Smartphone ZTE Nubia Z17 6/64GB and 8/64GB - advantages and disadvantages

Not so long ago, a new smartphone Nubia Z17 from the well-known popular company ZTE was released. The novelty meets modern fashion requirements, both in terms of design and in terms of "stuffing" and technical characteristics. The device has a frameless screen that is popular today and is equipped with one of the best types of processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. It is worth noting that the “stuffing” of the smartphone is top-end and will not become outdated for about two more years.

The device is available in two versions, differing from each other only in the amount of RAM: 6 GB and 8 GB. It is worth saying that the Z17 is a very fast smartphone with an instant response, it quickly switches between applications, quickly responds to any command, without any delays. One of the interesting "chips" of the device is the ability to run any application in two windows at once, placing them at the top and bottom of the screen. But first things first.

General specifications

• operating system version - Android 7.1;
• body type - classic, waterproof;
• body material - metal, glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, scratch-resistant;
• support for two nano-SIM-cards with a variable mode of operation;
• dimensions - 72.38 × 152.6 × 7.6 mm, weight - 173 g.

Processor and Memory

• processor - eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998, 2450 GHz;
• video processor Adreno 540;
• built-in memory - 64 GB;
• the amount of RAM is 6 GB and 8 GB.

Food

• battery capacity - non-removable, 3200 mAh;
• USB Type-C charging connector type;
• Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 fast charging feature.

Display

• screen type - color, with IPS-matrix, touch multi-touch, capacitive;
• diagonal - 5.5 inches;
• image size -1920×1080;
• number of pixels per inch (PPI) - 401;
• aspect ratio - 16:9;
• light indication of events.

Camera

• rear camera - dual 12/23 MP, rear flash, LED, autofocus, support for macro mode, optical Zoom 2x;
• Max. video resolution - 3840 × 2160, with a maximum frame rate of 60 frames / s;
• front camera - 16 MP;
• support for audio formats - MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio.

Connection

• support GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat. 6, VoLTE;
• interfaces - Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, USB, NFC;
• satellite navigation GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou.

Additional functions

• Speakerphone;
• voice control;
• A2DP profile;
• light sensors, proximity;
• gyroscope;
• compass;
• fingerprint scanner;
• torch;
• usb-host.

Equipment

• adapter;
• needle for the SIM card slot;
• usb-c cord;
• adapter 3.5 mm.

performance, operating system

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, one of the best to date, speaks for itself - it is the most productive and powerful. Thanks to this, the smartphone does not know delays and brakes, the device works at a very high speed, instantly responds at startup, when working with applications.

The operating system here is "special" - Google Android version 7.1.1 in combination with the Nubia UI 5.0 shell. Outwardly, this is reflected in small interface changes - a swipe from top to bottom opens the notification panel, and a swipe from bottom to top gives access to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The second feature of the OS is the ability to split the screen into two parts, in other words, run two applications at the same time. The advantage of this "chip" is that it becomes possible, for example, to watch a movie and communicate in any messenger at the same time, without switching between applications. Multitasking becomes more and more comfortable.

Smartphone settings abound with all sorts of interesting and useful options, especially those related to gesture control.

• powerful processor;
• good performance;
• a large number of interesting settings;
• dual-sim support;
• the body does not heat up even when running heavy games or applications;
• the system of gesture control is well thought out and developed.

• due to overloaded gesture settings, there is a possibility of accidentally pressing or launching the application;
• poor optimization of the operating system.

Memory size

Nubia Z17 is available in two versions - models with 6 GB and 8 GB of RAM and 64 built-in. The speed of RAM is 6000 MB per second. The speed of the built-in memory is not too high (812 Mb / s - reading, 222 Mb / s - writing), but such indicators are quite enough for daily simple tasks, Internet surfing.

• a good amount of memory, which is enough to perform standard tasks and stable operation of applications;
• speed, active games are easily launched;
• multitasking and uninterrupted operation of the device at a high level (especially with a split screen).

• there is no memory card slot.

Battery

The device is equipped with a non-removable Li-Pol (lithium polymer) battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh. Watching videos in HD format at maximum screen brightness drains the battery in 8 hours, active 3D games in 5 hours, so autonomy is at an average level.

Nubia Z17 has a Quick Charge function that allows you to charge the battery by 50% in 20 minutes, but it takes about an hour to fully charge the battery.

The performance of the system is at a good level, thanks to a high-quality processor and a decent amount of RAM (6 or 8 GB).

• Quick charge function.

• Average active time due to insufficient battery capacity.

Design, appearance, dimensions

This model has a harmonious classic design, made in soothing colors, and the appearance of the device as a whole looks familiar, without being distinguished by anything unusual. The aspect ratio of the screen - 16:9 - in combination with thin side frames (2 mm each), accommodates more text, while the display is not pulled up. The smartphone fits comfortably in the hand, has a small weight and thickness, which provides comfortable control.

The case of the device is made of metal and glass, has protection against moisture, but not so serious that the device can be immersed in water. The back side of the case is matte, so there are practically no fingerprints on its surface. The front side is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which is highly resistant to scratches and external damage. This glass is of excellent quality, having an oleophobic coating (it has oil-repellent properties). The materials and assembly are of high quality, so the device is durable and reliable.

The front side of the Nubia Z17 is equipped with a camera, as well as light sensors, proximity and a speaker. Below, under the screen, there is an event indicator (branded "ring" also displays the battery level), and two buttons, the purpose of which can be changed in the smartphone settings. The brightness of the event indicator can also be adjusted depending on your preferences.

The control buttons - power and volume control - are located on the right side of the device. On the left side is a slot for nano-SIM-cards. It is worth noting that this smartphone model does not support microSD memory cards, but despite this, the built-in memory (64 GB) is enough for everyday tasks, as well as for storing information, installing games and applications.

Nubia Z17 is equipped with an IR transmitter, which is located on the top of the smartphone. The presence of IR can turn the device into a remote control, and it should be noted that there are not many smartphones on the market equipped with such a transmitter.

On the back there is a fingerprint scanner, which is characterized by fast response and no delays, as well as a dual main camera and dual flash.

This model is available in several colors: black, gold - the most common on sale, as well as less common red and blue.

Nubia Z17 does not have a 3.5 mm headphone jack, so a special adapter is included with the device, the use of which adds inconvenience - there is no way to listen to music while charging the smartphone.

• attractive design;
• high-quality oleophobic coating;
• excellent build quality;
• touch buttons with branded backlight;
• stylish box in which the device is delivered;
• convenient dimensions of the device.

• branded body;
• body materials are sensitive to scratches;
• the matte surface of the back side is prone to contamination;
• there is no serious protection against moisture.

Screen

The 5.5-inch display is protected by an anti-glare coating, the frames framing it are quite narrow - 15 mm at the top, 16 mm at the bottom, 2 mm on the right and left sides. The aspect ratio is 16:9, the screen resolution is 1920×1080 (FullHD) pixels/inch. In addition, the display has a maximum viewing angle, and the image is bright, the colors are quite saturated and natural.Sometimes you can notice slight image distortions at the edges of the screen, appearing at different angles, but they do not spoil the overall picture.

The eye protector feature uses warm screen fill tones that can be adjusted in intensity or turned off as needed. The brightness of the screen is comfortable even at its maximum values; for work under the open sun, an anti-sun mode is provided that corrects the brightness of the display in accordance with the lighting.

• comfortable display dimensions;
• excellent quality IPS screen.

• The auto-brightness function sometimes does not work correctly.

Camera

This characteristic and its quality is often a fundamental criterion when choosing a smartphone, so it is worth considering its features in detail. The smartphone meets modern trends and therefore has two main camera modules. The main feature of this model is that one sensor has a resolution of 12 megapixels, and the other - 23 megapixels, which creates a double zoom while maintaining image quality.

The device is able to automatically recognize the level of illumination, based on which it switches the camera sensors on its own. In low light, at dusk, Nubia Z17 uses the main camera module in combination with digital zoom. In bright light, an additional high-resolution module and optical zoom are used. The result is a clear picture, with an optimal level of sharpness, the image quality does not change at a double increase. DualPixel technology ensures maximum focusing speed.

The photos taken on the Nubia Z17 camera are of high quality, excellent detail, no noise and blurring at the edges.In the camera settings, you can find a wide variety of effects and beautiful modes that create unusual bright photos (for example, Star Trail mode, which allows you to capture the movement of stars). The popular HDR mode also shows good results.

The front camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels, which also guarantees high-quality selfies, regardless of lighting conditions.

Examples of photos taken with the Nubia Z17 camera

Daylight shot:

Photo taken at dusk:

Night shooting mode:

Macro shooting:

As for video shooting, the camera shoots videos with a maximum resolution of 4K / 1080p (main camera) and 1080p and 30 fps (front camera), while the quality remains at its level even in low light or at night.

• excellent quality of photos and selfies;
• a variety of interesting effects to decorate pictures.

• no optical and digital image stabilization;
• rear camera modules protrude slightly above the smartphone body.

Interface

Nubia Z17 is distinguished by its non-standard graphical interface, and in the first days of getting to know the device, it can become unusual. There are no Android control buttons here, their functions are performed by touch buttons located under the screen. The operating system here is Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the number of built-in applications is quite large, not all of them are popular, but among them there are useful programs that can please individual users.

ZTE's continuously improved gesture control feature - Frame Interactive Technology - provides additional control options for the device.For example, a side swipe lets you view a list of recent documents and additional widgets, while a bottom-up swipe brings up the notifications panel. In the same way, you can adjust the screen brightness, divide the screen into two parts - the parameters of these and other gestures can be adjusted and adjusted in the smartphone settings. The home button can also be supplemented with another necessary function that will be triggered by a long press on the button.

Of the special and unusual "chips" are useful utilities that increase the performance of the device (for example, a convenient cleaner), the ability to "copy" any of the applications installed on the smartphone.

• unusual interface;
• branded "chips" from Nubia - features of the interface and management;
• beautiful and varied animation that accompanies the action.
• fast response.

• incorrect translation into Russian.

Connection

The device has a slot for two nano-SIM cards and works on standard networks such as 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), 3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), LTE (B1/B3/B5 /B7/B8/B12/B20). And also there is support for VoLTE, LTE CAT technologies.

NFC is present here, but with one caveat - the smartphone must be attached to the terminal with the front side, not the back. In this case, the distance from the terminal to the surface of the device should be no more than 10 mm. Such unusual work with NFC is dictated by the fact that the body of the device is made of metal. Mifare Classic and Mifare Ultralight are not available in this model.

In other respects, the Nubia Z17 has the same characteristics as any smartphone with the Android operating system. Support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, navigation systems GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS.

• good connection;
• high quality sound during a call.

• inconvenience associated with the use of NFC.

Multimedia features

The sound quality in this model is high quality, the speaker has a good volume. In addition, the sound has support for DolbyAtmos technology in its settings, with which you can adjust the equalizer, sound volume, automatic volume, and speech correction. The 3.5mm audio jack is missing, as is the case with many new products this season, but a special adapter is included.

• The speaker is high quality and loud.

• lack of Hi-Res sound recording.

General conclusion

The Nubia Z17 smartphone is a classic, even somewhat traditional device, nevertheless, corresponding to modern fashion trends, but not overloaded with innovations and excesses. The high quality of the cameras makes this model even more attractive, especially for those who are passionate about photography and selfies.

The smartphone is available in several color options, the most popular of which are black, gold and black and gold. Blue and red colors are less common. Each accessory in the kit has its own bright, unique design and matches the corporate identity of the device.

The cost of the device varies depending on the amount of memory - a device with 6 GB of RAM has an approximate cost of 26,000 rubles. A device with 8 GB of RAM is somewhat more expensive - about 28,000 rubles.