ZTE Cymbal U

The ZTE Cymbal U is for buyers seeking a basic button phone with essential connections; the trade-off is that its display, memory, camera and battery figures are among the weakest for phones of its time.

Its TFT LCD display measures 2.8 inches and has a density of 143 ppi. Both that density and the 39.8% screen-to-body ratio are among the lowest figures for phones launched around the same time. The modest resolution and limited display area leave little room for content. The phone uses a quad-core Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 at 1.3 GHz, with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. Both memory figures are also among the lowest for phones of its time, though storage is expandable.

The camera has a resolution of 2 MP, among the lowest for phones of its time, and records video at 720p at 30 fps. Its 1600 mAh battery is among the lowest-capacity batteries of that period. Connections include a single Nano-SIM, GSM, HSPA and LTE, along with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 and GPS. There is also a 3.5 mm audio jack, FM radio and microUSB. The ZTE Cymbal U is a basic phone without a NeoScore, suited to buyers who prioritize those simple connections and accept clear limits in display, memory, camera and battery.