Review of ZUK Z1. A mysterious phablet from Lenovo with a capacious battery. Review of ZUK Z1 from Lenovo What we didn’t like

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.

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

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.

In the spring of 2016, the Zuk company introduced the powerful ZUK Z2 PRO smartphone, which received top-end technical characteristics and, accordingly, a high price tag. In order not to lose a less solvent audience, the ZUK Z2 smartphone, although not as powerful, was presented.

Equipment

The box set includes: the smartphone itself, a charger, a USB Type-C cable, and a paperclip for opening the SIM card tray.

Specifications

The “heart” of the smartphone is a 4-core Snapdragon 820 2.15 GHz processor with 4 gigabytes of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 64 gigabytes. And this is all the possible space, since there is no memory card slot. Graphics processing is carried out on the Adreno 530 624 MHz video chip.

The 5-inch Full HD display has wide viewing angles and a good reserve of brightness. You can use the device quite comfortably both in the sun and in complete darkness.

For taking photos and videos, there are two cameras of 8 and 13 MP. The main camera is capable of recording video in 4k format. The phone has support for two SIM cards of the nano-SIM standard and is capable of working in 2G, 3G and 4G networks.

The smartphone runs on the Android 6.0.1 operating system with the proprietary ZUI 2.0 shell. Among the features, it is worth noting the presence of a U-Touch button, which allows you to navigate on your smartphone. This button is also equipped with a fingerprint scanner capable of identifying its owner in just 0.1 seconds.

Dimensions Zuk Z2 - 141.65 x 68.88 x 8.45 mm, weight - 149 grams.

The phone supports fast charging technology, which allows you to charge your smartphone from zero to 100% in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The battery capacity is 3500 mAh.

Appearance

On both sides the smartphone is covered with high-quality 2.5D oleophobic glass, and the side edges are made of aluminum. The back cover is not removable. The device is available in two colors: white and black.

On the front side you can see an 8 MP camera, a set of sensors, an event indicator, a voice speaker, a display and a multifunction button with a built-in fingerprint scanner.

Camera with flash and logo are on the back.

On the right side there are mechanical power and volume buttons, as well as a tray for installing SIM cards.

The left and top edges are empty.

All other elements are located on the bottom edge: USB Type-C port, 3.5 mm headphone input, main speaker and microphone.

Video review

Results

ZUK Z2 is truly a very high-quality smartphone with excellent technical characteristics. Like its “big brother”, this device is capable of becoming a reliable tool for communication, entertainment and obtaining the necessary information over the next few years.

Do you want a smartphone with top specifications, small size, and at a modest price? Lenovo Zuk Z2 fits these parameters. In the review, we will tell you whether it is true that the Chinese decided to work at a loss or whether there is still a catch.

Equipment

Looking at the huge Chinese inscriptions on the box, doubt should creep in: is this phone really supposed to leave the celestial world? Inside, in addition to the smartphone, there is a charger, a USB Type-C cable, a paper clip for opening the SIM slot and paper documentation.

Appearance

The smartphone looks simple and at the same time strict. Available in two colors - white and black. We received the black version. The appearance cannot be called attractive - an ordinary rectangular smartphone without any design elements. Some people will like it, but I find this design boring.

The front side is covered with protective glass with a rounded edge. During two weeks of testing, no scratches appeared. At the top there is a front camera lens, sensors, a speaker and an LED. Below the screen there is only one mechanical key with a fingerprint scanner.

The frame is made of fiberglass. The manufacturer indicates that it is 25% stronger than conventional plastic. Tactilely, the frame is more reminiscent of metal.

The volume key, power key and a slot for two nanoSIM SIM cards are located on the right side. Multimedia speaker, USB Type-C port, microphone and 3.5 mm audio jack at the bottom.

The back cover is covered with some kind of plastic. It is glossy and scratches easily, even with careful use. The main camera does not protrude above the back panel. Next to it is a single flash LED and an additional microphone.

When you hold the phone in your hands, you get the impression that it is thick and heavy, but in fact its dimensions are quite compact, like for a five-inch phone. The dimensions are 68.9 x 141.7 x 8.5 mm and the weight is 149 grams. This is comparable to the size and weight of Xiaomi mi4c (69.59 x 138.1 x 7.8 mm, 132 grams).

In terms of ease of use, the only complaint I have about the phone is that it is slippery. If you place it on a flat surface, thenZuk Z2 will definitely crawl out of there. In order not to drop your phone, it is still better to look for at least some kind of case for it. Otherwise there are no comments. The fingerprint scanner works great. Indeed, you only need to touch it for a split second and the phone is already unlocked.

Display

Zuk Z2 is equipped with a five-inch IPS screen with Full HD resolution. There is an oleophobic coating. Automatic brightness adjustment on this firmware works strangely and unstable. In the sun, the image fades only a little, but remains readable.

Screen brightness ranges from 2.6 to 398 cd/m². With minimum brightness, you can enjoy reading your favorite book before bed, while putting minimal pressure on your eyes. Contrast 1 to 600.

The color gamut is much wider than the sRGB triangle, and the temperature is close to the reference. The gamma curve is also almost equal to the reference value of 2.1.

It is worth noting that we obtained all of the above values using the “Standard” color profile. The screen settings follow the same principle as in MIUI 8. You can choose one of three color presets, and also enable night mode.

They didn’t skimp on the screen of this smartphone—a high-quality matrix was installed. In terms of display quality, the Zuk Z2 will outperform many smartphones even with a much higher price tag, if only the auto brightness would be corrected and in general everything would be at the highest level.

Phone firmware

After getting acquainted with the appearance and colorful screen, it’s time to get acquainted with the smartphone’s shell. Unlike the Zuk Z1, which had an international version with some kind of digestible firmware, our hero does not have this.

In the vast majority of cases, Chinese stores will send you a phone with “Russified” firmware, but don’t be happy. This firmware can hardly be called stable, because it is full of Chinese software, the translation is clumsy and incomplete, and the Play Market does not work at all. This kind of “translation” is often found on Xiaomi smartphones. They are installed by “kind sellers” so that the buyer has to read a little forums and understand the intricacies of the firmware of his new, favorite smartphone. The same situation applies to the Zuk Z2. In order to make it work more or less adequately, you need to read 4pda, and putting things aside, start reflashing the phone. It is advisable to do this not at night, otherwise you may not have time to blink an eye before the night ends and it will already be morning outside.

Even though I had to deal with flashing smartphones, I still managed to “brick” it by installing the wrong version of the software. After which, I decided to ask the experts from the forum who helped me resurrect the phone. As a result, I installed the latest firmware with ZUI 2.0 shell, which has English and Chinese languages, but does not have Google applications.

I could go further and try to unlock the bootloader through an official unlock request, but in doing so I would lose the warranty on the device, but would have the opportunity to install a custom recovery, which would allow me to install the translated native ZUI firmware, or CyanogenMod.

I decided not to do this, but for normal operation it was necessary to install Google applications. At first I thought it was easy, because there is a built-in App Center, in which I installed all the necessary services using the search. I installed everything, but not everything. Applications in the Play Store did not want to be updated or downloaded. Afterwards I again asked for help on the forum and they answered there that you should download the apk separately and install it manually. To avoid conflicts with previously installed ones, it is better to reflash the phone again to the same firmware and install the apk of Google applications.

As you can see, the Zuk Z2 is not a phone that you can take out of the box and use. This is a real designer. You need to buy it from someone who knows exactly what flashing is. As the owner of a Xiaomi smartphone, I didn’t understand the intricacies of the firmware the first time. Yes, there are Zuk users on specialized forums, instructions on how everything should be done, but still no one denies the possibility that at one moment something could go wrong.

Shell

The smartphone runs on the Android 6.0 operating system and ZUI 2.0 shell. The latter changes the appearance of the system so deeply that it is difficult to find at least something from Android 6.0.

Externally, ZUI 2.0 is similar to MIUI 7. There is no application menu, everything is located on the desktops.

The phone controls are designed for one mechanical key. Touch - back, click - home, two clicks - task menu. Moreover, if you swipe the key from left to right and from right to left, you can switch between applications without going into the manager.

Pulling the curtain from the top, we will only find the notification line. To find the switch curtain, you need to pull the bottom edge up (as in iOS). This solution looks unusual, but is convenient in practice - you don’t need to reach for the top edge.

The settings menu is almost the same as MIUI 7. It is clear that they were inspired by this particular shell, but at the same time they tried to do it a little differently. You can choose one of four skins. Of all the skins, I liked the black one the most. Many people lack this even on pure Android.

Like MIUI, there is a problem with notifications from installed applications. Yes, you can set the priority in the application settings, which helps in most cases, but notifications from Gmail arrived every once in a while. The rest of the shell is interesting and not bad.

Hardware platform

Zuk Z1 at one time came out with the top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Zuk Z2 couldn't have turned out any differently. The platform is Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996). It is equipped with four cores built on the Kryo architecture, which are organized into two blocks of two cores. The first two are for performing resource-intensive tasks with frequencies up to 2.2 GHz, and the other two are for energy saving with frequencies up to 1.6 GHz. Video coreAdreno 530 is 40% more productive than Adreno 430 used inSnapdragon 810. The amount of RAM is 4 GB LPDDR4 (a little more than 2 GB is available after switching on). Built-in memory is 64 GB, with 53 GB available to the user.

The high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 platform in synthetic tests shows results at the level of 2016 flagships. Zuk Z2 is perfect as a gaming smartphone.

For some reason, the new Asphalt Xtreme slowed down for me at maximum settings. I hope this will be fixed in the next game update. With other games like N.O.V.A. 3 and Space Marshals 2 there were no problems.

When playing games, the phone heats up, which is felt on the back side near the camera. At the same time, the heating is not strong, but the sensor data can argue with me.

The operation of the wireless interfaces did not raise any questions. Finding satellites even without using mobile Internet takes a matter of seconds.

There are no complaints about the speaker and microphone. The multimedia speaker is loud, but there is only one, and it is located so that it can easily be covered with your hand during the game.

Autonomy

The capacity of the built-in battery is 3500 mAh. For some unknown reason, I failed to pass the PCMark Battery test even on the third try.

With normal use without games, but with social networks and average brightness, the smartphone's operating time was 1.5 days. At the same time, the screen was active for almost 5 hours, and the talk time was 1.5 hours. The battery life is not bad, but it largely depends on how long you play on the smartphone.

Cameras

Zuk Z2 is equipped with two cameras - a 13 MP main camera and an 8 MP front camera. The aperture of the main camera is f/2.2, and the front camera is f/2.0. The application interface has not been greatly redesigned.

On the start screen, you can turn on the flash, select the HDR operating mode (on, off, automatic), go to settings and proceed to video recording.

The quality of images in good lighting conditions is not bad - above average, but at night everything is not so good - the frames are noisy. It is impossible to compare the Zuk Z2 camera with the current flagships of Samsung and LG, but the least demanding user will like the photos.

The front camera did not cause any complaints.

Video recording is possible in 4K resolution at 30 frames/sec.

ZUK Z2 Pro is a smartphone that, in theory, should become a competitor to the famous Xiaomi Mi5 phone. What is interesting about this gadget? Firstly, it has 6 gigabytes of RAM on board. 128 gigabytes of RAM.

10 sensors with which you can measure pressure, ultraviolet radiation, pulse and many other things. In a word, this device is crammed with a variety of functionality (including, for example, a fashionable fingerprint scanner) to the very brim.

The phone comes with a screen protector, a silicone case, and the ZUK Z2 Pro phone itself. Taking it out of the box, you can’t immediately understand, at least visually, how it differs from the Mi5.

Description of the ZUK Z2 Pro smartphone

By removing the protective film from the back panel, you can see that it is made of glass made using 3D technology. As you already know, almost all standard smartphones have glass made using 2D technology. The back cover is slightly rounded - it is not clear why this was done.

At the top there is a peephole from a 13 megapixel Samsung camera, a dual LED flash and a sensor with which you can measure your pulse.

On the right side of the phone there are buttons for adjusting the volume level, as well as the power button. The buttons are pressed normally - they do not wobble when pressed.

On the left side there is a metal tray for SIM cards. It can be opened using a paperclip that comes with the phone.

The tray contains two empty slots for NANO SIM cards. There is no provision for inserting a Micro-SD memory card. In fact, it is not needed here, because the permanent memory of the ZUK Z2 Pro phone is neither more nor less - 128 gigabytes.

link to the Bangood website.

At the top end there is only a second microphone for noise reduction. At the bottom end there is a mesh under which is hidden an external speaker, a Type-C 3.1 USB port, a microphone, and here the manufacturer has also included a standard 3.5 mm jack for a headset.

The thickness of the case is around 7.5 millimeters. The weight of the ZUK Z2 Pro phone is 163 grams. The touch screen is made of excellent third-generation Gorilla Glass. The anti-aliasing coating is simply gorgeous. At the bottom there is a mechanical button with a built-in touch fingerprint scanner. Interestingly, the manufacturer promises that the fingerprint scanner will work even if the finger is wet.

Specifications of ZUK Z2 Pro

Communication standards - 2G: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz CDMA2000 800MHz, 3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, TD-SCDMA B34/B39 4G: FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/ 5/7/8/20 TDD-LTE B38/B39/B40/B41;
SIM cards - two Nano SIM cards;
Style - classic;
Color - bald, black;
Case material: plastic;
OS - ZUI 2.0, based on Android 6.0.1;
CPU – Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 14nm Kryo 64 bit Quad-core, 2.15 GHz;
GPU – Adreno 530 3D 624 MHz;
ROM - 128GB UFS 2.0(Gear3) 5.8 Gbps;
RAM – 6GB LPDDR4 dual Channel 1866 MHz;
Memory cards - no; screen dimensions - 5.2 inches;
Type - Super AMOLED FHD 2.5D Screen, GFF, NTSC 100%, with AF coating;
Resolution - 1080 x 1920 pixels;
Ringtones - WAV Ringtone/ MP3;
Audio - MP3, M4A, AAC, MKA, AMR, OGG, MIDI;
Video - MP4, AVI, 3GP;
Images - JPEG/ BMP/ PNG/ GIF;
E-book - TXT/ CHM/ DOC/ HTML;
Multi-touch - yes;
Glass on the front - Corning Gorilla Glass 3;
Maximum brightness – up to 500 cd/m²;
Headphone input - 3.5 mm jack;
Data transfer - USB/Bluetooth;
USB connector - 3.1 Type-C connector for connecting power supply, charging and data synchronization;
Mobile Internet - WiFi/WAP;
Camera – rear 13 megapixels, front 8 megapixels. Aperture 2.0;
Lens - wide angle;
Languages: English and Chinese;
Message types - SMS, MMS;
GPS - GPS, GLONASS, BDS, AGPS, Galileo;
WIFI - yes, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac;
WAP - yes;
Bluetooth - 4.1;
Gravity sensor - yes;
Light sensor - yes;
Proximity sensor - yes;
Blood oxygen sensor and heart rate - yes;
Barometric altimeter - yes;
UV sensor - yes;
Hall sensor - yes;
Three-axis acceleration sensor - yes;
Three-axis gyroscope - yes;
Triaxial E-compass - yes;
U-Touch 2.0 (fingerprint scanner) - yes;
Other functions - calculator, email, Gmail, clock, calendar, MP3 player, voice recorder, video player, etc.;
Dimensions - 145.4 x 70.5 x 4.6 millimeters;
Weight - 145 grams;
Battery type - non-removable Li-Po;
Capacity - 3100mAh, 3000mAh.

There is an application on the desktop with which you can measure blood pressure, pulse and other parameters, but for this you will need to go through a special registration.

Testing the volume of the speaker, which is located on the bottom of the phone, to the right of the Type-C port, we can say that the sound is quite loud and clear. In addition, even low frequencies are present. The speaker in this smartphone is definitely excellent.

All you have to do is just touch it. Unlocking will happen almost instantly. If you apply any other finger, nothing will happen. The smartphone will only unlock if you attach the finger you register.

It is curious that despite the manufacturer’s assurances that it can read a wet finger, the smartphone does not want to unlock when you try to do this with a wet finger. But the scanner reads a wet finger perfectly.

The usual package of the ZUK Z2 Pro smartphone includes a USB Type-C cable along with a charger. The user will be able to charge the phone using Quick Charge charging. Charging voltage - 5.3 Volts, current - 2.5 amperes. You can purchase the product by clicking on this link to the Bangood website.

When using the camera, you can apply various filters, and when taking photographs, select panoramic shooting, set the photo format, activate HDR, and flash. For slow motion, you can select the number of frames per second, for example, 120 frames, 240 or 900 frames per second.

The maximum size of a photo taken with the main camera is 13 megapixels. The front camera takes pictures at 8 megapixels. Unfortunately, this firmware version does not have manual adjustment of focus, ISO level, white balance, and so on.

Photography recognizes faces and can take photos using a sensor that measures your heart rate—all you need to do is place your finger on the heart rate monitor. There is, as usual, a Beauty function.

The downside of this smartphone is the lack of the latest firmware. The user will have to look for it himself, without even knowing whether it exists. In general, the impressions of the product are not bad. Taking into account cashbacks and other discounts, the cost is about $450.

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