Review: Lenovo ZUK Z2 - American flagship for 220 dollars
Devices / / December 19, 2019
Brand ZUK was coined before Lenovo purchased Motorola. Devices and software were to take the actual niche of the North American market: powerful but cheap devices on Android.
Previous brand smartphone is not widely used in Russia, despite the powerful stuffing and low cost. Online Resources branded series moniker "discounter" and discouraged to acquire ZUK Z1.
Among the Chinese smartphone family ZUK really looks original. Unlike most devices Xiaomi or Meizu, they have no hint to simplify any characteristics. All this - at a price of 220 dollars.
Characteristics
CPU | 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with a frequency of 2.15 GHz |
RAM | 4 GB |
Built-in memory | 64 GB |
Display | 5 inches, LTPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels |
The main camera | 13 Mn ISOCELL f / 2,2, phase autofocus electronic image stabilization |
Front-camera | 8 MP |
Wireless interfaces | 2 nanoSIM (LTE FDD band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8; LTE TDD band 38, 39, 40, 41, VoLTE, GSM 900/1 800/1 900, 3G), Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1 |
Navigation | GPS, GLONASS |
operating system | Android 6.0 Marshmallow with ZUI 2.0 interface |
Battery | 3500 mAh, QC 3.0 support |
Dimensions | 141.65 × 68.88 × 8.45 mm |
Weight | 149 g |
materials | metal, plastic, glass |
Appearance and ergonomics
The phone comes in a plain white box. Comes with sync cable, power adapter, user manual and a clip.
Appearance ZUK Z2 as simple and concise. Glass on top and bottom, all the same color. It may seem that the smartphone looks bored. But it differs from the majority of Chinese (and other) devices. Not least because that was a copy the most successful model of the iPhone.
On both sides ZUK Z2 protects 2.5D-tempered glass with good oleophobic coating. The side frame is made of plastic reinforced with fiberglass.
Controls are conveniently located for hands of all sizes. The smartphone has a fingerprint reader.
Double tapping the screen with the click is running applications. Average depression, without clicking, sends back one screen. Swipe on the touch button to the left or to the right to switch between running applications on both the desktop worktables.
Classic or touch screen buttons "Back" and "multitasking" in ZUK Z2 not. The scanner works well, not conceding any flagship Xiaomi devices, or market leaders like OnePlus 3 or Meizu Pro 6.
Display
The first generation of smartphones ZUK was equipped with the same matrix with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. Fresh Generation consists of two models. Senior unit ZUK 2 Pro is equipped with a screen with the same size. Junior ZUK Z2 equipped with a 5-inch panel based on LTPS-matrix FullHD resolution.
The screen contrast is 1000: 1, color gamut - 70% of the visible field. The maximum brightness on the passport is 400 cd / m2. In practice this means that the smartphone does not lose the quality of the display in bright sunlight. Viewing angles have absolutely no effect on the image quality: color inversion or other no distortion.
touch screen responsiveness is excellent, a nice response.
Hardware platform and performance
The main advantage of ZUK Z2 apart form factor - used platform. Today it is one of the most affordable smartphones on the Snapdragon 820 with a nominal frequency of 2.15 GHz. In addition, the latest firmware are able to overclock the CPU to 2.3 GHz.
RAM Size - 4 GB LPDDR 4 standard. This is a great foundation for the next couple of years. The size of the device memory - 64 GB (it is possible to increase the memory card), but it corresponds to the eMMC 5.1 standard, while in Most smartphones Snapdragon 820 uses a fast UFS 2.0. Despite this, the results of synthetic tests impressive.
Actual performance is not far behind. The interface works smoothly without lag. Switching between applications takes place without delay. Performance will be enough to run the most powerful games at maximum graphics settings.
operating system
As a basic smart phone operating system uses ZUI superstructure based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Recall that ZUK Z1 is available with two firmwares, which are set depending on the place of sale. Devices with ZUI supplied to the domestic market. In other countries, Lenovo ZUK Z1 went running Cyanogen OS.
In contrast to the last line, for ZUK Z2 officially there is no international insertion. However, the Russian craftsmen ported to the device Cyanogen OS 14 based on Android 7.0 Nougat and transferred ZUI.
If desired, you can stay on the base firmware. Despite the incomplete translation of the menu, you can set the Russian language as a system. Part of the elements will be in English.
But that is no reason to abandon the ZUI. The shell looks like a clone of another iOS, but compares favorably with MIUI and Flyme. There is in her own Control Center called Quick Switch Panel. The shutter is located at the bottom of the screen. I do not know how the fans of pure Android, but, in my opinion, it is much more convenient.
The system has plenty of built-in applications in English: Corporate Security Center, a good file manager, themes, app to track and install updates. The interface worked perfectly, problems using does not arise.
In the near future, the smartphone will receive an official firmware update system to Android 7.0 Nougat.
multimedia Features
Unlike ZUK Z2 Pro, Jr. apparatus 13 received megapixel main chamber. Sensor - ISOCELL. 5 it closes component lens with f / 2,2 aperture and focal length of 24 mm. Furthermore, there is a digital stabilization and hybrid AF.
It spoils the hardware capabilities of the standard application for photography - its settings are extremely scarce. Saves works fine automatic mode and a set of ready-made presets for shooting in different lighting conditions.
In good light, whether sunlight or good artificial light, ZUK Z2 camera allows you to take beautiful clear pictures with the correct color.
In HDR mode the camera gently draws in tone, without increasing the saturation, while maintaining a natural picture.
The front camera uses sensor 8 M and a lens with f / 2,0 aperture. Call the shots can not be distinguished, though they are better than those obtained on the Chinese machines in this price range.
Smartphone shoots video with a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels at 30 / s, and stereo sound. Among other advantages worth mentioning the presence of the camera shooting at slow HD-resolution image (no sound) at a rate of 120 K / s to 240 / s and even to 960 / s.
Sound
With voice communication ZUK Z2 handle fully. The external speaker is also not disappointing: there is a stock of volume, tonal balance pretty smooth.
The sound in the headphones good. But there is one big disadvantage - the smartphone is almost no margin volume. Without system "uluchshayzerov" sound equalizer or the negative can ruin the mood music lover.
Cellular communication and interfaces
ZUK Z2 is equipped with a slot for a combined two nanoSIM. One radio module. Both slots are equal and able to work with 4G. The set of supported frequency is sufficient for use in Russia and the CIS, there is support for LTE band 3/7. The most common range of LTE band 20 is not supported.
A set of wireless interfaces is limited to dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. NFC and IR-port is absent. The main wire port - USB-C, corresponding to the USB 2.0 standard.
Geolocation can work with GPS, and GLONASS. Cold start in less than 20 seconds, hot - about 5 seconds. Tracking accuracy in the city is good, so that the smartphone can be used as a navigator.
Battery and Battery Life
When using ZUK Z2 as a navigator or a multimedia device rather incidentally have long battery life. The smartphone installed battery capacity of 3500 mA⋅ch enabled QC 3.0 Fast Charge. Due to this charging time is only 2 hours and 10 minutes. From 0% to 75% of total charging apparatus for 70 minutes.
A small screen and a larger battery great impact on the autonomy of the device. In a mixed mode of operation with a serious load ZUK Z2 is guaranteed to live till late evening. This is in view of calls, a couple of hours watching videos, use instant messengers, social networks and other standard load.
In other scenarios, the results are not worse:
- Viewing video (from the memory to the maximum brightness, the airplane-enabled mode) - 16 hours.
- Surfing (Wi-Fi, brightness 50%) - 14 hours.
- Surfing (4G, brightness 50%) - 10 hours.
- 3D-games (Wi-Fi, 50% brightness) - 4 hours.
conclusions
Unlike most smartphones Snapdragon 820, Lenovo ZUK Z2 is a budget device with good features. At the moment there are two versions: black and white. first cost is 182 dollar. The second will cost the buyer in $ 180.
Given the cost, direct competitors (primarily due to the diagonal of the screen) devices on the market today is not: all either lower productivity, or not very good design. The first category includes devices such as Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro ($ 160 option for 3/64 GB), Xiaomi Mi4S ($ 237 option for 3/64 GB).
Productive, but cheap smartphones flagship processor Qualcomm even less. If you focus on the price-performance ratio - it LeEco Le Max 2 ($ 220 option for 4/32 GB). If you remember the diagonal screen - yet very expensive ZTE AXON 7 mini (346 dollars option for 3/32 GB).
Real alternative ZUK Z2 could be Xiaomi Mi5 younger equipment purchased at one of the past or future sales (from 230 to 260 dollars option for 3/32 GB).
Among all the options presented ZUK Z2 stands strict clean design is very user-friendly controls and balanced filling. A set of excellent performance and high battery life make a smartphone from Lenovo the most successful vehicles in the category up to 250 dollars.
But only if the device to make hands and close your eyes to some of the shortcomings. In this case, the smart phone will delight the owner of excellent performance for at least several more years.