China phone: Zopo ZP900 Leader - NZ$303 delivered

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Nakedcity

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#115330 22-Mar-2013 09:07

I recently bought a Zopo ZP900 Leader chinese phone from www.zopomobileshop.com, and I think it's absolutely awesome.

I got the following for NZ $303 (US$219 + US$19 shipping) delivered in 10 days:

ZOPO ZP900 5.3-inch IPS QHD Screen Dual Core 3G 8MP Android Smart Phone

- 8.0MP back, 2.0MP front camera, with LED flashlight
- 5.3 inch multi-touch QHD IPS screen
- MT6577 Dual core CPU
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, will update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- Dual SIM card dual standby, WCDMA/GSM+GMS network
- Support 3G WCDMA (HSDPA) network

The battery is a 2100 mAh and seems to perform well. The 4.1 ROM is not out yet.

There was no duty or GST to pay as the total came in <NZ$60. I checked beforehand on www.whatsmyduty.org.nz

I chose the cheapest delivery option (Airmail). They sent tracking numbers, etc, which even worked from the NZ Post tracking site (it came by Singapore Post)

The ROM came rooted, and Zoposhop removed any chinese apps that were on there. They also testing that it was working. I've been able to remove anything that I didn't want, put Titanium Backup on, install CWM recovery and pretty much do whatever.

There is some activity on xda-developers for this phone, but not a huge amount.

I love it.

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#786068 23-Mar-2013 21:20

Pretty nice

Shoes2468

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#786082 23-Mar-2013 22:25

Looks good! It will be interesting to see how it lasts the test of time, keep us posted on how it goes over time

Virgil

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#786083 23-Mar-2013 22:26

Looks good, would this be more suitable for a Telecom or Vodafone user?

Cheers

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freitasm

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#786085 23-Mar-2013 22:31

The page says "3G: WCDMA HSPDA 850/2100 MHz" so it's a device that would work better on Telecom, although it can work in some areas on Vodafone and 2degrees.

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Virgil

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#786086 23-Mar-2013 22:33

freitasm: The page says "3G: WCDMA HSPDA 850/2100 MHz" so it's a device that would work better on Telecom, although it can work in some areas on Vodafone and 2degrees.

Excellent, thanks!

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Virgil

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#786095 23-Mar-2013 22:46

So, would this be a Vodafone equivalent perhaps?

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/769298661/5_3_IPS_Quad_Core_A9600.html

All the specs seem similar ... I guess there is still the risk of it arriving with all sorts of preloaded apps and junk though?

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freitasm

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#786098 23-Mar-2013 22:47

Virgil: So, would this be a Vodafone equivalent perhaps?

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/769298661/5_3_IPS_Quad_Core_A9600.html

Correct. WCDMA 900/2100MHz works on Vodafone and 2degrees.

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nakedmolerat

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#786105 23-Mar-2013 23:01

this phone looks really really really similar to galaxy S3/S4

Batman

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#786123 23-Mar-2013 23:41

Yes there is only one problem

You can't switch between networks of the other big brother gives you better coverage or better deal

Wait there's another problem

4gb storage means about ten apps ten songs ten photos ten video recordings and no backup

And then you have to buy a t flash stick whatever that is

And if it survives my hammer it might last six months before the touch screen changes green to red ...

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#786126 23-Mar-2013 23:43

Note: I am more than happy to be proven wrong ...

Nakedcity

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#786550 25-Mar-2013 10:46

joker97: Yes there is only one problem

You can't switch between networks of the other big brother gives you better coverage or better deal

Wait there's another problem

4gb storage means about ten apps ten songs ten photos ten video recordings and no backup

And then you have to buy a t flash stick whatever that is

And if it survives my hammer it might last six months before the touch screen changes green to red ...

My understanding is that with this phone you can't use 900 MHz UMTS (3G) coverage if 2100 isn't available...and the hence you get handed down to 2G. I'm not sure how often this happens, but I live in Auckland and I seem to get perfectly adequate data service. I guess with Telecom operating their lower freq 3G at 850 UMTS, then you'd get that extra hand-down buffer if you wen't with them. I read this before buying and felt I understood the situation well enough to go ahead with the purchase.

T flash = Micro SD. In China they just love to refer to them by this name. The Zopo ZP900 takes up to a 32 GB Micro SD. I have a 32GB Class 10 in mine and it works great.

I'll let people know if it craps out.

Dual sim ROCKs if you're like me and have persy + work phone.

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Nakedcity

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#786561 25-Mar-2013 10:57

joker97: Note: I am more than happy to be proven wrong ...

Not being snarky, but for $303 delivered, how *wrong* do you need to be proven?

Indeed, to perhaps generate some discussion...:

How long does an average Samsung S3/S4 last c.f. the cost of buying one? How long before it becomes obsolete?

If you take the price and divide it by it's expected useful life, which option would prove the best ROI? I'm asking - I don't know!

What about if you factor in ROM bloat, etc? (recall that the Zopo came rooted with zero crap)

These phones are often made using the same components, but admittedly don't always have the QA that big name phones have. Could a Chinese company actually want to produce a quality product and so put decent QA steps in place? Recall that the Zopo shop I bought this off tested my phone before shipping it (and uninstalled any chinese apps, set the language appropriately, etc). They also run a forum (Chinese, English and Italian - they have a whole Italian tech team based in Italy).

freitasm

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#786562 25-Mar-2013 10:59

Nakedcity: My understanding is that with this phone you can't use 900 MHz UMTS (3G) coverage if 2100 isn't available...and the hence you get handed down to 2G. I'm not sure how often this happens, but I live in Auckland and I seem to get perfectly adequate data service. I guess with Telecom operating their lower freq 3G at 850 UMTS, then you'd get that extra hand-down buffer if you wen't with them. I read this before buying and felt I understood the situation well enough to go ahead with the purchase.

On Telecom you don't have the "hand down" because Telecom's network is almost 100% 850MHz 3G. 2100 MHz 3G on Telecom is used for infill/capacity only and should not be considered as the main access to the network.

This is very different from Vodafone which in main centres (up until now) had 2100 MHz 3G only and 900 MHz 3G in other areas. Where 2100 MHz isn't available the handset will then step down to 2G since it doesn't support 900 MHz.

Very different cases. Vodafone coverage is a mix of 2G and 3G (in two main bands), while Telecom coverage is 3G only mainly in 850 MHz.

Don't be fooled though. Telecom 3G coverage is equivalent to Vodafone's 2G + 3G.

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Nakedcity

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#786563 25-Mar-2013 11:00

Also...I just managed to get CWM recovery mod on this phone, so now I can take full backups, try new ROMs, etc.

robjg63

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#786566 25-Mar-2013 11:05

Heehee - it certainly does look like an SIII doesnt it?
Great price though.

Sure you could say I want Gorilla Glass, I want extra onboard storage - but that bumps up the price.
Do you have a screen protector on it?

Quite a find for something that seems to work best with Telecom.
But the Dual Sim is pretty cool as well.

How did you find that model?

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