Equipment
Blade GF3 is sold in typical packaging for this series. Looks pretty.
The complete set of the device is minimal:
- Power supply with cable.
- Warranty card.
There is nothing else. No headphones, no bumper, not even a film on the screen.
Appearance
Outwardly, the phone does not differ from its counterparts from the ZTE Blade series of the latest models: it has the same touch buttons, a similar design. Strange, but there is no blue rim on the main camera.
The thickness of the smartphone is 9.4 mm.
The smartphone has a 4.5-inch screen with a resolution of 854x480, made using TFT technology. These were “in vogue” a couple of years ago and are not relevant now (we are not talking about the screen size, but the technology and characteristics), but the undoubted advantage of this type of screen is that it will not drain the battery too much.
There are three touch-sensitive buttons under the screen: the central one in the shape of a circle - "home" and two points - "back" and "menu". There is a speaker and a front camera above the screen.
On the back, in addition to the bulging camera with flash, there is a hole for the speaker and engraved with the logo. The lid is matte and does not collect prints, the smartphone will not slip in your hands.
Bottom: microphone. Top: headphone jack.
Right: volume rocker, lock button and lid opening hook. Left: microUSB connector.
The display is not bright, it will be difficult to see anything on it in sunny weather.
Multi-touch with just two touches.
Communication
ZTE Blade GF3 supports dual micro SIM. They can only be installed by removing the battery.
Communication catches steadily. There is 3G support.
At the first start, you have to choose the main sim card that will work in 3G mode. Then you can change this in the settings. It is also possible to choose a sim card for data and calls. You can turn off one slot if you want.
After launching the smartphone, “Population Alerts” messages with unreadable text (displayed in the form of hieroglyphs) immediately began to arrive. The interval between messages was from two to five minutes. Even disabling all notification types did not help.
I tried to disable the application of the same name "Population Alert", but it did not help. The problem was resolved by the update, so this is unlikely to occur in the future.
In the communication settings, you can select the mode of operation of the main SIM card - 3G / 2G or only 2G. Access points and network operators are set for both SIM cards in the device settings. The communication level is -75dBm, quite low. This means that in the basement, underground parking and similar places, the phone will not pick up the signal of the cellular operator.
The ZTE Blade GF3 phone has a proximity sensor, lighting and accelerometer. There is no electronic compass. GPS satellites are looking for a long time, the first launch took about 20 minutes.
operating system
The smartphone runs on the new Android 5.0. In the settings, you can see that the model is called ZTE T320.
When checking it, it turned out that there is new software (size 20 MB), in which some system functions are optimized and some bugs fixed. The bug with notifying the population during the update was fixed by itself, unreadable broadcast messages stopped arriving. Build number after update ZTE_T320_RUV1.0.0B04. Android has been updated to version 5.0.1.
Access to quick settings is via a drop-down curtain at the top, where you can enable or disable Wifi, GPS, Bluetooth and a few others.
Minimum applications installed:
You can add Facebook, Google, Shazam, Twitter, and email accounts.
To enter text, use the Google keyboard or TouchPal.
The settings menu is no different from other smartphones running Android 5.
By default, the left touch button is "back", and the right is "menu", but in the settings you can change this.
Holding down the menu button will open a list of recent applications. And when you hold down the home button - Google Now.
The smartphone has a "Family" mode, when launched, the application requires permission to read contacts, SMS, communication settings. Advantages of the mode: Super Clear large font, an easy way to send SMS or make calls, there is an SOS mode. There are 8 button tiles on the screen. These can be contacts, messages, or other applications.
In short, in this mode the smartphone turns into a kind of “grandmother's phone” - large buttons and simplified controls.
Performance
Quad-core processor, 1.3 GHz Spreadtrum SC7731 with Mali-400MP graphics accelerator.
The result of AnTuTu Benchmark 5.7.1 - 17 625 points.
Vellamo Mobile Benchmark in the browser test gives a result of 1,611. In the Metal test 616, and multicore - 842. The performance is about the level of Samsung Nexus 10.
In NemaMark2 v2.4, the performance is 59.7fps.
Quadrant Standard Edition gives results on the level of HTC One X - 4,362.
Multimedia
The Blade GF3 smartphone plays and quietly plays back FullHD video. AnTuTu Video Test gives 394 points.
Memory
The amount of memory is 8 GB. The user has 4.8 GB available, the rest is used by the system (1.08 GB), pre-installed applications (0.93 GB) and other files.
The amount of RAM is 1 GB. Half are free. The system uses 286 MB. After installing updates and additional applications, RAM may not be sufficient.
When connecting to a computer, you can choose several options for the behavior of the smartphone: USB-storage (connects the sd card as a flash drive), USB-modem, MTP or PTP device, charging only, USB virtual device (for installing drivers).
The ZTE Blade GF3 has two cameras: an 8MP front and a main camera. There are a minimum of settings for photographing: timer, HDR mode and flash activation.
Battery
The Blade GF3 uses an 1850 mAh battery. With moderate use (calls, internet, geolocation, SMS), the battery lasts for a day and a half. Charges in one and a half to two hours.
Before the software update, there were some problems with the battery level - I reported that it was sitting down, but when the charger was connected, the smartphone wrote that the charge level was 50%. After the update, the level began to display correctly.
In conclusion of the review
ZTE has turned out to be a good smartphone with good filling and a nice price tag. On top of that, it can be viewed as a sensory device for the elderly, thanks to the "Family" mode. On the other hand, you can use Necta Launcher for these purposes by downloading it from the Google Market (it makes the interface convenient for the elderly and visually impaired people). The disadvantage of the phone is the poor reception of the satellite signal. For frequent navigation, this is not the best option. Otherwise, at least, this is a device corresponding to its price.
The Chinese company ZTE was founded in 1985, although even now it can hardly be called well-known in the Russian market. In 2011, it was the second largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment and mobile phones in China. It is listed on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and is part of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.
In addition, ZTE has 13 R&D centers in China, USA, Sweden and Korea, on which it spends 10% of annual revenue, and is a partner of Intel, Microsoft, IBM and Qualcomm.
51.8% of ZTE shares belong to the PRC, which means that the country's authorities monitor the quality of products.
In 1985, a group of investors together with the Ministry of Aerospace Industry of the People's Republic of China founded Zhongxing Semiconductor Co., Ltd in Shenzhen, where the company's head office still remains. In March 1993, the name was changed to Zhongxing New Telecommunications Equipment Co., Ltd ... ZTE received its current name later.
In 1997, it was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Seven years later, she entered the listing of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The company received most of the profits on the home market, but in 2004 it used the money received from the placement of shares for R&D in order to enter the world market. In 2006, ZTE took 40% of all new orders for equipment for CDMA networks, leading the global market in this industry. Among the company's clients was the Canadian state telecommunications company Telus, and ZTE itself became a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
In 2007, ZTE sold equipment to British Vodafone, Spanish Telefonica, Australian Telstra. In 2008, ZTE customers were in 140 countries.
In 2009, ZTE came in third in the list of GSM equipment vendors, and 20% of all this equipment sold in the world bore the company logo.
Interesting fact: the first smartphone with GPS / GLONASS on board was released by ZTE under the name MTS Glonass 945.
ZTE says it spends 10% of its annual revenue on R&D. The company's research centers operate in several countries, and in total the company has more than 48 thousand patent applications and 13 thousand patents. In 2011 and 2012, ZTE received more patents than any other company. This company is one of the largest manufacturers of telecommunications equipment in the world, but at the same time it is also a manufacturer of smartphones.
It is primarily distinguished by the screen: at 5.5 inches, the resolution is 1440x2560 pixels. Cameras - 13 and 4 MP. Processor - Snapdragon 801 Quad Core 2.5GHz. And again, two SIM cards and LTE, 3 GB of RAM and 32 built-in memory. The device does not support microSD only.
The ZTE Nubia Z9 Max * has a 5.5-inch Full HD resolution, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. But the most interesting thing is the glass back panel. The design is very laconic. The phone will cost 17 250 rubles.
Much cheaper will cost ZTE V5 with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal, 5.5-inch Full HD screen, but a simpler design with a plastic body. The device costs about 10,000 rubles *. Again, you need to add that the smartphone supports LTE.
I myself have tested several budget and mid-priced ZTE smartphones - Blade S6, Grand S2, very cheap Blade AF3, Blade V2 Lite. Yes, some had an ancient screen, but the build quality and overall experience have always been positive. At IFA 2015 in Berlin, I touched new products from ZTE, including the Axon Elite - a great flagship from a company with expertise in telecommunications equipment. So I can safely recommend the gadgets from this manufacturer.
That's all, with you was a simple service for choosing complex equipment
Question: How to set up the Internet on smartphones (phones) and tablets ZTE?
Answer: Internet setup on ZTE devices is performed in the following order.
1. We connect the service with the operator. This can usually be done via a USSD request.
To connect to the Internet from Megafon, we recommend that you follow the link - http://www.megafon.ru/internet/, select the type of device for connection, for example - "For a smartphone", select your region, then select a tariff, click "Buy", after then the information will appear, what code must be dialed to activate the service, for example - * 236 * 0 #. We dial this code like a regular phone number.
To connect to the Internet from MTS, we recommend following the link - http://www.mts.ru/mobil_inet_and_tv/, select the type of device for connection, for example - "Internet from the phone", after which a page will open with the code that you need to dial to connect services, for example - * 252 #.
To connect the Internet from Beeline, we recommend following the link - http://beeline.ru/customers/products/mobile/, select the type of device for connection, for example - "On the phone", then select the tariff plan, then click on "Connect" -\u003e "Connection and service management" after which you can see information on how to activate the service, for example, by dialing the code - * 115 * 04 # or by calling the number.
Attention! The page addresses and USSD request codes are for example only and may change over time! To connect, go to the home page of your mobile operator's website and from the home page go to the pages with information about Internet connection. For other operators, the setting will be approximately the same. You can also call your mobile operator on the hotline and activate the service orally. Another option is to come to any operator's sales office in your city, where the sellers are obliged to connect the service.
2. To turn on the Internet you need to go to "Settings" -\u003e "Data transfer" and opposite the item "Mobile. traffic "or check the enable checkbox, or move the switch to the right to" On ". For most ZTE smartphones, this is enough to automatically turn on the mobile Internet. After the connection is established, depending on the type of connection, the symbol H (HSDPA), G (GPRS), E (Edge), R (Roaming) or 3G will appear in the notification panel, next to the network signal strength icon. Also, to check the Internet connection, open a browser and wait for any Internet page to load, for example, by typing “ya.ru” (a light version of Yandex) in the address bar.
Attention! If the ZTE smartphone has a 2-SIM card, then the SIM-card that will be used to access the Internet must be inserted into the WCDMA / GSM slot, and in the settings "Settings" -\u003e "More" -\u003e "Mobile network" -\u003e "Network SIM1 settings ″ (or 2 depending on the model, see the slot number under the cover) -\u003e "Network mode" -\u003e "Preferred network mode" -\u003e "GSM / WCDMA" or only "WCDMA".
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3. If the Internet on your ZTE device does not appear after following the previous recommendations, then you need to either get the Internet settings from your cellular operator in automatic mode, or enter the settings manually.
Automatic tuning
If the operator is Megafon, then go to the site - megafon.ru, click on the link "Support" -\u003e "Settings", there we select "ZTE", and then your smartphone model, for example - "V880E" and enter your phone number. After that, the settings should come to your device.
If the operator is MTS, then go to the mts.ru website, then "Mobile Internet and TV" -\u003e "Help and Service" -\u003e "Settings" -\u003e "Phone Settings". There we enter the number and wait for the settings to be received.
If the operator is Beeline, then the automatic setting of the mobile Internet is ordered free of charge by calling 0880. (The password for saving the settings is 1234.)
Manual setting
If the operator is Megafon, then go to http://labs.megafon.ru/dev/, there we select "Other manufacturers" -\u003e "ZTE", we are looking for our device, for example, "ZTE Nubia Z5", well, we are trying to set it up like this, as it says.
If the operator is Beeline, then go to the site beeline.ru, there we click on the link "Help and support" -\u003e "Internet settings" in the search field, enter the model of your device, for example - ZTE V790 and then click "Find instructions" and read the information on at a construction site. You can also send instructions directly to your phone by selecting the link "Send SMS with instructions for ZTE V790".
If the operator is MTS, then go to the site mts.ru, then "Mobile Internet and TV" -\u003e "Help and Service" -\u003e "Settings" -\u003e "Phone Settings" -\u003e "Internet" -\u003e "Android", read the instructions ...
General rules for manual configuration
Go to the section "Settings" -\u003e "More" -\u003e "Mobile network". If 2 Sim cards are used, then we select the settings of the Sim card for which the Internet is activated. Next, click on the item "APN Access Points" -\u003e "New Access Point" and enter the settings that are indicated on the website of your cellular operator. After entering the settings, we save the access point, reboot the device and rejoice.
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In most cases, the following settings are sufficient.
How do I update the software?
We provide you with different ways to update the software, namely: update using a memory card or update "over the air".
To update "over the air" you need to connect to a Wi-Fi or GSM Internet connection and check for updates in the settings.
What if the operating time of the device does not coincide with the operating time declared by the manufacturer?
A smartphone is a complex electronic device that includes the functions of a pocket computer and a cell phone, and consumes a large amount of energy to operate these functions. The main amount of energy is spent on the operation of the display module and the GSM transmit-receive path. The brightness of the display is automatically set to maximum in very bright environments (sunny day) or manually set by the user. Maximum brightness consumes maximum power. During GSM operation and stable and stable reception "at maximums" the device consumes a minimum amount of energy to maintain communication. In case of an unstable and weak network signal, the machine needs more power to maintain communication. In the case of "Search Network" in an area with no network, the device consumes the maximum amount of energy, which is spent on searching for the nearest base stations. To reduce the energy consumed by the phone, you need:
1. Disable GPS if not required.
2. Disable mobile internet if you don't need it.
3. Disable or remove unnecessary unused applications. they are active and consume the internal resources of the apparatus.
What should you do if the phone freezes, does not turn on or reboots?
Most of the time, third-party software or programs are responsible for the restart or freeze.
1. Initially, we recommend that you restore the default factory settings (after saving the information you need). If the phone turns on, select the "factory reset" option in the device menu. If the device does not turn on, turn on the device in "Recovery mode" and select "wipe data / factory reset". The way to enable "Recovery mode" is described below in "How to enter Recovery mode?"
2. If a factory reset does not help, update the software. The software update methods are described in the "How to update the software?"
3. If updating the software does not help, please contact your nearest ZTE Authorized Service Center.
How do I back up my data, notebook or Back-up?
There are 3 ways to back up:
1. In the phone settings in the "Restore and reset" submenu, check the box for restore.
2. You can transfer the necessary information to your computer using a USB cable.
3. You can back up using a third party program.
What should I do if I forgot my password or pattern to unlock the screen?
If you have forgotten your pattern or digital password to unlock the screen, you need to perform a reset to factory settings: 1. Turn on the device in "Recovery mode" and select "wipe data / factory reset". 2. If the procedure is not followed, it is required to contact an Authorized ZTE Service Center.
How to use wireless networks (Wi-Fi, BT)?
1. Turn on Wi-Fi in the device settings. Click on the Wi-Fi icon and you will be taken to the Wi-Fi network management screen.
2. The device will automatically start searching for active Wi-Fi networks in the access zone from 5 to 50 meters to the access point (depending on the power of the access point).
3. Select the network you need and click on it. If your wireless network is protected by a password, enter it.
4. After connecting to the desired network, the Wi-Fi icon will appear on the main screen of the device.
How to turn on the distribution of the Internet on the phone (USB modem or WiFi router)?
There are two ways to enable tethering on your phone. The first way is to enable sharing as a USB modem, the other is to enable sharing as a WiFi router. Make sure that your device has access to the Internet in order to distribute it:
1. USB modem - the method is used to distribute the Internet to a computer. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable and allow data access. "Settings-\u003e Wireless networks-\u003e More" Modem mode - check the USB modem box. "Then the phone will start distributing the Internet to the computer. To stop the distribution, uncheck the USB modem or just disconnect the cable connection.
2. WiFi router - make sure you have a stable internet connection via a mobile network or USB. "Settings-\u003e Wireless networks-\u003e More" Modem mode - check the "WiFI access point" checkbox. To secure your wireless connection, tap on the hotspot icon then tap WiFi hotspot. In this menu, you can set a name and password for your wireless WiFi connection. Your phone will start working as a WiFi router. To stop distribution, uncheck "WiFi router"
How can I quickly see the charging status?
Press the power button while charging. The battery charge status will be shown on the main screen of the phone.
Why is the volume of free memory of the device less than stated by the manufacturer?
Unlike a processor, which has its own built-in memory, other devices, such as a video processor, an audio processor, and other devices included in the element base of the device's central board consume user memory resources. A certain amount of memory is previously reserved for internal needs, but in case of an overflow, user memory is used.
What types of device lock can I use?
There are 3 types of screen lock. Select one of the lock types in Settings -\u003e Security -\u003e Screen lock.
1. Locking with a pattern
2.Pin lock 3.Password lock
What is the operating temperature of ZTE phones?
The operating temperature ranges from (-10C) to (+ 50C).
What does ROOT mean?
ROOT is "administrator rights". ROOT allows you to change system files, change the system, install test programs and perform other actions. ROOT rights are hidden from users, but can be activated if necessary.
Be careful, careless handling of ROOT rights can harm your operating system.
How to enter Recovery mode?
In the off state, simultaneously hold down the volume button (increase +) and the power button.
What to do if the battery does not charge 100%?
The battery of the device is designed in such a way that it dissipates part of the received charge and can subsequently be recharged. This feature is designed to protect the battery and increase its performance. In the event that the battery does not charge more than 80%, contact an Authorized ZTE Service Center.
How can I add a Google account to the device?
1. When you turn on the smartphone for the first time, you will be prompted to register a new Google account or use an existing one. But this is not a mandatory procedure.
2. To add an account at any time you can register a new one or use an existing one: Settings-\u003e Accounts and "add account".
How do I enable USB debugging? How do I get access to the Developers menu?
Enter "Settings-\u003e About phone-\u003e Click on" Build number "a few times. Then you will have access to the" For developers "submenu. In this submenu there is" USB debugging "and other functions for developers
How do I connect my phone to a PC?
Follow the steps below to install the driver (automatically).
1. Connect your phone to your computer.
2. When connected, select "Virtual Disk" or "Virtual CD" depending on the model.
3. An additional disk should be detected in the computer, run "Autorun.exe" on it and install the driver
4. If the drivers are not installed, go to "Settings-\u003e For Developers" and enable the "Disk driver". (10 times click on "Build version"
5. When you enable (USB Debugging), the driver will also be automatically installed.
What do the letters E, G, H mean?
When the phone's data transfer is active, the following symbols appear on the status bar (indication of signal reception, battery capacity, etc.):
- E means active work of the EDGE protocol
- G means active work of the GPRS protocol
- H means the active work of the HSDPA protocol, which is part of WCDMA
Is your ZTE phone running out of battery quickly and needing to have an external battery on hand? Problems can be caused both by the settings of the Android OS itself and its applications, or by glitches / errors at the hardware level.
To determine the cause as accurately as possible, you need to diagnose and test the phone. This can be done by experienced masters of our service center. It is possible that the phone needs major repairs or parts need to be replaced.
The main reasons why ZTE holds little charge
Let's walk through the most common causes of the problem with a short explanation.
The phone is just bought and holds little charge
We were repeatedly contacted in such a situation. Here there is a factory defect and you should contact the store where you bought the smartphone.
In this case, you must change to a new one or accept the official guarantee of the store, which will cost you free.
Battery problems
As a result of natural wear and tear, the battery loses its capacity over time, which is reflected in the less and less battery life of the phone (without recharging).
Your phone's charging habits can speed up the process of losing battery capacity. Try to recharge when the battery is close to 0 and charge to 100%. At the same time, it is not recommended to leave charging for the whole night, as users like to do.
Non-original chargers or cables can damage the battery and artificially "age" it. Read in the instructions / specifications of the phone what the supplied power should be the charger and use only suitable one.
No matter how many different instructions are written on the Internet for restoring battery capacity by software, all this is not true. We recommend installing a new original battery to restore more autonomy from the outlet to your ZTE.
Android and app settings
First of all, turn off GPS when not using it. It can drop even the most capacious battery in a few hours.
A bad cellular signal or its complete absence also drains the battery in any phone very quickly. Just take your ZTE offline. This is especially true abroad if you do not use roaming, or in places where there is no connection (summer cottage, forest, etc.).
Games are some of the most demanding applications. The battery can be discharged at 0 in literally an hour.
Do not forget to turn on the auto-adjusting screen backlight mode. This will save you a lot of power.
If you have a lot of applications running in background processes, then they will constantly "pull" energy on themselves to maintain work. Quit all unused programs / games to save power.
