Zte nubia 17. The nubia Z17 mini smartphone from ZTE is the middle class on the march. Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
After the Nubia Z17 mini, I was so looking forward to the company's flagship smartphone that I burned out. And when I received the Nubia Z17 I was completely disappointed. Crooked software, dead battery and other “joys”. At the end of the tests, I came to the conclusion that not everything is so bad.
Why the Z17 was released right after the Z11, don’t ask, I don’t know. Who will sort them out in China? Maybe all their numbers, starting from 12 and ending with 16, are unlucky. As, in fact, Meizu and OnePlus did with the four - they jumped straight to the fifth models.
Set
Stylish box, stylish accessories. Inside we will not find a power supply for 50 cents, which are shipped to manufacturers in China by the thousands of tons. Each accessory has its own design, bright, beautiful, unique - all in the corporate style. This reminds me of the OnePlus approach.
- power supply (max. 12 V and 3 A)
- USB Type-C cable
- USB C to 3.5 mm audio adapter
- sticker
- SIM card needle
- protective film and some kind of keychain received from the seller
Design
It hasn't changed since the Z9, but it's about time. No, the smartphone looks attractive in appearance and can be easily distinguished from its competitors by the glowing circle under the screen and a truly frameless display. Only Nubia had and still has this. It’s just that this appearance already seems boring to me personally. I want something new. What do you think?
The smartphone fits perfectly in the hand. We say thanks to the 5.5-inch screen, which fits extremely well into the body. Many of our hero’s classmates with the same display size cannot boast of such compact dimensions.
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | |
| Nubia Z17 (5.5’’) | 152,6 | 72,4 | ||
| Nubia Z11 (5.5’’) | 151,8 | 72,3 | ||
| Xiaomi Mi6 (5.15’’) | 145,2 | 70,5 | ||
| OnePlus 5 (5.5’’) | 154,2 | 74,1 |
Since the display is edge-to-edge, there are no side bezels. Absolutely not. Concerns immediately arise - are there any accidental clicks? Yes, there are, but they are extremely rare.
My main device is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. That's where the real problem is. I constantly touch the display with my fingers, palm, etc. There is no such thing here, but the smartphone still looks impressive. And that's great!
As in all previous “Nubias”, here we have a slight refraction of the backlight on the curved edges of the protective glass. There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s just a feature that you need to get used to.
Among the distinctive features of the new product are two camera modules on the rear surface. They stick out noticeably above the body and I bet they will get scratched throughout their lifespan. In the previous generation, sapphire glass was installed, but what we have here is still unknown. At the moment, little is known about the smartphone, except for short excerpts in Chinese from the official website. We are waiting for September and the official presentation of the smartphone to the whole world.
The fingerprint scanner is located right there on the back cover. Reacts to touch quickly and without errors. Practically.
The device is perfectly assembled, everything is of high quality and there’s really nothing to complain about.
However, the rear matte surface perfectly absorbs all kinds of damage and wear. I managed to grab a couple within the first week of use. Where? I can't imagine.
The case is all-metal, there are barely noticeable strips of antennas, a USB C connector, a speaker - everything is as usual. The only thing missing is a 3.5 mm audio jack, but removing it is now fashionable. The Chinese still mindlessly copy Apple. It’s just that many people don’t hide it (Xiaomi and Huawei), but Nubia exists in a vacuum (sort of) and all their steps are purely their own opinion. Especially the sudden appearance of a new color in the line - a bright red body. It just happened, we understand. Yes Yes.
By the way, the color palette here is very rich. Available entirely in black, black with gold accents for those who have completely lost their taste, blue, red, gold and so on.
I really wanted to buy the red modification, but I don’t know when it will be delivered, but time is running out, so I bought the black one.
Display
There's nothing unusual about the numbers. Excellent quality IPS panel with a diagonal and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It’s gratifying that no one is chasing 4K screens and other nonsense like VR. Many manufacturers have already realized that at this stage this is just a toy and, apart from increased energy consumption and processor resources, wild resolution does not bring anything else.
Viewing angles are good as standard. A slight fog only appears when the screen is tilted to its widest angle. However, why do this?
There is an oleophobic coating and it is of very high quality, no problems.
As in, the brightness level can be reduced to the very bottom. I don’t know why this is necessary, because reading in this situation is still impossible, nevertheless, such a possibility is present.
Nubia Z17 Specifications
Let's remember the previous generation - Z11, because the device remains very interesting to this day. Camera, sound, hardware - everything is fine with him. However, how exactly does the Nubia Z17 differ from the Z11? We find out from the table below.
Nubia Z11 | Nubia Z17 |
|
| Screen | 5.5’’, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 403 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3 | 5.5’’, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 403 ppi, Gorilla Glass (version unknown) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) with 4 Kryo cores and a frequency of 2.15 GHz, 14 nm | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) with 8 Kryo cores and a frequency of 2.45 GHz, 10 nm |
| Graphics accelerator | Adreno 530 620 MHz | Adreno 540 710 MHz |
| RAM | 4 or 6 GB | 6 or 8 GB LPDDR4x |
| Data store | 64 GB | 64 or 128 GB UFS 2.1 |
| Memory cards | Yes, up to 200 GB | No |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,200 mAh |
| Main camera | 16 MP (Sony IMX298, f/2.0, OIS, sapphire coating) | 12 (f/1.8, pixel size 1.4 microns) and 23 MP (f/2.0), Dual Pixel focusing, 2x lossless zoom, 4K recording |
| Front-camera | 8 MP (f/2.4, 80-degree lens, sapphire coating) | 16 MP (f/2.0, 80-degree lens) |
| OS (at time of release) | Android 6, nubia UI 4.0, NeoVision 6.0 | Android 7.1.1, nubia UI 5.0, NeoVision 7.0 |
| Connectors | USB Type-C, audio output | USB Type-C |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, light and distance sensor, gyroscope, Hall sensor, digital compass, fingerprint scanner |
|
| Networks | LTE (two versions: with and without 20th band) | LTE including 20th band |
| SIM cards | 2 Nano |
|
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi (802.11 ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, dedicated audio chip AKM4376, IR port | Wi-Fi (802.11 ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, IR port |
| Navigation | GPS, Glonass, Beidou |
|
| Water and dust protection | No |
|
The official Chinese website indicates full support for the LTE frequencies we need, including the 20th band. Thus, we leave all doubts about the operation of 4G with different operators in Russia.
Despite the fact that we have the latest processor, Bluetooth 5 did not happen. We are satisfied with version 4.1. Yes, yes, even 4.2 is not supported by the device.
There is NFC, but it doesn’t work on my Android Pay smartphone. The application kept asking for access to read SMS messages, I went to permissions, and everything was already available there. Vicious circle. There is only one culprit - extremely crooked firmware, but more on that later.
Performance
In tanks, I set the graphics settings to maximum, launched the game, and the frame rate was firmly fixed at 60 FPS. Excellent result!
Despite the top-end chipset inside, the device does not shine in synthetic tests. The same results in AnTuTu and Geekbench 4 were obtained by devices with Snapdragon 821 plus UFS 2.0 memory on board. Perhaps the reason for this is the same shell and firmware as a whole.
Since at this stage there is no global firmware, and the self-made device that was on my copy did not allow me to say unambiguously about performance, I will not draw conclusions on this matter.
Based on the interface, I can say that the smartphone flies, everything starts up very quickly, there are no lags - this is a real flagship.
However, occasional stupid glitches still blur the impression of the smartphone.
I was confused by the work of the Gallery. Open the desired photo, double-tap it and watch the image load. At first you see some kind of “soap”, and after a couple of seconds it becomes sharp, as it should be. Considering the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and UFS 2.1 memory type, this is extremely strange behavior. Apparently it's a software issue. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter to us.
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Network adapter
- USB cable
- USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter
Characteristics
- Case materials: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and metal
- Operating system: Google Android 7.1.1 + Nubia UI 5.0
- Network: 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)/3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)/LTE (B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B12/B20), two SIM cards
- Processor: 8 cores, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (4x2.35 GHz Kryo and 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR4
- Storage memory: 64 GB (no memory card)
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n/ac) DualBand, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP/LE), USB Type-C connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, USB-C for headset
- Screen: capacitive, IPS 5.5"" with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, aspect ratio 16:9
- Camera: main module 12 MP (f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4 µm) / 23 (f/2.0), front 16 MP, dual flash
- Navigation: A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
- Additionally: fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, proximity and lighting sensors
- Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer (Li-Pol) capacity 3200 mAh
- Dimensions: 152.6 x 72.4 x 7.6 mm
- Weight: 173 g
- Price: 26,000 rubles (Q1 2018)
Introduction
Despite the fact that the ZTE Nubia Z17 device was released last summer, its hardware will remain relevant for at least another couple of years, and the price in Chinese online stores is now about 26,000 rubles.
For this money, Nubia Z17 gives the user the following things: a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, as much as 6 GB of RAM, two main cameras with background blur functions, an NFC chip, QC 4+ fast charging and Android version 7.1.1. By the way, the screen frames on the right and left are very thin – 2 mm each. An option for those who do not accept the 18:9 aspect ratio, but want a frameless design. Fans of IR transmitters will also be happy with ZTE.
Looking ahead, I will say that the Z17 is “lightning” in terms of speed of work in the interface and with applications: there is no delay at all between switching programs or settings.
In addition, the operating system contains a large number of features and the main one - real - two-window multitasking: you can run anything from above and below on the display.
Design, dimensions, control elements
The design of the ZTE Nubia Z17 is quite calm and familiar. Nothing original can be distinguished. The design of the device is typical of past years; there is no elongated FullVision display, but there are thin frames on the right and left - only 2 mm. Many people will be interested in this approach, because the 16:9 aspect ratio is preserved, which means that there will be more information about the width than with 18:9 screens.
I saw two colors on sale: black and gold. However, you can also find black and gold, red and blue.
The front panel is protected by Corning glass. According to some information, this is the third generation. In any case, after several weeks of active use, not a single deep scratch remained on the screen. Of course, there is an oleophobic coating, the quality is good.
Almost the entire back panel is metal. It contains antenna strips. Considering the somewhat meager official information, we still managed to find out that the Nubia Z17 is protected from water. Unfortunately, the standard is not specified. Therefore, most likely, just from splashes.
In my copy, the back panel was matte, fingerprints did not remain.
The phone feels familiar in your hand, as the body has a normal shape. The thickness of the device is relatively small - 7.6 mm, weight is 173 grams. After the Apple iPhone 8 Plus (my main smartphone), ZTE feels lighter. The Nubia Z17 is more convenient to use than the device from Apple, that’s a fact.
On the front of the device at the top there is a camera, light and proximity sensors, and a speaker. It is loud, the sound is very clear, the timbre is pleasant, all frequencies can be heard: low, medium, and high.
Under the display there is a branded glowing ring and two buttons on the sides (they can be reassigned in the settings). The ring acts as an indicator of missed events and battery charge. In the settings you can easily set the brightness of the light (manually/automatically), turn it on/off when the battery is charging, when touched, or select “Do not disturb” for a certain period of time.
At the bottom there is a microphone, a USB Type-C connector and a speakerphone. You may have already noticed that there is no 3.5 mm audio output on the case. In my subjective opinion, this whole idea of “removing” the mini-jack is stupid. I mean not only a specific device, but in general: 3.5 mm is movable, thin, you can find a connector straight, L-shaped, at an angle, in general, whatever you want. And USB-C, although flat, is wide and motionless. Adapters, as you understand, are just crutches.
The power button and volume rocker key are on the right, and on the left is a metal slot for two nano SIM cards. You won't find a microSD card in the Z17, so think about storage capacity first. Personally, 64 GB is enough for me even in the iPhone 8 Plus.
At the top end there is a second microphone for noise reduction and an IR transmitter. If you were looking for a phone with IR, then take a closer look at the Z17, as there are almost no devices with this feature now.
On the reverse side there is a ring that contains a fingerprint scanner (fast, accurate), a module with two cameras and a double flash of different colors.
In general, the ZTE Nubia Z17 is a standard phone without any tricky curved displays or imaginary framelessness. Easy to handle, well assembled and made of good materials.
ZTE and Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Display
This device uses a screen with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. Physical size – 68x121 mm, frame on top – 15 mm, bottom – 16 mm, on the right and left – approximately 2 mm. There is an anti-reflective coating, which is quite effective.
The display resolution of Nubia Z17 from ZTE is FullHD, that is, 1080x1920 pixels, aspect ratio - 16:9, density - 400 pixels per inch. Matrix from Japan Display (IPS) without on-cell air gap.
Screen viewing angles are maximum, no distortion. The maximum brightness of white color is 432 cd/m2, the maximum brightness of black color is 0.565 cd/m2, contrast is 770:1.
Judging by the calibrator data, the ZTE matrix produces excellent rich colors: all parameters are larger than the sRGB triangle. But the gray screen of the Nubia Z17 is a big lie.
There is an “Eye protection mode” in the settings. The screen is “flooded” with warmer shades of colors. Intensity and on/off time You can choose the mode yourself.
Viewing Angles
White color
Battery
The ZTE Nubia Z17 uses a non-removable lithium polymer (Li-Pol) battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh.
The operating time of the device is typical for most similar devices with IPS matrices: about a day with a maximum amount of screen time of 3.5 – 4.5 hours. The smartphone plays 8 hours of HD video (MP4) at 100% brightness of the matrix backlight and sits down after 5 hours under the load of 3D toys (Marvell: Contest of Champions).
With battery charging, everything is very good here: thanks to Quick Charge from Qualcomm, the battery gets 50% charge in just 20 minutes. And it takes about an hour for 100% “filling”.
Communication capabilities
The device operates in 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)/3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)/LTE (B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B12/B20). Two SIM cards in nano format. VoLTE and LTE CAT 6 frequency aggregation technologies are supported.
There is NFC, but without Mifare Classic and Mifare Ultralight. Apparently, due to the metal case, in order to work correctly with NFC, you have to touch the phone to the terminal not with the back, but with the front. Moreover, the distance should be no more than 5 - 10 mm.
The rest is standard for any Android smartphone: Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac two bands, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0 with OTG support. There are GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS navigation. Accuracy up to 10 meters, sensitivity is average.
Memory and memory card
There are several versions of the Z17: 6/8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64/128 GB of internal memory (UFS 2.1). We ended up with the 6/64 GB version. The speed of RAM is almost 6000 MB/s, the read/write speed of internal memory is 812/222 MB/s. The reading is impressive, but the writing could easily be more!
Cameras
The trend of recent years is two cameras. ZTE did not lag behind, so in Nubia Z17 we see two main camera modules.
One sensor has a resolution of 12 MP (f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4 µm), and the second has a resolution of 23 MP (f/2.0). The increase in the number of megapixels was done so that it was possible to create a lossless double digital zoom In quality, it’s interesting that the device recognizes the level of lighting and switches the cameras depending on it. Like Apple: there is little light - the main module and digital zoom are used, there is a lot of light - the additional module and optical zoom. it improves the picture at 2x magnification (if there is enough light).
In addition, the second camera is used to create a bokeh effect. In Nubia Z17 you can choose a soft aperture from 1 to 16. Moreover, there is a certain corrector for this function. I don’t understand the essence of this thing - the frames come out the same.
Regarding bokeh, I can say this: it almost always works well, definitely better than in cheap “trash phones”. I think it’s a long way from Apple’s level, since the frame is not decomposed into a “depth of field map.” That’s why it “soaps” along the contour. However, quite correctly.
As for the quality of photos from Nubia Z17, it is at a very high level! Excellent detail, little noise, no artifacts or “soap” in the corners. Due to DualPixel technology, focusing speed is instantaneous.
In the “Family Camera” section (I think the Chinese translated this item incorrectly) there is a large number of effects and shooting modes: multi-photo, creating a picture with a beam of light, starry sky, “slo-mo”, macro, “time lapse” and others. It is possible to shoot in DNG format, and by choosing cameras.
DNG from 23 MP camera
DNG from 12 MP camera
Comparison
There are a lot of “jokes” of all kinds, but they all seem to be unfinished, like “it will do.”
The smartphone records video in resolutions up to 4K (30 fps)/1080p (60 fps). The quality is very good, the focus is instant. In low light conditions, the number of frames does not decrease. Front camera – 1080p and 30 fps. The quality is also nice.
Overall, I'm 100% happy with the Z17. Perhaps the best among those that I have tested recently (I mean Chinese devices).
Portraits
Macro
Selfie
Other photos
Performance and OS
In this section, you can only write one thing - Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. I am sure that the chipset needs no introduction and everyone understands that it is the most productive solution at the moment. I think its power will last for another 3-4 years. Unless, of course, you increase the screen resolution beyond QHD.
The ZTE Nubia Z17 smartphone is lightning fast! There is no startup delay in any application. It seems that the device simply “pulls” programs and various settings from RAM. No brakes, no microlags.
Another issue is software. Here the Chinese guys made a mistake. Programs crash periodically (every two or three days), constant glitches with Google Play (I can’t install applications for hours), the translation leaves much to be desired (almost all “apps” have Chinese or English “tails”). However, the “tails” are clear: the Z17, as far as I understand, is available exclusively in its native market, since on the official website in the catalog the smartphone can only be found in the Chinese section.
The system is Google Android version 7.1.1 with its own Nubia UI 5.0 shell. The main difference between the proprietary UI: only the notification panel drops down from the top, and quick access to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and other things is launched by swiping up from the bottom. Another cool feature is split screen. Here it is even, that is, absolutely any application can be launched either from above or from below simultaneously with other applications/games/settings. For example, on the upper half of the display a game is running, and on the lower half you continue to communicate in Telegram.
ZTE Nubia Z17 uses a single speaker for hands-free output. Its volume is high, the quality is normal: the sound is flat, high-frequency.
The smartphone supports DolbyAtmos technology. In the sound settings there is a special item with the same name. Auto volume, speech correction, surround sound are selected. Plus the equalizer is adjustable. It is visual and does not indicate frequencies.
I tested the sound in three-driver Meizu Flow and Bose QC 35 II. Conclusions on Meizu: extremely pleasant mid frequencies, expressive high frequencies, but low frequencies choke somewhere at a frequency of 100 Hz. Bose plays about the same over the wire and without switching on. But if you turn it on, the sound is transformed: you can hear powerful low frequencies, as well as mids and highs. Still, the electronics of the QC 35 II “pull out” not the coolest sounding devices!
Conclusion
I can't say that the ZTE Nubia Z17 made a big impression on me. Apparently, because in a short time I have already gotten used to smartphones with FullVision displays. And the usual 16:9 screen ratio is perceived as somewhat archaic.
The device from ZTE will be of interest primarily to those who do not accept all these newfangled trends in the structure of screens: sometimes curved, sometimes elongated. The Z17 simply made thin side frames for better one-handed grip and kept the display diagonal at 5.5 inches in the body of a 5-inch gadget.
Disadvantages of the device
- "Damp" firmware;
- Average operating time for a 3200 mAh battery;
- No memory card slot.
Pros of the device
- Adequate price;
- Powerful hardware: Snapdragon 835 processor, 6 GB RAM, built-in UFS 2.1 memory;
- The main camera is “the best”!
- Very fast interface!
- Good quality screen matrix;
- Loud and high-quality conversational speaker.
Those who are obsessed with cameras in smartphones should appreciate the capabilities of the Nubia Z17. In fact, only because of the cameras can you consider a model for purchase. Even I’m now wondering whether to use the Z17 as my main smartphone...
Editor's Choice
[Review] ZTE nubia Z17 mini – a freezing smartphone with a cool camera
In this review we will talk about the ZTE nubia Z17 mini. This is both a very good and very bad smartphone that costs a lot of money (by the standards of the average resident of the country of the former USSR). It has its undeniable advantages, and there are significant disadvantages. In the course of a detailed analysis of this device, everyone will be able to make their own choice - whether to buy this smartphone for them or whether it is better to look for something else.
Contents:Model specifications
As you can see, this device, at first glance, has many positive aspects. But there are also not quite standard features that can scare away a more or less experienced user. You can learn more about this device only after a detailed analysis of it.
Equipment
The box of the device in question is quite ordinary, without any features or unusual aspects. On the front is the nubia branding in a circle. In it, in addition to the smartphone itself, you will find the following:
And now about all this in order. A needle is far from the best option in terms of ease of use. The problem is that often such connectors, which need to be removed with a needle, get stuck tightly and it is impossible to do anything with them. Then you have to come up with some homemade devices from available materials in order to get the SIM card and microSD. But this is a complaint not about the configuration, but about the appearance. The needle itself does its job very well.
There are no complaints about the cable and there cannot be any - everything is standard here. Judging by the reviews, this wire connects well. It can be used to connect to a computer (the cable does this job perfectly) and for charging. But there are complaints about the fork. It is not intended for our Soviet sockets. And this is a problem, since when purchasing you will have to either look for an adapter or look for another plug. And these are additional, unforeseen expenses.
Additional protective glass– this is a very pleasant surprise that deserves attention. It is made of very high quality and you can immediately. True, the manufacturer does not specify which model is included in the kit, but it’s still nice. As for the sticker, it doesn’t carry any special meaning – it is what it is. Perhaps the manufacturer thinks you'll decide to stick it on a case or some other item to show off.
In general, the equipment here is not bad, but it would be nice to add a Soviet fork.
Design
What immediately catches your eye is that this smartphone is quite large. This is especially visible if you previously had a device with a 5.2-inch screen diagonal. As mentioned above, the dimensions of the device in question are 14.65x7.25x0.74 cm, that is, length 14.65 cm, width 7.25 cm, and thickness 0.74 cm.
For example, Xiaomi Mi 5C with the same screen diagonal has dimensions of 14.44x6.97x0.71 cm. On the other hand, most users are not at all embarrassed by the fact that the manufacturer decided to sacrifice compactness for other purposes. So this nuance can hardly be considered a disadvantage.
At the moment, three color options are available - white with gold inserts, black with the same inserts and completely black. Let's face it, these colors are not for everybody. Not everyone will like them. Some users think that these golden inserts make the device “somehow gypsy.” For others, on the contrary, they are the highlight for which they are ready to purchase this device. However, for those who don’t like the “gypsy” theme, there is a purely black option.
Otherwise, the appearance of the smartphone is not very different from other similar models. The only thing you can notice is the red border around the camera. The same edging will be around the entire body and the fingerprint scanner if you choose the gold option. The case, by the way, is metal, without any inserts, which is very nice. There is no need to purchase an additional protective case for this device if you are concerned about its integrity. True, it turned out to be quite slippery, so for some users it will simply fall out of the palm.
As for the buttons that are located under the display, they have a barely noticeable backlight– you can’t immediately understand that they are even there.
There are only two keys - "Context menu" and "Back". The location of the buttons can be changed. The fingerprint scanner works, but is quite slow. For a modern smartphone, recognizing a fingerprint for more than a second is, to put it mildly, not a very good indicator. If you need to, for example, call an ambulance, then because of such a long time it will not be possible to do this.
On the other hand, for an unpretentious user, all of the above disadvantages will not seem so significant and he will be happy to use this smartphone. So this is all subjective.
Screen
The model in question uses a 5.2-inch LTPS IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. Its resolution is 1080x1920 pixels and pixel density is 424 ppi. This is quite a standard indicator for IPS screens today. Of course, given the small diagonal size, the picture looks quite nice.
In general, the screen of this device supports 16,777,216 colors, which is a fairly good indicator. Viewing angles are quite good, again, for IPS. They still look many times better, even with lower resolution and pixel density. In the sun, nubia Z17, like others, performs poorly - nothing is visible.
But it’s interesting that in comparison with other devices that have the same diagonal size, the picture in the ZTE nubia Z17 mini looks much better. For example, in Figure 4 you can see a comparison of the device we are considering (on the left) with the same one (on the right). Moreover, both devices are at an angle. As you can see, the ZTE representative has a much brighter and more saturated image. The same situation occurs when comparing any other pictures and videos.
It is noteworthy that the screen is located, which should be quite enough to protect against scratches and falls. But for some reason the manufacturer puts additional protective glass in the box. What is it for? Considering that there are no user reviews on the Internet in which they would talk about low strength, we can consider this to be just a nice gift.
It is also worth noting that the gadget we are considering has. Because of it, fingerprints do not remain on the screen. In general, the display here is of quite high quality, as for IPS.
Performance
It uses a Snapdragon 652 processor. By some miracle it managed to get as many as 88,779 parrots. This is surprising, since the smartphone in most cases is mercilessly buggy. During the initial setup, when you first hold the device in your hands and download your standard applications, it will already freeze. After configuration, everything returns to normal, and the system starts working quickly and without freezes. But such unpleasant phenomena will still remind you of themselves from time to time. This is terribly annoying! This is exactly the situation observed for most users. Perhaps you will be lucky and in your case everything will be a little different.
As for games, they work quite well here, do not freeze, and are not thrown away. You can easily run GTA and many other heavy games at maximum settings. In the video below you can see a gaming test of the device.
The Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 processor, which is used in the model we are considering, has two clusters of 4 cores. The first, Cortex-A53, contains 4 cores with a maximum frequency of 1.2 GHz. The second, Cortex-A72, has 4 cores at 1.8 GHz.
Interesting: In the characteristics of the smartphone, the manufacturer writes that it uses two cores - Quad-core 1.95 GHz Cortex-A72and 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53. But Qualcomm representativestalk about two yards of 1.8 GHz and 1.2 GHz in the Snapdragon 652 model. It turns out that the expertsZTElied. Whether they did this intentionally or unintentionally is anyone's guess.
It is noteworthy that thanks to the ARM big.LITTLE architecture, all of them can work simultaneously. Therefore, the freezes discussed above seem impossible. The problem may only be in the shell, which we will talk about later.
The Adreno 510 chip is responsible for graphics along with this processor. It allows you to work with video in 4K resolution, as well as Full HD at a speed of 120FPS. This graphics core also allows you to take a series of photos at a speed of 24 frames per second. It is, of course, enough to run most modern games at high settings. There is 4 GB of RAM. This is also quite enough to work with demanding applications. And 64 GB of internal memory will also be enough to store all game files and programs. In most cases, you will not need to use an additional memory card or connect cloud storage.
Interestingly, the same device is sold in many countries, but with a Qualcomm MSM8976 Pro Snapdragon 653 processor. It is much more powerful and supports more games and applications. These models have 6 GB of RAM. They can be purchased in most states of the former USSR. But, if you are going to do this to get rid of glitches, then you should not buy a more productive one, because the same problem also occurs there.
As an intermediate result, we can say that the performance of the gadget in question is very good. For such a price the performance is excellent. The glitches are related to the shell, not the processor.
Shell
This is where the biggest drawback of this device lies. If all other disadvantages can be attributed to the subjective opinion of reviewers, then in terms of software, as they say, “You can’t fight a tank” . Here are a few things you're likely to struggle with. you will encounter when using this “wonderful” device:
Bad translation. From the very beginning, you will notice that the translation in the interface is simply terrible. The various elements were signed, at best, in Latin letters. Sometimes you can even find completely incomprehensible hieroglyphs. Because of this, it is simply not clear what kind of element is meant, how it works and what it is needed for.
Unclear requests. Also, when using the device for a long time, you will notice that almost all requests to perform some actions are described completely incorrectly. There are already legends on the Internet about requests to move something into memory or into the camera, specific to the model in question. For example, a request appears with the following content: “Allow Instagram to move to Memory?” What this means is anyone's guess.
Lack of design talent among developers. The icons here are very ugly, the colors don’t match each other at all, and the standard wallpaper often leaves much to be desired. It seems that ZTE management decided to save money on the work of designers and this is what came out of it. The interface will simply annoy you.
Crooked inscriptions. Some signatures not only look terrible and pathetic, they also literally overlap each other. Because of this, it becomes simply impossible to read them.
Interestingly, the developers decided to add more gestures to their creation than their competitors. But they did it poorly too - most gestures simply don’t work.
The only positive point that can be noted in the operation of the ZTE nubia Z17 mini shell is the dual-window mode. It allows you to work with two applications at the same time.
It is quite possible that in the future, with updates, most of the above problems will be solved. There is also an option to change the firmware, but then the warranty will be void. Therefore, the shortcomings of the shell will have to be tolerated for now. Some may feel that these problems are too many. There is no point in giving your own advice on this matter - everyone must make their own choice.
Camera
Cameras are the strong point of this gadget. However, this applies to all ZTE nubia products. The main camera here is 13 MP with an f/2.2 aperture. It is important to note that there are two lenses on the back (a very non-standard approach). Among the features we can recall the presence of phase detection autofocus and dual-LED flash flash. Here are some more features of the main camera of the model in question:
- pixel size is 1.12 microns;
- Sony IMX258 sensor is used;
- sensor size – 1/3";
- there is HDR;
- face recognition;
- geotagging;
- sensory focus.
All this is, of course, very convenient and great. To the average user (not a geek), most of the words mentioned above will mean nothing. But they will be pleased to know that the quality of the pictures here is very good. The photos are bright, colorful, detailed, balanced (meaning white balance) and, ultimately, beautiful.
Fig.8. What does the camera look like?
If you want to achieve maximum quality, you must use RAW mode. Of course, in this case, the pictures will weigh about 30 MB, but you will get a really beautiful photo. Below you can see a sample RAW photo and compare it with the same photo, but without this mode.
Rice. 9. RAW photos and photos without RAW
The difference will be especially visible if you enlarge both images by 100%. The quality is strikingly different.
Rice. 10. Enlarged RAW photo and non-RAW photo
At night the camera also does its job quite well. In Figure 9 you can see several pictures taken at night.
Rice. 11. Photos taken at night
The front camera here is better than the main one. It has 16 MP and an f/2.0 aperture. It seems that the developers decided to pay special attention to users who often take selfies. This will be a great gift for them!
When it comes to shooting videos, both cameras cope well with this task. The main one can even shoot 4K video, and the front one can shoot in 1080p resolution. This is not to say that the quality is special or outstanding, but the cameras still cope with their task and this is excellent. In the video below you can see samples of videos made using the main camera of the device in question.
So the cameras here are excellent and do their job well. You will be satisfied!
Connection
The smartphone is also doing just fine with this. This way the user can connect Wi-Fi 802.11a, b, g, n and ac. Today it is difficult to find a router or other device that works with other standards. There is also one, thanks to which the phone itself can become an access point for other devices. In addition, it is worth noting the presence of Wi-Fi direct and Wi-Fi Dual Band.
For communication there is also Bluetooth version 4.2. It is worth highlighting the presence of Bluetooth A2DP and Bluetooth LE. As for , it has GPS with A-GPS support, as well as GLONASS. There are no problems with determining the location, everything works great.
This device also accepts our SIM cards very well. In general, a user from any country of the former USSR will not have any communication problems when using this device.
Fig 12. Top view
Battery
The device in question uses a 2950 mAh Li-Pi battery. The battery here is not removable, so repairs will be very difficult if you do not have knowledge and experience in replacing non-removable batteries. But this is a small minus. The developer did everything possible to ensure that the need for repairs did not arise at all.
Most importantly, the battery life here deserves the highest praise! At first, the device will work completely calmly for 2-3 days without recharging. After several years of use, the operating time will be reduced to one day. But at the present time this is simply an amazing indicator, because for most smartphones one day of battery life is already a lot.
Rice. 13. Device battery statistics
Even after years of use, when the economy mode is turned on, it will quietly work for 24 hours.
It is noteworthy that the model in question, among other things, has a fast charging function. As an intermediate result, we can say that the battery here is really good and of high quality.
Differences
In addition to ZTE nubia Z17 mini, there is a very similar ZTE nubia Z11 mini S. You can read our review of this device. Many users see with the naked eye that these devices are very similar to each other. But they still have differences. The main thing is the processor.
In the model we are currently considering, this is, as mentioned above, Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 or 653, and in Z11 – Snapdragon 625. Without going into details, let’s say that the difference in performance is 20,000 marks according to AnTuTu Benchmark. Additionally, the Z17 mini has two cameras (two lenses) on the back, while the Z11 mini S has one. In Table 1 you can see other differences between the two samples.
| Index | ZTE nubia Z17 mini | ZTE nubia Z11 miniS |
|---|---|---|
| date of release | June 2017 | March 2017 |
| Weight | 155 g | 168 g |
| Dimensions | 14.6x7.25x0.74 cm | 14.6x7.21x0.76 cm |
| Battery capacity | 2950 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| Colors | White with gold, black with gold, pure black | Gold, gray |
| Processor power (maximum) | 1.8 GHz | 2 GHz |
| Main camera | 13 MPix | 23 MPix |
| Front-camera | 16 MPix | 13 MPix |
| Wi-Fi standards | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
The smartphone turned out to be quite compact, with an original appearance.
The declared dimensions of the ZTE Nubia Z17 are 152.6 × 72.4 × 7.6 mm, which is miniature for such a screen diagonal. The weight of the model is rather large - 173 grams. The same one in larger sizes turns out to be lighter - only 161 grams.
The front panel of the smartphone is distinguished by the absence of side frames around the screen. But they are above and below the screen, and quite wide. As a result, the display occupies almost 75% of the front panel area, which is no longer impressive and blurs the entire effect. For comparison, a virtually frameless display occupies 84% of the front panel area.
On the back of the smartphone there is a dual camera and a fingerprint scanner. The location of the latter looks good - symmetrically in the center. Note that it will be much more convenient to use than a scanner on, which is shifted to the side.
You can buy ZTE Nubia Z17 in several colors: blue (Aurora Blue), black and gold (Black Gold), black (Obsidian Black), gold (Solar Gold) and red (Flame Red).
Screen
The Nubia Z17's display stands out for its wide color gamut, although its other parameters are quite typical by the standards of modern flagships.
The screen matrix is made using IPS technology and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. With a diagonal of 5.5 inches, its resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. This ratio gives a density of 403 ppi, which is not so much. Increasingly, we can see qHD screens in flagship smartphones (for example, in).
Camera
In terms of its characteristics, the Nubia Z17 cameras look very interesting.
The main camera is a two-camera module - 23 MP with f/2.0 aperture and 12 MP with f/1.8 aperture. There is phase detection autofocus and dual LED flash. Among the stated features is a 2x optical zoom, like the . Video shooting is possible in resolutions up to 4K (3840x2160 pixels).
The front camera resolution is 16 MP and the aperture is f/2.0. Nothing more is known about her.
Communications
The communications suite of the ZTE Nubia Z17 is quite flagship. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not equip the smartphone with FM radio and a mini-Jack connector for. Instead, the smartphone is equipped with an infrared port for controlling various equipment, for example.
The following set of communications and ports is declared:
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth 4.1 LE, A2DP
- GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
- USB Type C, USB On-The-Go
- IR port
- gyroscope
- compass.
Battery
It is expected that the autonomy of the ZTE Nubia Z17 will be no worse than other flagship smartphones.
The phone is equipped with a non-removable 3200 mAh battery. This should be enough for a full day of heavy use or 2-3 days of moderate use. Also, according to the manufacturer, ZTE Nubia Z17 is the first device to support the new Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology. Thanks to it, you can charge your smartphone battery from 5 to 50% charge in just 25 minutes.
Performance
The hero of our review claims to be at the top of the smartphone performance ratings. Its “heart” is the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, which has 4 cores at 2.35 GHz and 4 cores at 1.9 GHz. The younger version has 6 GB of RAM on board, while the top version has as much as 8 GB. However, today such a volume is excessive and is rather a reserve for the future. In everyday life you are unlikely to notice the difference.
The performance of the ZTE Nubia Z17 should be more than enough for both ordinary tasks and any modern games.
Memory
Three versions of the ZTE Nubia Z17 will be available in stores, differing in the amount of RAM and storage:
- 6 GB RAM, 64 GB
- 6 GB RAM, 128 GB
- 8 GB RAM, 128 GB.
Unfortunately, it is not yet known whether the smartphone supports memory cards.
Peculiarities
Among the interesting features of the smartphone, one can note ZTE’s own shell - NubiaUI, installed on top. It supports gesture controls and has more settings than stock Android.
Among the features of the case, we can highlight protection against liquid ingress, although the exact class is not specified. We can assume that it will be no lower than in, which is not afraid of rain. Another distinctive feature of the smartphone is the absence of frames on the sides of the screen.
Every year, hundreds or even thousands of flagships and regular smartphones appear on the market. Choosing something suitable for yourself is not easy. But there are brands that are easy to trust, and smartphones made by them can be bought without any worries. The ZTE company is one of the world's recognized manufacturers of gadgets. This spring, she pleased us with the release of a new gadget, which has every chance of becoming not just popular, but a real hit. At least he has everything he needs for this.
Just some buyers who have already used the ZTE Nubia Z17 smartphone claim that despite the good parameters and the well-known brand, the device turned out to be average. We won’t say that it’s completely bad, but, as they say on the forums, “damp”. It could have been improved a little more, and it could have turned out to be a really good gadget. Let's see what's wrong with it.
When starting to review the Nubia Z17 smartphone, the first thing the user pays attention to is the parameters. The Chinese did a good job assembling the flagship. For example, there is not one rear camera, but two: 23 MP and 12 MP. Also, there is a more than good Snapdragon 835 processor and several versions with different RAM parameters - a maximum value of 8 GB, which allows you to easily play bulky games directly on the phone. In addition, Nubia Z17 has Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging mode, thanks to which the smartphone is charged by 50% in just 20-25 minutes.
Here is a more detailed list of the characteristics of the smartphone:
- The Nubia smartphone comes in several colors: red, gold, blue, black;
- The body is made of metal, and the screen is made of tempered glass Gorilla Glass 5;
- The display is of high quality, on an LTPS matrix. The screen diagonal is 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a density of 403 ppi. Coverage 96% NTSC. Brightness indicators are 450 nits. The screen takes up about 76% of the entire front panel;
- The smartphone processor is 8-core Snapdragon 835, 4 Kryo 280 cores with a frequency of up to 2.45 GHz and 4 Kryo 280 cores with a frequency of up to 1.9 GHz. Process technology 10nm, 64-bit;
- There is a wonderful graphics controller: Adreno 540 with a frequency of up to 710 MHz;
- RAM indicators from 6 to 8 GB. RAM standard LPDDR4X dual-channel type 1866 MHz;
- The built-in memory operates according to the UFS 2.1 standard, and the volume ranges from 64 to 128 GB, depending on the configuration;
- There are two cameras. The main one consists of two modules: Sony IMX362 with 23 megapixels and Sony IMX318 with 12 megapixels. There is a 6-layer lens, optical and electronic stabilization, autofocus, zoom, and dual flash. The front camera is also quite strong – 16 megapixels. The sensor is developed by Samsung and there are five lenses. Front camera viewing angle 80 degrees;
- There is a fingerprint scanner;
- Built-in battery 3200 mAh (Quick Charge 4.0);
- OS Android 7.1 Nougat. There is a Nubia UI 5.0 shell.
Moreover, the cost of this gadget starts from four hundred dollars, which is quite a lot. But the cost, judging by the characteristics, justifies itself.
Technical parameters and performance
Judging by the characteristics, the computing capabilities of the smartphone should be impressive. In fact, that's how it is. No matter how difficult the task is, this gadget will not have any problems in solving it. The fact is that manufacturers decided to rely on the super-powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset and they were right.
The advantage of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is that it can process any games with relative ease, including those that have been released recently. Even Microsoft took notice of this chip, wanting to use it for its computers. But now it’s on a smartphone, even a flagship one. You can run a full-fledged Windows 10 on it without any problems, not to mention some games.
In terms of power, the ZTE Z17 phones we are reviewing will be relevant for at least three or four years. So this is a good investment for the future. Now there are few flagships offering up to 8 GB of RAM and an operating frequency of 1866 MHz, and it works in dual-channel mode. At the same time, the smartphone practically does not heat up, except for those cases when it needs to perform work that requires high load.
The graphics subsystem is also powerful, so as not to “let down” the processor - Adreno 540 at 710 MHz. In general, this is a real performance monster, even if it does not require the use of an additional memory card. But it is doubtful that anyone will need it with 128 GB of internal memory.
If you need any more evidence, here are the results of the AnTuTu benchmark, which amount to 175 thousand points. This is a very high figure even for a flagship.
Cameras Nubia Z17
To begin with, there is not just one camera on this flagship - there are three. Two on the back panel and one on the front. In principle, this technology is no longer new for flagships, as it allows you to take high-quality photos in any environment. Is it night outside? This gadget will take not just a good photo, but the surrounding environment will be visible in the picture better than if you looked with your own eyes. Only a few smartphones are capable of this. And certainly their cost would be much more than the stated four or five hundred (depending on the configuration).
- The main module is a duo of Sony IMX362 (23 MP) and Sony IMX318 (12 MP). The aperture of the installed lenses is incredible: f/2.0 and f/1.8. There is not only optical stabilization, but also electronic stabilization, which for some reason is constantly forgotten. But in vain, because thanks to this symbiosis you can shoot video in 4K resolution.
From the latest Samsung gadgets, Nubia has plagiarized the Dual Pixel technology, thanks to which the camera can focus in 0.03 seconds. And thanks to double optical zoom, the person in the photo will look more attractive.
- The front camera is just a dream for a person who cannot live without selfies. To take the photo yourself, the company used an excellent 16 MP camera from Samsung. Of course, it can’t compare with the main camera, but it also has good parameters. In particular, a viewing angle of 80 degrees and an f/2.0 aperture.
Nubia Z17 Camera Features:
- Good sharpness and detail, but some photos are noisy;
- There are no problems with night photographs, but only until you transfer them to your computer. Perhaps these are features of the flagship screen, but photos look better on a smartphone than on a computer;
- The HDR mode on the camera lived up to expectations - the pictures are more than high quality;
- Portrait mode also works well, but only if there is good lighting.
We won’t talk about the video for a long time. In this case, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times.
Weakness
As we said at the beginning, some users are not very happy with the gadget, despite its powerful hardware. The problem is in the shell. It is too crude, which does not allow you to fully use the extensive capabilities of the gadget. A Russian user may find the following shortcomings:
- The firmware works, but for some reason it is not always correct;
- The interface is not responsive;
- For some reason, access to some menu items is lost.
To remove these troubles, you can try installing a cleaner program and using it periodically. But we hope that in its future work the company will take into account the errors and get rid of them.
