PC Advisor

Reviews
£228 inc VAT
SMARTPHONE
ZUK Z1
Contact
• zuk.hk
Specifications
5.5in full-HD (1920x1080,
401ppi) IPS display;
CyanogenMod 12.1 (based
on Android Lollipop 5.1);
2.5GHz Qualcomm
Snapdragon 801 quad-core
processor; Adreno 330
graphics; 3GB RAM; 64GB
storage, no microSD
support; 13Mp IMX214
5-lens rear camera with
OIS and dual-LED flash,
1080p video recording;
8Mp front camera; dual-
SIM dual-standby, with 4G
on both nano-SIM slots,
supports 1800-, 2600MHz
UK 4G LTE networks;
802.11ac Wi-Fi; GPS; OTG;
Bluetooth 4.0; fingerprint
scanner; headphone jack;
non-removable 4100mAh
battery with Quick
Charge; USB-C;
155.7x77.3x8.9mm; 175g
Build:
Features:
Performance:
Value:
The Z1 is the first phone from Hong
Kong-based ZUK, which is backed by
Lenovo. A Chinese phone, the ZUK
Z1 is available in the UK through
sites such as Coolicool.com, where
it currently costs £228. Coolicool
has stocks in its EU warehouse,
which means you won’t be liable
for import duty, and offers free
shipping to the UK.
Design
Also available in grey, our white
ZUK Z1 review sample has been
likened to an iPhone 6s Plus by
many an onlooker. The design is nice
from the front and sides, with an
aluminium frame, thin bezels and a
rectangular home button that builds
in a fingerprint scanner with metallic
surround. We’re not so keen on the
rear, a shiny white plastic that makes
the device appear much cheaper.
This rear cover isn’t removable,
but it doesn’t need to be, with a
massive 64GB of storage inside (of
which around 53GB is available to
the user) and a chunky 4100mAh
battery that promises an average
two days of use away from the
mains. A dual-SIM tray pops out
from the phone’s top left edge,
while you’ll find a power switch
and volume rocker on the right, a
standard 3.5mm headphone jack
at the top, and the charging port
on the Lenovo’s bottom.
The ZUK Z1 is one of several
devices to adopt the new USB-C
standard for data transfer and
charging. Right now some users
will find this an inconvenience,
since the chances are the only
USB-C cable you’ll own is the one
that comes in the Z1’s box. But
it’s worth the hassle, because not
only is USB-C reversible, meaning
you can fit it in either way around
without first having to work
out which way is which, but it’s
futureproof and it’s fast.
To the right of the USB-C port
is a speaker grille. The single
speaker on the ZUK Z1 is tinny
and not particularly loud.
The screen on this midrange
Android phone is far more
impressive, though. It has a full-HD
(1920x1080) IPS screen with a pixel
density of 401ppi. It’s bright, clear
and responsive, colours are realistic
and viewing angles are good. The
bezels are skinny, although there
is an odd black border running
along the screen edge.
Below the screen sits
the fingerprint scanner and
touch-sensitive back and options
keys. The fingerprint scanner is a
touch-style version that worked well
in our tests. We also like the fact it
can distinguish between a tap and
a press, with the former operating
as a second back button and the
latter taking you home. (An option
in the Settings menu lets you add
onscreen controls if you prefer.)
The ZUK Z1 feels reasonably
sturdy, and doesn’t flex, creak or
rattle under pressure. Some parts
of the aluminium frame don’t sit
as flush to the screen as others,
however. It’s not visible by eye, but
when running our fingers around the
edge, we felt a small gap. We’d worry
that, at least with the white model,
44 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews February 2016