;
- Unpretentious front camera;
- A micro-USB connector is being used.
ZTE Blade A330
Rating: 4.3
The cheapest smartphone in our ranking. In some stores, you can buy it for only 5500 rubles. In this regard, the user will have to come to terms with several disadvantages. For example, the firmware installed here, based on Android 7.1, does not always work adequately. But the 5-inch display is even more disappointing. And the point is not even the resolution, which is 854×480 pixels. It is upsetting that a TN matrix is used here. This means that the buyer will have very narrow viewing angles and far from ideal color rendition.
With wireless modules, this is a relative order. The device understands LTE networks, therefore, the user is provided with a high data transfer rate on the street. Also, the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard is recognized without problems. Wireless headset is connected via Bluetooth 4.1. And only the lack of NFC reminds us that this is a cheap Chinese smartphone. However, this is also indicated by the quad-core processor, the clock frequency of which is very low. 1 GB of RAM is also a serious limitation. But 16 GB of built-in storage for a device with such a price tag is quite normal. Moreover, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB.
It is better for the buyer not to think about cameras. The rear module is equipped with only a 5-megapixel matrix, so it is almost impossible to get high-quality photos. The front camera shows itself even worse, with a resolution of only 2 megapixels. As you might have guessed, there is no fingerprint sensor here at all. But there is FM-radio – an indispensable attribute of budget devices. Autonomous operation of the device is provided by a 4000 mAh battery. This parameter is the most surprising – in such a cheap gadget you are not expecting such a battery.
Advantages
- Small size and weight;
- There is an FM radio;
- Very low price;
- Implemented support for LTE;
- Proximity and illumination sensors are not forgotten.
disadvantages
- Little RAM;
- The simplest cameras are built in;
- There is no NFC;
- Weak processor;
- The display has very narrow viewing angles.
Conclusion
This is the ranking of the best ZTE smartphones among the existing ones at the moment. The list is not too long. This is due to the sanctions received from the US government – as mentioned in the introduction, ZTE's management has so far stopped producing such products, focusing on telecommunications equipment for telecom operators.
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
