
The ZTE Skate is a solid Android phone option that's worth considering. With a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, it's perfect for those who want a phone that's easy to carry around.
The Skate features a 600 MHz processor, which may not be the fastest, but it gets the job done. This phone is great for basic tasks like browsing the web, checking email, and playing casual games.
One of the standout features of the ZTE Skate is its Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. This means you'll have access to the Android Market, where you can download all sorts of apps to customize your phone.
The Skate also has a 3.2-megapixel camera, which is decent for a phone in this price range.
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Design and Display
The ZTE Skate's design is a mixed bag. It's incredibly light, weighing in at just 120g, which is impressive for a device with a 4.3-inch screen.
The casing is entirely plastic, which is a bit of a letdown, especially considering the price. You won't find the robust build quality of the Motorola Defy or the sleek lines of the iPhone 4S here.
The front of the device features three physical buttons, covering Home, Menu, and Back functions. The Search button has been removed, which is a habit many Android manufacturers are falling into these days.
Here's a quick rundown of the device's display specs:
The 4.3-inch display is one of the Skate's biggest selling points, and it's reasonably bright with good viewing angles.
Design
The Skate's design is a mixed bag. It's impressive that the device weighs just 120g, considering its 4.3-inch screen.
The casing is entirely plastic, which is a trade-off for the device's modest budget. Don't expect a robust build quality like the Motorola Defy or the iPhone 4S.
The front of the Skate features three physical buttons for Home, Menu, and Back actions. The Search button has been removed, which is a trend among Android hardware manufacturers.
A physical Search button is actually quite useful, allowing you to quickly find items or access Voice Command with a long-press.
Display
The display on the ZTE Skate is a major highlight of the phone. It features a large 4.3-inch screen with a 5:3 ratio and a pixel density of 217 ppi.
The display type is TFT, which provides good viewing angles and is reasonably bright. In fact, the pixel density of 217 ppi is quite high, making it suitable for web surfing and other tasks.
The screen resolution is 480 x 800 pixels, which is a standard resolution for many Android phones. This resolution is also supported by other ZTE phones, such as the Blade and the Light.
The screen-to-body ratio of the ZTE Skate is 61.7%, which means that the screen takes up a significant portion of the phone's body. This is a good design choice, as it provides a more immersive experience for the user.
Here's a comparison of the display specifications of the ZTE Skate and some other ZTE phones:
The display on the ZTE Skate is a major selling point, and it's clear that ZTE has put a lot of thought into designing a screen that's both large and energy-efficient.
Performance
The ZTE Skate performs well in terms of connectivity, with support for HSDPA and HSUPA, allowing for fast data rates of up to 7.2 Mbps.
It also features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, and Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, making it easy to stay connected to the internet.
The device has a microUSB v2.0 port, which can be used to transfer files and charge the device.
With A-GPS support, you can easily navigate your way around using the device's built-in GPS.
The ZTE Skate also comes with Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, allowing for wireless connections to other devices.
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Camera and Multimedia
The ZTE Skate's camera is a decent but not outstanding feature. It has a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash.
Image quality is passable, but it often lacks color, especially in low-light environments. The LED flash is also too powerful, overexposing shots taken in dark environments.
Video recording is limited to 640x480-pixel resolution, which yields fuzzy footage. You won't get high-definition (HD) capture with this phone.
Here's a quick rundown of the camera's key specs:
The ZTE Skate also has a stereo FM radio with RDS, which is a nice bonus. You can also download more features to enhance your multimedia experience.
Connectivity and Battery Life
The ZTE Skate's connectivity options are impressive, with support for 2G, 3G, and Wi-Fi, making it easy to stay connected on the go.
You can also use Bluetooth to transfer files and connect devices wirelessly, perfect for pairing with a Bluetooth headset for hands-free calls.
The phone can even act as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing you to share your internet connection with other devices, but be mindful of your monthly data allowance.
The ZTE Skate's battery life is a letdown, with a 1,400mAh rechargeable power cell that struggles to last 24 hours without a charge.
Pumping up the screen brightness to maximum only makes the battery life worse, so it's a good idea to keep it turned down to conserve power.
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Software and Features
The ZTE Skate runs on the Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread), which is a great version of the operating system. It's almost untouched, meaning you won't have to deal with any bloatware or unnecessary apps.
One of the standout features of the Skate is its 4.3-inch screen, which is perfect for browsing the web. You'll be able to view detailed websites without having to constantly zoom in and out.
The Skate also has a few pre-installed apps that are actually useful, such as a file manager, video player app, stopwatch, and task killer. These are apps you'd likely download anyway, so you won't mind having them on your phone.
Here's a quick rundown of the Skate's specs:
Stock Android
The ZTE Skate's stock Android operating system is a breath of fresh air. It's an almost untouched version of the OS, which means it suffers from none of the issues that plague custom user interfaces.
The camera application has been slightly improved, offering an on-screen brightness control that's a game-changer for low-light photography. This feature makes a big difference when you're trying to capture a subject that's hard to see on the screen.

One of the biggest advantages of stock Android is that it runs moderately faster and smoother than custom versions. This is because it's uncluttered and free of bloatware, which can hog processing power and slow down your phone.
The version of Android on the Skate is based on Ice Cream Sandwich, which is a more recent and feature-rich operating system. It's a big upgrade over older versions like Gingerbread, which is used on some other ZTE devices.
The Skate's hardware and software specs are impressive, with a 1 GHz Cortex-A5 processor and 512 MB of RAM. This provides a good balance between performance and power efficiency.
Here are the key specs of the ZTE Skate's hardware and OS:
The Skate's stock Android operating system is a major selling point, offering a clean and customizable user interface that's free from bloatware and other annoyances.
Applications and Internet
The Skate's software is surprisingly light on pre-installed bloatware, a welcome relief for anyone who's ever had to deal with a cluttered home screen.

A few useful apps are present, including a file manager, video player app, stopwatch, and task killer, which are arguably apps you'd download anyway.
The 4.3-inch capacitive screen is a dream for browsing the web, allowing you to view detailed websites without constantly zooming in and out.
The capacitive screen also supports multi-touch pinch gestures, making it easy to navigate and zoom in on web pages.
Unfortunately, the Skate doesn't support Adobe Flash, which means you won't be able to view embedded videos and other interactive media.
Specifications and Verdict
The ZTE Skate is a solid Android smartphone that packs a punch. It features a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels.
The Skate's processor is a 600 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, which provides a smooth and responsive user experience. This is backed up by 512 MB of RAM, which should handle most tasks with ease.
In terms of storage, the ZTE Skate comes with 512 MB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB via a microSD card. This is a great feature for users who want to store more music, photos, and apps on their device.
Zte Skate
The ZTE Skate is a solid choice for those looking for a reliable Android smartphone. It features a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 320x480 pixels.
This phone has a relatively small screen size, but it's still big enough to enjoy your favorite apps and games. The display is also capacitive, making it responsive to touch input.
The ZTE Skate is powered by a 600 MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which provides smooth performance for everyday tasks. This processor is also energy-efficient, helping to extend battery life.
With 512 MB of RAM, the ZTE Skate can handle multiple apps at once without slowing down. This is especially useful for users who like to multitask.
The phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera, which is sufficient for casual photography. It also has a built-in flash for better low-light performance.
The ZTE Skate supports 3G connectivity, allowing you to stay connected on the go. It also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities for wireless connectivity.
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The Bottom Line

The ZTE Skate is a great option for Android fans who want a pure experience, but it comes with a price tag of around £200, which is the same price as the unlocked and SIM-free version.
You'll be happy to know that the Skate is available unlocked and SIM-free for around £200, making it a great choice for those who want a device without any carrier bloatware.
The only difference between the Skate and the Orange Monte Carlo is the logo printed on the casing, making the Skate a great alternative for those who want a clean Android experience.
The Skate is virtually identical to the Orange Monte Carlo, sharing the same internal hardware, case design, and running Android 2.3, also known as Gingerbread.
You'll pay around £80 more for the Skate compared to the pay as you go Monte Carlo, but you'll get a device that's free from carrier bloatware and a more pure Android experience.
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Specification
The specification of this product is quite impressive.
The processor is a quad-core, 2.3 GHz model, which provides fast and efficient performance.
It has 8 GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users, but may not be enough for those who multitask heavily.
The storage capacity is 256 GB, which is a decent amount, but may fill up quickly with large files and programs.
The battery life is up to 12 hours, which is decent for a device of this size and type.
The Bad
The camera's autofocus can be slow to adjust in low-light conditions, which can lead to blurry photos.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this camera is its limited battery life, which lasts around 200 shots on a single charge.
In some cases, the camera's image stabilization can be a bit too aggressive, causing slight camera shake when panning.
The camera's touchscreen can be unresponsive at times, requiring multiple taps to register an action.
The camera's Wi-Fi connectivity can be finicky, dropping connections frequently.
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