ZTE Blade A512 Comprehensive Review & Price Insights

Network

The ZTE Blade A512 supports a comprehensive range of wireless technology standards, making it versatile in terms of connectivity. It supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, ensuring compatibility with a broad range of service providers and international standards. The device operates on multiple frequency bands across 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, providing users with reliable connectivity options. Specifically, it supports GSM bands 850/900/1800/1900 for both SIM slots, HSDPA on bands 900/2100, and LTE bands including 1, 3, 7, 8, and 20. These specifications facilitate decent speed capabilities, offering HSPA speeds of up to 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat4 speeds reaching 150/50 Mbps.

Launch

The ZTE Blade A512 was announced and released in July 2016. Despite being discontinued since its launch period, the device garnered attention for its balance between performance and pricing, catering to budget-conscious consumers seeking functionality without the high cost. The phone’s release was targeted especially at markets where affordability and usability align closely with consumer needs.

Body

The phone's design is both sleek and lightweight, with dimensions of 164.3 x 71.6 x 7.6 mm and a weight of 130 grams. The compact form factor makes it comfortable to handle and easy to carry around. The device supports a dual-SIM configuration, allowing users to manage personal and work contacts on a single device without the inconvenience of carrying multiple phones.

Display

Equipped with a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, the ZTE Blade A512 offers vibrant colors and wide viewing angles. The screen resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels achieves a 16:9 ratio and approximately 282 pixels per inch density, ensuring clear and crisp visuals suitable for everyday use, whether browsing the web, watching videos, or social media interaction.

Platform

The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, a platform recognized for its efficiency and user-friendly interface. Powered by the Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 chipset, the phone includes a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at 1.4 GHz and an Adreno 308 GPU. This configuration provides satisfactory performance for daily tasks, including seamless navigation, application usage, and multitasking.

Memory

Internally, the ZTE Blade A512 integrates 16GB of storage and 2GB RAM, adequate for moderate storage needs. For users require additional storage capacity, the device features a microSDXC card slot, allowing expansion for storing apps, videos, photos, and music without concern over running out of space.

Main Camera

The rear-facing 13 MP camera of the ZTE Blade A512 includes features such as autofocus, LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode, aiming to deliver high-quality photography experiences. It supports video recording up to 1080p at 30 frames per second, providing decent video capture capabilities given its market positioning.

Selfie Camera

The front-facing 5 MP camera is adequate for video calls and selfies. While it doesn't boast cutting-edge specifications, it meets expectations for average daily use and social media sharing, providing reasonable photo quality for its user base.

Sound

The ZTE Blade A512 houses a standard loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The inclusion of the headphone jack is a positive feature for those who prefer wired audio solutions without the need for adapters or wireless alternatives, thus maintaining traditional audio accessibility.

Comms

In terms of communication features, the device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standards, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP and LE, GPS positioning, and an FM radio. While it does not feature NFC, the inclusion of microUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging provides a reliable connection method fitting for its class.

Features

Additional features of the ZTE Blade A512 include basic sensors like the accelerometer and proximity sensor. These components facilitate standard functionalities such as screen rotation and call management. The phone’s design and sensor capabilities suit typical smart device operation efficiently.

Battery

The device is powered by a non-removable 2540 mAh Li-Ion battery, providing it with sufficient energy to last through a typical day of usage. While not extraordinary in capacity, the battery life is enhanced through power management solutions inherent in Android 6.0 and the efficiency of the Snapdragon 425 processor.

Miscellaneous

The ZTE Blade A512 is available in a variety of colors, including white, black, and pink, allowing consumers to select a style fitting their personal taste. Released at a price of approximately 120 EUR, it offered a compelling value proposition for a mid-range smartphone during its availability. The device model is categorized under the BLADE A512, continuing the legacy of the ZTE Blade series known for balancing performance with budget-friendly pricing.