ZTE Blade A75 review
In today's smartphone landscape, 5G connectivity is becoming increasingly essential. While many devices boast basic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, 5G technology offers unparalleled speeds and reliability. However, it often comes at a premium price point. The ZTE Blade A75, on the other hand, is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones available. Priced around PHP 5,450, this device promises to deliver decent performance without breaking the bank. Does it live up to its promise?
Build Quality and Design
The ZTE Blade A75 is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones in the market today, but does its build quality and design justify its price tag? At first glance, the phone's camera module is quite striking, with a sizable lens that adds to its overall aesthetic. The device itself has a plastic frame and glossy back panel, which feels light at 204 grams. However, it's not entirely pocket-friendly due to its length. One of the few redeeming qualities of the Blade A75's design is its build quality, which feels premium despite being an entry-level device. It's clear that ZTE has made an effort to make it feel like a mid-range phone rather than a budget option. However, the absence of any protection certification or IP rating means users will need to be careful when handling the device. The phone's IPS LCD screen with 120Hz refresh rate is another highlight, offering vivid colors and a smooth viewing experience. The diamond black colorway available on the Blade A75 is also quite stylish. Overall, while the build quality and design of the ZTE Blade A75 are not spectacular, they're solid for an entry-level device. It's worth noting that the phone's overall design may feel a bit dated compared to newer smartphones, but it still manages to hold its own in terms of aesthetics. If you're looking for a budget-friendly 5G smartphone with decent build quality and design, the ZTE Blade A75 is definitely worth considering.
Battery Life
In our recent hands-on experience with the ZTE Blade A75, we took a closer look at its battery life and charging capabilities. The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports up to 10W of wired charging through USB-C. Our tests showed that the device was able to last an entire day with moderate use, including social media scrolling, photography, and playing Pokémon Unite. However, gaming sessions proved to be more challenging, as we noticed significant battery drain even when using low graphics settings. In our PC Mark's battery test, the Blade A75 managed to deliver a respectable 13 hours and 26 minutes of activity time. The video loop test, on the other hand, yielded an impressive 16 hours and 40 minutes of media playback. While these results are encouraging, we were slightly disappointed with the charging speed. It took approximately 3 hours to fully charge the device from 20% to 100%. This might be due to the lack of fast charging support in this model. Overall, the ZTE Blade A75's battery life is decent for a mid-range smartphone, but it falls short of being exceptional. With moderate use, you can expect a full day's worth of power, but gamers may need to recharge more frequently. If you're looking for a reliable device with good battery life, the Blade A75 might be worth considering – just don't expect it to last through intense gaming sessions without a top-up.
Display
The ZTE Blade A75 5G boasts an IPS LCD screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which is a pleasant surprise considering its budget-friendly price tag. The display's HD+ resolution might be the bare minimum for some users, but it still produces vivid colors, making for a decent viewing experience. One notable aspect of the display is its ability to produce high-quality visuals in well-lit environments. However, when the lights dim, the camera struggles to capture accurate details, and even the slightest movement can ruin shots. This might be a drawback for users who enjoy photography or videography on their smartphone. The screen's bezel might appear thick to some users, but it's not an issue that's likely to cause significant frustration. The real issue lies in the resolution, which is set to 480p by default, leading to a noticeable contrast between maximum video output and standard settings. While the display itself is decent, its limitations are evident when comparing it to more high-end smartphones. The ZTE Blade A75's display might not be the most impressive feature of this device, but it still serves its purpose in providing a functional viewing experience for daily activities such as social media scrolling, browsing, and on-the-go use. In conclusion, while the ZTE Blade A75's display is not exceptional, it gets the job done. Its decent color reproduction and 120Hz refresh rate make it suitable for everyday use, but its limitations become apparent when pushing the device to its limits.
Camera
The camera system on the ZTE Blade A75 is one of its most notable features. The phone sports a 50-megapixel main camera paired with a 2-megapixel depth sensor on the rear, along with an 8-megapixel shooter at the front for selfies. In well-lit environments, the dual rear cameras excel in color reproduction, capturing vibrant and accurate colors. However, when zoomed in, the camera struggles to capture details accurately. This is particularly evident in low-light conditions, where even slight movements can ruin your shots. The front camera, on the other hand, feels a bit desaturated for my taste. Despite this, ZTE deserves credit for how well skin tones come out after post-processing. For someone who pursues toy photography, capturing details on figurines from afar is crucial. The shots look decent but lack accuracy when zoomed in. The camera's absence of light handling capabilities is a significant drawback. Nighttime shots are often marred by noise and lacking detail. This limitation makes the camera feel less than ideal for enthusiasts who want more control over their photography experience. In terms of features, the ZTE Blade A75 offers some standard options like HDR mode, night mode, and a dedicated pro mode for advanced users. However, these features don't quite compensate for the overall lack of refinement in the camera system. The 5G dual nano SIM support, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 5, and GPS capabilities on the phone are noteworthy, but the camera's performance is what truly matters when considering this device as a photography-centric option. While it may not be the worst camera I've used, its shortcomings hold it back from becoming a top contender in this regard. For those who prioritize other aspects of smartphone functionality over camera performance, the ZTE Blade A75 might still have something to offer. However, for enthusiasts seeking an excellent camera experience, there are better options available in the market.
Price and Value
The ZTE Blade A75 is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones available in the market today, priced at 5,450 pesos. This device has been gaining attention for its budget-friendly price tag and impressive features. But does it live up to its expectations? At first glance, the phone's build quality seems decent, with a plastic frame and glossy back panel. While it feels light at 204g, the device is a bit too long to fit comfortably in most pockets. The camera module is sizable, but not necessarily impressive. One of the standout features of this phone is its IPS LCD screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz. Although it only has HD Plus resolution, the colors produced are vivid and make for a decent viewing experience. In terms of value, the ZTE Blade A75 offers an impressive set of features considering its price point. The phone packs a capable processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, making it suitable for everyday use. While gaming performance may be lacking, the device is more than capable of handling light gaming sessions. The battery life is also noteworthy, with a 5,000mAh cell that can easily last an entire day. Charging time is a bit slow at around 3 hours from 20 to full, but it's understandable given the lack of fast charging support. Overall, the ZTE Blade A75 offers great value for its price. While it may not be the most powerful device on the market, it provides a solid set of features that make it suitable for everyday use. The budget-friendly price tag and impressive battery life make it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade to 5G without breaking the bank.
Performance
The ZTE Blade A75 is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones available in the market. However, its performance is somewhat mediocre. The phone runs on Android 13 out of the box, but it's based on an outdated operating system. Despite this, the UI feels clean and organized, although it comes with a ton of bloatware that can be annoying to uninstall. The device is powered by a t760 chipset, which includes an ARM Mali G57 MC4 GPU. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Users can also get an additional 4GB of RAM through virtual memory extension. However, the phone's performance in gaming sessions is subpar. The ZTE Blade A75 heats up quickly when running games, and it can become too hot to touch during prolonged gaming sessions. It's not compatible with Zen Stone zero, which means users can't play relatively new games on this device. However, older titles like Withering Winds, Ani: Star Rail, Genin Impact, and Pokémon Unite can be played, but only with the lowest settings enabled. Synthetic benchmark scores for the ZTE Blade A75 indicate a performance that's not far from average. The phone's battery life is decent, lasting an entire day with usual activities. However, charging speed is slow, taking almost 3 hours to charge from 20% to full. In terms of connectivity, the phone features 5G dual nano SIM, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 5, and GPS. It connects to data services quickly and provides great call quality, but the speaker's audio can be muffled. Overall, while the ZTE Blade A75 is a budget-friendly option for those who need 5G connectivity, its performance in gaming sessions leaves much to be desired.
Pros
1. The phone's camera module is sizable and one of its most striking features.
2. The phone produces vivid colors making for a decent viewing experience.
3. The face unlock feature works fairly quickly to respond.
4. The phone excels in color reproduction in well-lit environments.
5. The phone comes with a transparent rubber case out of the box to address smudges.
6. The phone has a mono loud speaker, although it's not the best quality.
7. The phone supports 5G connectivity and has a dual nano SIM card slot.
8. The phone can last an entire day with usual activities.
Cons
1. The phone heats up just minutes into running a game.
2. The phone is not compatible with Zenfone Zero, which means users can't play relatively new games on it.
3. The phone's speaker works poorly and feels muffled when taking calls.
4. The phone's charging speed is slow, taking almost 3 hours to charge from 20% to full.
5. The phone isn't ideal for gaming sessions, lasting only about four to five games.
6. The phone can get too hot to touch during prolonged gaming sessions.
7. The phone's camera performance is not mentioned as being particularly impressive.
8. The phone's design is limited to a single colorway of Diamond Black.