ZUK Mobile was founded in May of that year by the joint efforts of Lenovo and Qihoo 360. It is an independent brand that is developing in China and the international market. Its first product, the ZUK Z1 smartphone, was announced in August and is currently being sold through various channels in many countries around the world. The ZUK Z1 is not officially presented in Russia, and if you believe the Russian Lenovo office, it will not be supplied through “white” channels at all (upd: it will still be), but in the spring our compatriots will have the opportunity to purchase the latest ZUK models in official retail. However, there are no difficulties with online ordering ZUK Z1 from China (the special case of smartphones from JD being blocked at customs can be attributed to the activity of the Russian Lenovo office). You can order, for example, from. Update: ZUK Z1 officially goes on sale in Russia for 14,990 rubles!
Technical characteristics of ZUK Z1:
- Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), WCDMA/HSPA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), FDD-LTE (1, 3, 7)
- Platform (at time of announcement): Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with ZUI or Cyanogen OS 12.1
- Display: 5.5”, 1920 x 1080 pixels, IPS, 401 ppi, contrast 1500:1, brightness 450 nits
- Camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, autofocus, dual flash, optical stabilization, Sony IMX214 sensor
- Front camera: 8 MP, OmniVision OV8865 sensor
- Processor: 4 cores, 2.5 GHz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC
- Graphics chip: Adreno 330
- RAM: 3 GB LPDDR3
- ROM: 64 GB eMMC 5.0
- Memory card: no
- GPS and GLONASS
- Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
- Bluetooth 4.1
- 3.5mm audio jack
- USB Type-C 3.0
- Two SIM slots
- Finger scanner
- Battery: built-in, 4100 mAh
- Dimensions: 155.7 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 175 g
Video review and unboxing
Design and equipment
The phone has the following equipment: the device itself, charging (2000 mA), a pin for opening the SIM tray, documentation and a USB Type-C 3.0 cable.
The gadget comes in two colors – white and dark grey. They differ not only in the color of the front and back, the shade of the metal frame, but also in the texture of the lid. The white version has a glossy lid, while the gray version is made of smooth plastic. In principle, both colors look cool, but I would prefer the gray one due to the more practical cover and the fact that the black edges around the screen are not as noticeable as in the case of the white Z1.
The design cannot be called original, but the fact that everything looks and feels good together is a definite plus. The company sensibly reasoned that users could tolerate an extra couple of millimeters of thickness in exchange for receiving a more capacious battery, so in a case with quite adequate dimensions of 155.7 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm, engineers included a battery with a capacity of 4100, which is not typical for a 5.5” screen. mAh Perhaps the ergonomics of the smartphone only benefited from the increased thickness - the Z1 lies cool and confident in the hand. The convenient shape of the case is also emphasized on the official website of ZUK - the company did a great job on it.
Above the display there are light and proximity sensors, a speaker, an 8-megapixel camera, and an LED indicator. Below it are two touch keys that flash with dots when touched, as well as a mechanical home button with a fingerprint scanner. The button has a touch layer used in the Chinese firmware ZUK ZUI (recognizes touches without pressing, as well as swipes), but I did not find any use for it in the Cyanogen firmware. The fingerprint scanner works quickly and accurately. If you prefer to keep your phone locked up, you'll be pleased with the sensor.
On the left is a tray for two nano-SIMs, on the right is a volume rocker and a power key. At the bottom is a microphone, a USB Type-C 3.0 port, and a loud, clear speaker. At the top end you can find an audio jack. The back of the Z1 looks simple, but tasteful - there is only the company logo, a 13-megapixel camera peephole in a metal ring, an additional microphone and a dual LED flash. The cover is not intended to be removed by the user, but you will be able to remove it if necessary.
The 5.5" display boasts Full HD resolution, providing a good pixel density of 401 ppi. The panel used in my sample is characterized by a bias towards warm shades, which, however, can be easily corrected in the screen settings in the LiveDisplay section. Viewing angles are high, brightness and contrast are not satisfactory. In general, the ZUK Z1 has a high-quality screen and we must thank the developers for the fact that their practical approach to the model resulted in a rejection of the fashionable, but mostly useless 2K resolution in 2015.
Software
Chinese versions of ZUK Z1 have ZUI firmware, while international ones come with Cyanogen OS 12.1 based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. If you buy a model from the Middle Kingdom, then it can come with any firmware depending on the desire of the seller - he can leave everything as is, or he can spend a little time and flash the device to cyan for you. In any case, converting the Z1 from ZUI to Cyanogen is not a very difficult process (though I couldn’t do it on Windows 10, so I had to look for a computer with Windows 7). There will be an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. ZUK has already announced that the Z1 will be the first Chinese smartphone with Android 6.0 on board.
You are probably familiar with the Cyanogen OS 12.1 firmware. In a nutshell, it's stock Android on steroids. It is as simple and airy as the robot from Google itself in the Nexus, but it offers many times more features and functions, and useful ones at that. Unfortunately, the latest update broke the font on the standard theme, so I had to switch to an alternative one. I didn't notice any other glitches.
The set of preinstalled programs is minimal. Limited primarily to recommended Google apps and services. Although there is something from Cyanogen: a branded gallery, a screencast (recording video from the screen), themes, a file manager, a browser, an advanced equalizer for adjusting the AudioFX sound. Without it, the phone with Denon D600 headphones does not sound very expressive, flat and without sparkle - additional bass will not be superfluous. In general, the sound of the Z1 corresponds to a smartphone with an integrated Qualcomm codec.
Camera
The main camera module includes a 13-megapixel Sony IMX214 sensor, f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, dual LED flash, and optical image stabilization. If you shoot in good lighting, then the photos will please you with details and clarity, but if you decide to shoot in room light or go outside in the evening, then be prepared for noise. However, the optostab does its job and helps to get good pictures in almost all scenarios, and the color rendition (saturation, contrast, white balance) does not disappoint. But sometimes underexposure that occurs in automatic mode requires special attention from the user. Take a look at the photos:
I was pleased with the 8-megapixel camera with the OmniVision OV8865 sensor. Selfies on it turn out worthy both at home and on the street.
The maximum video resolution is limited to 1080p. There are slow and fast shooting modes (60 frames per second). Optical stabilization works well when recording a video with the rear camera, if you hold the phone with two hands, but in the case of recording with the front camera with one hand, shaking cannot be avoided. Tracking autofocus is activated in the settings; it cannot boast of accuracy and speed. The sound is recorded well, the voice is clearly audible, but the microphones do not cope well with road noise. Overall, the video sequence can be rated "good".
Benchmarks and Performance
If you are still wondering why ZUK decided to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor (version MSM8974AC) for the current 2015 model, then I recommend reading a comparison of OnePlus One on Snapdragon 801 and OnePlus 2 on Snapdragon 810. In short, the Snapdragon 801 chipset handles games just as well and is more stable. “The Snapdragon 801 is powerful and reliable,” the official ZUK website tells us. And it is true. The Adreno 330 chip is responsible for the graphics, 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of permanent memory. There is no expansion slot in the Z1, but the specified capacity should be enough for most users. At worst, there is support for external drives via OTG, and cloud services have not been canceled (they helped me out once when I needed to transfer screenshots and photos from the camera to a computer, but the Type-C cable was left in the office).
Benchmark scores: AnTuTu 6.0 – 55,746, Geekbench 3 – 994/3039, GFXBench – 11/27 fps, 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited – 19,649, 3DMark Sling Shot 3.0 – 1226, Epic Citadel Ultra – 55.5 fps. In general, parrot lovers will be pleased. But not only them - the players will also be delighted. After all, the device can easily handle powerful 3D games like Unkilled, Asphalt 8, World of Tanks. With simpler games, accordingly, everything is also tip-top. And with an impressive amount of internal storage and a high-quality 5.5” IPS screen, the Z1 turns into a real gaming smartphone.
discharge when playing video
And thanks to the 4100 mAh battery, you can play games for a long time. So in the game Asphalt 8, in an hour with a comfortable brightness, the ZUK Z1 dropped by only 12% (that is, you can count on 8 hours of play). And in video player mode, the smartphone lasted 8.5 hours with maximum screen brightness. In everyday life, you can expect 3-5 days of work with 5-10 hours of screen time. And, please note, this is a phone that is not positioned as a long-liver, and not a model with an AMOLED screen. Before us is a well-built smartphone, the developers of which did not chase fashion trends, not giving a damn about the tendency to reduce thickness, the capricious Snapdragon 810 chipset and the QHD resolution, which is simply not necessary for a high-quality IPS matrix with a diagonal of 5.5 “.
conclusions
ZUK Z1 is the first pancake, but prepared according to a proven recipe, where the ingredients are selected in such a way as to please a wide range of consumers. We can say that the device is devoid of obvious weak points, and if you do find them, then I’m sure that the energy consumption and performance will more than compensate for them. This is a truly solid, balanced smartphone, the strengths of which will not be easy to replicate in the second generation.
Perhaps the only thing that can prevent the boom in demand for ZUK Z1 among Russians is the dollar exchange rate. The average price of a model from China is $300, which at 77 rubles for 1 dollar translates into 23 thousand rubles. For this money, you can consider a lot of things in official Russian retail (for example, Samsung Galaxy S5, ASUS Zenfone 2, OnePlus One 64 GB) and there is plenty to choose from in Chinese online stores (for example, Meizu MX5 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 with a mountain of branded Xiaomi accessories for return). I wonder what prices ZUK will officially come to us with and what the new models will offer? There's not long to wait.
Much has already been said about the ZUK Z1; the model is known primarily as an excellent offer in various Chinese online stores such as Aliexpress, Gearbest, etc. The scandal with JD.ru added fuel to the fire, which invested a lot of effort in advertising and promotion, but in fact, buyers were never able to receive their devices, since customs simply unwrapped the parcels with them. Apparently, the serious interest of users in the ZUK Z1 prompted the Russian office of Lenovo to officially sell it. It’s nice that the price was even lower than in Chinese stores.
Characteristics
- Class: phablet
- Form factor: monoblock
- Case materials: matte plastic
- Operating system: Android 5.1 + Cyanogen OS 12.1
- Network: two SIM cards, one radio module, GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (nanoSIM) supported
- Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (MSM8974AC)
- Processor: Quad-core 2.5 GHz
- RAM: 3 GB
- Memory for data storage: 64 GB, no slot for microSD memory card
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n|ac), dual-band, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP, EDR), USB Type-C connector for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset,
- Screen: 5.5’’, capacitive, IPS matrix, 1920x1080 pixels (FHD), automatic backlight level adjustment, oleophobic coating
- Camera: 13 MP, video recording in 1080p (1920x1080 pixels), LED flash
- Front camera: 8 MP
- Navigation: GPS/GLONASS (A-GPS support)
- Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, gyroscope, light sensor, fingerprint scanner
- Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, capacity 4100 mAh
- Dimensions: 155.7 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 175 grams
- Price: 20,000 rubles
Equipment
- Smartphone
- Charger
- PC cable (also part of the charger)
- SIM card tray opener
You know, to please a person even at the level of unpacking a smartphone, very little is required: that the box is more or less beautiful, that everything inside is neatly packed, or that the kit contains at least something different from the traditional set. Lenovo included a flat USB Type-C cable and this made me and, perhaps, potential buyers very happy.
Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly
From the front, the ZUK Z1 resembles hundreds of other faceless smartphones with rounded edges and a button below the screen. When you turn the device sideways, you see a direct resemblance to the iPhone 6, especially in the lower part with the main speaker mesh. I sincerely don’t understand why the designers liked this move from Apple so much that they began to copy it en masse, but the fact remains a fact. The ends of the ZUK Z1 are very similar to those of the iPhone 6, however, with one non-obvious difference: the ZUK Z1 does not slip in your hands like the iPhone 6, which makes its design much more practical.
Below are photographs of the device with a description of the arrangement of the elements and my short comment on their convenience.
Area above the screen: indicator light, light and proximity sensors, front camera
Area below the screen: fingerprint scanner and touch buttons
Right side: volume rocker and power button
Left side: tray for two nanoSIM SIM cards
Top: 3.5mm headphone jack
Bottom: main speaker, microphone, USB Type-C port
The smartphone has a convenient and clearly visible light indicator; you can easily see when you have received a new notification. The fingerprint scanner works at lightning speed; you don’t even have time to touch it, and the device is already unlocked. By the way, despite the fact that the scanner is recessed into the body, it is also a button. In the settings there is a choice between using touch (located on the sides of the scanner) or on-screen buttons; I preferred the second option.
The volume rocker and power button fit exactly under the thumb, the keys themselves have a short stroke with a characteristic click, and are very convenient to use.
The volume of the main speaker is quite high, but at the maximum value it begins to wheeze, so the device is unlikely to be suitable as a music speaker.
The back cover, unlike the ends, is made of matte smooth plastic, which from the outside looks very much like metal.
There are no complaints about the assembly of the model, the device is well assembled, all parts are tightly fitted to each other, there is not the slightest hint of creaks or play.
Dimensions
Of course, the ZUK Z1 is far from a record holder in terms of dimensions, given that it has a diagonal of 5.5 inches, and in the same Note 5 - 5.7, but it is as comfortable to hold in your hand as this phrase is, in principle, true for phablets. In most cases, you will need both hands to use the device.
Compared to Apple iPhone 6
Screen
My impressions of the display are mixed. On the one hand, it has good resolution, an oleophobic coating, a good brightness range and more or less natural color rendition. On the other hand, the screen turns a little yellow, this is especially noticeable if you place the device next to the same iPhone 6. Therefore, before purchasing, I strongly recommend looking at the ZUK Z1 display in person.
I didn’t like the work of the light sensor, the brightness values are greatly underestimated, and I constantly have to adjust it manually.
operating system
The device runs Android 5.1 and CyanogenOS. As one of our readers correctly corrected me, the difference between CyanogenMod and CyanogenOS is that the latter is much more stable and already optimized for everyday use, while Mod is still more like a beta version.
To be honest, I haven’t used Cyanogen smartphones for a long time. Many of the functions that exist on Cyan were new to me, so I apologize in advance if I say any obvious things.
Firstly, I really liked the operation of the telephone part of the smartphone. The dialer contains Russian letters; moreover, the system can identify outgoing unknown numbers independently and show reviews on them from users. This helps a lot when you get a call from another beauty salon or survey service.
Another cool feature is fine-tuning profiles: you can fine-tune the behavior of your smartphone under different conditions. For example, for me the key parameter was the network switching to 2G Only mode as soon as the device connected to the home Wi-Fi network. I was surprised to discover that even such a niche scenario is possible on CyanogenOS. And such little things add up to a whole detailed article, which we will definitely prepare.
You know, now it’s hard to call me a fan of custom firmware and other “customization”, at some point you simply stop paying attention to such functions, but after using CyanogenOS on the ZUK Z1 you begin to remember why millions of geeks update their smartphones immediately after purchases . Such deep customization and detailed elaboration of each item cannot but captivate. And here all this is right out of the box without the need to fuss with “root”, “recovery” and flashing the firmware.
Performance
On the one hand, the smartphone does not have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, and on the other hand, we have an old, proven chipset that has proven itself in some models. Plus, let's not forget that the performance of modern processors is excessive, so even the previous or the generation before that is enough for everyday use and productive toys. This is confirmed by the ZUK Z1.
During everyday use, the device almost does not heat up; only traditional benchmarks (Antutu, 3DMark) managed to make it “hot”. I would like to note the lack of a slot for a memory card as a disadvantage, but only 64 GB of internal memory is enough for most users, even with a reserve.
Autonomous operation
I was very pleased with the operating time of the device, especially for everyday use. After almost 3 hours of screen activity plus enabled synchronization and data transfer via mobile networks, the ZUK Z1 was discharged by only 36%! The model’s behavior “in sleep” is also excellent; the discharge per night was no more than 2%. The device also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology, but due to its large capacity it still does not charge very quickly. In 30 minutes it is 25%, and in an hour it is 50%; a full charge requires 2 hours 15 minutes.
Camera
The main camera is average in all respects. While during the day you can still take more or less good pictures, in the late afternoon or under artificial lighting noise appears and detail deteriorates. The video is recorded in 1080p, the recording quality is average, there is pressure focusing and stereo sound.
The ZUK brand is a subsidiary of Lenovo: just look at the box, where the inscription “a Lenovo company” is eloquently displayed. Chinese manufacturers' low-cost subsidiary brands have been appearing quite often lately. For example, Fly acquired the Wileyfox brand, Huawei has Honor, and ZTE has Nubia. Lenovo joins this company with its ZUK.
True, there was a little confusion with the sale of devices of this brand on the territory of the Russian Federation. How reported Gleb Mishin - vice president and general director of Lenovo in Russia, the CIS countries and Eastern Europe - on his Facebook page, at the moment Lenovo has not certified a single ZUK model in the Russian Federation. The official start of sales of devices in Russia is scheduled for spring of this year. So far, ZUK smartphones are coming to us through various online stores, which Lenovo, judging by Mishin’s post, is not too happy about.
What does it mean? Let’s explain it in simple terms: now purchasing a ZUK smartphone is comparable to purchasing some unnamed device. In the event of a defect or breakdown, claims can only be made to the store where the purchase was made.
On paper, the ZUK Z1 looks like a very interesting offer: for 23 thousand rubles the user gets a lot of things.
⇡ Technical specifications
| (Lenovo) ZUK Z1 | ASUS Zenfone 2 (ZE551ML) | Sony Xperia M5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touch screen | 5.5 inches, 1080 × 1920 pixels, IPS; Capacitive, up to five simultaneous touches |
5.5 inches, 1080×1920 pixels, IPS; |
5 inches, 1080 × 1920 pixels, IPS; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches |
| Air gap | No | No | No |
| Protective glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with oleophobic coating and polarizing filter |
Yes (manufacturer unknown), with oleophobic coating and polarizing filter |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC: four Krait-400 cores, frequency 2.46 GHz; ARMv7 instruction set; support for 32-bit computing; Process technology: 28 nm HPm |
Intel Atom Z3580: four Tangier architecture cores (x86-64), frequency 2.33 GHz; process technology: 22 nm |
MediaTek helio X10 MT6795: eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, frequency 1.95 GHz; ARMv8-A instruction set; support for 32-bit and 64-bit computing; ARM big.LITTLE technology; process technology: 28 nm |
| Graphics controller | Qualcomm Adreno 330, 578 MHz | Imagination Technologies PowerVR Rogue G6430, 533 MHz |
Imagination Technologies PowerVR Rogue G6200, 500 MHz |
| RAM | 3 GB LPDDR3 | 4 GB LPDDR3 | 3 GB LPDDR3 |
| Flash memory | 64 GB (54.7 GB available to user) There is no slot for memory cards |
32 GB (25.5 GB available to user) + MicroSD + 5 GB cloud storage ASUS WebStorage | 16 GB (10.9 GB available to user) + microSD |
| Connectors | 1× USB Type-C 3.0 2 × Nano-SIM |
1 × micro-USB 2.0 1 × 3.5mm headset jack 1 × microSD (SDHC/SDXC) 2 × Micro-SIM |
1 × Micro-USB 2.0; 1 × 3.5mm headset jack; 1 × microSD; 1 × Nano-SIM |
| cellular | 2G/3G/4G Two Nano-SIM format SIM cards |
2G/3G/4G Two SIM cards in Micro-SIM format |
2G/3G/4G One Nano-SIM format SIM card There is a version with support for two SIM and LTE |
| Cellular 2G | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | |
| Cellular 3G | DC-HSPA (42 Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100 MHz | DC-HSPA+ (42 Mbps) WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz |
|
| cellular4G | FDD LTE: band 1, 3, 7 TDD LTE: band 38, 39, 40, 41 |
LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s); FDD LTE: band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29 TDD LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41 |
LTE Cat. 4 (150 Mbit/s, 50 Mbit/s); FDD LTE: band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4/5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct | 802.11a/b/g/n 2.4/5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct | |
| Bluetooth | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| NFC | No | Eat | Eat |
| IR port | No | No | No |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| Sensors | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), pedometer | Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) | Proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass) |
| Fingerprint's scanner | Eat | No | No |
| Main camera | 13 MP (4160 × 3120), autofocus, optical stabilization system, dual LED flash |
12.6 MP (4096 × 3072), PixelMaster technology, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, LED flash |
21.2 MP (5312 × 3984), Sony Exmor Rs matrix with back illumination; Hybrid autofocus, LED flash |
| Front-camera | 8 MP (3264 × 2448), no autofocus, no flash |
4.9 MP (2560 × 1920), no autofocus, no flash |
12.6 MP (4096 × 3072), autofocus, no flash |
| Nutrition | Non-removable battery: 15.58 Wh (4100 mAh, 3.8 V) |
Non-removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V) |
Non-removable battery: 9.88 Wh (2600 mAh, 3.8 V) |
| Size | 156 × 77 mm Case thickness 8.9 mm |
152 × 77 mm Case thickness 10.9 mm |
145 × 72 mm; Case thickness 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 175 g | 170 g | 143 g |
| Water and dust protection | No | No | IP65 and IP68 Up to half an hour in fresh water at a depth of up to one and a half meters |
| operating system | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Shell CyanogenMod 12.1 |
Android 5.0 Lollipop ASUS ZenUI shell |
Android 5.0 Lollipop Sony's own shell |
| Current price | 23,690 rubles | 23,490 rubles | 27,790 rubles |
⇡ Appearance, ergonomics, fingerprint scanner
Mid-price smartphones are often very similar in appearance to each other. The main thing in them is not the image, but the maximum number of options for little money. ZUK Z1 is a typical representative of this family: outwardly it is completely unremarkable. One can only complain about some similarities with the iPhone, but we are already so accustomed to this that we did not even immediately pay attention to it.
ZUK Z1 turned out to be quite large. The side frames around the large screen are of standard width - about three millimeters on each side. The screen occupies only 69% of the front panel area - there is quite a lot of unused space on the front, which increases the size of the gadget. Using the Z1 with one hand is possible, but you will have to try, it is a really large gadget. It weighs 175 grams. The thickness of the case is quite standard - 8.9 millimeters.
At the top of the front panel there is a front camera lens and a speaker grille. At the bottom is a rectangular Home key. On either side of it are touch-sensitive, but quite physical, “Back” and “Menu of open applications” keys.
A fingerprint sensor is integrated into the Home button, which can be used to unlock the device. It works quite correctly: the device quickly wakes up after pressing the center key with a finger “familiar” to the device, the percentage of errors is minimal. To add a new fingerprint, you need to touch the sensor about twenty times; up to five fingerprints are stored in memory.
When a hieromonk sings better than most lay people, he becomes even more popular than boring, sugary pop stars. When a smartphone is created with obvious hints “we are not basement-dwelling poor people - we are Lenovo’s special forces!” - the demand for it becomes greater.
Let's just not get hung up on the image component - today you can't boast to your friends, saying, “I bought myself a Zuk!”, but more recently, Lenovo laptops, for example, evoked the same sympathetic smiles. It will endure and fall in love, as was the case with other brands.
And in general, everything that is good about this smartphone has nothing to do with Lenovo. Its own high-quality display, a rare thoroughbred Qualcomm processor instead of the consumer-grade MediaTek, really great battery life (without a battery-hogging Intel processor or overheated Helio X10), and a reasonable price, by the way. Because Lenovo and Huawei have long been dizzy with their coolness, and along with it their price tags have lost their adequacy.
You will laugh, but the main disadvantages of the smartphone also stem from the fact that it is not directly related to Lenovo. That's where the Chinese engineers were when the ZUK developers implemented the Cyanogen OS firmware, which does not work optimally with photo and video shooting? Why in the international version of the smartphone the Cyrillic font is stretched wide by default - was it really impossible to verify the normal localization of the only default smartphone after many years of supplying mobile phones to Russia?
The guys from ZUK will rightly be indignant and say that all the achievements and shortcomings of the new model lie solely on their conscience. And with the approach “we have a powerful inexpensive mobile phone - and the grass won’t grow, fix its glitches yourself,” an army of manufacturers has multiplied in the Chinese and Russian markets, which even we, reviewers, are not able to remember.
Once again, for clarity, in the triangle “display quality / power / endurance”, the smartphone is surprisingly good and can only compete with the above-mentioned Redmi Note 3. But the firmware needs to be “polished”, and the ugly behavior of the rear camera needs to be corrected at least to the level
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 77.3 mm (millimeters) 7.73 cm (centimeters) 0.25 ft (feet) 3.04 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 155.7 mm (millimeters) 15.57 cm (centimeters) 0.51 ft (feet) 6.13 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 8.9 mm (millimeters) 0.89 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.35 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 175 g (grams) 0.39 lbs 6.17 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 107.12 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6.51 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | White Grey |
| Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body. | Glass Aluminium alloy |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| CDMA CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) is a channel access method used in communications in mobile networks. Compared to other 2G and 2.5G standards like GSM and TDMA, it provides higher data transfer speeds and the ability to connect more consumers at the same time. | CDMA 800 MHz |
| W-CDMA W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is an air interface used by 3G mobile networks, and is one of the three main air interfaces of UMTS, along with TD-SCDMA and TD-CDMA. It provides even higher data transfer speeds and the ability to connect more consumers at the same time. | W-CDMA 850 MHz W-CDMA 900 MHz W-CDMA 1900 MHz W-CDMA 2100 MHz |
| TD-SCDMA TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) is a 3G mobile network standard. It is also called UTRA/UMTS-TDD LCR. It was developed as an alternative to the W-CDMA standard in China by the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Technology, Datang Telecom and Siemens. TD-SCDMA combines TDMA and CDMA. | TD-SCDMA 1880-1920 MHz TD-SCDMA 2010-2025 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) |
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | Krait 400 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 0 cache (L0) Some processors have L0 (level 0) cache, which is faster to access than L1, L2, L3, etc. The advantage of having such memory is not only higher performance, but also reduced power consumption. | 4 kB + 4 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 16 kB + 16 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 2048 kB (kilobytes) 2 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 4 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2500 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 330 |
| Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 578 MHz (megahertz) |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 3 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates. | Dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 933 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | IPS |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5.5 in (inches) 139.7 mm (millimeters) 13.97 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.7 in (inches) 68.49 mm (millimeters) 6.85 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.79 in (inches) 121.76 mm (millimeters) 12.18 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 401 ppi (pixels per inch) 157 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 69.51% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch |
| GFF full lamination Anti-fingerprint coating 1500:1 contrast ratio 450 cd/m² 100% NTSC |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.
| Sensor model | Sony IMX214 Exmor RS |
| Sensor type | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor size | 4.69 x 3.52 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches) |
| Pixel size | 1.127 µm (micrometers) 0.001127 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor | 7.38 |
| Diaphragm | f/2.2 |
| Focal length | 3.88 mm (millimeters) 28.63 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | Double LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 4160 x 3120 pixels 12.98 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Optical image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode Macro mode |
| 5-element lens |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.
| Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera. | OmniVision OV8865 |
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS BSI 2 (backside illumination 2) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution. | 4.61 x 3.47 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches) |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels. | 1.414 µm (micrometers) 0.001414 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device. | 7.49 |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger. | f/2.2 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 3.7 mm (millimeters) 27.72 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Angle of view - 73.6° |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.1 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) LE (Low Energy) MAP (Message Access Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 4100 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-polymer |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 40 h (hours) 2400 min (minutes) 1.7 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 600 h (hours) 36000 min (minutes) 25 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 40 h (hours) 2400 min (minutes) 1.7 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 600 h (hours) 36000 min (minutes) 25 days |
| 4G talk time 4G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 4G network. | 38 h (hours) 2280 min (minutes) 1.6 days |
| 4G latency 4G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 4G network. | 526 h (hours) 31560 min (minutes) 21.9 days |
| Adapter output power Information about the electrical current (measured in amperes) and electrical voltage (measured in volts) that the charger supplies (power output). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging. | 5 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) |
| Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, supported output power, control of the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology. | Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0 |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Fast charging Fixed |