ZTE Open Review: A Budget Smartphone with Compromises

The ZTE Open is a budget smartphone that's definitely worth considering if you're on a tight budget. It's priced at around $80.

One of its standout features is its 3.5-inch touchscreen display, which is a decent size for a phone of this price range. The display is also capacitive, making it responsive to touch inputs.

The ZTE Open runs on the Firefox OS, which is a unique operating system that's designed for simplicity and ease of use. This OS is great for casual users who just want to make calls, send texts, and browse the web.

The phone's processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon S1, which is a single-core processor that's not the fastest out there. However, it gets the job done for basic tasks like browsing and social media.

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The ZTE Open's design is quite sleek and compact, measuring 5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.43 inch thick, making it easy to palm and slip into smaller pockets.

The phone's matte black color is a nice touch, and the silvery accents on the rounded spines add a bit of flair.

The Open C is a bit on the heavier side at 4.4 ounces, but it's not so heavy that it feels burdensome.

The 4-inch screen may require you to lean in a bit closer than you would on a larger phone to see the display, and typing on the virtual keyboard can feel a bit cramped.

The screen itself has an adequate 800x480-pixel WVGA resolution, but the colors can appear a bit muted and edges don't really pop.

The single capacitive button, Home, is located below the screen, and the power button and headset jack are found on the top of the phone.

The back of the phone features a 3-megapixel camera without a flash, and the soft-touch back panel is easy to remove to access the microSD card slot.

You can store up to 32GB of offloaded storage on the microSD card slot, and my review unit came with a 4GB card preinstalled.

To access the full-size SIM card slot, you'll need to tilt out the battery.

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The ZTE Open is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch. It has a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display.

The device is powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor, which provides smooth performance for everyday tasks.

The ZTE Open has 256 MB of RAM, which is sufficient for running multiple apps simultaneously.

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Firefox OS 1.3 is the operating system running on the Open C, which is a significant step up from its initial iteration, but still has room for improvement to match the features of Windows Phone, Android, and iOS.

The OS is designed to be easy to navigate, even for first-time users, with a focus on simplicity and user-friendliness.

Firefox OS supports hotspots and POP 3 email, making it a convenient option for those who need to stay connected on the go.

Version 1.4 of the OS promises to bring additional camera features, such as higher resolution options, HDR, and white balance support, making it a great option for photography enthusiasts.

The OS also allows users to unlock directly to the camera or start screen, and features a universal search function that makes it easy to find what you're looking for.

Several folders are preloaded on the OS, including the Marketplace for apps, an FM radio, music player, clock, notes, and Here Maps.

The Firefox browser allows users to email links, but unfortunately, copying and pasting, as well as sharing links on social networks, is not currently possible.

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The camera on the Open C is a definite improvement over the original ZTE Open, but it's still not great.

It's a 3-megapixel camera, which is better than nothing, but it's not exactly going to take amazing photos.

There's no flash, which is typical for budget phones, but there's also no autofocus, which makes it harder to get a good shot.

Image quality is poor, with mushy edges, disappearing details, and a blue tint to the colors.

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You'll get the best results in bright, sunny environments, but even then, the photos won't be great.

The camera is good for capturing the moment, but the photos won't look their best when you upload them to social media.

Video capture is functional, but it's not great either, with a crackly image and focus issues.

You won't have a lot of options for video settings, but that might change with future updates.

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The Open C's performance is a mixed bag. It's faster than its predecessor, but still lags behind more advanced devices. You can expect some significant hang time when navigating around, opening apps, and waiting for folders to load.

The phone's 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 MSM8210 chipset handles simple games, but don't expect great speed or rich graphical detail.

Here are some specific performance metrics:

The Open C's battery life is also a concern, lasting only 11.32 hours on our talk time test, even with a relatively short screen timeout and low brightness setting.

The ZTE Open C's call quality is generally excellent, with one reviewer declaring it an A in quality, citing loud and clear audio without background noise.

However, there are some minor issues, such as a slight distortion when voice levels peak and a slightly unnatural sound if you strain your ears.

Overall, the call quality is good, but not perfect, with some noticeable echo and background noise that adds a gauzy layer to the conversation.

The Open C's performance was a mixed bag. It's not surprising that a budget device like this wouldn't be on par with more expensive phones, but it's still frustrating to wait around for things to happen.

Loading websites over Wi-Fi was a slow process, taking around 6.6 seconds to load the CNET mobile site and a whopping 30.5 seconds to load the desktop site. This is a significant delay, especially when you're used to faster loading times.

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The phone's 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 MSM8210 chipset struggled to keep up with my demands, often resulting in significant hang time when navigating around, opening apps, and waiting for folders to load. I even experienced some issues with the phone not registering my taps, requiring me to return to the main menu to try again.

Here are some specific performance metrics for the Open C:

The Open C's battery life was also a challenge, lasting only 11.32 hours on our talk time test, even with the screen timeout set to 1 minute and brightness set at half-mast.

The ZTE Open C's call quality is a standout feature. My calling partner declared it an A in quality, praising its loud and clear sound.

The phone's audio quality is very loud, according to my partner. However, I noticed distracting echo and a hush of background noise.

Volume was fine at its maximum level, but there wasn't any reserve. This meant the sound didn't get any louder when needed.

Voices were a little lispy and raspy, and I didn't like that there wasn't any in reserve.

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The ZTE Open is a surprisingly capable phone, especially considering its price. It's very inexpensive for an unlocked smartphone, costing just $79.

One of the standout features of the Open is its robust Web browser, which is perfect for basic browsing needs. The phone's unlocked status also makes it a great option for those who want to save money on their phone bill.

Here are some key pros and cons to consider:

This unlocked status also gives users the flexibility to choose from a range of prepaid services, including AT&T's and T-Mobile's networks.

I had the chance to get my hands on the ZTE Open, and let me tell you, it's a small device. The screen is 3.5 inches, and the display is a HVGA touchscreen.

The ZTE Open feels pretty good to hold, but the screen is washed out. It's not the most impressive display, but it's not bad either.

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The processor is a Cortex A5, which is a decent chip, but it's not going to blow you away. It's similar to Android phones from several years ago.

I spent some time comparing the ZTE Open to its stablemate, the Alcatel One Touch Fire. Here are some key differences:

The ZTE Open is a low-end device, and it shows. But for the price, it's not a bad option.

The ZTE Open is a budget-friendly smartphone that's perfect for those on a tight budget. It was first released in 2013.

The phone's operating system is Firefox OS, which is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. This makes it a great option for those who are new to smartphones.

The ZTE Open's hardware is relatively basic, but it gets the job done. It has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and a 1 GHz processor.

In terms of storage, the phone has 256 MB of RAM and 512 MB of internal storage. This is a bit limited, but it's enough for basic tasks like browsing the web and checking email.

Overall, the ZTE Open is a solid choice for those who want a simple, affordable smartphone.

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