Review ZTE Blade S7: flagship in the middle class

ZTE Blade S7 is an available premium smartphone – says company ZTE. Do not want to argue with them, because for a modest fee is offered is really worthy of a smartphone with quality materials and with a good stuffing. Let us examine the merits of the points of the machine.

The quality of materials

As a basis ZTE Blade S7 has a frame of aluminum alloy. Front and rear panels are closed 2.5D glass (so-called curved glass). This durable Gorilla Glass 3 glass with oleophobic coating and a polarizing filter. body thickness of only 7.7 mm.

Bright Full HD screen

As reported during the announcement of the smartphone, the display is equipped with a Super Retina (that in it?). 5-inch screen has a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, the pixel density of 445 PPI. As already stated above, it is protected by glass Gorilla Glass 3. The screen has full viewing angles and displays a vivid picture.

Good selfie

ZTE Blade S7 also selfie smartphone. It is equipped with high-quality 13 megapixel front camera, which is complemented by LED flash. It has a phase detection autofocus.

Front camera with 13 megapixels. It has a selective focus and a laser autofocus.

The fingerprint sensor

On the button under the screen is a fingerprint reader. Fashionable innovation, without which no cost, no one flag, and that is already common in smartphones midrange.

Decent performance

8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 615, as used herein, is often found in this class of smartphones, but not every one of them receives 3 GB of RAM, as the ZTE Blade S7. This will ensure that performance of the smartphone at a decent level. Yes, not the highest, but for this price category is quite a bang. By the way, 32 GB of internal memory is also a good indicator. And it is still possible to increase the installation of memory cards up to 128GB.

Everyday

A standard set of features: support for two SIM cards (both nano-SIM), OTG, 4G, A-GPS, digital compass, pedometer, light sensor and proximity sensor. MicroSD memory card is installed in place of the second SIM card.

Above the screen is LED events (alerts for missed calls and low battery).

Two touch buttons, on either side of the hardware buttons are not visible from the phone is not in the active state. They highlighted.

Full review ZTE Blade S7

Equipment

ZTE Blade S7 sold in the usual Blade-series package, but equipment is a little different – the set includes case. The rest is standard: Corporate card, charger and a “clip”.

Appearance ZTE Blade S7

Many people write that the design elements reminiscent of phones from other brands – Apple, Sony, Samsung, Lenovo. Perhaps this is so because the ZTE Blade S7 is visually different from other phones in its series. There are three color options: white, black and lemon (smartphone bright green color).

On the front side of the top located: earpiece and sensors, camera with flash and a laser range finder for the camera, the indicator light. And at the bottom – a hardware button with two touch-sensitive buttons on the sides. The front panel closes completely 2,5D glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with oleophobic coating and a polarizing filter.

At the ends: there is nothing left; Bottom – connector microUSB, microphone and speaker; Right – two tray for SIM cards, lock button, volume rocker; top – audio jack and a second microphone.

I found it strange that the unit’s flagship line has plastic-ends, instead of the expected metal liner.

The bottom end is similar to the Apple iPhone 5S, but instead Lighting connector or Type-C was there microUSB, and the microphone on the right was not hidden behind the mesh. The rear panel houses the camera and flash. Everything is covered with glass.

The size of ZTE Blade S7 little more than the iPhone 6. It can be used with one hand, but not all the elements can reach. 142h67h7,2 Dimensions and weight 140 grams.

Display ZTE Blade S7

The device uses a high-quality 5-inch FHD-matrix by Sharp with no air gap. The picture looks great, good color, juicy colors.

Type of matrix IPS, good viewing angles. 1080p display resolution. It turns 441ppi. Pixelation of the display there.

Multitouch recognizes 10 simultaneous touches.

Communication ZTE Blade S7

In the smartphone one radio, so while a voice call is the second SIM card is not available.

A SIM card may operate in a 3G / 4G, and only the second – in 2G.

Communication stable, noise-free conversation has not been noticed. The second microphone (top) works for active noise cancellation.

Instead of the second SIM card it is possible to insert a microSD memory card.

The smartphone supports communication 2G, 3G (DC-HSPA), 4G (LTE cat.4), Wi-Fi (802.11n and 802.11ac at 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS (A-GPS, Glonass, BeiDou). Supports OTG.

The satellites found at cold start in 15 seconds. Communication keeps confidently.

Navigation ZTE Blade S7

ZTE Blade S7 has different sensors: ambient light, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), a pedometer, a fingerprint sensor.

In the settings you can specify a sim card for mobile data, 4G, calls and SMS. Also in the settings there is a base operators that support LTE-network.

Operating system ZTE Blade S7

When you first start the wizard asks a few questions for the initial setup.

On the device, in addition to the standard calculator, clock, calendar and gallery, once installed Google applications: Google Now, Chrome, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Drive, Music, Movies, Photos, Hangouts.

There are also additional applications:

• Flashlight;
• Clean Master;
• Kaspersky AntiVirus AVG;
• Accelerator;
• TouchPal X Keyboard;
• The application for backup;
• AliveShare program to transfer files;
• Manual;
• Fingerprints;
• Manage gestures;
• Applications of social networks Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Chaatz, Messenger;
• UC Mini Browser;
• Displays Weather Forecast AccuWeather;
• Mobile Office WPS Office;
• Multiplayer Boyaa Texas Poker; Screenshot_2016-04-03-08-35-59
• Mirror;
• Search Shazam music;
• Start Screen unlock;
• Power Manager;
• Caller ID.

In the apparatus is “in the bag” mode, which activates a mini-screen when you close the cover.

At ZTE Blade series can be interchanged steps left and right touch of a button. This is done by using the settings.

In the smartphone has a fingerprint sensor or a fingerprint scanner, which is integrated in the button “home”.

Performance ZTE Blade S7

The smartphone is built on the platform of an average price category. This processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939, not very productive, but has a 64-bit to 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53 – 4 with a frequency of 1 GHz and 4 with the frequency of 1.5 GHz (ARM big.LITTLE technology). Graphics Accelerator Qualcomm Adreno 405 and RAM 3Gb LPDDR3.

Result AnTuTu Benchmark 6.0 – 36 237 points. Quite a good result for the machine in the middle price range, but not a leader.

AnTuTu Video Tester 2 outputs the result of 252 points. Problems with playing movies in FullHD format no.

Test Quadrant Professional Edition has given 3 result 133. The result is bad.

3D Mark test gives the result 207 points.

GFX OpenGL outstanding results Manhatten 5,7 fps, and T-Rex – 14 fps. New modern games will slow down.

According to tests, demanding applications and “heavy” games will slow down significantly.

Vellamo gives results Metal 2435. Sites are fast and smooth.

ZTE Blade S7 works well, there is no delay. In simple applications (browser, movies and the like), there is no problem, but it is a merit optimized proprietary shell MiFavor.

When you load noticeably heats up, and keep it in your hands to become unpleasant. At the sensors heat more than 60 degrees.

Memory ZTE Blade S7

The amount of memory – 32GB of which 25GB is available to the user. You can increase the memory by installing a memory card instead of the second SIM card (card slot is aligned with the connector for the second SIM).

RAM – 3 GB. Available 1,7Gb.

When connected to a computer, you can choose several options for the behavior of your smartphone: just charging, driver installation, synchronization with PC, the MTP device or PTP.

Camera ZTE Blade S7

At ZTE Blade S7 are two 13-MP cameras. Both cameras have autofocus and LED-flash. This is the first device, which has similar characteristics. Judging by the images obtained, the same camera.

Is Pro mode, which adds additional options – iso, aperture, grid, white balance, and several others.

With good lighting make great shots for a mobile camera. However, under normal conditions there is noise and sharpness fall. In principle, it is possible to make a quick selfie or something to photograph. Quick and precise focusing allows you to take pictures with the minimum of delay.

At the front camera has a laser rangefinder. The guided solutions for the developers, it is not clear. Perhaps for retinal eye scanner.

The application first makes a template. This requires an internet connection. Then you can use the front camera to unlock the screen. Faster use pattern, or fingerprint, but when one arm is busy, the unlock mode can be useful.

Battery ZTE Blade S7

The Blade S7 uses a non-removable battery capacity of 2500 mAh or 9,5Vtch. Housing molded. With moderate use the battery will last for a day and a half. If you watch videos from YouTube, the battery sit for about 6 hours.

On a full charge cycle takes 2.5 hours.

Conclusion review ZTE Blade S7

A good multi-function device. There are some doubtful points, but overall this is a good smartphone.

Pros:

• Two cameras on 13Mp;
• High-quality display;
• Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with oleophobic coating and a polarizing filter;
• Case included;
• High-quality sound and good sound;
• Quick search GPS satellites;
• fingerprint scanner, and the retina.

Minuses:

• Price;
• Heating apparatus;
• Plastic ends;
• Glides in his hands;
• Low autonomy.

In accordance with the foregoing, we can conclude that the ZTE Blade S7 – an inexpensive competitor to Apple and Samsung flagship company. And for the mid-level device from Samsung it is quite a worthy alternative. He’s on some points wins like Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 (front camera, memory capacity twice as much and more than half the amount of RAM), and the price tag lower than the Chinese. If we consider that the ZTE Blade S6 a year has fallen in price almost doubled, and the ZTE Blade S7 will be much more attractive to purchase six months / year.