One of Smart’s key initiatives is to broaden the reach of 5G technology by making it affordable and accessible to Filipinos. With this goal in mind, they are introducing the ZTE Blade A75 5G. This mid-range smartphone combines affordability with impressive features and is designed to deliver a seamless Smart 5G experience.
Design: 3.5/5
The ZTE Blade A75 5G stands out with its main camera size and placement, highlighting its photographic capabilities. The centrally positioned camera lens serves as a focal point for the design and adds to the smartphone’s visual appeal, giving the smartphone a sleek, DSLR-inspired look. Although the camera’s size might seem vulnerable in terms of durability, this smartphone includes a transparent jelly protective case and screen protector for added protection.
Apart from its camera design, the back of the smartphone features a minimalist look. Coated in a sky-mirror glass of pure black with glittering particles, ZTE calls this variant “Diamond Black,” which exudes a sophisticated and poised vibe, enhancing its overall elegance. For a more vibrant option, the ZTE Blade A75 5G is also available in “Mint Green.”
This smartphone weighs about 204.2g, making it slightly heavier than average, likely due to its larger main camera. Despite this, the weight doesn’t entirely affect the portability or gaming comfort. Other than its weight, the ZTE Blade A75 5G size is 163.6 x 74.9 x 8.6mm, which is fairly comfortable to hold and use. The ZTE Blade A75 5G features a dual SIM card tray on the left side and a USB-Type C charging port with an adjacent headphone jack at the bottom. The right side houses the volume buttons above the power button, which incorporates a distinctive red fingerprint scanner, while the speaker is at the top.
Hardware: 4/5
With a Unisoc T760 chipset and an octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz, the ZTE Blade A75 5G provides surprisingly good performance, especially considering its budget-friendly value. Running on Android 13, this smartphone can deliver multitasking, more customization options, and enhanced security. The Geekbench 6 benchmark results show that it scored 749 for single-core, a multi-core score of 2,226, and a GPU of 1,726 OpenCL score, meaning it can easily manage everyday tasks and light gaming.
The ZTE Blade A75 5G is equipped with a 50MP AI main camera and a 2MP bokeh depth sensor that delivers good image quality and depth effects. Also, its 8MP front camera captures clear images. In terms of its memory, this smartphone features 4GB of RAM, expandable up to 4GB of additional storage, and 128GB of internal storage for all of your apps and media. At the same time, the smartphone speaker comes with DTS Audio. Its display screen measures around 6.6 inches with a 120Hz refresh rate for a more fluid and responsive viewing experience. With all these features and performance scores, the ZTE Blade A75 5G has made its battery life even longer with its 5000mAh battery.
User Experience: 3.5/5
The ZTE Blade A75 5G has a lot going for it, though there are a couple of limitations to be aware of. But let’s talk about its camera performance. Its 50MP main camera delivers impressive photos, though you might notice slightly less vibrant colors than higher-end models. It also offers a variety of color filters to personalize your photos. However, I encountered some issues when taking multiple shots. The camera’s responsiveness tends to lag, causing a delay that sometimes results in blurry images. Its 2MP bokeh depth sensor could be improved as it sometimes struggles to blur the background accurately, occasionally focusing on the subject instead.
The front camera performs well under proper lighting, delivering decent selfies. However, you might notice some graininess and a lack of vivid colors, especially in less optimal conditions. Don’t expect top-tier quality when it comes to video recording on the main and front cameras. Although it supports 720p, 1080p, and even 4K resolution, the frame rate is capped at 30fps, which can result in grainy footage, especially in lower light. Also, since there’s no built-in stabilization, videos may appear shaky, particularly when capturing handheld shots or movement.
Now, let’s talk about its Smart 5G performance. I used this smartphone as my hotspot while working, and I have to admit, it delivered fast internet speeds. Based on the test using Ookla’s Speedtest, it achieved impressive download speeds of 103Mbps and upload speeds of 15.9Mbps, which is more than adequate for handling demanding online activities such as streaming videos, working through documents, and downloading files.
Plus, the 128GB storage capacity of this smartphone stood out. It provides ample space for downloading games, capturing numerous photos and videos, and installing apps like Spotify and Netflix without running out of room. But if you’re curious whether this smartphone can work with other SIM cards, such as Globe, it’s important to note that it is locked to Smart, TNT, and SUN networks.
When it comes to gaming, the ZTE Blade A75 5G handles light gaming well. I was able to play Mobile Legends: Bang Bang smoothly with high frame rates and high graphics settings. I’ve also been playing Cats & Soup: Fluffy Town, and the graphics are impressively clear and well-detailed for such a light game. You can play more demanding games like Genshin Impact, but only with the graphics set to the lowest setting. Also, keep in mind that the device may heat up, and you might experience some lag during gameplay. With a 6.6-inch display, this smartphone delivers a good viewing experience for movies and gaming, and the 120Hz refresh rate adds fluidity.
The speaker is a significant downside, as the sound quality remains weak even at maximum volume due to having only one speaker. For better audio experience, headphones or an external speaker are definitely recommended.
Value: 4/5
True to its budget-friendly positioning, the ZTE Blade A75 5G is priced at PHP5,450 and comes with 8GB of RAM (4GB + 4GB virtual) and 128GB of storage. It supports Smart 5G connectivity for high-speed internet, but it’s important to note that the device may have some performance limitations, which are only to be expected at this price range.
Specifications:
- Display: 6.6”HD+, Punch Hole for Front Camera, 120Hz
- OS: Android T
- Memory: RAM: (4+4)GBROM: 128GB UFS3.1
- Processor: Unisoc T760, Octa-core 2.2Ghz
- Camera: Rear: 50M AF + 2M; Front: 8M FF
- Connectivity: WiFi 2.4G/5G
- Battery: 5000mAh10W Charger
- SIM: Dual SIM; SIM Slot 1: Data, Calls, and SMS – Smart/TNT; SIM Slot 2: Smart/TNT Data, Calls, and SMS – All networks (Calls and SMS using other networks will ONLY work if there is a Smart/TNT SIM inserted in SIM slot 1)
- Others: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, BT5.2, Accelerometer Proximity, Ambient Light, VoLTE, DTS, NFC(Optional), Side Fingerprint, Live Island
What’s Hot:
- Long battery life
- Smart 5G connectivity
What’s Not:
- Single speaker
- Camera lags when taking rapid shots
- No image stabilization
Bottomline:
Ideal for casual smartphone users, the Smart ZTE Blade A75 5G is a budget-friendly option.
Reviewed by Alyssa Joji Silva
Also published in GADGETS Magazine September 2024 Issue.