MWC 2017: There are a lot of midrange devices to look forward to at this year’s MWC, apart from all the high-profile unveilings that we have seen so far. But midrange does not necessarily mean compromising on the latest features in mobile technology, as ZTE has aimed to prove with their two new smartphones.
The ZTE Blade V8 Mini and Blade V8 Lite have been made suitable for budget buyers thanks to their modest specs. It is to be noted that prices for either are yet to be announced. But what makes them special is a focus on some features that have become almost integral to present day high-end offerings.
To take a look at the ZTE Blade V8 Mini first, the Dual SIM offering comes with a 5.0-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels (294 ppi) with prominent bezels at the top and the bottom. On the inside, it is powered by a Snapdragon 435 chipset (Octa-core) along with an Adreno 505 GPU. It comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, though the latter can be notched up to 256GB via a microSD card.
But while these specs may appear unexceptional, what really makes the Blade V8 Mini stand out is the dual mounted camera at the back. The unit consists of a 13MP primary sensor along with a 2MP one that is capable of achieving some neat effects besides the presence of requisite features like Face Detection and Touch Focus among other things. The front mounted fixed focus 5MP camera comes coupled with an LED flash.
The Blade V8 Mini runs Android 7.0 Nougat and is backed by a non-removable 2800 mAh battery. Additional features include a fingerprint sensor (at the rear), 3.5mm headphone jack, and a host of other sensors like accelerometer, proximity, and compass. Its body dimensions are 143.5 x 70 x 8.9 mm and there will be various color options on offer.
The other offering, the ZTE Blade V8 Lite, is a slightly more compact device which has a lot in common with the V8 Mini. However, the major grounds where it differs from the latter are what’s powering it and the camera. Under the hood, the Blade V8 Lite is equipped with an Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 chipset which is coupled with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage (expandable up to 256GB via microSD). But unlike the Blade V8 Mini, it features a regular 8MP camera with Autofocus at the back and a 5MP front shooter. However, it has not given the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor a miss. This smartphone too runs Android 7.0 Nougat, but packs in a 2500 mAh battery instead.
Both smartphones are expected to make their commercial appearance from March 2017 across several countries in Europe and Asia. This is not ZTE’s first unveiling at the event, as earlier on they had announced their ambitious new 5G compatible Gigabit Phone. Coming back to the company’s more recent and modest offerings, details about their price and availability are unknown at the moment, but we will update as soon as any specifics are announced. Until then, don’t forget to take full advantage of our MWC 2017 coverage.
