ZTE, a Chinese manufacturer, named its Android smartphone after the skateboard, a simple, light and highly mobile mode of transport mostly used by trendy young folk. The phone itself though is not a skateboard. It’s barely a go-kart.
ZTE Skate Basic Specifications
- Display: 4.3 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen
- Weight: 120 grams
- Processor: 800MHz processor
- Memory: 512MB RAM, with support of up to 32GB microSD
- Operating System: Android 2.3
- Camera: 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash
It’s big, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The 4.3 inch, 480 x 800 pixel screen isn’t the biggest on the market but it is about the same size as the HTC Desire HD. It fills the front of the device, leaving little room along the edges and just enough space for a home button, a back button and a menu button below the screen. However, the narrow sides does make you feel that you’re holding a sheet of glass rather than a smartphone.
At just 120 grams, it’s also light, which might be surprising until you realize that the casing is plastic and you can actually feel the plastic feeling of the smartphone in your hands. Again, that’s not terrible: a phone that weighs little can be an advantage, and the feel of the phone is perhaps the least important feature of all.
What’s really important is the software, and the ZTE Skate runs on Gingerbread, a big plus for buyers who want to use the latest version of Android. Unfortunately, the ZTE Skate only pack an 800 MHz processor inside which doesn’t always keep up with Gingerbread’s functions. Opening apps, for example, can cause a slight lag. It’s nothing too frustrating but it does make you wonder how the performance will be like when the device is loaded with additional apps, images and videos.
Most Froyo phones now are shipping with at least 1GHz of processing power behind them and as such, there is a nagging feeling that that ZTE got it wrong for the Skate. In essence, it’s a device that uses today’s software bolted on to yesterday’s hardware. The 5 megapixel camera with flash is a nice addition but it’s just not going to compete with the image-making abilities of current top-level smart phones which are now pushing 8 megapixels.
Pricing hasn’t been released yet and none of these limitations will matter too much if the device is pitched at a mid-range level that matches its engine. If the price is low enough, the slight slowness and plastic feel will be forgivable in return for the opportunity to use Gingerbread without breaking the bank. Push it up against other top-end, magnum-sized phones though and the Skate could well be left eating dust.
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