This has Dual-SIM, gyroscope, compass, NFC, 3100mAh battery and a decent camera. According to the Youtube review (at 14:55) on Post #2 the screen is Gorilla Glass 3. No fingerprint scanner, and non-removable battery.
5.5" Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi, camera - Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor. Apparently the video supports 4K recording (!).
ROMs are also discussed on the aforementioned HUKD thread but that's beyond my ken (see Post #20).
This phone will only work with
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz (HSDPA)
4G: TDD-LTE B38/39/40/41, FDD-LTE 1800(B3)/2100(B1)/2600(B7)MHz
It’s unlocked for worldwide use, customers please take a check to see if your local area network or the communication operator you are using is compatible with this phone before purchase.
You can also go to this topic http://forum.banggood.com/forum-topic-9641.html
Sim Card Dual SIM Card Dual Standby (micro SIM)
Color Black, Black&White( front black back white)
OS Android 5.0
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 801(MSM8974AC) Quad Core 2.5GHz
GPU Adreno (TM) 330
RAM 2GB
ROM 32GB
Display Size 5.5 Inch
Type TFT Multi Point touch Capacitive Screen
Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
Screen Color 16700K Colors
Ringtones Type Polyphonic/MP3
Audio File Format MP3/WAV/AMR/AWB
Video File Format H.263,MPEG4,H.264
Music Format AAC/AAC+/WB/MP3/AMR/MIDI/eAAC
Image File Format JPEG/BMP/GIF/PNG/GIF
E-book Format TXT/CHM/DOC/HTML
FM Radio Yes, earphone needed
Earphone Port 3.5mm
Card Extend Support TF card (MicroSD) up to 64GB (Not included)
Data transfer USB/Bluetooth/OTG
Mobile internet WAP/WiFi
Dual Cameras, 5.0MP front camera; 13.0MP back camera
with flashlights and auto focus;support exposure, independent white balance, electronic aperture, light painting, orbital, the cloud patterns, etc
Language (More details please refer to the screenshots)
Phonebook 500
Message SMS/MMS
Input Handwrite/Keypad
TV No
GPS Yes, built in
JAVA No
WIFI Yes, 802.11 b/g/n/ac 2.4/5GHz
Bluetooth Yes, v4.0
NFC Yes
Gravity Sensor Yes
Light Sensor Yes
Distance Sensor Yes
Electronic compass Yes
Gyroscope Yes
OTG Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Work Time Up to 6 hours
Standby Time About 11-12 days
Other Feature Built-in
Antenna,Clock,Shock,Setting,Handsfree,Standby Picture,Play store. etc.
Built-in Battery 3100mAh
Dimensions 152.7x76x8.7mm
Net Weight (Including battery) 160g
Package Includes 1 x ZTE Nubia Z7 Max Smartphone
1 x US Charger
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Manual
Note: This phone does not include the adapter plug.
Unboxing and review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtvwV-ra6iM at 14:55 it's mentioned the screen is Gorilla Glass 3. No fingerprint scanner, and non-removable battery. At 16:27 the reviewer also mentions a Dolby audio chip (?).
From 2:48 https://youtu.be/E-UQoMqL-Dg?t=168 you can see how the Home button, capacitive keys also work as notification lights. This reviewer points out the different ports, microphone, speaker and buttons and removes the back to reveal the un-removable battery, SIM slots and MicroSD slot.
Also the display is mentioned (at 3:42) - Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi.
And the camera is a Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor at 4:03 and talks about ZTE's UI, which he's quite excited about :laughing:
Chinese roms usually aren't official builds (may be seen as rooted) as such google and many banks won't allow you to use their banking apps or indeed android pay due to security issues.
Unlikely, it won't be an official google build or may be rooted. Many Chinese phones are incompatible with pay/banking apps for this reason. Just one of many reasons I'd never buy a Chinese phone again.
Rubbish!
Applicable to android and apple pay.
"Both services generate a temporary credit card number that is used for your transaction. Should this number be compromised, it’s likely that it’s already expired and won’t be used to drain your account. As far as security goes, that’s the biggest advantage of Android Pay and Apple Pay.
These systems use a “token” approach, rather than the static number on a traditional credit card. On both platforms you have to have some level of device protection enabled to be able to use the app. This can slow down the payment process while you unlock the phone or app, but it’s relatively quick, and absolutely worth the extra layer of security it provides.
Once you’re in, your app talks to the Android Pay server to ensure your tokens are up-to-date. If you don’t have an internet connection, you’re still okay – for a while. You can perform a limited number of transactions without a connection to the ‘net. Think of this like a credit card with a very short expiration date. Once that date passes you’ll need to get a new card to make more purchases – but here, that “new card” is an updated token that’s created automatically for you once your app syncs with the server. The whole concept is called Host Card Emulation, or “HCE” for short. The way it works is a bit more technical than what I’ve described, but that’s a pretty close “tangible” example."
Latest comments (183)
dodgydave69
6 Mar 17#183
I only ever use the official Google Camera....i've bought others but they look a bit technical for me....especially as i don't take many pictures. The only issue i'm having is that the Wifi keeps cutting off. Probably the ROM i'm using. I noticed the blue sticker on the lens straight away. ;-)
louiselouise
5 Mar 17#182
Can see a few mentioning the camera on xda. Someone mentions Snap camera (must be Snap Camera HDR?) but there's mic problems with recording video - the gain is too high?
Someone else mentions Camera MX. My favourite (though I'm using a Samsung) is Vignette.
Surprised there's a few complaining about the camera as it was raved about by the Youtube reviewer TechUtopia!
An earlier reviewer (Post #161) mentioned a small transparent sticker on the lens - might be that, but you'd think if that was the culprit everyone would have the same problem!
MDDr
5 Mar 171#181
Hello, thought I'd share a few thoughts.about this phone. First of all thanks to louiselouise for this deal, this is a lot of phone for the money.
I bought this phone as a replacement for a Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 that was having screen issues and wanted temporary replacement.
- This phone is excellent value for money.
- The screen is very bright and clear and seems to be a bit sharper than the SU6's.
- I haven't put too many apps on the phone yet so don't know what it will be like in the future but right now it feels very fast with no lag or stutter at all.
- the ZTE skin is actually quite nice and doesn't get in the way. I usually don't like something as close to stock as possible but this one has a few nice touches. Getting used to not having an app drawer as such but it's nothing major.
- Battery life seems very good so far but I haven't got all my apps on it yet. Screen time fine though when browsing.
- Call quality fine and loudspeaker loud and clear.
- Checked for Adups "spyware" using Debloater XDA forumsoftware and does not appear on the list
- Camera fast in daylight but overall fairly grainy on auto setting. Fine for the price.
Glitches/Negatives
- No encryption option in Security and Privacy settings. Is this because it's a phone for the Chinese market? A big thing if you're security conscious.
- Notification light not working as expected. Have missed a few messages due to this. I think it happens when multiple messages come through but not sure.
- Can't update Nubia UI - "server communication error" - guess this is due to being outside CN?
- location icon stays on in the status bar even after locations setting switched off. Clears on reboot.
- Can't put in a lockscreen PIN greater than 4 digits. Workaround is to use the alphanumeric option but this has to use the smaller keyboard so a bit more awkward to use.
- Keyboard switches from Gboard to Android Keyboard at times. I thinks this happens when cut and paste is used but can't replicate this all the time. Have disabled Android keyboard in settings.
- Difficulty finding accessories in UK, to be expected. Glass screen protectors on ebay look like they are for another model. Aliexpress the way to go on this but as has been mentioned, wait times can be bit long.
Very happy with the purchase as it's very good value, fast and stable with 32 Gb ROM and SD card. Will definitely be buying another Chinaphone in the future but will probably get something that has more manufacturer and developer support and easily available accessories eg a Xiaomi model with Band 20. And also has an encryption option!
Thanks again for this deal.
louiselouise
4 Mar 171#180
Oh dear, that's not good. I thought ZTE had UK offices? Pretty sure I saw a phone number on the Axon Elite leaflets somewhere.
Bugs or slowdowns are one of the reasons I'm leery of ROMs - what limited experience I have of them (rooting a Huawei Y300, and Cyanogenmod on a Nook HD+ which ended up unusable after a few months) hasn't been great.
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0203 450 8722 is all I can see on their website but I'm sure you've seen that already :stuck_out_tongue: Oh and they have Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Facebook as well. Maybe one of those might get you results.
dodgydave69
4 Mar 17#179
Yeah i'm wary of ROMs as well but i am easily tempted by the ability to do more things/tweak the OS etc. Resurrection seems popular anyway. Just a shame Cyanogenmod went under as that was always stable on my Nexus 4. I tried Mokee but it was very unstable with Wifi and constantly cut off and reconnected. Anyway, i contacted Banggood and they wanted a video to demonstrate why i wanted a link to the stock ROM and the email i sent to ZTE bounced back. I'll stick with Resurrection for now. :-)
louiselouise
3 Mar 17#178
I'm always a bit wary of ROMs but the nice people on xda should help you out. Mokee was mentioned positively on here (re custom ROMs) but I can't offer an opinion.
To be honest i'm not really bothered now whether the silicone case arrives as i love the aluminium bumper so much. I have hit a snag with the RR Rom in that the wifi now keeps cutting out? I have to toggle the wifi off/on to get it working again. I think it doesn't like one of the 80 or so apps i have installed as it was fine for the 1st few days....one day the wifi just stopped working and even though i rebooted it had a problem. I'll factory reset it later. I'd like to try the original ROM again but i can't find it anywhere...all i can find is v3.89 Chinese version without Google Play. I've emailed ZTE and Banggood to see if they can help.
louiselouise
3 Mar 17#176
Tempered glass protector appeared today! So that's 4 weeks and 3 days. Just glad it arrived!
louiselouise
2 Mar 171#175
My Aliexpress glass protector says "Awaiting Delivery" - not sure why the seller has cancelled - something must have went wrong? Haven't made a huge amount of purchases from Aliexpress, so hard to say.
Sister's partner (who has the Nubia) loves it - I'd be tempted to put Resurrection Remix on it for him but it can be weeks before I see them - so he'd be stuck if something went wrong. Nobody has moaned at me yet so I assume sister is happy too (she has the Axon Elite)!
Going up there tonight to take their Aliexpress ZTE accessories up to them - the Nubia tempered glass protector (the 72p one) still hasn't appeared, though!
Had this phone for a week now and am loving it so far. Had to remove the stock OS as there was a few niggles with it and put on Resurrection Remix....its now perfect. Everything works....no crashes etc. Received my bumper from Aliexpress but i also ordered a silicone case and its not arrived and the order tracking says the order was cancelled 12 days after i ordered it??? The last entry stated it was waiting for pick up...i assume from the courier? So not sure thats coming. All in all the phone is an absolute bargain.
louiselouise
1 Mar 17#173
The Aliexpress silicone case arrived on Monday (27th Feb), nearly 3 weeks to the UK. Even though the Aliexpress tempered glass protector was posted first, it still isn't here :disappointed:
shimmy1
17 Feb 171#172
seems to be better today since I deleted my Halifax bank app, wasn't allowing me to login,an automated call kept going to voicemail & that was blocking all texts & calls being received. apart from that issue the phone is great, especially for sky sports news
louiselouise
17 Feb 17#171
(Woops, liked your comment by mistake alienbats, that's where my bad eyesight gets me!) :stuck_out_tongue:
I've left the two phones at my sister's miles away - she's thrilled with the Axon Elite but can't use it yet as it needs a NanoSIM (she has an older-style SIM that doesn't come in a template to make it different sizes). Knowing GiffGaff it'll probably be a while waiting on the SIM Swap.
Still baffled why her partner's Vodafone SIM doesn't work in the Nubia, as spec sheets suggest it should. He wasn't bothered as he wants to swap over to GiffGaff too so he's waiting on a SIM as well.
Apart from my annoyance/dismay about the Voda SIM, what little time I did spend with the Nubia was impressive.
Edit: Sister's boyf is now saying he can't get his Vodafone SIM to work at all in his old phone (I took it out the template to try it in the Axon Elite first then squeezed it back in to use in the Nubia) - maybe his SIM is dodgy or taking it in and out the template has mucked it up?!
Another Edit: Band 20 doesn't really matter to him, or me, because GiffGaff's 4G speeds in Glasgow (worse where he is as reception's a bit patchier) is slower than 3G for some reason! O2 speeds are much faster apparently. Wish GiffGaff would sort this out!
Unfortunately, haven't been able to test the Nubia Z7 Max or Axon Elite properly yet - re 4G with GiffGaff. Hopefully I'll be able to update next time I visit.
The GiffGaff SIM Swap actually only took a few minutes - have bad memories of it taking days for my mum a few years ago - GG forum members commenting vaguely about "system issues"!
alienbats
17 Feb 172#170
1st issue is common with any network...Me and my wife both experience it on Virgin sometimes.
shimmy1
16 Feb 17#169
anyone with virgin sim having any problems? on a few occasions I'm not receiving calls or messages,but can make calls & people receive my texts. can't manually choose network too,any ideas?
louiselouise
16 Feb 17#168
HUKD app is playing up on my (Samsung) phone so had to uninstall, sigh....
Is anyone using a Vodafone SIM? Getting "No SIM" yet my GiffGaff SIM (O2) works no problem.
Also mine came with no (Chinese phone network) branding on the back. From reviews it seems it's a bit random what you'll get. Good to see it comes off pretty easily - a few on Banggood were complaining about it - though, again, Banggood doesn't really give a straight answer in their Q&As!
barry_burton
16 Feb 171#167
text on the back will come off with fingernail and some patience.
shaolinjordan
16 Feb 17#166
Thanks for the help. Also, would a UHS-3 card have any advantage over a UHS-1 card in this phone?
louiselouise
16 Feb 17#165
Again, that listing will have been made when the phone was released - it isn't a hard and fast rule.
As an example, I had a Linx 10 (the original one) and most specs sheets stated it took up to a 32GB MicroSD card - I used a 128GB quite happily. Someone even said Linx Support told them a 200GB card should work. Even reports of 256GB cards being used!
This is a question that pops up on every mobile phone thread - particularly if the phone is a few years old.
koolflame
16 Feb 17#164
louiselouise
16 Feb 17#163
Not sure but I see no reason why 128GB MicroSD cards wouldn't work. As this phone was released a few years ago (July 2014?) obviously the specifications listed will reflect that (whichever MicroSD card was most commonly available/affordable).
shaolinjordan
16 Feb 17#162
Can I just confirm the maximum size SD card you can use?
louiselouise
15 Feb 17#161
Some additional info that may be useful. There's a review about this on Tinydeal by Julien:
"I had blurry and dark pictures with the cam on the beginning; I read about it several times. It was caused by a small transparent sticker on the lense. The sticker should protect the lense. After I removed it everything was fine :smiley:
- The dual-sim cards both have 4G (most pages say only one sim card has)
- WLAN is not only 2.4 GHz. 5 GHz is also included
- The smartphone supports OTG including MHL. So you can connect it to TV via cable (MHL is mentioned more or less nowhere)"
Just as an aside, my favourite Android camera app is Vignette, depends what you like. Not sure if the official Nubia Camera app is on here?
Gah, I'm dying to open one of them! Love playing with new gadgets (no innuendo implied) :stuck_out_tongue:
UncleStan
14 Feb 17#159
Thanks for the update let us know how it works out. The Axon elite is no doubt a great handset perhaps a bit flash daddy for me although the speakers are probably better than on the Z7 max.
louiselouise
14 Feb 17#158
I'd love to update but can't! I managed to bag an Axon Elite (brand new, boxed) so I now have two phones, sealed and untouched.
Sister's boyf wants a new phone but she's trying to talk him round - he is very funny about brands and assumes ZTE is a no-name and will just be buggy and horrible.
So I haven't opened either yet till I know what I'm doing with them! The idea is to give her partner the Nubia and sis can have the Axon Elite. Or I could have the Axon - but not sure as ZTE are apparently promising Android updates that never come....and I don't know if it's an upgrade to my Note 4.
Edit: He's now saying he wants to have a look at it - I'll be travelling up there on Thursday so I assume others will update before I do!
UncleStan
14 Feb 17#157
Got 2 of these on the way so interested to know what you think of the phone and in particular the camera. I expect many others on here are also anxiously awaiting delivery of what looks to be a great handset. I think if the battery and camera are any good on these I for one will be made up for $100 so thx for the heads up and all the effort Op:-)
dodgydave69
13 Feb 17#156
Thanks for the info and updates louiselouise. Much appreciated. I was wondering if it was shrink wrapped. I did eventually buy a gel case plus a bumper from Aliexpress. Hope the phone is as amazing as it sounds. :-)
louiselouise
13 Feb 17#155
My Nubia Z7 Max has been handed over by my postie! No customs. Phone box is shrink wrapped and haven't opened it yet. So that's 11 days to the UK (including weekends), pretty quick :smiley:
louiselouise
11 Feb 17#154
Woohoo! It's on it's way and in the UK. Probably get it early next week?
2017-02-11 16:41 GBLALA, Arrival at border point in the destination country
colgrigson
11 Feb 17#153
I've ordered many time through GearBest, banggood, dealextreme and AliExpress and only had one issue which was resolved with a refund without dispute
Infiltrator
11 Feb 171#152
Aliexpress are a marketplace, not a retailer like gearbest. So when you buy through aliexpress they don't pass the money to the seller till you confirm you've received, and are happy, with the item. Also when you place your order the seller has a number of days to dispatch the item or your order is cancelled and aliexpress refund your money. How the number of days is calculated I don't know but I'd guess it would be based on the seller rating and how quickly they can get the stock - with my phone they had 5 days to dispatch, it was dispatched after day 3. The buyer can extend the period if you're happy to wait.
I've ordered from both aliexpress and gearbest, only hassle I had was gearbest let me down on a preorder phone that they only got into stocks weeks after they were meant to dispatch - this is pretty typical of how Chinese retailers work, and why I like the system that aliexpress have put in place.
louiselouise
11 Feb 17#151
You don't have to save the card, I never do.
If your item doesn't turn up you can open a dispute. Happened a while ago (cheapo jelly shoes that had a fake Anglomania brand on them!!), I got a refund and they appeared a few weeks later out the blue!
dodgydave69
11 Feb 17#150
Sorry to be a pain in the wotsit....but are Aliexpress safe to use with my bank card? I know there's an option to save card details but i'm not sure about how safe that would be. Having said that there's been a few items i've wanted off the site but because of my doubts i've not went for it. :-)
Edit...the last time i used Gearbest i didn't receive the item. It was only 30p or so but still.
Crossbow
11 Feb 171#149
Like louise, never had a problem with AliExpress - always refund in full without fuss if the item doesn't turn up (just like eBay/PayPal).
Can't say the same with Gearbest, who I'll never use again.
louiselouise
11 Feb 171#148
I had my doubts about Aliexpress but I've always found their CS excellent. They accept Visa Electron now - they didn't before.
I'm still struggling to find a gel case for the phone. Found one on eBay but the only colour available was pink & the other colours are out of stock. I'm reluctant to use Aliexpress as they don't accept PayPal. My phone is also at Asendia Hong Kong and the same tracking point (Banggood seem to have sent them by Swiss Post) but you can track it here. http://www.asendia.hk/ (its in English).
louiselouise
11 Feb 17#146
Vaguely on the subject of ZTE, the Gods must have heard me mention the Axon Elite in this thread - got it from Amazon Warehouse Like New (we'll see! Amazon Warehouse descriptions are unreliable at best) for £77 in the wee small hours.
5.5" 1080 x 1920 (no SuperAMOLED though), 13MP/5MP, Octa-Core Snapdragon 810, 3GB RAM/32GB, 3000mAh. Tempted to replace my Note 4, though wonder if it would be a downgrade. No Marshmallow is a disappointment. http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_axon_elite-7542.php
My phone (Nubia Z7 Max) is still at the 2017-02-07 18:07
Asendia Hong Kong, The consignment has left the origin border point stage.
louiselouise
7 Feb 171#145
You must talk to me on the Forklift haha - it's actually for my sister though :smiley: Will be trading in her Xperia T when I put it together for her :smiley:
louiselouise
7 Feb 17#144
Silicone case from Aliexpress has just been shipped, 5 days from ordering to shipping - hope it arrives soon.
Phone delivery status says:
2017-02-07 18:07
Asendia Hong Kong, The consignment has left the origin border point
Just looked at the Banggood listing today - says £106.06! :neutral_face:
barry_burton
7 Feb 171#143
Ships with 5.1.1, and can run 6 or 7 with a custom ROM.
FrugalFergal
7 Feb 17#142
Will my banking apps work on this? I now they are picky about the OS they run on.
On GSM Arena it says its running on Kit kat 4.4.2 and from July 2014. Seems it could be too dated for updates especially for apps that need the latest OS updates
louiselouise
6 Feb 17#141
Clarity in ebay listings is important as buyers can open a Dispute otherwise. Of course ebay want to make money, but I think my suggestion is one many UK buyers would support, from all the complaints on the subject I've seen.
supermann
6 Feb 17#140
You're surprised Ebay don't force these companies to say they're based in China? It's not in Ebay's interest to do that as they make too much money out of these companies.
Thank you for responding and for the informative link. The Banggood price has rocketed before the end of the sale. I don't think GBP has suddenly plummeted since Saturday. I am tempted to order one via a supposedly UK stocked seller on eBay just to have a little more protection. Especially if they inconveniently say they are out in their UK warehouse and have stock in a overseas warehouse and send it from there.
I would probably be unlucky and get a customs bill if ordered from Banggood. If I do order via eBay, I shall make an offer and see what happens.
The warranty would be worthless though if the returns address is overseas. That is if the phone develops a fault after the eBay coverage period.
Paypal are offering free returns if you sign up to their offer.
Ebay originally told this disgruntled buyer that the seller has to provide return shipping to China.
Then, after phoning them back, ebay refunded the buyer and told them they didn't have to return the faulty item.
From what I understand, you have 30 days to open a dispute with ebay (item not as described/received/other issues), thereafter it's in the hands of Paypal's resolution procedures.
Technically what these Chinese sellers are doing isn't fraudulent (as they must have warehouses in the UK) but it's very annoying when you get caught out! These sellers should specify clearly in their listings that they are China-based. I'm surprised ebay don't make this a hard and fast rule.
thetarget
5 Feb 17#136
If you get this mobile via eBay and it says location is in the UK but the Co. details are in say China; what happens with returns? Do you send back to a UK address? Would eBay/Paypal side with the buyer if the seller wants a faulty phone returned to an abroad address as the location is potentially falsely advertised?
I have a 1st gen Moto G and was thinking about getting a second hand Samsung S5 or S5 Plus. This looks like a possible alternative but is brand new. Also costs a bit less than the S5 second hand prices.
louiselouise
5 Feb 17#135
Guessing the Deal Price is over now (thought it ran out on the 6th) - price is now £97.75.
If you still have your heart set on this phone, you could buy it from one of the ebay UK sellers at Best Offer (not sure if you can get it for £90, but worth a try).
Most of these sellers state they're based in Southall, one in Hayes, London but when you look at the shop storefronts they're based in China (they all state quick UK delivery so maybe they have stock in the UK?).
louiselouise
5 Feb 17#134
No point asking Banggood on their Q&As as they won't give you a straight answer on the subject.
From my limited experience of Chinese purchases, I think it's safest to go by the slowest delivery option as it's least likely to attract a charge. Express Delivery options such as DHL and the like will incur additional charges :innocent:
msaquib
5 Feb 17#133
I did post this before but got no reply back.
Is it likely to be customs duty/VAT payable?
Vegeta
5 Feb 17#132
Don't forget 6.6% Quidco cashback. Mine tracked at £5.28 :smile:
louiselouise
4 Feb 17#131
Here's another comparison video:
Nubia Z7 Max Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, 3GB RAM version (Snapdragon 801 vs Helio X20 SPEED test/Gaming), at 1:47 https://youtu.be/_J-c55I8tS8?t=107
Edit: There's a comparison with the Elephone S7 on Post #44, if you missed it :smiley:
louiselouise
4 Feb 17#130
Cheers, colgrigson, usually my buys from these sites are impulse buys and I don't watch prices over the days. Looking forward to getting mine :smile:
colgrigson
4 Feb 171#129
Just currency conversion causing it to fluctuate.
louiselouise
4 Feb 17#128
£81.46 today :neutral_face: Didn't realise Banggood's prices changed over the days!
colgrigson
4 Feb 17#127
This phone may not have Band 20 but that certainly doesn't mean it won't work on 4G at all. Vodafone, o2 etc are secretive about where their different frequencies are used so nigh on impossible to know when you are actually using 800mhz. It's guided my phone choices (I have a Xiaomi Redmi 3S (with Band20)) but i probably needn't have bothered. You'll still get 4G where the other frequencies are used and elsewhere you'll wonder if it even makes a difference. Gaming (Ingress etc) and Spotify work just fine on 3G for me.
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#126
Re ROMs, there's a recent review, by Vinnie, 2nd Feb (Page 1 on Reviews>Images) on Banggood that says:
"Been testing the device for over a week now and I have to say this was one of the best buy I did so far. The rom what it came with was a nicely modded stock rom with google applications, without any Chinese bloatware, so big up for that, since it was very much usable out of the box instantly.
I did tried some custom roms (and also some of the official stock roms) and now using it with the CM14 LineageOS rom which is a Android 7.1 Nougat rom and works just great at the moment. Like I said the original rom worked just as fine as well with the NubiaUI interface (based on Android 5.1), so if you dont want to mess with downloading/flashing different roms to get a usable device, this is still a nice pick for you (also you can get root access pretty easily, if you just need that).
The only quiet annoying thing I could found so far is that the sound on headphone with minimal volume (like 1 bar) has this static sound and I really couldnt figure out why, but this present on all the different roms, so probably its some issue with the phone. Not a big issue, just a bit annoying and also on normal volume you cant hear it at all. Btw the phone is loud as hell (both headphone and on speaker).
Basically thats it, if you looking for the best value/price phone its probably the Nubia Z7 Max at the moment.
Pros: -Huge screen, nice design, not so thick -Screen colors really nice -Custom roms, Android 7.1 Nougat -GREAT value for price (even if it would be a bit more expensive)
Cons: -static noise on lowest volume -jack on top instead of the bottom (im just really not fond of that, but most of the other devices is the same as well)"
Re static/interference from the headphone jack, can't see anyone discussing it elsewhere - will test that too when I receive mine.
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#125
As I mentioned before, I'm on Giffgaff though O2 are being very secretive about the planned 1800MHz frequency band being rolled out in UK cities (London first apparently)....I'll report back.
johnnyd57uk
3 Feb 17#124
So wanted to give this a go as cheap as chips for so much technology. No probs with the 32gb storage but lack of 4G on Giffgaff is my undoing. I could stick my BT sim in it but thats already in my Motorola G4 play which in my opinion is fantastic.
supermann
3 Feb 17#123
Aye, it is. Just saying people need to be a little bit careful. To be sure, buy from a British company based here.
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#122
They look kosher (Nubia-branded), and this is a Chinese-only-market phone. I'm well aware of some Chinese sellers re-stickering fake branded batteries and even giving the wrong capacity - but Aliexpress' Buyer Protection is excellent (in my experience).
supermann
3 Feb 17#121
I wouldn't buy batteries from Ali Express or Ebay for phones like these personally. Poorly constructed generic ones could prove quite costly.
rasdonny
3 Feb 171#120
good to note :smiley:
FoxForce5
3 Feb 17#119
You dont have to enter a pin or fingerprint if less than £30 (same as a contactless card), but if over that amount either pin or fingerprint is required.
I ended up simply sticking a card holder to my phone case, cos I dont carry a wallet (I dont like being kind to pickpockets & making their job easier!) & need my bank card to get cash out. I believe the bank machines in the US have just started to convert to accepting Android & Apple pay as well as cards, so hopefully in a year or so I'll be able to ditch the card completely.
supermann
3 Feb 17#118
The question is, what's the point in NFC if you have to tap a pin number into your phone before you use it?
Okay maybe a bit faster than using chip and pin but a lot slower than just using a contactless card.
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#117
I've been watching a ZTE Axon Elite (one appeared on Amazon Warehouse a few weeks ago at £40-odd!!!! I howled when I missed that, someone got there before me).
The only experience I have of "Chinese" phones are mum's old ones - the infamous Huawei G300 and ZTE Blade L2 - both suffered from low memory at a measly 4GB.
Oh, actually, how could I forget, I made a HUKD thread ages ago for the Huawei Ascend Y300 as well!
To be honest, the ZTE Blade L2 was a bit plasticky and rubbish, mum wasn't that keen on it. But I think ZTE are really trying to make a name for themselves with more premium phones nowadays, just like Huawei.
garrymcandrew
3 Feb 17#116
I have a ZTE Axon 7, best phone i have EVER owned, the build quality is superb, dont know much about this ZTE model but if mines anything to go by i wouldnt think twice about it. No problems using it for any method of paying either.
anonimousse
3 Feb 172#115
I can see why you would remove it, as most people here equate NFC to AndroidPay by default!
A very commendable effort to educate phonesters here, who cannot think beyond 'Customs duty' and 'Band 20'. Apart from simple reasons like this..a random guess; one of the reasons China-centric phones are not supported for AP probably relates to Secure Element aspect of HCE and/or (un)willingness to partner-up with EMV
The infrared sure does work 100% okay with the build in infrared app that comes with CM12.1 ROM :smiley:
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#112
OK, cheers, I'll add it.
I have NFC on my Samsung phone but have never used it! I think it's a way for two devices to communicate too?
Just an aside about the un-removable battery. My sister's Xperia T has one of those - but I found replacement, new, Sony batteries on ebay for around £5! and was able to replace it myself, very easy to do.
(deleted the link from the original post - really wouldn't recommend those covers, they're awful).
Paddy_o_furniture
3 Feb 171#110
It may work, I wouldn't bank on it though.
NFC has other uses besides pay so you're best to leave it in description.
rasdonny
3 Feb 171#109
why wld u want to do that? as definitely does have NFC :smiley:
rasdonny
3 Feb 171#108
thanks a bunch
but sold out now, seller shld thank you for posting it on HotUK :smile:
Askrulous
3 Feb 171#107
Yeah, £50 for the xa would have been a right bargain, but I'm happy with £80...anything more tho I'd be slightly gutted! lol. Really liking Google pay actually, shame a lot of retailers don't do it still, which means I still have to carry cards.
The interest on this phone on xda (as an ex rom junkie I've been a paid up member for years :smiley:) looks promising, although I'll stick it out with the xperia, even though I can't even root it as Sony won't let me! :disappointed:
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#106
Mine just got shipped about 4 hours ago, woohoo! That's about a day and a half it's taken to dispatch, not bad. Maybe I should remove NFC from the header, as I don't wish to mislead - posted in good faith :disappointed:
MDL199
3 Feb 17#105
Thanks for the info - appreciated!
Any phone I buy has to be Android Pay compatible as I use it all the time.
shaolinjordan
3 Feb 17#104
how is the camera? e.g compared to the redmi note 3/zuk z2?
louiselouise
3 Feb 17#103
I have the Xperia XA bookmarked (saw it was at a bargainous £49.99 - a glitch? a while back then £79.99 recently - missed it). Glad I waited now. Though the Xperia XA will have better resale value at CEX etc when you've tired of it...
Not sure about Google Pay as the recipient won't use it for that, but the xda thread has a few people discussing getting the infrared to work with various ROMs. This is a different one to the xda Root/Cyanogenmod thread I posted earlier. They also mention FM Radio, if that matters to you.
Chinese roms usually aren't official builds (may be seen as rooted) as such google and many banks won't allow you to use their banking apps or indeed android pay due to security issues.
Unlikely, it won't be an official google build or may be rooted. Many Chinese phones are incompatible with pay/banking apps for this reason. Just one of many reasons I'd never buy a Chinese phone again.
Rubbish!
Applicable to android and apple pay.
"Both services generate a temporary credit card number that is used for your transaction. Should this number be compromised, it’s likely that it’s already expired and won’t be used to drain your account. As far as security goes, that’s the biggest advantage of Android Pay and Apple Pay.
These systems use a “token” approach, rather than the static number on a traditional credit card. On both platforms you have to have some level of device protection enabled to be able to use the app. This can slow down the payment process while you unlock the phone or app, but it’s relatively quick, and absolutely worth the extra layer of security it provides.
Once you’re in, your app talks to the Android Pay server to ensure your tokens are up-to-date. If you don’t have an internet connection, you’re still okay – for a while. You can perform a limited number of transactions without a connection to the ‘net. Think of this like a credit card with a very short expiration date. Once that date passes you’ll need to get a new card to make more purchases – but here, that “new card” is an updated token that’s created automatically for you once your app syncs with the server. The whole concept is called Host Card Emulation, or “HCE” for short. The way it works is a bit more technical than what I’ve described, but that’s a pretty close “tangible” example."
seinman
3 Feb 171#101
It's not a Google certified handset as it was never sold outside China.
MDL199
3 Feb 17#100
As this has NFC on it why are some saying it won't work with Android Pay?
Thanks
britshickhouse
3 Feb 17#99
is there import duty payable on this?
Askrulous
3 Feb 17#98
Looks great for £80, certainly better spec (thanks for the detailed post Louise) than my xperia xa, and probably wont suffer from low memory as quickly. Bought a few things (including mobius cams) from Banggood in the past (when hduk didn't like em and deleted deals posted about them!) so no issue there, just a tad different to say john lewis in returning stuff you dont like :smiley:
LetitiaWilkinson
3 Feb 17#97
3 days left now.
supermann
3 Feb 17#96
Dunno but if the quality of English on their activity tracker is anything to go by, I'd steer clear. And with that, im fishished.
MayheMMakeR
3 Feb 17#95
This or the "Cubot S550 Pro" for £99 uk seller?
andreas0013
3 Feb 173#94
The specs are almost identical, however the m8 is a much more premium phone
AlexM14
3 Feb 17#93
Hardware wise looks like a Sony Xperia Z1 with a downgraded camera.
louiselouise
3 Feb 171#92
Whatyoutalkingaboutwillis :laughing: And can I have some of what you're having :stuck_out_tongue:
Edit: Actually, read back and saw this
I did this screen grab from the Banggood link
I'd go with the 2G/3G/4G bandwidth list also stated on the Banggood listing. A few have received theirs from Banggood so far and nobody's mentioned any discrepancies.
highlighted in blue? Maybe only I can see it. Any need for the yawn?
Blunt_UK
2 Feb 171#90
That would be appreciated, thanks once again. :smiley:
robertoegg
2 Feb 1710#89
Dough! True, what a miscake! Takes the biscuit...
louiselouise
2 Feb 17#88
I'll be testing this phone first and putting apps on it for sis (she's a few miles away and it's getting delivered here) so I'll update - though I'm in Glasgow (where the 1800MHz band/4G is concerned). I'm near the city centre so I could easily go in an O2 Shop and ask! :laughing::smile:
(Though from the O2 Community Forums reply I added on Post #86, they probably wouldn't be able to tell me anything).
"O2 will start rolling out the 1800MHz band in London before expanding to other cities later this year. An added bonus is that older iPhones will be able to access O2 4G for the first time.
The operator will also upgrade its Wi-Fi hotspots, located in retailers like Costa Coffee, Toni & Guy and All Bar One so O2 customers will be automatically offloaded onto Wi-Fi if it is believed they will have a better Internet experience."
I'm on Giffgaff, as is my sister (who I bought this phone for), but the area she's in has patchy 3G so I'm sure she won't mind much.
"3) how is the 1800MHz refarming going and where is this available?"
"As for the rollout, it seems to be going quite well but O2 don't publish a timetable. None of us know on here which areas will get it next I'm afraid and customer service won't be able to give you that information either"
Sigh...all very Secret Squirrel.
whitedynamite
2 Feb 17#85
Does google play store works on this? looking for some cheap/decent phone with good camera.
Blunt_UK
2 Feb 17#84
And once again GiffGaff ZTE/4G is not compatible.
I'll stick with my Moto G4 until one of these Chinese imports has the band covered..
alienbats
2 Feb 17#83
I am also in the exact boat as you. Can anyone give suggestions or share experience?
harrow2004
2 Feb 171#82
Thank You, that was a very informative post. Very clear and much appreciated :smiley:
aandyr123
2 Feb 17#81
Should I go for this phone?
I have always gone for "the latest Samsung" but have got fed up of paying top money for a new phone. I am currently using a S5 on a sim only deal but would like a new phone as the camera has slipped!
Compared to a S5- is it better/the same? Can I use banking Apps? Sky Go? Is there a better phone for the same price/similar price?
tommytbone1
2 Feb 17#80
Where from?
Leepox
2 Feb 17#79
That is the pro version which has only just released, significantly better specs than the original note 3.
Leepox
2 Feb 17#78
Is this better than the Xiaomi Note 3 Pro which was also on here last week?
johnnyd57uk
2 Feb 17#77
only 3g on Giffgaff ?
pylysi22
2 Feb 17#76
how this compares with recent deal xiaomi redmi note 3 pro se
thanks in advance
louiselouise
2 Feb 171#75
I just get a bit obsessive! I've never bought a "Chinese" phone before (from China that is - my mum had the ZTE Blade L2 but that was bought from the UK). But I do enjoy watching review videos and finding out the specs, so it's no problem at all. And, bottom line, getting the best for my money :smile:!
Could do with some commission though :laughing:!!
Crossbow
2 Feb 171#74
As I've been telling you for months, these will have ordinary/average cameras when compared to your LG G2. I've also been giving you examples of mid-priced phones that have reasonably good to above average cameras, but most suggestions seem to be skipped / missed - you can find them amongst this:
louiselouise has also been answering your questions in this thread, which you have not responded to - this one in particular:
bbdom
2 Feb 17#73
Banggood are ok as a seller but having spent thousands with them I'll give you my experiences.
They sold two emails that have only ever been used on their site to spammers - I get 20-30 spams to each a day on them now.
Generally they are ok for faulty items, they will usually offer you a bit of discount to get it fixed but for higher value items you will generally be on your own. To send one of these phones from China to the UK will cost them maybe £2. To return it will cost you around £15 - this will rarely be paid for by Banggood.
Bad or mediocre reviews on their site often vanish as do complaint posts on their forum. They move them to another part of the forum which is not visible to the public (I have access and some make interesting reading). Sometimes the posts are then just totally deleted.
Generally they are alright but I totally lost faith in them after being lied to a number of times then discovering the "secret" part of the forum ........
digbys
2 Feb 17#72
I thought Banggood was a brothel in Thailand?:confused:
They both came from the same seller in China. I am quite happy with both. They took about 3 weeks to arrive. The seller added two styluses (which are not much of a use).
juhaszgergely
2 Feb 17#70
Yes, I am on 3, and it works fine.
5haron
2 Feb 17#69
ok need a little help, am getting yelled at for not having a decent phone ( I am still using my old nokia, and I'm not complaining, doesn't have whatsapp or any other gadgets on it but does the job for me)!!! can I take my sim out of my old phone and put it into this phone, its o2? can i keep my same number? i have no ideas about phones and don't want to spend a lot on one.
robertfrancis1975
2 Feb 17#68
Does OIS make much of a difference? As i use my camera frequently
zaheer2003
2 Feb 17#67
Shame the pound tanked, it would have been £66 a few months ago ($99 @ $1.5/£)
cicobuff
2 Feb 17#66
Nice to see this has a Snapdragon processor unlike most budget phones that tend to have Mediatek, even though older the 801 still has some clout, on par with the LG G3 and Xperia Z3 from a couple of years ago, as well as having NFC unlike a good number of imports, if I did not already own an LG G3 that I am happy with I would be all over this.
Proveright
2 Feb 17#65
LouiseLouise I hope you are getting a commission after all these posts and work and links, if you send them an email with a link to what you done and they might send you one for free .
The phone is great spec for the money £80, for other posters you cannot compare a fiesta with a jag. I don't use the finger print scanner. Bit like face crook is trying to build up the biggest database on people and who they associate with, the last thing you want to give a third party access to is your finger prints.
As to near field pay , that's another way to have your money stollen.
Well done OP for all the posts seems like a good budget phone that puts uk phones to shame for specs.
aldino
2 Feb 171#64
No fingerprint scanner...cold.
Since getting my S7E nearly a year ago, I would never recommend anyone to get a phone without one.
Makes such a difference.
robertfrancis1975
2 Feb 17#63
Any idea what the camera will be like compared to my LG G2? All the review say the camera is good. But no OIS which my G2 has.
Zoea
2 Feb 17#62
no android pay? even with custom ROMs? can anyone confirm thanks
crackshotkv
2 Feb 17#61
Cool specs for the price - anyone know what kind of updates it gets? E.g. the monthly android security patches?
I bought one about a week ago as it seemed such a bargain.
Edit...has anyone found a gel cover for this phone? Some phones coming from China have a leather cover in the box but i don't think this one does.
The_Hoff
2 Feb 17#57
If you can afford £200 get a Lenovo P2. 3 day battery life is something else. 12 hours screen on time easily.
robertadamson
2 Feb 17#56
how would this compare to my HTC m8.
rasdonny
2 Feb 171#55
my friend order 2 of these exact same phone when it was £82 delivered from Banggood, both arrived no problems in about 12 days but that was bought during the Chrismas hols :smiley:
Which has better camera? and I assume they are both better than the redmi note 3?
rasdonny
2 Feb 171#52
amazon link to case & screen protector pls :smiley:
fishmaster
2 Feb 171#51
The post directly above yours states it works with Android 6.0 custom ROMS.
supermann
2 Feb 17#50
Six months ago though... The Nubia would have been more back then.
The real question is why the Redmi Note 3 retails for £150 at the moment?
escortboy
2 Feb 17#49
I got ZUK Z2 for £137 plus £9 cashback so £128 in total. Completely different phones to be honest and I wouldn't mind which one I had.
I use the Z2 and the other half has the Nubia which I use from time to time happily.
louiselouise
2 Feb 17#48
That link suggests the Redmi 3 Pro was about £30 more - nearly half the price of this Nubia Z7?
supermann
2 Feb 17#47
I think the fact this is getting so much heat shows how poor smartphone offerings are at the moment.
Yes okay it has nice specs for 80 quid but the Redmi Note 3 had similar specs for only about £100 six months ago which incidentally is priced at £150 now.. Ok admittedly no FHD screen.
Very ZTE looking phone. It'll be built like a tank but don't expect great build quality buying a ZTE phone direct from China. I say that from experience.
craigstephens
2 Feb 172#45
I see what you of done there.
louiselouise
2 Feb 17#44
Here's a comparison with the Elephone S7 (5.5" screen, MediaTek Helio X20, 4GB RAM, 64GB, fingerprint scanner for those that care :stuck_out_tongue: ), seems to stand up quite well - the Elephone seems around £160+ at the moment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXKUvqWIJqI
Also, you can see the Nubia has more screen "real estate" - I have a real dislike for phones that use part of the screen for the Recent Tasks/Home/Back buttons.
Seem to be Liking a lot of people's posts by mistake this week trying to Edit :laughing:
akustics
2 Feb 171#43
Just doesn't have fingerprint scanner that's why i won't buy it :disappointed:
louiselouise
2 Feb 17#42
On Post #40 I just added a link to the big daddy of the range, the Nubia Z7, but it costs £50 more - seems to be identical to the Max except for 3GB RAM and Optical Image Stabilisation.
robertfrancis1975
2 Feb 17#41
thanks, as I've an LG G2 at the moment, something with a good camera I would consider
Went for this phone for sis - she has an old Xperia T which is lagging like crazy so this will make her happy.
Just under £83 for silicone case, glass protector and a decent phone - bargain :smile: (Mind you Aliexpress - where I got the accessories - tends to be quite slow with its deliveries...)
Edit (at 8.15pm): Bids are now at £95....on the Nubia Z7 Max thread on HUKD a month ago some said they got theirs from ebay UK sellers for £90!
msaquib
2 Feb 17#37
Is it likely to be customs duty? If it is then isn't it better to buy from eBay?
FoxForce5
2 Feb 172#36
Which means O2 wont work on 4G, but everything else seems to be ok.
I've currently got an Xperia Z2, it's three years old now but I love it. When it eventually stops working I'll most likely get this. Dirt cheap, CM rom available, more internal storage, only 2g of ram instead of 3g, but I use my 2g is more than enough for daily usage, same CPU.
The mobile market is completely stagnant, there's really no reason for most people to have a flagship of even mid range phone now, it's the same as paying a grand for a laptop simply to check emails & social media with (which I'm aware some idiots do). Perhaps if Samsung successfully release the folding mobile they've been leaking bits about then that will change, but until that or something equally ground breaking comes out there's no need to overpay & not take advantage of cheap sim-only contracts.
soapyd
2 Feb 17#34
Top of online description says it only works with 2g
simes to soapyd
2 Feb 17#35
Yawn.. No it doesn't .. It also lists the 3G and 4G bands it works on as well.
The only UK band missing is 4G band 20 ( 800Mhz )
deepmenace
2 Feb 17#33
It's a bargain yep. No android pay though... For me at least.
Smoother android experience than a recently released phone for same money totally.
louiselouise
2 Feb 171#32
I've only dealt with Gearbest and Banggood a handful of times (forgot about my purchase of the Nexbox A95X from BG - mind you that took weeks to come into stock as it was on backorder).
From my limited experience, I found Banggood's customer service excellent when there were issues (with a dodgy tablet stylus pen - got a full refund).
And I'm going by people's feedback on HUKD buying this phone from Banggood, Play Store seems to be on there already and there's no issues so far, afaik. And people seem to have received their phones quite quickly (around 8-10 days).
HotDealAlert
2 Feb 17#31
Seen some sellers in Ali have Global ROM with Play store, what is wrong with those? Maybe £82-£85, but save a bit of trouble....or is it becos of Aliexpress itself? People prefer Banggood > Aliexpress? Why?
joshtbh
2 Feb 17#28
What's everyone's thoughts on this vs lenovo zuk z2?
zuk z2 is better in almost all ways, but costs quite a bit more.
slipd
1 Feb 171#25
Okay, questions: what's the latest version of Android this will take, GSM Arena says Kitkat, and is the SD slot dedicated? Eg. Can I have dual sim AND expandable memory at the same time?
Don't want much for 80 notes do I :smile:
louiselouise to slipd
1 Feb 17#26
This picture from the Banggood link suggests it has dedicated slots.
It ships with android 5.1, but there are android 6.0 and 7.0 custom roms available.
Yes you can have dual sim and a memory card at the same time .
dahorn11
1 Feb 172#24
Got one from the ebay uk seller £99.99 last week.
Even though the snapdragon 801 is getting a little old it is still a very fast chip and keeps up with todays mid range phones. It does use more power to do so though. The battery life in standby is quite good, however when in use it does use quite a bit of power. I only get about 3.5 to 4 hours screen on time with a mix of browsing web and watching videos. It charges quite fast with a 2amp charger, so not too much bother to top it up on a heavy use day.
It comes with android 5.1 and google apps out of the box, and has plenty of active custom roms available. If you wanted to upgrade to android 6.0 / 7.0 it is not too difficult flash one of these. I personally recommend the MOKEE android 6.0.1 rom, it works perfectly and is updated quite often.
Overall its very good for the money. The performance, screen and camera are very good for £80 as long as you keep in mind that battery life while in use is not the best.
edit: I should also add the infrared does not work on the stock android 5.1 rom the phone ships with, but it works perfectly on both the Cyanogenmod and MOKEE android 6.0 roms I have tested.
bo9dster007
1 Feb 17#23
Great bang for your buck on this, looks good too.
superfreddy
1 Feb 172#3
Really tempted, but seems too good to be true?
seinman to superfreddy
1 Feb 171#4
These are great well specced handsets. However, there is no official native ROM with Google Play Services included as these handsets were designed only for the Chinese market. Therefore, GApps has to be added (which the retailer has done). Just know what you're getting going in.
thats the 2g bands it will work with if you are somehow on 2g.
it will also do all these and the 3g and 4g bands as it says here
This phone will only work with
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz (HSDPA)
4G: TDD-LTE B38/39/40/41, FDD-LTE 1800(B3)/2100(B1)/2600(B7)MHz
steevieboy4u
1 Feb 17#16
Looks good to me, thanks for the heads up OP
Gollywood
1 Feb 17#15
What do they mean by this?
" This phone will only work with 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz '
Jaspabt1
1 Feb 171#5
if it had a fingerprint scanner I'd of bought this :disappointed:
I ordered several times from BG and it never took longer than three weeks. Unlike some other Chinese stores. I am actually typing this message on the Nubia.
juhaszgergely
1 Feb 171#9
This is really a great phone. I got mine three weeks ago. It arrived in ten days from China and I am very pleased with it. Great camera, good battery life. Google Play Store was installed on it. I got my case and tempered glass screen protector from Amazon.
louiselouise to juhaszgergely
1 Feb 171#10
My sister's in the market for a new phone but she said "It's from China!" and seems to think it will be all in Chinese, great to hear some feedback, and even better to hear of quick delivery from Banggood.
robertfrancis1975
1 Feb 171#8
There is one on there for £63, reserve not met yet tho.
Assuming Banggood don't take too long (not sure as I've only ordered from them once!) it's probably best saving your £20 and waiting a week or two.
Edit: Actually, quite a few are listed at £99.99 Buy It Now or Best Offer, wonder how low they would go? :neutral_face: The previous HUKD thread on this suggests some paid £90.
louiselouise
1 Feb 174#2
Unboxing and review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtvwV-ra6iM at 14:55 it's mentioned the screen is Gorilla Glass 3. No fingerprint scanner, and non-removable battery. At 16:27 the reviewer also mentions a Dolby audio chip (?).
From 2:48 https://youtu.be/E-UQoMqL-Dg?t=168 you can see how the Home button, capacitive keys also work as notification lights. This reviewer points out the different ports, microphone, speaker and buttons and removes the back to reveal the un-removable battery, SIM slots and MicroSD slot.
Also the display is mentioned (at 3:42) - Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi.
And the camera is a Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor at 4:03 and talks about ZTE's UI, which he's quite excited about :laughing:
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Can see a discussion thread about this phone already on HUKD http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/zte-nubia-z7-max-5-5-inch-2gb-ram-32gb-rom-qualcomm-snapdragon-4g-smartphone-80-2586140
This has Dual-SIM, gyroscope, compass, NFC, 3100mAh battery and a decent camera. According to the Youtube review (at 14:55) on Post #2 the screen is Gorilla Glass 3. No fingerprint scanner, and non-removable battery.
5.5" Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi, camera - Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor. Apparently the video supports 4K recording (!).
ROMs are also discussed on the aforementioned HUKD thread but that's beyond my ken (see Post #20).
gsmarena: http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_z7_max-6491.php
This phone will only work with
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz (HSDPA)
4G: TDD-LTE B38/39/40/41, FDD-LTE 1800(B3)/2100(B1)/2600(B7)MHz
Check your provider's frequencies here: http://www.4g.co.uk/4g-frequencies-uk-need-know/ (see Post #18).
It’s unlocked for worldwide use, customers please take a check to see if your local area network or the communication operator you are using is compatible with this phone before purchase.
You can also go to this topic http://forum.banggood.com/forum-topic-9641.html
Sim Card Dual SIM Card Dual Standby (micro SIM)
Color Black, Black&White( front black back white)
OS Android 5.0
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 801(MSM8974AC) Quad Core 2.5GHz
GPU Adreno (TM) 330
RAM 2GB
ROM 32GB
Display Size 5.5 Inch
Type TFT Multi Point touch Capacitive Screen
Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
Screen Color 16700K Colors
Ringtones Type Polyphonic/MP3
Audio File Format MP3/WAV/AMR/AWB
Video File Format H.263,MPEG4,H.264
Music Format AAC/AAC+/WB/MP3/AMR/MIDI/eAAC
Image File Format JPEG/BMP/GIF/PNG/GIF
E-book Format TXT/CHM/DOC/HTML
FM Radio Yes, earphone needed
Earphone Port 3.5mm
Card Extend Support TF card (MicroSD) up to 64GB (Not included)
Data transfer USB/Bluetooth/OTG
Mobile internet WAP/WiFi
Dual Cameras, 5.0MP front camera; 13.0MP back camera
with flashlights and auto focus;support exposure, independent white balance, electronic aperture, light painting, orbital, the cloud patterns, etc
Language (More details please refer to the screenshots)
Phonebook 500
Message SMS/MMS
Input Handwrite/Keypad
TV No
GPS Yes, built in
JAVA No
WIFI Yes, 802.11 b/g/n/ac 2.4/5GHz
Bluetooth Yes, v4.0
NFC Yes
Gravity Sensor Yes
Light Sensor Yes
Distance Sensor Yes
Electronic compass Yes
Gyroscope Yes
OTG Yes
Multi-Touch Yes
Work Time Up to 6 hours
Standby Time About 11-12 days
Other Feature Built-in
Antenna,Clock,Shock,Setting,Handsfree,Standby Picture,Play store. etc.
Built-in Battery 3100mAh
Dimensions 152.7x76x8.7mm
Net Weight (Including battery) 160g
Package Includes 1 x ZTE Nubia Z7 Max Smartphone
1 x US Charger
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Manual
Note: This phone does not include the adapter plug.
Top comments
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8 )
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
Nubia Z7 MAX Camera Test/Video recording/Picture samples/Back & Front (Camera review):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE1vjuHY7wM
Nubia Z7 MAX UI settings/NUBIA OS features/tips and tricks/edge gestures/screen split up/off screen:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVar4N89jhY
Nubia Z7 MAX battery test/screen on time/battery consumption/drain/usage/life/discharge/UI 3.9.6:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-DS0a47v4
From 2:48 https://youtu.be/E-UQoMqL-Dg?t=168 you can see how the Home button, capacitive keys also work as notification lights. This reviewer points out the different ports, microphone, speaker and buttons and removes the back to reveal the un-removable battery, SIM slots and MicroSD slot.
Also the display is mentioned (at 3:42) - Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi.
And the camera is a Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor at 4:03 and talks about ZTE's UI, which he's quite excited about :laughing:
Apparently the video supports 4K recording (!). (Another reviewer - at 3:10 https://youtu.be/RubcuQ9aF4s?t=190 )
Edit: Cases and tempered glass protectors, lots on aliexpress:
Flip cases, different styles, £2.24-£2.89 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Flip-case-For-Zte-Nubia-z7-Max-Cover-Flip-Stand-Case-For-Zte-Nubia-z7-Max/32764656218.html
Pink "window" case for £1.90 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-Double-Windows-Luxury-Design-Flip-cover-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7-Max-Leather-PU-case-Brilliant/32655878622.html
More "window" cases for £1.93, various colours https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fashion-Universal-PU-Leather-Case-For-ZTE-Axon-Elite-Blade-D-Lux-Grand-S-II-S291/32771800051.html
Hard case, various colours £1.60 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZTE-Nubia-Z7-Max-case-Dimick-Frosted-series-Hard-PC-back-cover-case-for-ZTE-Nubia/2003962184.html
Soft silicone case, £1.06-£1.25 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Factory-Outlet-Soft-Case-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7max-Z7-Max-NX505J-Shell-Cover-TPU-Protector-Drop/32734365544.html
Tempered glass protector 72p https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0-3mm-Premium-Tempered-Glass-for-ZTE-Z7-Max-9H-Hard-Super-Thin-Transparent-Screen-Protector/32354474231.html
Unlikely, it won't be an official google build or may be rooted. Many Chinese phones are incompatible with pay/banking apps for this reason. Just one of many reasons I'd never buy a Chinese phone again.
Rubbish!
Applicable to android and apple pay.
"Both services generate a temporary credit card number that is used for your transaction. Should this number be compromised, it’s likely that it’s already expired and won’t be used to drain your account. As far as security goes, that’s the biggest advantage of Android Pay and Apple Pay.
These systems use a “token” approach, rather than the static number on a traditional credit card. On both platforms you have to have some level of device protection enabled to be able to use the app. This can slow down the payment process while you unlock the phone or app, but it’s relatively quick, and absolutely worth the extra layer of security it provides.
Once you’re in, your app talks to the Android Pay server to ensure your tokens are up-to-date. If you don’t have an internet connection, you’re still okay – for a while. You can perform a limited number of transactions without a connection to the ‘net. Think of this like a credit card with a very short expiration date. Once that date passes you’ll need to get a new card to make more purchases – but here, that “new card” is an updated token that’s created automatically for you once your app syncs with the server. The whole concept is called Host Card Emulation, or “HCE” for short. The way it works is a bit more technical than what I’ve described, but that’s a pretty close “tangible” example."
Latest comments (183)
Someone else mentions Camera MX. My favourite (though I'm using a Samsung) is Vignette.
Surprised there's a few complaining about the camera as it was raved about by the Youtube reviewer TechUtopia!
An earlier reviewer (Post #161) mentioned a small transparent sticker on the lens - might be that, but you'd think if that was the culprit everyone would have the same problem!
I bought this phone as a replacement for a Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 that was having screen issues and wanted temporary replacement.
- This phone is excellent value for money.
- The screen is very bright and clear and seems to be a bit sharper than the SU6's.
- I haven't put too many apps on the phone yet so don't know what it will be like in the future but right now it feels very fast with no lag or stutter at all.
- the ZTE skin is actually quite nice and doesn't get in the way. I usually don't like something as close to stock as possible but this one has a few nice touches. Getting used to not having an app drawer as such but it's nothing major.
- Battery life seems very good so far but I haven't got all my apps on it yet. Screen time fine though when browsing.
- Call quality fine and loudspeaker loud and clear.
- Checked for Adups "spyware" using Debloater XDA forumsoftware and does not appear on the list
- Camera fast in daylight but overall fairly grainy on auto setting. Fine for the price.
Glitches/Negatives
- No encryption option in Security and Privacy settings. Is this because it's a phone for the Chinese market? A big thing if you're security conscious.
- Notification light not working as expected. Have missed a few messages due to this. I think it happens when multiple messages come through but not sure.
- Can't update Nubia UI - "server communication error" - guess this is due to being outside CN?
- location icon stays on in the status bar even after locations setting switched off. Clears on reboot.
- Can't put in a lockscreen PIN greater than 4 digits. Workaround is to use the alphanumeric option but this has to use the smaller keyboard so a bit more awkward to use.
- Keyboard switches from Gboard to Android Keyboard at times. I thinks this happens when cut and paste is used but can't replicate this all the time. Have disabled Android keyboard in settings.
- Difficulty finding accessories in UK, to be expected. Glass screen protectors on ebay look like they are for another model. Aliexpress the way to go on this but as has been mentioned, wait times can be bit long.
Very happy with the purchase as it's very good value, fast and stable with 32 Gb ROM and SD card. Will definitely be buying another Chinaphone in the future but will probably get something that has more manufacturer and developer support and easily available accessories eg a Xiaomi model with Band 20. And also has an encryption option!
Thanks again for this deal.
Bugs or slowdowns are one of the reasons I'm leery of ROMs - what limited experience I have of them (rooting a Huawei Y300, and Cyanogenmod on a Nook HD+ which ended up unusable after a few months) hasn't been great.
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0203 450 8722 is all I can see on their website but I'm sure you've seen that already :stuck_out_tongue: Oh and they have Twitter, Youtube, Instagram and Facebook as well. Maybe one of those might get you results.
Found this link but you would need to be 100% sure it was what you're looking for https://shareaz.us/stockrom-for-android/zte-stockrom/zte-nubia-z7-max-stockrom.html (don't think this is the official ZTE one, the listing is kinda vague).
Sister's partner (who has the Nubia) loves it - I'd be tempted to put Resurrection Remix on it for him but it can be weeks before I see them - so he'd be stuck if something went wrong. Nobody has moaned at me yet so I assume sister is happy too (she has the Axon Elite)!
Going up there tonight to take their Aliexpress ZTE accessories up to them - the Nubia tempered glass protector (the 72p one) still hasn't appeared, though!
Edit: The (blue) silicone case I got https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Factory-Outlet-Soft-Case-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7max-Z7-Max-NX505J-Shell-Cover-TPU-Protector-Drop/32734365544.html which was £1.06 at the time of purchase, fits perfect, all the right cut-outs.
I've left the two phones at my sister's miles away - she's thrilled with the Axon Elite but can't use it yet as it needs a NanoSIM (she has an older-style SIM that doesn't come in a template to make it different sizes). Knowing GiffGaff it'll probably be a while waiting on the SIM Swap.
Still baffled why her partner's Vodafone SIM doesn't work in the Nubia, as spec sheets suggest it should. He wasn't bothered as he wants to swap over to GiffGaff too so he's waiting on a SIM as well.
Apart from my annoyance/dismay about the Voda SIM, what little time I did spend with the Nubia was impressive.
Edit: Sister's boyf is now saying he can't get his Vodafone SIM to work at all in his old phone (I took it out the template to try it in the Axon Elite first then squeezed it back in to use in the Nubia) - maybe his SIM is dodgy or taking it in and out the template has mucked it up?!
Another Edit: Band 20 doesn't really matter to him, or me, because GiffGaff's 4G speeds in Glasgow (worse where he is as reception's a bit patchier) is slower than 3G for some reason! O2 speeds are much faster apparently. Wish GiffGaff would sort this out!
Unfortunately, haven't been able to test the Nubia Z7 Max or Axon Elite properly yet - re 4G with GiffGaff. Hopefully I'll be able to update next time I visit.
The GiffGaff SIM Swap actually only took a few minutes - have bad memories of it taking days for my mum a few years ago - GG forum members commenting vaguely about "system issues"!
Is anyone using a Vodafone SIM? Getting "No SIM" yet my GiffGaff SIM (O2) works no problem.
Also mine came with no (Chinese phone network) branding on the back. From reviews it seems it's a bit random what you'll get. Good to see it comes off pretty easily - a few on Banggood were complaining about it - though, again, Banggood doesn't really give a straight answer in their Q&As!
As an example, I had a Linx 10 (the original one) and most specs sheets stated it took up to a 32GB MicroSD card - I used a 128GB quite happily. Someone even said Linx Support told them a 200GB card should work. Even reports of 256GB cards being used!
This is a question that pops up on every mobile phone thread - particularly if the phone is a few years old.
"I had blurry and dark pictures with the cam on the beginning; I read about it several times. It was caused by a small transparent sticker on the lense. The sticker should protect the lense. After I removed it everything was fine :smiley:
- The dual-sim cards both have 4G (most pages say only one sim card has)
- WLAN is not only 2.4 GHz. 5 GHz is also included
- The smartphone supports OTG including MHL. So you can connect it to TV via cable (MHL is mentioned more or less nowhere)"
Just as an aside, my favourite Android camera app is Vignette, depends what you like. Not sure if the official Nubia Camera app is on here?
Also, you can get this phone for £88.03 (there's a ton of discount codes out there for coolicool but I'm not a member so can't test) http://www.coolicool.com/zte-nubia-z7-max-qualcomm-snapdragon-801-25ghz-quad-core-55-inch-corning-gorilla-glass-3-fhd-scree-g-43764 (in White, though, not Black)
This is another in-depth review (in German, via Google Translate) https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.chinahandys.net/nubia-z7-max-test-testbericht-review/&prev=search
Here's an extensive list of which phones use the same sensor as the Nubia Z7 Max (if anyone cares :stuck_out_tongue:) https://www.kimovil.com/en/list-smartphones-by-lens-model/sony-imx214-exmor-rs
Sister's boyf wants a new phone but she's trying to talk him round - he is very funny about brands and assumes ZTE is a no-name and will just be buggy and horrible.
So I haven't opened either yet till I know what I'm doing with them! The idea is to give her partner the Nubia and sis can have the Axon Elite. Or I could have the Axon - but not sure as ZTE are apparently promising Android updates that never come....and I don't know if it's an upgrade to my Note 4.
Edit: He's now saying he wants to have a look at it - I'll be travelling up there on Thursday so I assume others will update before I do!
2017-02-11 16:41 GBLALA, Arrival at border point in the destination country
I've ordered from both aliexpress and gearbest, only hassle I had was gearbest let me down on a preorder phone that they only got into stocks weeks after they were meant to dispatch - this is pretty typical of how Chinese retailers work, and why I like the system that aliexpress have put in place.
If your item doesn't turn up you can open a dispute. Happened a while ago (cheapo jelly shoes that had a fake Anglomania brand on them!!), I got a refund and they appeared a few weeks later out the blue!
Edit...the last time i used Gearbest i didn't receive the item. It was only 30p or so but still.
Can't say the same with Gearbest, who I'll never use again.
ebay/Paypal options, Tempered Glass (2x) £2.98 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152383856682
Pink gel case - no good to you I guess! £1.99 + 40p P&P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151822794417 (woops, just realised you actually mentioned it already)
Edit: White/Clear gel case option is £2.39 + 48p P&P http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161614986418
This option is a silicone bumper (personally, don't like them) and tempered glass protector for £2.99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232064054081
5.5" 1080 x 1920 (no SuperAMOLED though), 13MP/5MP, Octa-Core Snapdragon 810, 3GB RAM/32GB, 3000mAh. Tempted to replace my Note 4, though wonder if it would be a downgrade. No Marshmallow is a disappointment. http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_axon_elite-7542.php
My phone (Nubia Z7 Max) is still at the 2017-02-07 18:07
Asendia Hong Kong, The consignment has left the origin border point stage.
Phone delivery status says:
2017-02-07 18:07
Asendia Hong Kong, The consignment has left the origin border point
Just looked at the Banggood listing today - says £106.06! :neutral_face:
On GSM Arena it says its running on Kit kat 4.4.2 and from July 2014. Seems it could be too dated for updates especially for apps that need the latest OS updates
Still waiting on my £1.06 silicone cover being shipped, though https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Factory-Outlet-Soft-Case-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7max-Z7-Max-NX505J-Shell-Cover-TPU-Protector-Drop/32734365544.html
I would probably be unlucky and get a customs bill if ordered from Banggood. If I do order via eBay, I shall make an offer and see what happens.
The warranty would be worthless though if the returns address is overseas. That is if the phone develops a fault after the eBay coverage period.
Paypal are offering free returns if you sign up to their offer.
Ebay originally told this disgruntled buyer that the seller has to provide return shipping to China.
Then, after phoning them back, ebay refunded the buyer and told them they didn't have to return the faulty item.
From what I understand, you have 30 days to open a dispute with ebay (item not as described/received/other issues), thereafter it's in the hands of Paypal's resolution procedures.
Technically what these Chinese sellers are doing isn't fraudulent (as they must have warehouses in the UK) but it's very annoying when you get caught out! These sellers should specify clearly in their listings that they are China-based. I'm surprised ebay don't make this a hard and fast rule.
I have a 1st gen Moto G and was thinking about getting a second hand Samsung S5 or S5 Plus. This looks like a possible alternative but is brand new. Also costs a bit less than the S5 second hand prices.
If you still have your heart set on this phone, you could buy it from one of the ebay UK sellers at Best Offer (not sure if you can get it for £90, but worth a try).
Most of these sellers state they're based in Southall, one in Hayes, London but when you look at the shop storefronts they're based in China (they all state quick UK delivery so maybe they have stock in the UK?).
From my limited experience of Chinese purchases, I think it's safest to go by the slowest delivery option as it's least likely to attract a charge. Express Delivery options such as DHL and the like will incur additional charges :innocent:
Is it likely to be customs duty/VAT payable?
Nubia Z7 Max Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, 3GB RAM version (Snapdragon 801 vs Helio X20 SPEED test/Gaming), at 1:47 https://youtu.be/_J-c55I8tS8?t=107
Edit: There's a comparison with the Elephone S7 on Post #44, if you missed it :smiley:
"Been testing the device for over a week now and I have to say this was one of the best buy I did so far. The rom what it came with was a nicely modded stock rom with google applications, without any Chinese bloatware, so big up for that, since it was very much usable out of the box instantly.
I did tried some custom roms (and also some of the official stock roms) and now using it with the CM14 LineageOS rom which is a Android 7.1 Nougat rom and works just great at the moment. Like I said the original rom worked just as fine as well with the NubiaUI interface (based on Android 5.1), so if you dont want to mess with downloading/flashing different roms to get a usable device, this is still a nice pick for you (also you can get root access pretty easily, if you just need that).
The only quiet annoying thing I could found so far is that the sound on headphone with minimal volume (like 1 bar) has this static sound and I really couldnt figure out why, but this present on all the different roms, so probably its some issue with the phone. Not a big issue, just a bit annoying and also on normal volume you cant hear it at all. Btw the phone is loud as hell (both headphone and on speaker).
Basically thats it, if you looking for the best value/price phone its probably the Nubia Z7 Max at the moment.
Pros: -Huge screen, nice design, not so thick -Screen colors really nice -Custom roms, Android 7.1 Nougat -GREAT value for price (even if it would be a bit more expensive)
Cons: -static noise on lowest volume -jack on top instead of the bottom (im just really not fond of that, but most of the other devices is the same as well)"
Re static/interference from the headphone jack, can't see anyone discussing it elsewhere - will test that too when I receive mine.
I ended up simply sticking a card holder to my phone case, cos I dont carry a wallet (I dont like being kind to pickpockets & making their job easier!) & need my bank card to get cash out. I believe the bank machines in the US have just started to convert to accepting Android & Apple pay as well as cards, so hopefully in a year or so I'll be able to ditch the card completely.
Okay maybe a bit faster than using chip and pin but a lot slower than just using a contactless card.
The only experience I have of "Chinese" phones are mum's old ones - the infamous Huawei G300 and ZTE Blade L2 - both suffered from low memory at a measly 4GB.
Oh, actually, how could I forget, I made a HUKD thread ages ago for the Huawei Ascend Y300 as well!
To be honest, the ZTE Blade L2 was a bit plasticky and rubbish, mum wasn't that keen on it. But I think ZTE are really trying to make a name for themselves with more premium phones nowadays, just like Huawei.
A very commendable effort to educate phonesters here, who cannot think beyond 'Customs duty' and 'Band 20'. Apart from simple reasons like this..a random guess; one of the reasons China-centric phones are not supported for AP probably relates to Secure Element aspect of HCE and/or (un)willingness to partner-up with EMV
I have NFC on my Samsung phone but have never used it! I think it's a way for two devices to communicate too?
Just an aside about the un-removable battery. My sister's Xperia T has one of those - but I found replacement, new, Sony batteries on ebay for around £5! and was able to replace it myself, very easy to do.
Can see it on aliexpress at £7.38 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-high-quality-mobile-battery-Li3830T43P3hB34243I-for-ZTE-NX505J-Nubia-Z7-Max-Dual-SIM-with/32299777122.html
This disassembly video might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duGKj0CvV54
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dtoys&field-keywords=OhMyGosh%C2%AE+Ultra+Thin+PU+Leather+Suction+Pad+Wallet+case+Cover+Skin+With+Credit%2FDebit+Card+Slots+For+ZTE+Nubia+Z7+Max
(deleted the link from the original post - really wouldn't recommend those covers, they're awful).
NFC has other uses besides pay so you're best to leave it in description.
but sold out now, seller shld thank you for posting it on HotUK :smile:
The interest on this phone on xda (as an ex rom junkie I've been a paid up member for years :smiley:) looks promising, although I'll stick it out with the xperia, even though I can't even root it as Sony won't let me! :disappointed:
Maybe I should remove NFC from the header, as I don't wish to mislead - posted in good faith :disappointed:
Any phone I buy has to be Android Pay compatible as I use it all the time.
Not sure about Google Pay as the recipient won't use it for that, but the xda thread has a few people discussing getting the infrared to work with various ROMs. This is a different one to the xda Root/Cyanogenmod thread I posted earlier. They also mention FM Radio, if that matters to you.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zte-z7/help/zte-z7-max-nx505j-ir-t3545318 (looks like a few HUKDers are on there too :smile:)!
Unlikely, it won't be an official google build or may be rooted. Many Chinese phones are incompatible with pay/banking apps for this reason. Just one of many reasons I'd never buy a Chinese phone again.
Rubbish!
Applicable to android and apple pay.
"Both services generate a temporary credit card number that is used for your transaction. Should this number be compromised, it’s likely that it’s already expired and won’t be used to drain your account. As far as security goes, that’s the biggest advantage of Android Pay and Apple Pay.
These systems use a “token” approach, rather than the static number on a traditional credit card. On both platforms you have to have some level of device protection enabled to be able to use the app. This can slow down the payment process while you unlock the phone or app, but it’s relatively quick, and absolutely worth the extra layer of security it provides.
Once you’re in, your app talks to the Android Pay server to ensure your tokens are up-to-date. If you don’t have an internet connection, you’re still okay – for a while. You can perform a limited number of transactions without a connection to the ‘net. Think of this like a credit card with a very short expiration date. Once that date passes you’ll need to get a new card to make more purchases – but here, that “new card” is an updated token that’s created automatically for you once your app syncs with the server. The whole concept is called Host Card Emulation, or “HCE” for short. The way it works is a bit more technical than what I’ve described, but that’s a pretty close “tangible” example."
Thanks
Edit: Actually, read back and saw this
I did this screen grab from the Banggood link
I'd go with the 2G/3G/4G bandwidth list also stated on the Banggood listing. A few have received theirs from Banggood so far and nobody's mentioned any discrepancies.
The Gearbest listing for this phone http://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_93421.html says the same as Banggood's 2G/3G/4G list:
GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz
FDD-LTE 1800/2100/2600MHz
(Though from the O2 Community Forums reply I added on Post #86, they probably wouldn't be able to tell me anything).
"O2 will start rolling out the 1800MHz band in London before expanding to other cities later this year. An added bonus is that older iPhones will be able to access O2 4G for the first time.
The operator will also upgrade its Wi-Fi hotspots, located in retailers like Costa Coffee, Toni & Guy and All Bar One so O2 customers will be automatically offloaded onto Wi-Fi if it is believed they will have a better Internet experience."
I'm on Giffgaff, as is my sister (who I bought this phone for), but the area she's in has patchy 3G so I'm sure she won't mind much.
Edit: Latest comments I can see (from a few days back) https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/Image-compression-and-traffic-management/m-p/1034507/highlight/true#M124390
"3) how is the 1800MHz refarming going and where is this available?"
"As for the rollout, it seems to be going quite well but O2 don't publish a timetable. None of us know on here which areas will get it next I'm afraid and customer service won't be able to give you that information either"
Sigh...all very Secret Squirrel.
I'll stick with my Moto G4 until one of these Chinese imports has the band covered..
I have always gone for "the latest Samsung" but have got fed up of paying top money for a new phone. I am currently using a S5 on a sim only deal but would like a new phone as the camera has slipped!
Compared to a S5- is it better/the same? Can I use banking Apps? Sky Go? Is there a better phone for the same price/similar price?
thanks in advance
Could do with some commission though :laughing:!!
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site:http://www.hotukdeals.com+robertfrancis1975
louiselouise has also been answering your questions in this thread, which you have not responded to - this one in particular:
They sold two emails that have only ever been used on their site to spammers - I get 20-30 spams to each a day on them now.
Generally they are ok for faulty items, they will usually offer you a bit of discount to get it fixed but for higher value items you will generally be on your own. To send one of these phones from China to the UK will cost them maybe £2. To return it will cost you around £15 - this will rarely be paid for by Banggood.
Bad or mediocre reviews on their site often vanish as do complaint posts on their forum. They move them to another part of the forum which is not visible to the public (I have access and some make interesting reading). Sometimes the posts are then just totally deleted.
Generally they are alright but I totally lost faith in them after being lied to a number of times then discovering the "secret" part of the forum ........
and the Tempered Glass Screen Protector: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Mobile-Phone-Screen-Protectors/Guran-Tempered-Glass-Nubia-Smartphone-Scratch-Shatter/B018UNP4G8
They both came from the same seller in China. I am quite happy with both. They took about 3 weeks to arrive. The seller added two styluses (which are not much of a use).
The phone is great spec for the money £80, for other posters you cannot compare a fiesta with a jag. I don't use the finger print scanner. Bit like face crook is trying to build up the biggest database on people and who they associate with, the last thing you want to give a third party access to is your finger prints.
As to near field pay , that's another way to have your money stollen.
Well done OP for all the posts seems like a good budget phone that puts uk phones to shame for specs.
Since getting my S7E nearly a year ago, I would never recommend anyone to get a phone without one.
Makes such a difference.
Edit...has anyone found a gel cover for this phone? Some phones coming from China have a leather cover in the box but i don't think this one does.
PU Leather case/flip cover £1.99 + £1.99 P&P https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guran%C2%AE-Leather-Smartphone-Standing-Function-Black/dp/B01KLLW1BS
6 Savvies Screen Protector Films £2.09 + 99p P&P https://www.amazon.co.uk/Screen-Protector-Nubia-Protection-Film/dp/B00M3E4XFO
Tempered Glass Protector 99p + £1.99 P&P https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Mobile-Phone-Screen-Protectors/Guran-Tempered-Glass-Nubia-Smartphone-Scratch-Shatter/B018UNP4G8 (same seller as first link)
Urgh, actually those are a Chinese and German seller (the Savvies protectors) - I'll keep looking.
Tempered glass protector (German seller) £4.35 + £1.69 P&P https://www.amazon.co.uk/Max-Protection-protective-protector-laminated/dp/B01M8PZQW1
The real question is why the Redmi Note 3 retails for £150 at the moment?
I use the Z2 and the other half has the Nubia which I use from time to time happily.
Yes okay it has nice specs for 80 quid but the Redmi Note 3 had similar specs for only about £100 six months ago which incidentally is priced at £150 now.. Ok admittedly no FHD screen.
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/xiaomi-redmi-3-pro-32gb-rom-3gb-ram-4g-android-snapdragon-616-smartphone-deep-gray-2487876
Also, you can see the Nubia has more screen "real estate" - I have a real dislike for phones that use part of the screen for the Recent Tasks/Home/Back buttons.
Seem to be Liking a lot of people's posts by mistake this week trying to Edit :laughing:
Though - this one says it does! http://www.comparebeforebuying.com/phones/phone/review-and-specs/zte-nubia-z7-max
I'll have a dig and see if I can find out what the definitive answer is.
Edit: The majority of the reviews I'm reading say it's only the Nubia Z7 that has Optical Image Stabilisation (there's 3 versions of this - Z7 Mini, Z7 Max and Z7). Also confirmed here http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_unveils_nubia_z7_z7_max_and_z7_mini-news-8972.php
Another Edit: Banggood does have the big brother of them all, the Z7 (from what I can see, essentially the same as the Max, except with 3GB RAM and OIS), for £120.39 but seems to be Out Of Stock http://www.banggood.com/ZTE-Nubia-Z7-5_5-Inch-2K-Screen-3GB-RAM-32GB-ROM-Snapdragon-801-Quad-core-4G-Smartphone-p-1107846.html
£129 on ebay from the Netherlands http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302199530813
Went for this phone for sis - she has an old Xperia T which is lagging like crazy so this will make her happy.
Just under £83 for silicone case, glass protector and a decent phone - bargain :smile: (Mind you Aliexpress - where I got the accessories - tends to be quite slow with its deliveries...)
Edit (at 8.15pm): Bids are now at £95....on the Nubia Z7 Max thread on HUKD a month ago some said they got theirs from ebay UK sellers for £90!
I've currently got an Xperia Z2, it's three years old now but I love it. When it eventually stops working I'll most likely get this. Dirt cheap, CM rom available, more internal storage, only 2g of ram instead of 3g, but I use my 2g is more than enough for daily usage, same CPU.
The mobile market is completely stagnant, there's really no reason for most people to have a flagship of even mid range phone now, it's the same as paying a grand for a laptop simply to check emails & social media with (which I'm aware some idiots do). Perhaps if Samsung successfully release the folding mobile they've been leaking bits about then that will change, but until that or something equally ground breaking comes out there's no need to overpay & not take advantage of cheap sim-only contracts.
The only UK band missing is 4G band 20 ( 800Mhz )
Smoother android experience than a recently released phone for same money totally.
From my limited experience, I found Banggood's customer service excellent when there were issues (with a dodgy tablet stylus pen - got a full refund).
And I'm going by people's feedback on HUKD buying this phone from Banggood, Play Store seems to be on there already and there's no issues so far, afaik. And people seem to have received their phones quite quickly (around 8-10 days).
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?&idPhone2=6491&idPhone3=8125&idPhone1=7821
Don't want much for 80 notes do I :smile:
Edit: Also - Another close-up picture from here http://www.gsmarc.com/zte/nubia-z7-max/pictures/ (seen this on video reviews as well)
Yes you can have dual sim and a memory card at the same time .
Even though the snapdragon 801 is getting a little old it is still a very fast chip and keeps up with todays mid range phones. It does use more power to do so though. The battery life in standby is quite good, however when in use it does use quite a bit of power. I only get about 3.5 to 4 hours screen on time with a mix of browsing web and watching videos. It charges quite fast with a 2amp charger, so not too much bother to top it up on a heavy use day.
It comes with android 5.1 and google apps out of the box, and has plenty of active custom roms available. If you wanted to upgrade to android 6.0 / 7.0 it is not too difficult flash one of these. I personally recommend the MOKEE android 6.0.1 rom, it works perfectly and is updated quite often.
Overall its very good for the money. The performance, screen and camera are very good for £80 as long as you keep in mind that battery life while in use is not the best.
edit: I should also add the infrared does not work on the stock android 5.1 rom the phone ships with, but it works perfectly on both the Cyanogenmod and MOKEE android 6.0 roms I have tested.
- these ROMs were mentioned http://www.needrom.com/category/zte/serial-nubia/nubia-z7/#
Root and Cyanogenmod discussion here https://forum.xda-developers.com/zte-z7/help/index-zte-nubia-z7-max-nx505j-t2961145
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8 )
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
it will also do all these and the 3g and 4g bands as it says here
This phone will only work with
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz (HSDPA)
4G: TDD-LTE B38/39/40/41, FDD-LTE 1800(B3)/2100(B1)/2600(B7)MHz
" This phone will only work with 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz '
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32GB-ROM-5-5-ZTE-Nubia-Z7-Max-4G-Mobile-Smartphone-Android-5-1-QuadCore-13MP-UK-/371771260083?hash=item568f4b3cb3:g:8SAAAOSw-0xYUgV8
Assuming Banggood don't take too long (not sure as I've only ordered from them once!) it's probably best saving your £20 and waiting a week or two.
Edit: Actually, quite a few are listed at £99.99 Buy It Now or Best Offer, wonder how low they would go? :neutral_face: The previous HUKD thread on this suggests some paid £90.
Nubia Z7 MAX Camera Test/Video recording/Picture samples/Back & Front (Camera review):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE1vjuHY7wM
Nubia Z7 MAX UI settings/NUBIA OS features/tips and tricks/edge gestures/screen split up/off screen:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVar4N89jhY
Nubia Z7 MAX battery test/screen on time/battery consumption/drain/usage/life/discharge/UI 3.9.6:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-DS0a47v4
From 2:48 https://youtu.be/E-UQoMqL-Dg?t=168 you can see how the Home button, capacitive keys also work as notification lights. This reviewer points out the different ports, microphone, speaker and buttons and removes the back to reveal the un-removable battery, SIM slots and MicroSD slot.
Also the display is mentioned (at 3:42) - Full HD IPS display - Pixel density 401ppi.
And the camera is a Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor at 4:03 and talks about ZTE's UI, which he's quite excited about :laughing:
Apparently the video supports 4K recording (!). (Another reviewer - at 3:10 https://youtu.be/RubcuQ9aF4s?t=190 )
Edit: Cases and tempered glass protectors, lots on aliexpress:
Flip cases, different styles, £2.24-£2.89 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Flip-case-For-Zte-Nubia-z7-Max-Cover-Flip-Stand-Case-For-Zte-Nubia-z7-Max/32764656218.html
Pink "window" case for £1.90 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Original-Double-Windows-Luxury-Design-Flip-cover-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7-Max-Leather-PU-case-Brilliant/32655878622.html
More "window" cases for £1.93, various colours https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fashion-Universal-PU-Leather-Case-For-ZTE-Axon-Elite-Blade-D-Lux-Grand-S-II-S291/32771800051.html
Hard case, various colours £1.60 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZTE-Nubia-Z7-Max-case-Dimick-Frosted-series-Hard-PC-back-cover-case-for-ZTE-Nubia/2003962184.html
Soft silicone case, £1.06-£1.25 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Factory-Outlet-Soft-Case-For-ZTE-Nubia-Z7max-Z7-Max-NX505J-Shell-Cover-TPU-Protector-Drop/32734365544.html
Tempered glass protector 72p https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0-3mm-Premium-Tempered-Glass-for-ZTE-Z7-Max-9H-Hard-Super-Thin-Transparent-Screen-Protector/32354474231.html