A few questions on the ZTE Blade

[Guest mc6415]

Hi all,

This is my first ever post here so I apologise in advance if I've made any faux pas I may have made.

Well I'm looking for a new phone as my current one has died to the point it's now unusable and as I'm on contract I'm looking for a PAYG phone that's either:

- On Vodafone

- Easily Unlocked

As well as these two criteria I'm also very keen on Android and this phone caught my eye.

Basically I have a few questions:

- Obviously they're now coming through with TFT screens rather than OLED and I was wondering if this makes a huge difference? Is the screen still nice enough with the TFT?

- Is it really as easy to unlock as people say, this is an important one for me?

- I have a budget of about £200-£250 obviously this phone leaves quite a bit left, I was wondering if anyone has other recommendations at this budget, I looked at the HTC Wildfire but the low res really put me off.

- I noticed the figures for the battery life were pretty poor, I was wondering if it really is as bad as they look or if it's manageable?

- If I grabbed this phone do Orange stock cases for it or would I have to get a universal case?

- And last but not least, which one do people prefer the Grey or White version as I've only seen a white one in person and I am a sucker for white gadgets....

Thanks for any help people can provide :(

Mike.

[Guest caballeropl]

The TFT is still amazing. Unlocking the phone is just a matter of typing an 8-digit code which you get here for free. As to the battery life, mine lasts easily 2 days on my normal use which includes 2g calls, texts , some wifi. I don't think there is a dedicated case, so you'll probably end up getting a universal one on ebay. Lastly, from what I've heard the grey one looks better, but thats probably an individual matter. You won't be disappointed with the device. I had some concerns about the screen as well but finally got the grey TFT and I was blown away by what you get for the price. BUT... if you want to buy this phone, spend some time to debrand it.

Edited December 26, 2010 by caballeropl

[Guest Ace Faith]

-I own the TFT version, and have seen thru some brit-friends + youtube. Obviously, at this pixel density, you won't exactly notice that much during practical usage.

-Trust me, it takes less than a minute. Obviously, you wanna use the SIM Orange/the operator gives for like 5 mins, to activate and ensure you IMEI doesn't get blocked. I've yet to root/install custom ROMs, because I'm finding a bit of a lack of info on TFT versions. It's like the black sheep child in a family...

-Mine went about 6 hours with average practical use (Facebook, and about 10 mins of music, 2 calls, and some texting), and still had only about a 10-15% drop. Obviously, if you want longer battery life (and save the environment), go ahead and leave the brightness at 0, and only charge when you run out of juice. All phones always last longer that way.

-I cannot answer this yet, as I've only ordered screen protectors as of yet (Samsung i900 @ Dealextreme for about 1.25 USD), but see if other members/the wiki can answer that question.

-This is entirely up to you. Personally, the grey one looks better with the screen frame/buttons.

[Guest Raspa]

Don't charge when the phone runs out of power - keep it charged up. Charge as and when it needs it.