Here are 10 things I’ve learned while using the ZUK Z1


zuk z1 review

I was over in China at the ZUK launch last week and since then I have been using the ZUK Z1 alongside the OP2 and learned a few interesting things about this new flagship.

Before I get in to it I should let you all know that the ZUK Z1 that I have is still running ZUK’s ZUI Android system and not Cyanogen. I have asked for a CM ROM and checked the Chinese forums but so far no luck.

Once officially available outside of China the Cyanogen version of the phone will be on sale which uses the same hardware so much of what I say here will carry over to the CM model.

I don’t like not having a notification light

A notification LED is a feature you don’t realise you will miss until it is taken away. After using the LeTV Le 1 and OnePlus 2 as my main phones for the past few months I’m use to looking at phone phone and checking the LED to see if I have any messages.

The ZUK Z1 has no LED notification light which is rather tiresome.

The ZUK Z1 fingerprint scanner is as good as the best

zuk z1 review

Like the iPhone, and Meizu MX4 Pro and MX5 the ZUK Z1 has a fingerprint scanner built-in to the physical home button. As it is a physical button you have to first press the button which will wake the system and then read your fingerprint and unlock.

It’s a super fast unlock speed and so far the fingerprint scanner hasn’t let me down.

The ZUK Z1 has very good audio

zuk z1 review

I’m more than happy with audio on the ZUK Z1. I would say it is slightly better than the audio on the OnePlus, and similar in standard to the LeTV S1 (the phone I still rave about to this day!).

The rear cover doesn’t fit perfectly

zuk z1 review

It’s not only myself that has noticed the rear panel on the ZUK Z1 does;t fit quite perfectly, other media at the launch event also mentioned it too. This might simply be down to the fact we were given very early production samples and while it doesn’t detract from the device as a whole it is a little annoying.

The ZUK Z1’s battery is long lasting

A 4100mAh battery is really generous on a 5.5-inch phone. ZUK wanted the phone to offer enough battery life for a full day of heavy usage, and I feel they have managed to do what they set out. What is more exciting though is that Cyanogen hope to squeeze more battery life out of the phone!

U touch is nice but the home button is to far down the phone

zuk z1 review

In ZUK’s own ZUI we have the option to run their U-touch navigation system. Basically this lets you swipe either left or right on the physical home button to switch between apps running in the background. This feature only seems to be available with ZUI, and CM running phones will have to wait for the Cyanogen team to get to grips with it.

Read Also:  Lenovo to Launch World's First Rollable Screen Device

As for the placement of the home button, well it is too far down the phone. Not only is the placement odd in terms of design, but it means you have to hold the phone further down that you might be comfortable with.

You don’t miss not having the latest processors

I like the fact that ZUK used a Snapdragon 800. It’s a solid performer, it has none of the issues the 810 has, and it is already well understood by the dev community. If all you care about are benchmarks then the Z1 is going to look underpowered in certain test, but in actual real world use you aren’t going to feel the difference.

ZUK believe the phone is going to be great for those who tend to be heavy on daily usage and gaming. The Snapdragon 801 makes perfect sense for speed, performance, and shear stability.

ZUK Z1 3.0 USB is nice for huge files

zuk z1 review

Type C USB might still be in its infancy but more phones are getting the new standard, and I hope they all adopt 3.0 at the same time. Moving video files (even the largest) and music libraries all happens in a matter of seconds.

64GB is so nice

Even though we are almost into 2016 it is scary that phone makers still think they can get away with offering only 16GB on some of their phones. If an SD card slot is provided then it is fine, but when it isn’t we really should have at least 32GB but the more the better. So far the 1799 Yuan ZUK Z1 comes with just one storage option, and 64GB is the amount we are happy to see.

Cyanogen might just be the icing on the cake

zuk z1 cyanogen

As phones go the ZUK Z1 is good as it comes with the ZUI, but with Cyanogen it might be a great phone. At the launch we played around with the CM version of the phone and it was a much nice user experience and seemed to bring the phone to life. I actually have the CM ROM which I’ll install for the final review, and believe it is going to really improve the ZUK Z1 for the better.

ZUK Z1 Review soon

Now that we have moved servers and our workload is back on track I can begin focussing on reviews once again. First up will be the ZUK Z1 review followed by the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2, then the Elephone P8000. And for those of you who feel like the ZUK Z1 with Cyanogen might be the perfect phone then don’t forget you can order the deivce from Shop.GizChina.Com right now!

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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159 Comments

  1. Steven Fox
    September 16, 2015

    Pricing is way too steep for a SD801 device. So many options to chose from, the Infocus 810 is priced at 149.99$ and even if it does not have USB Type C and 3GB of RAM, still packs the same performance, a nice camera and good build quality to justify the price which is half that of the Zuk.

    • September 16, 2015

      yup that infocus is amazing value, but how good are they for updates?

      • MaxPower
        September 16, 2015

        fast charging?

        • September 16, 2015

          Not currently supported. There is an interesting test here http://www.tronsmart.com/news/zuk-z1-smartphone-charing-analysis

          • Ivan Kolev
            September 16, 2015

            Still quite fast for 4000 mah. 2,5 hours to 100%. Same as OP2 but with smaller capacity 3300 mah.

        • Chris Bates
          September 16, 2015

          I find it crazy fast.

          • MaxPower
            September 16, 2015

            I’m used to something faster than that, but i appreciate the big battery and 64GB storage.

          • Chris Bates
            September 18, 2015

            Its about 1% per minute.

      • Steven Fox
        September 17, 2015

        I think most people should skip Lollipop as it`s a resource hog and battery drainer. If you want every update available go buy a Nexus device. Samsung’s S5 mini has Lollipop on an ancient SoC, see how their users like it.
        I have a Xperia Z3 compact(SD 801) and downgraded form Lollipop back to Kitkat. The old SD800 and 801 run absolutely dreamy on 4.4.4.
        Zuk should have gone with the SD808 at the price they are asking. Could easily get a Oneplus One for 60$ less, which for me is the better option.
        Anyway, that`s my opinion after trying Lollipop on a few devices, sorry for being so passionate about it.

    • Faress ElFarissi
      September 16, 2015

      Infocus 810 , what about the Os and Ui ? And if it upgraded to android 5 ?

      • Steven Fox
        September 17, 2015

        Why do you even need the resource hog that is Android 5? Only thing it actually does is drain battery life and has flashier animations.
        Kitkat is the best Android that ever came out after 2.3!
        All the devices that had 4.4 when switched to Lollipop have their battery life dropped down by 10 or more % and the performance was down too.

    • Steve B
      September 16, 2015

      Or the Infocus M530 which could still be a bargain in comparison, recently reduced in Taiwan, plus dual 13mp and f/1.8 OIS.

      • Steven Fox
        September 17, 2015

        I had a chance to have the M530 for a week and the device was just awesome, camera quality was the best I`ve seen in this price range. No lag, every game I tried ran with ease, and the build quality was really good, well not Huawei P8 good, but still quite good.

        • Steve B
          September 17, 2015

          That’s good to know, I have family in Taiwan so might take a punt especially at current street price. How did you find the screen and battery? They are the only negs I read.

          • Steven Fox
            September 17, 2015

            Both weren`t amazing, but good. I got about 4-4 and half hours of on-screen time with a single charge which is quite OK by any standards.
            Viewing angles were good, actually had no beef with the display whatsoever. I think this phone sells for about 150$ in Taiwan, so mu suggestion is to go for it, at that price it`s a killer phone, especially with that camera.

            • Steve B
              September 17, 2015

              Thanks again. Pics from it do look really good. I might just wait on first reviews of the Inew L3 which could give it a run for the money, but after getting burnt on the fake spec of the Umbro M1, this looks a concrete bet.

  2. Adam Irvine
    September 16, 2015

    Yep, few things that stop me getting one are the lack of Notification LED, the home button placement is awful! (iPhone people will be looking at that and laughing!) and the price just isn’t great…

    • PIM
      September 16, 2015

      The phone just isn’t perfect. But if button placement and lack of LED are the only things that stop you from getting this phone:
      – With this massive battery, an app can be used to show a little notification icon on the screen once in a while. That kind of apps are best on AMOLED screens, but still they can show even more info then a (rgb) LED
      – When running CM, you can activate the on-screen buttons in order to make the control buttons more easy to use/reach. That’s what I do on my Oneplus and I love it. I have no idea what the effect of the placement is on using the fingerprint scanner in order to unlock the phone.

  3. XXDK
    September 16, 2015

    Hey Andi! I really want to buy this phone, but before I have a last question. Would you recommend this phone to me? You like this phone? I am scared of chinese phones because of bad display (touch issues like on my Oneplus One :(., so have u faced some touch issue? fast typing is ok? I really love to have a big battery and cyanogen. So, u recommend me it? Should I order this phone?

    • September 16, 2015

      There is no issue with the display. Do I like this phone? Well, I haven’t brought myself to use it in place of the OP2. You should order this phone if the big battery and CM updates appeal to you.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        September 16, 2015

        wow …. i guess i’ll ask u wen im going to buy my first smart phone …

        • September 16, 2015

          You still didn’t buy a phone….?

          • Muhammad Yasir
            September 16, 2015

            ummm… no *poker face*

            • September 16, 2015

              What’s stopping you?

            • Muhammad Yasir
              September 17, 2015

              Quid.

  4. Ivan Kolev
    September 16, 2015

    So it uses 800 not 801 as posted in earlier news?

    • Marco Lancaster
      September 16, 2015

      It’s a 801

      • Ivan Kolev
        September 16, 2015

        Need correction then.

    • September 16, 2015

      yep 801 sorry

  5. September 16, 2015

    Thanks for the insights, Andi.

    “What is more exciting though is that Cyanogen hope to squeeze more battery life out of the phone!” — Or it could be less battery life, depending on how lean and efficient ZUI is compared to CM12. I’ve read that the OPO had more on-screen time using CM11S vs. CM12S, but since ZUI is also based on Lollipop I guess we’ll have to wait and see when the Z1 international gets a review.

    • irebel
      September 16, 2015

      it’s better. been using it for 2 weeks now with 12.1 preview. getting more than a day out of it (with 4g / wifi / bluetooth use).

  6. Muhammad Yasir
    September 16, 2015

    your shop is HORRIBLY expensive !

    oh and you dint mention SQUAT about the cam !

    • September 16, 2015

      Camera is ok

      • Muhammad Yasir
        September 16, 2015

        hey … im not too rash with my words .. am i ?

        if there’s a red flag you should wave … do so

        • September 16, 2015

          So you mean we should offer cheaper phones rather than our prices are too high? Comments are here to speak your mind, do so as you like

          • Muhammad Yasir
            September 17, 2015

            na-uh man … can’t be disrespecting or bickering with a Mod.

            just that talk to your marketing dept to atleast try to get on par with other sites so visitors feel more at home rather than scurry away to gearbest , 1949deal or coolicool…

    • September 16, 2015

      Do you know something that we don’t?
      The cheapest i found is £207 so i wouldn’t say “HORRIBLY expensive”.

  7. Steven Fox
    September 16, 2015

    Pricing is way too steep for a SD801 device. So many options to chose from, the Infocus 810 is priced at 149.99$ and even if it does not have USB Type C and 3GB of RAM, still packs the same performance, a nice camera and good build quality to justify the price which is half that of the Zuk.

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      yup that infocus is amazing value, but how good are they for updates?

    • Faress ElFarissi
      September 16, 2015

      Infocus 810 , what about the Os and Ui ? And if it upgraded to android 5 ?

    • Steve B
      September 16, 2015

      Or the Infocus M530 which could still be a bargain in comparison, recently reduced in Taiwan, plus dual 13mp and f/1.8 OIS.

    • MaxPower
      September 16, 2015

      fast charging?

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      Not currently supported. There is an interesting test here http://www.tronsmart.com/news/zuk-z1-smartphone-charing-analysis

    • Ivan Kolev
      September 16, 2015

      Still quite fast for 4000 mah. 2,5 hours to 100%. Same as OP2 but with smaller capacity 3300 mah.

    • Chris Bates
      September 16, 2015

      I find it crazy fast.

    • MaxPower
      September 16, 2015

      I’m used to something faster than that, but i appreciate the big battery and 64GB storage.

    • Steven Fox
      September 17, 2015

      I had a chance to have the M530 for a week and the device was just awesome, camera quality was the best I`ve seen in this price range. No lag, every game I tried ran with ease, and the build quality was really good, well not Huawei P8 good, but still quite good.

    • Steven Fox
      September 17, 2015

      Why do you even need the resource hog that is Android 5? Only thing it actually does is drain battery life and has flashier animations.
      Kitkat is the best Android that ever came out after 2.3!
      All the devices that had 4.4 when switched to Lollipop have their battery life dropped down by 10 or more % and the performance was down too.

    • Steven Fox
      September 17, 2015

      I think most people should skip Lollipop as it`s a resource hog and battery drainer. If you want every update available go buy a Nexus device. Samsung’s S5 mini has Lollipop on an ancient SoC, see how their users like it.
      I have a Xperia Z3 compact(SD 801) and downgraded form Lollipop back to Kitkat. The old SD800 and 801 run absolutely dreamy on 4.4.4.
      Zuk should have gone with the SD808 at the price they are asking. Could easily get a Oneplus One for 60$ less, which for me is the better option.
      Anyway, that`s my opinion after trying Lollipop on a few devices, sorry for being so passionate about it.

    • Steve B
      September 17, 2015

      That’s good to know, I have family in Taiwan so might take a punt especially at current street price. How did you find the screen and battery? They are the only negs I read.

    • Steven Fox
      September 17, 2015

      Both weren`t amazing, but good. I got about 4-4 and half hours of on-screen time with a single charge which is quite OK by any standards.
      Viewing angles were good, actually had no beef with the display whatsoever. I think this phone sells for about 150$ in Taiwan, so mu suggestion is to go for it, at that price it`s a killer phone, especially with that camera.

    • Steve B
      September 17, 2015

      Thanks again. Pics from it do look really good. I might just wait on first reviews of the Inew L3 which could give it a run for the money, but after getting burnt on the fake spec of the Umbro M1, this looks a concrete bet.

    • Chris Bates
      September 18, 2015

      Its about 1% per minute.

  8. Adam Irvine
    September 16, 2015

    Yep, few things that stop me getting one are the lack of Notification LED, the home button placement is awful! (iPhone people will be looking at that and laughing!) and the price just isn’t great…

    • PIM
      September 16, 2015

      The phone just isn’t perfect. But if button placement and lack of LED are the only things that stop you from getting this phone:
      – With this massive battery, an app can be used to show a little notification icon on the screen once in a while. That kind of apps are best on AMOLED screens, but still they can show even more info then a (rgb) LED
      – When running CM, you can activate the on-screen buttons in order to make the control buttons more easy to use/reach. That’s what I do on my Oneplus and I love it. I have no idea what the effect of the placement is on using the fingerprint scanner in order to unlock the phone.

  9. XXDK
    September 16, 2015

    Hey Andi! I really want to buy this phone, but before I have a last question. Would you recommend this phone to me? You like this phone? I am scared of chinese phones because of bad display (touch issues like on my Oneplus One :(., so have u faced some touch issue? fast typing is ok? I really love to have a big battery and cyanogen. So, u recommend me it? Should I order this phone?

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      There is no issue with the display. Do I like this phone? Well, I haven’t brought myself to use it in place of the OP2. You should order this phone if the big battery and CM updates appeal to you.

    • Guest
      September 16, 2015

      wow …. i guess i’ll ask u wen im going to buy my first smart phone …

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      You still didn’t buy a phone….?

    • Guest
      September 16, 2015

      ummm… no *poker face*

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      What’s stopping you?

    • Guest
      September 17, 2015

      Quid.

  10. Mark
    September 16, 2015

    What is the rave about LeTV S1? Do you prefer it even over OnePlus Two?

    • September 16, 2015

      nope, I prefer the OP2

      • Dante
        September 16, 2015

        Op2 , Zuk Z1 or Letv S1/Pro

        • September 17, 2015

          OP2, not tried the LeTV Pro

        • amirexpressir
          September 21, 2015

          letv pro has more votes in favor(according to china users satisfaction)

          • Dante
            September 22, 2015

            Nah i askes andy what device he prefers – I dont wanna buy any device soon

  11. September 16, 2015

    Do your research:

    http://s4.postimg.org/s5xu3mpkt/Screenshot_2015_09_10_00_13_14.png

    It is also multicoloured.
    Peace.

    • September 16, 2015

      It this in the CM build? In ZUI it isn’t there, just as the hardware navigation buttons aren’t there in ZUI but are in CM

      • September 16, 2015

        That’s ZUI. As you can see, the LED is there, it’s just locked i guess. It should work fine with CMOS tho.

        • September 16, 2015

          I have searched through every possible setting on my version of the Z1 and there is no setting for it. Only notification settings for me are for the notification tray…. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Media versions aren’t final production versions… Glad it does have one though.

          • September 16, 2015

            There’s nothing in the settings tho.
            Try this to test it:

            https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koo.lightmanager

            • September 16, 2015

              Will do. So an RGB LED light with no settings for the LED and it doesn’t give a LED notification when you get a message….. useful

            • September 16, 2015

              Pre production unit most likely.
              Im getting one in black as soon as they are available.
              According to your shop, they are delayed tho:(

            • September 16, 2015

              yup, I found out today from the store team that the white is delayed too. Getting the details so I can make a post about it.

            • September 16, 2015

              Such a bummer. I need a new phone:/

            • jimberkas
              September 16, 2015

              white is showing as in stock on the site. i am holding out for grey anyway. i’ll wait until you do a review on the CM version though. prices look similar here to the other places i’ve seen it sold

            • Chris Bates
              September 17, 2015

              Doesn’t work… Tried 2 apps. I guess update will come.

  12. Ivan Kolev
    September 16, 2015

    So it uses 800 not 801 as posted in earlier news?

    • Marco Lancaster
      September 16, 2015

      It’s a 801

    • Ivan Kolev
      September 16, 2015

      Need correction then.

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      yep 801 sorry

  13. 10basetom
    September 16, 2015

    Thanks for the insights, Andi.

    “What is more exciting though is that Cyanogen hope to squeeze more battery life out of the phone!” — Or it could be less battery life, depending on how lean and efficient ZUI is compared to CM12. I’ve read that the OPO had more on-screen time using CM11S vs. CM12S, but since ZUI is also based on Lollipop I guess we’ll have to wait and see when the Z1 international gets a review.

    • irebel
      September 17, 2015

      it’s better. been using it for 2 weeks now with 12.1 preview. getting more than a day out of it (with 4g / wifi / bluetooth use).

  14. Guest
    September 16, 2015

    your shop is HORRIBLY expensive !

    oh and you dint mention SQUAT about the cam !

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      Camera is ok, this isn’t the final review, and the prices are good if you want actual customer service and fast shipping, if not take a gamble somewhere else.

    • Guest
      September 16, 2015

      hey … im not too rash with my words .. am i ?

      if there’s a red flag you should wave … do so

      on the contrary … a high mid ranger with Ok camera…. , not so persuasive now , is it ?

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      So you mean we should offer cheaper phones rather than our prices are too high? Comments are here to speak your mind, do so as you like

    • MUG3NHC
      September 16, 2015

      Do you know something that we don’t?
      The cheapest i found is £207 so i wouldn’t say “HORRIBLY expensive”.

    • Guest
      September 17, 2015

      na-uh man … can’t be disrespecting or bickering with a Mod.

      just that talk to your marketing dept to atleast try to get on par with other sites so visitors feel more at home rather than scurry away to gearbest , 1949deal or coolicool…

  15. Guest
    September 16, 2015

    What is the rave about LeTV S1? Do you prefer it even over OnePlus Two?

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      nope, I prefer the OP2

    • Dante
      September 17, 2015

      Op2 , Zuk Z1 or Letv S1/Pro

    • Andi Sykes
      September 17, 2015

      OP2, not tried the LeTV Pro

    • amirexpressir
      September 21, 2015

      letv pro has more votes in favor(according to china users satisfaction)

    • Dante
      September 22, 2015

      Nah i askes andy what device he prefers – I dont wanna buy any device soon

  16. MUG3NHC
    September 16, 2015

    Do your research:

  17. MUG3NHC
    September 16, 2015

    It is also multicoloured.
    Peace.

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      It this in the CM build? In ZUI it isn’t there, just as the hardware navigation buttons aren’t there in ZUI but are in CM

    • MUG3NHC
      September 16, 2015

      That’s ZUI. As you can see, the LED is there, it’s just locked i guess. It should work fine with CMOS tho.

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      I have searched through every possible setting on my version of the Z1 and there is no setting for it. Only notification settings for me are for the notification tray…. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Media versions aren’t final production versions… Glad it does have one though.

    • MUG3NHC
      September 16, 2015

      There’s nothing in the settings tho.
      Try this to test it:

      https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koo.lightmanager

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      Will do. So an RGB LED light with no settings for the LED and it doesn’t give a LED notification when you get a message….. useful

    • MUG3NHC
      September 16, 2015

      Pre production unit most likely.
      Im getting one in black as soon as they are available.
      According to your shop, they are delayed tho:(

    • Andi Sykes
      September 16, 2015

      yup, I found out today from the store team that the white is delayed too. Getting the details so I can make a post about it.

    • MUG3NHC
      September 16, 2015

      Such a bummer. I need a new phone:/

    • jimberkas
      September 16, 2015

      white is showing as in stock on the site. i am holding out for grey anyway. i’ll wait until you do a review on the CM version though. prices look similar here to the other places i’ve seen it sold

    • Chris Bates
      September 17, 2015

      Doesn’t work… Tried 2 apps. I guess update will come.

  18. Dante
    September 16, 2015

    Correct the article – its snapdragon 801 not 800

  19. Luk Patel
    September 17, 2015

    Hello Andi,

    International version zuk z1 support the led notification?

    • September 17, 2015

      I should hope so. The Z1 has some features locked away in ZUI that are unlocked in CM (hardware navigation being one), LED notification I hope is unlocked with CM

      • Luk Patel
        September 18, 2015

        Thanks for your rply.

        i have some question about letv le 1 and zuk z1.

        which phone is better in camera, design, build quality, display and sound?

  20. Dante
    September 17, 2015

    Correct the article – its snapdragon 801 not 800

  21. Matouš Kostlivý
    September 17, 2015

    Andi, I remember you were very excited about Vivo Xshot and its camera performance. I love my Vivo, but I really lack dual sim capability. You are the only one I know who has personal experience with all these devices. Is OnePlus Two, LeTV, or ZUK worth upgrading from Vivo Xshot? You mention the technology used in last years cameras is not in par with cameras of 2016 used in these models… seems almost insane to me, considering how awesome camera was in Vivo Xshot. I’m thus affraid I might be dissapointed once my high expectations put in the phones, such as those you are mentioning as better camera performers, don’t really meet with standards and expectations set by Vivo.

    I love the look of the new phones of 2016 and the fact that even such as powerful devices such as Meizu MX5, ZUK, LeTV, OnePlus have dual sim option (I still lack European LTE though).

    PS: I have Vivo Xshot and OnePlus One. Would be more than happy to replace both with one device in the future (with equal camera performance, dual sim and EU LTE).

    • September 17, 2015

      Hi, the Vivo Xshot was/is a great phone, but the new devices have better camera. OnePlus 2 is better for sure, as is the Xiaomi Mi Note. ZUK is ok, but I think the Vivo has more stable camera performance. The Meizu is good, but I don’t trust them to keep releasing stable updates for it.

      So my option would be OP2 or Mi Note.

      • Matouš Kostlivý
        September 17, 2015

        Thanks for your suggestions. I just checked OnePlus 2 and was pleasantly surprised they do have FDD LTE band 20. I thought none of those have it. I just don’t like the looks of OP2. Is there any chance LeTV (the best looking of all those in my opinion) will focus more on the EU market with FDD LTE?

      • Matouš Kostlivý
        December 23, 2015

        Hi Andi, so I managed to get a OnePlus 2 and now I have both, Vivo Xshot and OnePlus 2 to compare. So far I must disagree on the camera performace. Vivo Xshot still takes way better photos than OnePlus. At least it did when I tried several shootouts in last two days.

    • amirexpressir
      September 21, 2015

      suggestion:

      wait for “blu pure xl”..the rebrand model of gionee e8..its camera exceeds even s6 & 6s

      check the reviews in below shop:

      http://amirexpress.ir/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=566

      • RuR‎
        September 23, 2015

        But the GPU is very bad for QHD screens… It is a huge phone and it may be laggy

  22. Luk Patel
    September 17, 2015

    Hello Andi,

    International version zuk z1 support the led notification?

    • Andi Sykes
      September 17, 2015

      I should hope so. The Z1 has some features locked away in ZUI that are unlocked in CM (hardware navigation being one), LED notification I hope is unlocked with CM

    • Luk Patel
      September 18, 2015

      Thanks for your rply.

      i have some question about letv le 1 and zuk z1.

      which phone is better in camera, design, build quality, display and sound?

  23. Marc
    September 17, 2015

    “don’t forget you can order the deivce fromShop.GizChina.Com right now!”

    Andi you forgot to mention that you can only order from Gizchina if you reside in Europe. Thankfully Gearbest don’t have issues with the rest of the world and will ship almost everywhere.

  24. Koeh Shao Keong
    September 17, 2015

    So it is running sp800 or 801? I am confused.

    What make u think this phone is different from others?

  25. Matouš Kostlivý
    September 17, 2015

    Andi, I remember you were very excited about Vivo Xshot and its camera performance. I love my Vivo, but I really lack dual sim capability. You are the only one I know who has personal experience with all these devices. Is OnePlus Two, LeTV, or ZUK worth upgrading from Vivo Xshot? You mention the technology used in last years cameras is not in par with cameras of 2016 used in these models… seems almost insane to me, considering how awesome camera was in Vivo Xshot. I’m thus affraid I might be dissapointed once my high expectations put in the phones, such as those you are mentioning as better camera performers, don’t really meet with standards and expectations set by Vivo.

    I love the look of the new phones of 2016 and the fact that even such as powerful devices such as Meizu MX5, ZUK, LeTV, OnePlus have dual sim option (I still lack European LTE though).

    PS: I have Vivo Xshot and OnePlus One. Would be more than happy to replace both with one device in the future (with equal camera performance, dual sim and EU LTE).

    • Andi Sykes
      September 17, 2015

      Hi, the Vivo Xshot was/is a great phone, but the new devices have better camera. OnePlus 2 is better for sure, as is the Xiaomi Mi Note. ZUK is ok, but I think the Vivo has more stable camera performance. The Meizu is good, but I don’t trust them to keep releasing stable updates for it.

      So my option would be OP2 or Mi Note.

    • Matouš Kostlivý
      September 17, 2015

      Thanks for your suggestions. I just checked OnePlus 2 and was pleasantly surprised they do have FDD LTE band 20. I thought none of those have it. I just don’t like the looks of OP2. Is there any chance LeTV (the best looking of all those in my opinion) will focus more on the EU market with FDD LTE?

    • amirexpressir
      September 21, 2015

      suggestion:

      wait for “blu pure xl”..the rebrand model of gionee e8..its camera exceeds even s6 & 6s

      check the reviews in below shop:

      http://amirexpress.ir/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=566

    • RuR
      September 23, 2015

      But the GPU is very bad for QHD screens… It is a huge phone and it may be laggy

    • Matouš Kostlivý
      December 23, 2015

      Hi Andi, so I managed to get a OnePlus 2 and now I have both, Vivo Xshot and OnePlus 2 to compare. So far I must disagree on the camera performace. Vivo Xshot still takes way better photos than OnePlus. At least it did when I tried several shootouts in last two days.

  26. Marc
    September 17, 2015

    “don’t forget you can order the deivce fromShop.GizChina.Com right now!”

    Andi you forgot to mention that you can only order from Gizchina if you reside in Europe. Thankfully Gearbest don’t have issues with the rest of the world and will ship almost everywhere.

  27. Koeh Shao Keong
    September 17, 2015

    So it is running sp800 or 801? I am confused.

    What make u think this phone is different from others?

  28. Péter Bánfi
    September 21, 2015

    Dear Andi! International Z1 with CM supports LED notification, if you can, please, correct your article.

    • Gyuri Kiss
      September 24, 2015

      Szia Peter,

      is the LED rgb or mono-color?

      • Péter Bánfi
        September 24, 2015

        Szia Gyuri! 🙂
        As I can see it’s mono, with good brillance, but I have to try with different notification types. It’s only preview version CM on the phone, maybe I can get the final version today :)! Stay tuned!

        • Gyuri Kiss
          September 24, 2015

          Hola, thanks for that, what’s your overall feeling of this phone? I’m on the market for one and had enough of waiting for the OPT is this a valid replacement? I do not want to pay for a Samsung either…. (are you in Hungary or lurking somewhere in the world? Myself in Australia)

          • Péter Bánfi
            September 24, 2015

            I’m in Hungary 🙂 OP2, nice, but I think it’s overpriced a bit and there was some issues about the touch, and the software Oxygen OS is not so good I think. At ZUK, the software is very good, the HW is a bit old but still top class, and very stable, the battery is very good, the camera module is with OIS, so in total, the ZUK is very likeable for me. I’ll check this LED twice, becouse I can see some pictures it’s multicolor, but I have to check,

            • Gyuri Kiss
              September 24, 2015

              Cheers, Sorry it is not on Hungarian, but we are at a forum…
              what do you think about the moto X? Are you reviewing phones and tech and the like? Also have you tested the GPS on the ZUK? I’m using that feature daily…..

      • Péter Bánfi
        September 24, 2015

        I checked you profile and saw that maybe you’re interested in to buy this phone. If you’re in Hungary, there is our company, WayteQ Europe Ltd, who is the official distributor of Lenovo ZUK. We already ordered the first shipment from this phone, so maybe one or two weeks later you can buy it in Hungary, with hungarian warranty, and of course with invoice, and official CM software, EU plug charger, so we’re going to get the international version of the phone. If you have any interest, contact me through FB 🙂

  29. Péter Bánfi
    September 21, 2015

    Dear Andi! International Z1 with CM supports LED notification, if you can, please, correct your article.

    • Gyuri Kiss
      September 24, 2015

      Szia Peter,

      is the LED rgb or mono-color?

    • Péter Bánfi
      September 24, 2015

      Szia Gyuri! 🙂
      As I can see it’s mono, with good brillance, but I have to try with different notification types. It’s only preview version CM on the phone, maybe I can get the final version today :)! Stay tuned!

    • Péter Bánfi
      September 24, 2015

      I checked you profile and saw that maybe you’re interested in to buy this phone. If you’re in Hungary, there is our company, WayteQ Europe Ltd, who is the official distributor of Lenovo ZUK. We already ordered the first shipment from this phone, so maybe one or two weeks later you can buy it in Hungary, with hungarian warranty, and of course with invoice, and official CM software, EU plug charger, so we’re going to get the international version of the phone. If you have any interest, contact me through FB 🙂

    • Gyuri Kiss
      September 24, 2015

      Hola, thanks for that, what’s your overall feeling of this phone? I’m on the market for one and had enough of waiting for the OPT is this a valid replacement? I do not want to pay for a Samsung either…. (are you in Hungary or lurking somewhere in the world? Myself in Australia)

    • Péter Bánfi
      September 24, 2015

      I’m in Hungary 🙂 OP2, nice, but I think it’s overpriced a bit and there was some issues about the touch, and the software Oxygen OS is not so good I think. At ZUK, the software is very good, the HW is a bit old but still top class, and very stable, the battery is very good, the camera module is with OIS, so in total, the ZUK is very likeable for me. I’ll check this LED twice, becouse I can see some pictures it’s multicolor, but I have to check,

    • Gyuri Kiss
      September 24, 2015

      Cheers, Sorry it is not on Hungarian, but we are at a forum…
      what do you think about the moto X? Are you reviewing phones and tech and the like? Also have you tested the GPS on the ZUK? I’m using that feature daily…..

  30. RuR‎
    September 23, 2015

    Sounds nice

  31. RuR
    September 23, 2015

    Sounds nice

  32. Marc
    September 27, 2015

    Andi,
    When can we expect the follow-up review of the Z1?

  33. Marc
    September 27, 2015

    Andi,
    When can we expect the follow-up review of the Z1?

  34. SDKforLumia
    March 27, 2016

    What are you saying man? Zuk Z1 has LED notification. I know it for 100% sure because I am writing this comment right now on my Zuk Z1

    • ZUKuser
      July 31, 2016

      Read the article at least. What he’s using is the Chinese release model, it doesn’t even have Cyanogen. ZUK released Z1 outside China later with Cyanogen and the model has LED too.

  35. Guest
    March 27, 2016

    What are you saying man? Zuk Z1 has LED notification. I know it for 100% sure because I am writing this comment right now on my Zuk Z1

    • Guest
      July 31, 2016

      Read the article at least. What he’s using is the Chinese release model, it doesn’t even have Cyanogen. ZUK released Z1 outside China later with Cyanogen and the model has LED too.

  36. keval
    August 16, 2016

    Ye zuk z1 has notification i am using it and it has different combinations as well i.e when you have screen lock and some one skype you then it will notified with blue light and for others white light that is i observed.

  37. keval
    August 16, 2016

    Ye zuk z1 has notification i am using it and it has different combinations as well i.e when you have screen lock and some one skype you then it will notified with blue light and for others white light that is i observed.

  38. suraj
    May 26, 2017

    guys please don’t buy lenovo phones they sucks …………..Me and my all friends facing many issues ………they are using cheap quality good hardware and software .. after becoming fustratate i have thrown my phone from trace ..

  39. suraj
    May 26, 2017

    guys please don’t buy lenovo phones they sucks …………..Me and my all friends facing many issues ………they are using cheap quality good hardware and software .. after becoming fustratate i have thrown my phone from trace ..