The ZTE Blade may be a little older than some other budget Android phones but it still stands up against modern alternatives.
Its 3.5 inch screen with an 800x480 resolution gives it more visual clarity and space to breath than most cheap mobiles. It also implements Android just as Google intended it without going too overboard with custom interfaces and other unnecessary extras.
The fact that the touchscreen is capacitive also works in its favour, allowing for feather-light interactivity that cannot be achieved on some cut price handsets with resistive touch technology.
Localized versions of the phone include the Orange San Francisco and T-Mobile Blade.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Sandra Vogel, TechRadarEvery operator has its budget Android offering and you can also get several SIM free.The Orange San Francisco is the best of the bunch because Orange seems to have got the bottom line features right.Good, large, high-resolution screen, nice solid hardware design, neat array of Orange widgets, a proc...
- Charles Kloet , CnetWe'd like to give Orange a big hug for bringing us a decent-looking, powerful Android phone with a capacitive touchscreen for under £100 on a pay as you go deal. Then we'd like to give Orange a punch in the face for covering the phone in bloatware and messing up its email in a bid to recoup it...
- Gordon Kelly, TrustedReviewsThe Orange San Francisco is a staggeringly well featured handset which simply has no peer when it comes to value for money. Orange has done its very best to make a mess of the user experience by riddling the phone with bloatware, but it is nothing some enthusiastic uninstalling can't fix. If you hav...
- Barry de la Rosa, Expert ReviewsIt has a great screen, but we’re not keen on Orange’s extra software and there are better alternatives for the same price.
- Jonathan Bray, PC ProFor all that, the Orange San Francisco isn't an awful; it just isn't as good as its competitors. The HTC Wildfire works out better value as, despite a lower resolution screen, it offers superior software and build quality.Alternatively, the identically priced Motorola Defy adds a much better camera,...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the ZTE Blade user manual here.
ZTE backs up the Blade with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Blade has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact ZTE support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find ZTE's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- ZTE Blade Manual (PDF)
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