Smartphone ZTE nubia Z18 mini and Z18 - advantages and disadvantages

ZTE nubia begins the journey of creating smartphones designed to change this world. On September 5 this year, the ZTE nubia Z18 smartphone was presented to the general public. In terms of technical characteristics, this device is a whole step higher than its predecessors and competitors. The design decision makes you hold your breath when looking at a novelty.

An unusual, perhaps ahead of time, arrangement of navigation buttons, a Super Amoled screen, a front camera system with optical stabilization and a powerful filling.

A smartphone of the middle price segment. Bright. Stylish. Productive.

The ZTE Nubia Z18 Mini smartphone was presented six months ago as a harbinger of the flagship model. It's time to compare how the two twin brothers differ, except for the formatted 2.5D glass case.

Equipment

Z18 mini

Extracted from the familiar stylish box:

• • Smartphone;
  • Charger 2A / 5V;
  • USB Type-c cable;
  • A clip for removing SIM cards;
  • Documentation.

In the package Z18

The same equipment:

• • • Smartphone;
    • Charger;
    • USB cable, about a meter long, Type-c;
    • A clip for removing SIM cards;
    • Documentation.

Design and display

Design

Like the previous model, the Z18 and Z18 mini differ from each other, like metal and glass.

Bright, formatted, advanced glass Z18 mini and classic, stylish, elegant metal Z18 oppose each other like two generations of one family. It is very revealing and distinct.

The Z18 mini is available in five colors. White, black and pink are complemented by blue and light purple. This time the manufacturers have even moved away from the usual white color of the packaging box, replacing it with the colors corresponding to the phones.

The ZTE nubia Z18 comes in three colors. Classic black and red plus Van Gogh's Starry Night. The design of the packaging boxes also matches the selected colors, which was undoubtedly unusual, but a pleasant surprise from the phone manufacturer.

The ZTE nubia Z18 measures 148.58 x 72.54 x 8.55 mm and weighs 172 grams.

Just like the mini, the nubia Z18 has an extremely chic design. The minimum cutout for the selfie camera allowed 91% of the display surface to work. By the way, the Z18 mini has this figure of 80%. Thus, manufacturers have managed to keep the screen bezels to a minimum. Gorilla Glass 3 covers the screen for an unforgettable experience. The oleophobic coating of both devices allows this experience to remain untarnished.

The fingerprint scanner on the back cover has become familiar.

For the Z18 mini the glass case, of course, combines a lot of advantages and is characterized by some disadvantages of this material, but the elegance of the design is worth it.

Both smartphones fit comfortably and securely in the hand, fingerprints can be easily removed, although, of course, you should be more careful in handling these models.

The red edging of cameras and navigation buttons has become familiar to fans of this manufacturer.

The top face is equipped with an additional microphone.

On the bottom of the gadget there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, an external speaker and a USB cable connector.

The left side is equipped with a Dual sim slot for two SIM cards and a navigation button.

The dimensions of the Z18 mini: 148 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and 153 grams also impress the buyer.

Display

Z18 mini

Display diagonal Z18 mini 5.7 inches with aspect sizes 148 / 70.6 with Full HD resolution of 2160x1080 pixels. 80.2% of the display is taken up by a 16 million color screen in NTSC space.

The developers have expanded the workspace due to the display edges. Low-temperature LTPS technology is at the heart of the display matrix, which maximizes viewing angles.

ZTE nubia Z18

The performance of the display ZTE nubia Z18 does not differ much from the mini brother: 148.58 / 72.54 mm IPS matrix, 2160x1080 pixels resolution, 5.99 inches diagonal and the same 16 million colors. But this time, the developers have expanded the display workspace to 91% of the surface.

An expanded range of contrast, brightness and color saturation transferring the display of the new gadget to a new level of attractiveness. Unimaginable detailing of the image will not leave even the most picky and fastidious buyer indifferent.

Main technical characteristics

Memory

ZTE Nubia Z18 has two versions of the combination of internal and additional memory 6 + 64 GB and 8 + 128 GB.

Probably, the consumer expects from ZTE the option of an internal storage of 1 TB, but so far the manufacturer has not deviated from the usual range of memory cards. In addition, the slot for an additional memory card is still combined with a SIM card slot.

CPU

The Z18 has a Snapdragon 845 processor, which is the most optimal platform to date. 8 processor cores are overclocked to 3 GHz,
Android 8.0 and Adreno 630 video processor complete the software.

The Nubia Z18 mini processor instead of the heart is equipped with an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. Its four Kryo 260 cores operate at 1.8 GHz, and four more Kryo 280 cores at 2.2 GHz. Add to this the graphics accelerator Adreno 512, and you can have a super-modern device in your hands.

Performance

Thanks to the maximum settings, the processors of both devices deliver impressive responsiveness, allowing you to enjoy not only the excellent color reproduction and soundtrack of videos, but also the dynamic graphics of modern game screensavers. Moreover, this Z18 mini processor has characteristics for working with neural networks.

No overheating or freezing was noted during the tests. Gadgets worked smartly, responded to commands adequately, giving maximum performance

Battery

Autonomy Nubia Z18

Achieved by a non-removable lithium battery with a capacity of 3450 mAh. The fact that the smartphone has a fast charging function is already nice, although wireless charging would be an even more pleasant bonus for those who love to spend more than 7 hours playing games.

Nubia Z18 mini

The 3900 mAh battery capacity of the Nubia Z18 mini lasts for several days in a gentle mode and for up to 8 hours of playing. The device also does not have wireless charging, but the fast charging function is present.

Camera

It is gratifying to note that the developers have endowed both gadgets with LED flashes and autofocus and optical stabilization functions.

Nubia z18

The rear camera system resolution of 16 and 24 megapixels allows you to take pictures of 2160 x 1080 pixels and Full HD video quality.

The 13 megapixel resolution on the front-facing camera will allow selfie lovers to indulge in anything.

Nubia Z18 mini

The main 24 and 5-megapixel cameras can compete with the most modern camera phones in the quality of pictures, both during the day and in low light of the night landscape. Color rendition and sharpness are not compromised in any shooting range, producing high-quality bright stills and movies in Full HD quality. Focus and stabilization work superbly to produce high quality, competitive shots.

There are also quite a few compliments about the 16-megapixel front camera, but it's always better to look at it yourself.

operating system

Android 8, the proprietary firmware nubia UI 6.0 is on top, although this is precisely the circumstance that annoys most users, since the imperfection of these smartphones lies in the mismatch of operating systems.

Safety

Both devices protect information about the user and settings on the Internet by the Virtual Private Network system. If the fingerprint scanner in reality copes with the function of unlocking the device quite satisfactorily, then no one can cope better with protecting the device.

It is also possible to hide your data from surveillance on the network using the Tor web browser and other similar programs.

Wireless interfaces Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 5 GHz, GPS A-GPS and GLONASS will not allow the owner of this gadget to get lost in the restless sea of ​​everyday life.

Nubia Z18 mini lacks only NFC.

Useful features

Nubia Z18 mini

• With all its features, this gadget has undeniable properties. A separate button is allocated for the voice assistant, which allows you to quickly navigate the navigation system of the device;
• Six-lens optics of the rear camera system allows you to use the main camera aperture up to f / 1.7 nits;
• AI algorithms used in image processing give them a truly flagship quality in the end;
• Hardware Qualcomm Snapdragon 660;
• 6 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB of internal memory;
• Wireless interfaces, again, are designed to make the user's life unforgettable and varied;
• At the bottom there are two ports: USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack for surround sound.

In the case of the Nubia Z18

manufacturers even talk about a waterproof case. Well, wait and see. In the meantime, and without it, when creating a gadget, the developers spared no effort.

What are only:

•  OLED panel with 4K resolution;
• Qualcomm platform;
• Two modifications 8/128 GB and 10/256 GB;
• Support for memory cards up to 256 GB;
• New generation fast charging;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• Dual 24MP rear camera;
• Selfie camera at 12 megapixels;
• 4500mAh battery;
• Android 8.0 Oreo;
• It's almost a dream anyway, but coupled with incredible gaming power, it's just a dream come true for a gamer.

Dual sim system

Both smartphones support nano-SIM cards in the dual sim system, while the combined slot can become the base for memory cards in microSD format.

Smartphones support the GSM range of all Russian operators, without extraneous noise and disruptions.

The cost

In all Internet markets, the choice by price will differ, which is natural, but the price has been set from the manufacturer:

For ZTE nubia Z18

In black and red for the 6/64 GB version, the cost will be $ 410.

For version 8/128 GB of memory, respectively, you will have to pay $ 480 at best.

For the version with "Starry Sky" and 8/128 GB of memory, the price starts from $ 526.

Thus, the average price is 470 dollars, or within 50 thousand rubles.

Smartphone ZTE Nubia Z18 mini

It sells for $ 286 for the 6/64 GB version and $ 334 for the 8/128 GB version.

On average, the Nubia Z18 mini can be bought for an amount in the range of $ 300 or 20 thousand rubles.

AliExpress and E-Katalog, Yandex.Market, CITILINK, GearBest and many other electronic markets offer these gadgets, competing with each other where it is more profitable to buy a product.

Advantages and disadvantages

Nubia Z18 mini

• Really aesthetic;
• Fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, easy to operate with one hand, even with its dimensions;
• Stylish;
• A real "tankodrome" or a real gaming machine;
• Excellent photographs both during the day and at night;
• Functional;
• Reliable;
• Productive;
• The stereo sound from the external speaker and the wide sound range in the headphones are amazing.

• Glass. Alas, with all its advantages and design advantages, it has one big disadvantage - the fragility of the device. And it is a pity to lose such a device, especially since spare parts cannot be found;
• Lack of wireless charging;
• Again, the Android 8 operating system, combined with the proprietary nubia UI 6.0 firmware, strains a little;
• The lack of a branded headset has become a somewhat boring minus;
• For music lovers, of course, the lack of radio will be a grief.

The pros and cons of the Nubia Z18

It's too early to talk, and listing the already known problems from the previous version is not very productive. Very soon we will find out how much it was created for games, we will see with our own eyes how he takes pictures under the moon and in the sun, we will find out how Chopin sounds in his reproduction, if Van Gogh looks wonderful on him.

It's too early to talk about classifying this device as an inexpensive and budget model, but most likely to be a smart, productive, technological and convenient novelty. In the rating of quality goods of the best manufacturers, popular models for active games, photo and video shooting, for watching large-format films and listening to bright volumetric music novelties, a smartphone will certainly provide itself a place.

conclusions

In 2018, Nubia technology seems to have decided to announce its comprehensive work on past mistakes by releasing a definitely flagship and truly sensual device.

The abilities of the ZTE nubia Z18 mini and ZTE nubia Z18 will appeal to everyone who loves to talk on the phone, take pictures from any angle with all the cameras of the gadget, listen to music, drive into tanks and spin videos, as well as do all this while chatting in social networks using the function of opening multiple windows at the same time.

Smartphones nubia in Russia are very popular, so the release of each new product becomes a bright event among the fans of this manufacturer's devices.

Since, until now, the selection criteria used by each consumer imply not just a specific brand, but also many technical characteristics, as well as reviews of owners who have already become owners of new items, and reviews of professionals testing new devices, each potential buyer has the opportunity to the right to choose the best model at the best price.