Overview Sharp Z2 - the most powerful smartphone for $ 100

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Packaging and appearance
• Display and Audio
• Performance
• autonomy
• Camera
• Software
• results

The usual smartphone nowadays lives long. After just six months or a year after the start of the production it is often replaced by new models and disappear from the shelves. Sharp Z2 is a unique exception to this rule.

This smartphone was introduced back in 2016. He had a good at the time and iron worth nearly 300 dollars. Surprisingly, the model has proved so successful that it is still produced today. Price at the same time fell three times, making Sharp Z2 one of the most attractive models in the budget class.

To the contents ↑

Specifications

Sharp Z2 built on MediaTek Helio X20 platform, which two years ago was one of the most productive. This chipset uses 10-core processor having a cluster structure. Two of the most powerful cores clocked at 2.31 GHz, quad-core 1.8 GHz and uses more quad-core - 1.4 GHz. This organization allows for flexible performance changes depending on the nature of the tasks, which in turn increases the energy efficiency.

But let's not forget that the processor is made for outdated 20-nanometer process technology. Therefore, it consumes slightly more energy than today's chips. We shall see this when testing the autonomy Sharp Z2.

In Sharp Z2 are 4 GB of RAM. Even in 2018 it is not just a budget smartphone can boast. So that this circumstance can be uniquely attributed to the advantages of this device. But the number of built-in memory is not too impressive. 32GB is only enough for the budget conscious users, the rest will have to install an additional memory card.

The smartphone is equipped with a complete set of necessary sensors and actuators, and also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Notice the nice bonus - the presence of the infrared port to control home appliances. A rare option that almost all manufacturers except Xiaomi, somehow ignore.

To the contents ↑

Packaging and appearance

Sharp Z2 smartphone comes in a plain white box, the lid is coated with the company name and the inscription LeEco Inside. Its appearance is due to the fact that it LeEco company engaged in the development of software for this device.

Components Minimum: charger, connecting cable and a protective silicone case. In our case, was charged with American plug, so we had to look for an adapter.

The main part of the front panel covers the screen. Above it is the eye of the front camera, light sensor and proximity, event display and earpiece. The latter has a circular shape that is found in the phone is very rare.

When the smartphone is turned off, it seems that here it is - the first budget smartphone, which has completely no side frames. But it is necessary to include the screen, as it turns out, that the scope of the sides are still there.

The magnitude of the-screen space is 1.5 cm, while it is completely empty. It is not clear why the manufacturer has not posted here touch buttons, they are here and they ask. Instead, use the onscreen panel that eats and so not too much display space.

The back cover is made of metal smartphone, except for the upper and lower parts are made of plastic for operation of the antennas. the back of the design is completely symmetrical. It occupies the highest position in the main camera lens, located underneath the double flash, even lower - fingerprint, which has a square shape. The back surface is slightly convex, due to this smartphone is very comfortable in the hand.

Housing Sharp Z2 has a thin, angular face with a neat shiny facet. On the right are the volume control buttons and activate. On the opposite side - the tray to install a SIM card and an optional memory card.

Placed on the upper side an infrared transmitter to control appliances and headphone jack. At the bottom there was a place for the external speaker connector USB Type-C and spoken microphone.

The whole assembly Sharp Z2 and appearance commendable. Thin metal body, high-quality screen, excellent materials does not correspond to the price range, which now got this smartphone. Yes, the design may be a little outdated, but fans of the classics and this can be written in dignity.

To the contents ↑

Display and Audio

Sharp Z2 screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches and a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. We liked from the very first glance. This is not surprising: Sharp company is considered one of the best manufacturers of displays, which often set even in the flagship smart phones of different companies.

The picture looks good. Even with careful study close fonts do not break down into pixels, lines flowing, gradient transitions correct. The image has high contrast, correct color and wide dynamic range.

MiraVision in aid is, however, color and contrast under him adjust still possible. For this purpose there is a special section in the options screen, where, among other things, you can also activate the blue filter, which reduces eye strain when reading.

There is an automatic brightness adjustment. backlight adjustment range of the screen is wide. Even outdoors in bright sunlight, you can use your smartphone completely comfortable.

The sound of the external speaker does not stand out, except at high volume. But the sound in the headphones pleased. When connecting hybrid KZ ZS10 Smartphone issued unusual to state the frequency and detail of good sound picture.

To the contents ↑

Performance

As we mentioned above, Helio X20 at the time of release it was one of the most powerful chips. And even today, its performance matches most middle class, rather than the budget. Because of this Sharp Z2 easily outperforms benchmarks in virtually any smartphone in its price category.

unit holders will not have problems with his performance: all applications run fast, run smoothly and stably. And this applies not only simple tools, but even modern video games. We checked the work of Sharp Z2 in World of Tanks, Mortal Combat and PUBGAnd he easily coped with them at medium graphics settings.

The smartphone has 4 GB of memory. Not every state employees can boast of such a figure. From this perspective, Sharp Z2 again overtook all.

To the contents ↑

autonomy

The Sharp Z2 used battery at 3000 mAh. For many smartphones that is enough, but here there is quite a voracious Helio X20, so that greater autonomy should not wait.

Our assumption is confirmed by tests conducted. In PCMark Battery Life phone lasted just 4 hours and 53 minutes. Recall that this test measures the time for reducing the battery from 100 to 20% when continuously on the screen. During testing, the device runs a script that simulates the user's normal activities: surfing, watching videos, photo processing, opening documents and so on.

Translated into ordinary human language this means that is not recommended to move away from the wall with this smartphone. At a time of its battery will last only a moderate consumption. And if you like to play at lunchtime or freezes for watching videos, then in the second half may need recharging. From regular charger Sharp Z2 is charged, by the way, really fast - up to 50% in 30 minutes, so that it slightly reduces suffering from such a small battery.

To the contents ↑

Camera

In 2016, when designed this smartphone, dual cameras may not have been so popular. Therefore, Sharp Z2 stands conventional single camera. Better that than the price at the expense of winding useless dummy, than sinning, many manufacturers of Chinese smartphones.

As the main camera is used Samsung S5K3P3 sensor with a resolution of 16 Mn. During the day, pictures are different natural colors, good contrast, good dynamic range. There HDR mode, but its work is not too impressed with us.

The front camera is useful not only for selfie and video calls. It is also used in the "picture in picture", which allows to take a picture with two cameras simultaneously. Thanks to a powerful processor that can easily handle the image processing from two sensors.

The overall impression of the Sharp Z2 PhotoChances we have left the average. Still in this area for two years, there have been many positive changes, so today many Chinese state employees removed about the same as the "almost flagship" of the past.

To the contents ↑

Software

The operating system used is Android 6.0. This in itself is not very good, but the developers have managed to pull the top of this ugly shell, that it takes a very bad turnover.

Default smartphone demonstrates a completely incomprehensible desktop organization, clumsy funny translation, terrible icons and exactly the same mediocre wallpaper. It seems that the company LeEco just to make fun of its customers and at the same time on all of us.

The good news is that some of this disgrace can be corrected. After installing your own launcher with support for third-party icons appearance smartphone becomes much nicer. The figure screenshots we show an example of such "a file revision".

Another unpleasant consequence of ancient origin Sharp Z2 is that to him is no longer out any patches and fixes. Alternative firmware that would allow a jump to the latest version of Android, is also absent. So I have to just put up with Android 6.0.

To the contents ↑

results

All the pros and cons of Sharp Z2 can be seen with the naked eye.

We liked the build quality and materials of the body, as well as the appearance of a smartphone (although with some reservations). screen and sound quality of the headphones is also not in doubt. But in terms of performance equal to that of the smartphone in the segment up to $ 100 just yet.

Disadvantages include low autonomy and an older version of the operating system. The camera quality of the work we are neither there nor here: it roughly corresponds to the modern level of the budget.

In any case, if you look for a low-cost productive smartphone, the Sharp Z2 - a great option. Much better than many of today's public sector, which for a spectacular appearance hides quite cheap electronic filling.

At the time of this writing, the cost of Sharp Z2 smartphone TomTop store is 6539 rubles.

The author expresses his gratitude to the company TomTop for providing the test device.