ZTE Geek V975 Comprehensive Review of Specs Pricing & Performance

Overview of ZTE Geek V975

The ZTE Geek V975, announced in April 2013 and released in August of the same year, is a smartphone that marked its time due to its unique specifications, particularly the use of an Intel Atom processor. The device was developed by ZTE, a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company known for its innovation in mobile technology.

Design and Build Quality

The ZTE Geek V975 features a sleek design with dimensions measuring 145 x 70 x 9.5 mm. It weighs 148 grams, providing a good balance between screen size and portability. The phone has a solid build with a plastic body. While it might not match up to the modern glass or metal designs in terms of premium feel, its robustness made it a durable option at the time of its release.

Display

This device sports a 5.0-inch IPS LCD, which ensures better color accuracy and viewing angles compared to traditional LCDs. With a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 67.9%, users experienced a decent viewing area for multimedia consumption. The resolution stands at 720 x 1280 pixels, providing a pixel density of around 294 ppi, which is adequate for clear and sharp image rendering. Corning Gorilla Glass protection was included to safeguard the screen against scratches and minor impacts.

Performance

Under the hood, the ZTE Geek V975 runs on the Intel Atom Z2580 chipset, a standout feature for a smartphone in 2013. This dual-core processor clocked at 2.0 GHz, alongside the PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU, delivered smooth multitasking capabilities and efficient performance for everyday tasks and gaming. The inclusion of 2GB of RAM further facilitated seamless operation of various applications without significant lag.

Operating System

The smartphone operated on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean upon release. This version of Android brought several enhancements, including smoother and faster UI transitions, improved Google Now integration, and enhanced accessibility features, making the phone user-friendly for a wider audience.

Storage

The ZTE Geek V975 came with two internal storage options: 8GB and 16GB, both coupled with 2GB RAM. For users requiring additional storage capacity, the phone offered a dedicated microSDXC card slot, allowing memory expansion and accommodating various media files and applications beyond the internal storage limit.

Camera Capabilities

The device is equipped with an 8MP autofocus rear camera with an LED flash. While it may not compete with contemporary high-end smartphone cameras, it facilitated decent quality photos and videos. Additionally, a 1MP front camera was included for video calls and basic selfies, a common feature in phones of that era.

Battery Life

Powered by a removable Li-ion 2300 mAh battery, the ZTE Geek V975 offered moderate battery life suitable for daily use. This capacity allowed users to engage in regular activities such as calls, web browsing, and social media interaction throughout the day without frequent recharging, albeit with less endurance under heavy multimedia use or gaming.

Connectivity Options

The smartphone supported GSM and HSPA technologies, enabling reliable voice and data connectivity. It could operate on 2G bands (GSM 900/1800/1900) and 3G bands (HSDPA 900/2100), offering versatile network connections depending on the user’s location. Additionally, it featured Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, supporting Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and hotspot functions.

Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE support facilitated wireless connections with other devices, while GPS offered reliable positioning services. The absence of NFC might be noticeable for users relying on contactless payment systems. A microUSB 2.0 port was included for charging and data transfer. For entertainment and communication, the device offered FM radio capability, a common feature in phones around that period, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Sensors and Additional Features

The ZTE Geek V975 incorporated standard sensors typical of its release period, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enabled functionalities like orientation detection, motion-based control, and efficient power management, enhancing the overall user experience.

Conclusion

While the ZTE Geek V975 has since been discontinued, it remains a noteworthy example of ZTE's efforts to integrate Intel's processing power into the mobile market. The phone’s combination of a capable processor, decent RAM, and expandable storage made it an attractive choice for users seeking robust performance at a competitive price point. Despite its shortcomings, such as the absence of NFC and a more advanced camera system, it provided a well-rounded smartphone experience for users in its time.