Christmas comes a day earlier for GizChina as we have received both the 8-core THL T100S and the still unreleased Zopo ZP998 flagship phones for review!
As both the THL T100S and it’s rival, the Zopo ZP998 are two of the most desirable flagship, 8-core Chinese phones of the moment we have decided to do the reviews of both model in a parts, part 1 being a photo comparison of both model!
THL T100S vs Zopo ZP998 hands on comparison
Full reviews of both phones are in the works but as we just couldn’t wait to post details of each of these phones we decided to take a few hands on photos to compare the design of each phone.
Although under the skin the Zopo ZP998 and THL T100S both have the same 1.7Ghz MT6592 octa-core processor, 2GB RAM and both have the latest features, NFC, MHL, OTG, FHD display etc, both phones are very different in design and will likely suit different types of people.
The most notable difference between each of these flagship phones is the display size. The Zopo has a larger 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 display while the T100S has a smaller 5-inch panel but with equal resolution.
While the Zopo has a larger display the overall dimensions of each phone aren’t too far from each other. The Zopo ZP998 dimensions are 151.4mm x 76.1 x 9.1mm while the THL T100S is 144.3 x 70.4 x 8.4mm. Only 5.7mm difference in width yet the THL losses .5-inch of screen real estate.
In the hand both phones feel comfortable and well made with no creeks or flexing. Textured rear panels are incorporated on both model with the Zopo getting a faux leather look and the THL a rubberised finish.
THL made the decision to reintroduce a removable rear on the T100S after receiving comments about their previous Monkey King phone. Removing the rear panel gives access to the dual-SIM card slots (TD-SCDMA and GSM), SD card reader and removable 2300mAh battery.
Zopo also allow customers to access the rear of the phone on the ZP998 also where you can also find dual-SIM slots, SD card and slightly larger 2400mAh battery.
Both phones feature 3D printed antennas (easy to see on the Zopo) and the NFC chip is easily seen on the removable rear panel.
THL T100S Hands on tour
Touring around the THL T100S we can see that THL’s designers have been heavily influenced by the Xiaomi Mi3 and current Sony Xperia models.
The front is taken up by the 5-inch 1080 panel, with 3 backlit touch buttons on the chin and front facing 13 mega-pixel front camera located at the top close to the proximity sensors and speaker.
On the rear we can see where most of the Xiaomi Mi3 influence is and we can also seen the recently redesigned THL logo. Another 13 mega-pixel shooter with F2.0 aperture sits in the top left-hand corner with LED flash positioned just below it there is an external speaker towards the base.
The base of the THL Tl00S features nothing but a small area to pull the rear panel off.
Gizchina News of the week
A 3.5mm headphone jack, and micro USB are located in the top.
The only physical controls on the flagship THL are the power button on the right side and volume rocker on the left.
THL T100S gallery
THL T100S first hands on impressions
The design of the THL T100S makes for a refreshing change when compared to other phones, and the rubberised rear makes it easy to hold the phone comfortably with one hand without fear of loosing grip.
Thought the THL is narrower than the Zopo, its sharp edges and odd profile actually make it less comfortable to hold. The build quality also doesn’t feel quite as good on the THL when compared to the Zopo.
Zopo ZP998 hands on tour
There is nothing surprising about the Zopo ZP998 which looks like a larger version of the previous generation Zopo ZP980 only with a larger display and narrower bezels.
At 5.5-inch you might think the Zopo would be a bit of a handful, but in actual fact it is very comfortable to hold and feels better (in my hand) than the smaller THL T100S. The overall proportions of the Zopo also look better too with short stumpy top and lower sections similar to the Galaxy Note 3.
Speaking of the top and lower sections, 3 back lit touch buttons sit on the chin while a 5 megapixel front camera, proximity sensor and speaker live at the top.
The leather print finish on the rear of the Zopo looks good, feels nice and adds good grip. The rear also has a large external speaker, Zopo logo and a 14 mega-pixel rear camera and LED flash located in the top center.
There are more physical controls on the Zopo than the T100S, with a volume rocker on the left, power button on the right and also a camera shut ton button lower down on the left hand side. A 3.5mm headphone jack is found in the more traditional position at the top of the ZP998 while the micro USB is on the base.
Zopo ZP998 gallery
Zopo ZP998 hands on impressions
It might not be as risky or exciting as the THL T100S, but the Zopo ZP998 looks and feels better in the hand, and offers a larger display with only a slightly wider body.
The Zopo ZP988 we have on test is a pre-production sample, but the quality of the materials and build is good and a marked improvement over previous Zopo phones.
Zopo ZP998 and THL T100S reviews coming soon!
With Christmas tomorrow we won’t begin writing up our reviews until after the holidays, but be sure we will be playing around with each phone over the holiday time and will be bringing you more updates as we can.
From our first hands on with both phone which do you prefer? The Zopo ZP998 or the THL T100S?
Thanks to Antelife for sending the THL T100S and Zopo Shop for arraigning the ZP998 test phone.
thx for this comparaison. Can u do the same between the Mlais mx69 and the Goophone N3 when u will got them ?
I would also like to see a review of Mlais MX69.
Well any new news about the Mlais MX69 would be welcome :).
Is that the Pro version ?
ANDI!!!
where did you get your zopo zp998 ?! as we all pre ordered we know there is no zp998 out there, there was supposed to be a 32gb version now there is nothing.. so where did you get this phone and is it a 32GB version or 16GB version?!
From Zopo, it a preproduction sample and is very buggy
Is this hardware of software issue?
The Zopo ZP998 dimensions are * x 76.1mm x * while the THL T100S is * x 70.4mm x *. Only 4mm difference in width. How is it only 4mm??
That’s 6am Andi maths… sorry
hi andy when you will have the revie with your coments i am still waiting to buy the zopo 998
even with the scam about 16 Gb ROM?
the will give me a 32 gb sd car or 16 gb card + extra battery
Are you sure they will give you an extra battery?
Does the T100 support WCDMA and does it have a compass?
Thanks
yes,it support WCDMA and have a compass.
No comment about the phone now being a 16gb version after customers paying for 32gb versions! My other posts about this have been removed. Come on Andy, be impartial.
I’ve not removed anything, did your comments have links in them? if yet then they will be pending and I guess you missed this post:
https://www.gizchina.com/2013/12/23/zopo-confirms-first-batch-8-core-zp998-wont-come-32gb-memory/
I apologise. I missed yesterday’s post. I was waiting for a reply under a comment on another post. Again sorry. I am torn about trying to cancel this order or cross my fingers that it will be trouble free. I have waited so long before buying a zopo and I have seen others buy them and the looked and felt great. I feel very flat now over the whole delay and reduced specs. It took my frustration out on you because zopo just don’t reply to anyone. Sorry ( eating humble pie and it tastes crap)
Hey Snorlax,
I am a Zopo fan but I have a rule about all new electronics, that is, never buy the 1st production run of any electronic device!
I always buy at least from the 3rd production run or 3-4mths after launch when they are readily available. In my opinion this allows the manufacturer to work out the bugs that may plague their product under normal everyday use.
For example the Zopo ZP 900 Leader was launched summer 2012 and I only purchased mine at Christmas of that year and it was well worth the wait.
Presently I am holding out for the 4G Octa Core and I am going to go Zopo again as I have had zero negatives thus far with their unit.
It pays to wait! So if you can, opt for a refund and give them some time to work the kinks out maybe March or April or, you can just hold out for the 4G Octa Core like I am doing!
Got to agree with this Golden rule, I broke it once recently buying a laptop with the just released Win 8, had a frustrating experience until 8.1 (but its still not as good as Win 7) which just proves the rule is true. First adopters suffer !!!.
What you are describing is termed the “adoption of innovation” or “Roger’s Curve”.
I would go for the Zopo
The Zopo is looking really good. If it’s competitively priced it will sell well.
The only niggles I have are: wish the front speaker was in line with the sensor/camera for looks. The camera and power buttons looks a little flimsy with average tolerances (its pre-prod sample). For me, the surround of the camera doesn’t say a lot, but it’s OK I suppose. Fake leather – nice. Option for removable cover and 4000mah battery or something? Give it worldwide working LTE and perhaps the new 2GHz chip 🙂
THL – needs work, really looks like an early engineering sample. Logo is better but still rubbish. Case joints / gaps camera surround all need work. 2400mah – come on, surely 3-3.5k is needed.
Most interestingly, the Oppo N1 Looks small !! Or the other two phones are large? Where to get a hands on with an Oppo N1..?
I prefer the look of the thl, but do wonder about battery life on both products(hope the full review gives us a better insight)I live in the UK & have brought the zp980 this year & my work colleagues & friends love the 980, but feel the Chinese could push home there advantage over mainstream manufacturers buy supplying better batteries. The zp980 would benefit substantially from a 3000 or 3,500 mah battery & I hope I’m wrong but believe the T100s & zp998 would also benefit. One common complaint of Android phones is battery life, come on Chinese manufacturers change people’s perceptions on this count !
The THL has the same size bottom cappacitive buttons as the N1.Always thought they were a bit too much.Nicely done ZOPO ,nicely done.
Gizchina, I m confused. is battery in T100 2300Mah or 2700 Mah? cos i read in previous post on T100 that it is 2700Ma.
T100S we have is 2300mAh
Please Andi, test the GPS for us!
Zopo sent me an email about the “wonderful opportunity” to receive a 16G phone instead of the 32G for the same amount of money. After the debacle with the ” free shipping” I have asked my money back.
What’s the difference between THL T100 and T100s ?
Actully they are same phones, and in official site, it’s called as ThL T100S
I’ll go for Zopo Next, with or without 32GB, which is not a really bug issue.
Too bad it’ll be late For Xmas and New Year…
Is not about the issue, is about the scam.
is THL a reputable brand? Bugs? or anything?
At the end of 2013, with these, and other, octacore phones about to be put on sale – and made properly available! – it would be easy to imagine that 2014 will be the year of the 8-core phones, especially as it seems that a bit more time is needed for the bugs and issues to be resolved.
In twelve months-time, however, it seems clear that 2014 will be the year of 4G as far as Chinese phones are concerned. And I suspect that there will only be two significant price points – around $200, and around $300 – and, beyond that, battery life and the likelihood of ongoing Android version upgrades will be considered far more relevant than a phone’s weight or thinness.
Who have any info whrn T100 THL will be available on aliexpress ???
Who have any info when T100 THL will be available on aliexpress ???
Andi, Any hands on THL T200?
Andi, is the review of the Zopo ZP998 almost ready?
Andi could you inform us about the zp998 camera? is it 14MPx or 13MPx (12,6 like in the ZP980/C2), and what about the quality of the camera?
Hello Andy, I just received a THL T100s. There’s something strange about the IMEI codes. The first refers to a Nokia 6070., and the IMEI (which ends on a different number, otherwise the same) isn’t valid. Does that mean it’s fake?
How about the THL T200 with 6″ display? I can’t find reviews anywhere. I was thinking of buying T200 or ZP998 or Jiake V8 and cant decide. It would need to work well in UK too. Any opinions welcome, thanks!
Hello EverzBody!
Do You Know if Zopo zp998 does suport MHL?
So I can conect with a microUsb to HDMI cable to a TV?
Thank You!
Hi Andy
Need your word of wisdom. On same size comparison and specifications:, Zoppo 998 vs. THL T2oo, which will win of the two? (I need as a business machine and not as a gamer, so reliability and speaker play a big role..). Adding the Xiaomi MI3 (aware for being only 5″), which will take the lead?
TIA, Oron
does it support MHL? Dear Andi