With 4G LTE sites improving all over Metro Manila, one can just easily want a LTE capable phone and maximize what the remaining telco with unlimited mobile surfing has to offer. ZTE is known initially for creating pocket WiFi’s. ZTE and Huawei were the top-of-mind choice when people look for such.
Last quarter of 2014, ZTE introduced their affordable LTE phone, the ZTE Blade Vec 4G. At first look, it seemed to be similar to how the Xperia’s are designed. Upon closer inspection, the rear part sports a glossy finish with carbon-fiber like pattern with the ZTE in shiny grey font. The front part without the screen lighted up looks elegant with only the front camera and ear piece having a different shade of color. Overall, theblack unibody presents an elegant appeal and although it looks heavy, it feels otherwise at 132 grams.
Thanks to 1.2GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, the performance felt speedy and very responsive. Adreno 305 GPU also handled gaming with 3D graphics well enough to enjoy a smooth gameplay experience. What we liked best is how the 5″ screen with 720 x 1280 pixels (294ppi) displayed the graphics vividly with the color reproduction being very pleasant to the eyes.
Rear camera is at 8MP while front camera has 1MP. Both performed below our expectations. Image was blurry and pale. Video was also “just-acceptable”. See below for actual samples.
As a phone that is capable of LTE connection, I find the 16GB lacking given that it has no option for expandable memory. Battery life is also not enough at 2,300mAh given that it is LTE-capable. For some reason, standby time is not good as well because when I left it fully charged, it was completely drained the next day.
Conclusion
It’s very light and easy to grip thus, perfect for one hand use. It’s one of the Chinese branded phone you won’t be ashamed to use because of the overall design and stylishness. It’s also one of the most affordable branded LTE-capable phone. We’d have to say that the ZTE Blade Vec 4G, despite of its downsides is a very capable phone at an affordable price. Just remember to bring with you an external battery pack and you’re good to go.
ZTE Blade Vec 4G Specs:
Display: 5-inch IPS LCD (1280 x 720) (~294ppi)
CPU: 1.2GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, Cortex A7
GPU: Adreno 305
RAM: 1GB RAM
ROM: 16GB storage
Rear Camera: 8MP autofocus w/ LED flash (1080p video recording @30fps)
Front Camera: 1MP
SIM: Single (MicroSIM)
Network: 4G/LTE
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS w/ A-GPS
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity
Battery: Li-Ion 2300mAh
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Dimension: 142.3 x 70.4 x 7.8mm
Price Php 9,990