Orange San Francisco (ZTE Blade)

When you buy a budget device you expect it to be cheap and plasticky and in some ways the San Francisco is with many users complaining of squeaks and back covers that don’t fit correctly.  but overall the device does not feel cheap when in your hand. but of course their are many brilliant features in the San Francisco including a 480×800 OLED display (newer models LCD) which allows you to run all apps in WVGA goodness. The San Francisco includes the full range of technology including GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, Accelerometer, Digital Compass which is complemented by the reasonable 600MHz Processor and loads of RAM for Multitasking galore. But one thing the San Francisco is lacking in is a good camera. the camera is a 3.2 mega pixel with auto focus and which struggles to take a reasonable shot in anything other than perfect lighting. But of course, as per usual with the Android community, the possibilities of ROMs are endless with many good stable 2.2 ROMs which improve the overall feel of the device with many amazing features like JIT. (see blade.modaco.com for more info.)

In the box

• The handset itself,
• a 2GB microSD card
• your prepay topup card
• your SIM card
• a ‘read me first’ quick start guide
• a microUSB to USB cable
• A 1250mAh battery
• a 3.5mm headset
• a paper user guide
• a guide to what you can do on your san francisco ‘once you’re up and running’
• a UK mains to USB plug

Hardware – overview

Specifications are as follows…

• Android 2.1 Eclair
• Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz processor
• 512MB RAM
• UMTS 900/2100 MHz
• GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz
• HSDPA (3G+)
• 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus
• 3.5″ WVGA (800×480) OLED capacative touchscreen
• WiFi 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth
• FM radio
• GPS
• Accelerometer
• Digital compass
• Light sensor
• Proximity sensor
• 116mm / 56.5 mm / 11.8mm
• 130g
• 4 hours talktime (This is very generous)
• 9 days standby (This is very generous)

 

 

Pros:

• Price
• Stunning screen
• Lots of RAM
• Full complement of specs
• Near vanilla Android

Cons:

• Poor camera
• 600MHz processor can’t keep up with the latest Snapdragons (but it is good enough!)
• Orange junk (easily removed)
• FM radio can only be played through headphones and not through the speaker

As my main device it is a definite HTC Legend and Wildfire Beater with quite a bit of power under the bonnet.