First android phone? Is this a good one? Need some opinions.

[darkslayer7]

Basically I found a good looking deal on a mobile phone here in Serbia.

Its a ZTE Grand X for 110euro + data plan (10euro/month) for 6 months. So the phone with data plan would cost about 180euro.
Its a Dual Core Nvidia Tegra 2 with a 4.3' screen.

ZTE Grand X - Full phone specifications


Is this a good phone for its price ?
And is ZTE generally good ? I never heard of it.

 

[chanchan05]

ZTE is a popular brand in China, and while their products are generally good, the issue you would have is support. No so sure about how you'd get upgrades and all that, especially since ZTE doesn't seem a popular device with developers.

 

[Digital Controller]

Just be aware, like chanchan said, that although the phone is popular in China and has some pretty decent specifications.

However, again there will be not that much support for it, you can always check to see if we have a sub forum here and you might get a little support, otherwise, developers usually don't really go near the ZTE phones

 

[chanchan05]

Actually, I think the reason why Chinese branded devices are cheap, even by big brands like ZTE and Huawei, is that there is NO support. Unlike Samsung or HTC, who spend millions researching updates and new software they can make to take on the competition (Apple, Motorola, Nokia, etc), ZTE doesn't do over the air updates. They don't do innovations like multi-window or Sense Widgets, or services like Samsung Dive and HTC Sync. They make a phone, slap Android on it (with a few customizations but very minimal to almost none), and then sell it. If you want to update to a new Android version, but a new phone. This cuts production and maintenance costs for the model, but also decreases the duration of its lifecycle. Instead of having a 2 year life for general usage compared to other phones on the same specification range, it has like just a year before it becomes completely out dated.

 

[darkslayer7]

Becomes outdated in 1 year ? I used a symbian 9.4 phone for 4 years (nokia 5800xm) and was happy for it. I'm going android because there are more apps for it, and hence my nokia died i have to get a new one anyway.

This ZTE is android 4.0.3 . Will any software/games work on it that were written for ics/android ?

Or how do you mean no support for it? I am getting a 2Y warranty from Serbian Telenor with it. Or you mean no newer android os upgrade ?
that didnt bother me with symbian.

 

[OverByter]

Don't lump just Chinese manufacturers into this club, take a look at the Motorola Triumph which is still stuck on FroYo almost 2 years after being introduced.
Back to the OP, this seems like an excellent device for the price.

 

[chanchan05]

Becomes outdated in 1 year ? I used a symbian 9.4 phone for 4 years (nokia 5800xm) and was happy for it. I'm going android because there are more apps for it, and hence my nokia died i have to get a new one anyway.

This ZTE is android 4.0.3 . Will any software/games work on it that were written for ics/android ?

Or how do you mean no support for it? I am getting a 2Y warranty from Serbian Telenor with it. Or you mean no newer android os upgrade ?
that didnt bother me with symbian.

No newer updates mostly. On Symbian this wasn't an issue because a lot of apps are backwards compatible. However that was a time of older tech where tech development went slowly. For example, 2 years later after being bought, my phone has some newer apps like Chrome incompatible with it due to outdated Android versions. While in general this doesn't really bother me as my Tab is new and would still get updates, it seems to bother other people to not have updates.

And another problem is that you could get incompatibility issues with current games because of the phone model. Some developers dont list certain phones as compatible because it wasnt tested.

Personally, if updates don't bother you, just go for it. It's a great phone for the price.

 

[mikedt]

ZTE is certainly fine reputable phone-maker. The handsets always seem to be top quality and robust. Same for Huawei and Lenovo.

Actually, I think the reason why Chinese branded devices are cheap, even by big brands like ZTE and Huawei, is that there is NO support. Unlike Samsung or HTC, who spend millions researching updates and new software they can make to take on the competition (Apple, Motorola, Nokia, etc), ZTE doesn't do over the air updates. They don't do innovations like multi-window or Sense Widgets, or services like Samsung Dive and HTC Sync. They make a phone, slap Android on it (with a few customizations but very minimal to almost none), and then sell it. If you want to update to a new Android version, but a new phone. This cuts production and maintenance costs for the model, but also decreases the duration of its lifecycle. Instead of having a 2 year life for general usage compared to other phones on the same specification range, it has like just a year before it becomes completely out dated.

Think they could be considered out dated in the United States, especially if one expects to always have the latest and greatest. Here in China, from what I've seen, people tend keep their phones for a very long time. Good quality phones like Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo, are still rather expensive compared to the off-brand knock-off garbage that floods out of Shenzhen. Other thing in China, famous non-Chinese brands like Motorola, Samsung, Apple, Nokia etc, can sometimes be horribly overpriced here, rather like Louis Vuitton handbags. It's something like a $1000 for a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, just because it's a Samsung. Paying for the name.

 

[darkslayer7]

ZTE is certainly fine reputable phone-maker. The handsets always seem to be top quality and robust. Same for Huawei and Lenovo.



Think they could be considered out dated in the United States, especially if one expects to always have the latest and greatest. Here in China, from what I've seen, people tend keep their phones for a very long time.

I keep my phone till it works.

Edit: How easy is it to find replacement parts for ZTE ? Like battery, back cover ...etc ?

(ps : as for Lenovo. Its my no.1 choice laptop. Having a z575 currently)

 

[chanchan05]

. Other thing in China, famous non-Chinese brands like Motorola, Samsung, Apple, Nokia etc, can sometimes be horribly overpriced here, rather like Louis Vuitton handbags. It's something like a $1000 for a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, just because it's a Samsung. Paying for the name.

It's the Chinese prioritizing local companies, increasing tax for imported products.

 

[mikedt]

It's the Chinese prioritizing local companies, increasing tax for imported products.

I think that might come into it a bit. However I'm sure it's mostly price gouging by the non-Chinese phone-makers, just like what the designer luxury product companies do, e.g. Gucci and Prada. When it comes to TVs and computers, non-Chinese ones like Samsungs, HPs, Dells, are not really any more expensive than the TCLs, Konkas and the ChangHongs.

What phone you've got can be a status symbol here, just like the brand of cigarettes you might smoke in China. A Samsung, HTC or an Apple phone can actually be real luxury for most.

BTW some of my friends and colleagues seemed rather surprised that I bought a Chinese Lenovo phone, rather than a Korean Samsung Galaxy S2, at almost three times the price. TBH I think the Lenovo phone I got is actually better made than the Galaxy S it replaced, which I always thought was rather plasticity and slippery IMO. Certainly better suited for me here, mainly due to dual-SIM and an extended capacity battery as standard.

 

[mikedt]

About Samsung supposedly supporting their products. I had a Galaxy S for over two years, and not once did it ever receive an update either OTA or via Kies. It would always give "No updates are available for this device.". The phone was bought in the UK, but was used mostly in China.

It originally came with 2.1 Eclair. I was able to update it to 2.3 Gingerbread myself because of CyanogenMod, and NOT because of Samsung.

I keep my phone till it works.

So do I. It was a broken screen that ended my Galaxy S, not because it was out of date or unfashionable or whatever. I would have probably kept it for another year or so.

Edit: How easy is it to find replacement parts for ZTE ? Like battery, back cover ...etc ?

In China, usually it's no problem at all to find batteries, accessories, covers, etc.

(ps : as for Lenovo. Its my no.1 choice laptop. Having a z575 currently)

I actually just bought a new Lenovo laptop last week.. Because I wanted a solid dependable machine with good support.

I bet outside of Asia, many people wouldn't even realise that Lenovo makes phones.

 

[chanchan05]

About Samsung supposedly supporting their products. I had a Galaxy S for over two years, and not once did it ever receive an update either OTA or via Kies. It would always give "No updates are available for this device.". The phone was bought in the UK, but was used mostly in China.

It originally came with 2.1 Eclair. I was able to update it to 2.3 Gingerbread myself because of CyanogenMod, and NOT because of Samsung.

I've had two updates to my Galaxy S variant, all from Kies.

 

[mikedt]

I've had two updates to my Galaxy S variant, all from Kies.

Probably there's geographical restrictions on what Samsung supports and where. Mine was a UK version Galaxy S that I bought in the UK, but was using it in Mainland China.

I gave up waiting for Froyo or Gingerbread in the end, so I just went ahead and installed CyanogenMod. I believe there was a special Googleless version of the S that they did just for the PRC.

 

[darkslayer7]

I made a decision not going with a contract.
Got and unlocked Galaxy Nexus (white) for 310euro.
JB 4.1.2 is on it already.
Thanks for the help, but I read the entire contract and i would have to agree to a 2 year "loyality" plan to continue my monthly data plan which is a bit overpriced, so I said no.