ZTE Era InDepth Review Pricing Specs and Pros & Cons

Overview of the ZTE Era

The ZTE Era represents a significant milestone in the evolution of smartphones during the early 2010s. Announced in February 2012 and released in December of the same year, it offered users a combination of advanced technology for the time and practical features. Despite being discontinued, its legacy is still relevant for those interested in the history of smartphone development.

Design and Build

The ZTE Era was designed to be sleek and compact, boasting a thickness of just 7.8 mm. Although the specific weight of the device wasn't disclosed, its slim profile made it a comfortable fit for users who were looking for a portable yet powerful device. The smartphone supported a Mini-SIM, which was typical for phones during that period, adding to its user convenience. Available in a classic black color, its understated elegance appealed to many users.

Display

The display was one of the ZTE Era’s key features. It was equipped with a 4.3-inch TFT screen that provided a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of approximately 256 pixels per inch. This offered a clear and vivid viewing experience, suitable for multimedia consumption. The screen size and resolution struck a balance between portability and usability, catering to different user needs.

Performance

Under the hood, the ZTE Era featured the powerful Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, which included a quad-core 1.3 GHz CPU. This was complemented by a ULP GeForce GPU that enabled smooth graphics performance, making it ideal for both everyday tasks and more demanding applications such as gaming. The device ran on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which was renowned for its user-friendly interface and improved features over previous Android versions. With 1GB of RAM, it ensured reasonable multitasking capabilities.

Camera Features

The ZTE Era came equipped with an 8 MP rear camera complete with autofocus and an LED flash, allowing users to capture high-quality images even in low-light conditions. The main camera supported video recording at 1080p@30fps, appealing to users who wanted to record high-definition videos. The front VGA camera was suitable for basic selfies and video calls, marking it as a versatile device for photography enthusiasts at that time.

Storage

Regarding storage, the ZTE Era provided 8GB of internal storage, which could be expanded via a dedicated microSDHC slot. This was crucial for users who required additional space for their apps, photos, music, and other data. Though the built-in storage may seem minimal by today’s standards, having expandable options was a key advantage.

Network and Connectivity

The ZTE Era supported GSM and HSPA technology, which facilitated 2G and 3G connectivity across various bands (GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 900/2100). With HSPA speeds of 21.1/5.76 Mbps, users were guaranteed reasonably quick internet browsing and data transfer rates for its time. The phone was fully equipped with modern connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, UMA, and the ability to function as a hotspot. Additionally, it featured Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP and EDR for enhanced data sharing and stereo audio streaming.

Audio and Multimedia

For audio, the ZTE Era included a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing versatility for personal and shared listening. The device also featured a stereo FM radio with RDS, appealing to users who favored traditional broadcast radio. Multimedia capabilities were further enhanced with its microUSB 2.0 port, which supported MHL TV-out for displaying multimedia content on larger screens.

Sensors and Additional Features

Equipped with a set of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and a compass, the ZTE Era supported a variety of applications and functionalities that relied on these components. These sensors enabled intuitive user experiences, such as automatic screen rotation, navigation enhancements, and more interactive gaming experiences.

Battery Life

The ZTE Era housed a removable Li-Ion battery, providing users the convenience of swapping out batteries for extended usage. Although the specific capacity wasn’t detailed, the battery design aligned with typical user expectations during the era, offering decent battery life to last through daily activities.

Conclusion

The ZTE Era exemplified the transition phase of smartphones in the early 2010s, combining cutting-edge technology with user-centric features. Despite its eventual discontinuation, it serves as a reference point in the evolution of mobile devices, highlighting both the progress made in mobile technology and the consumer needs of its time. For tech enthusiasts and historians, the ZTE Era remains a device worth exploring.