Zopo ZP520, LTE, qHD and 1GB RAM for $190?!


zopo zp520

Zopo are usually one of the first companies to get hold of the latest tech and launch phones available for customers outside of China to enjoy. So with LTE now hitting the mainstream we thought we would take a look at the sub $200 Zopo ZP520.

Back in the day, Zopo were the leader in Chinese smartphones for anyone not actually living in China. The company were one of the first to spread their wings outside of the Chinese mainland and they have seen some success around the world with some countries even getting official Zopo stores!

zopo zp520

One of the reasons they have managed to keep interest alive is the fact that they are often one of the first to launch phones with the latest hardware. The Zopo ZP990 was one of the original quad-core, 1080p phones running a Mediatek chip, then there was the Zopo ZP998, the worlds first MTK octacore and now more recently they have adopted 4G LTE technology.

Zopo ZP520

The Zopo ZP520 is one of the first Zopo phones to go on sale that offers faster LTE connections speeds. Like other phone makers such as Elephone, Zopo have opted for a current generation quad-core MT6582 processor with a MT6290 LTE model tacked on.

zopo zp520

This has allowed Zopo to quickly adapt their current knowledge of the MT6582 and gain a very useful and sought after feature. Using the MT6582 should also give plenty of power for mid-range smartphone buyers, and in reality should keep the costs down, but more on that later.

It clear that the Zopo ZP520 has been styled on the Oppo Find 7. From the chin to the rear panel the Zopo is walking a fine line, one which could have Zopo being labeled a clone maker once again.

Gizchina News of the week


zopo zp520

Just like the Find 7 we see that Zopo have gone for a 5.5-inch display, but not a 2K panel, not a FHD panel, not even a 720p panel, but instead a lowly qHD 960 x 530 display! On a phone that costs $190! Seems a little steep to us.

Read Also:  OxygenOS 13 reaches OnePlus 10R and OnePlus 9R

But surely with the affordable display and current generation quad-core processor, Zopo have been able to boost hardware in other areas? Well no. While we do get Android 4.4. Kitkat, and a micro SD slot for up to 64GB cards, the Zopo ZP520 is still packing just 1GB RAM, has only a single SIM (WCDMA 900/2100MHz, FDD-LTE 800/1800/2600MHz, GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz) and has one of the slowest 8 mega-pixel rear cameras we have used in a long while!

zopo zp520

Build quality isn’t all that great either. The body is heavy and the removable rear panel bends and flexes even when it is connect to the main body of the phone.

You might be reading this and feel that I am being over harsh with Zopo, but I think this is exactly what they need at the moment. The Zopo ZP520 isn’t the worst phone I have used by far, but at $190, and that’s the lowest I have seen it for, it is way over priced. Take away the LTE and you have a phone that would be priced at nearer $120 if it were under another brand.

If Zopo want to remain competitive they need to start being more generous with their hardware! Zopo if you are reading this, launch the Zopo ZP520 with HD display, 2GB RAM and throw in a better optimised, faster, useable camera, and you might actually have a device worth considering. As it is it is hard to recommend the ZP520 when you can get a lot more for a lot less.

Previous IUNI U3 Review - high resolution and power at a great price
Next TENAA leaks reveal the latest Xiaomi weapon in ongoing Xiaomi Meizu wars

9 Comments

  1. Stiven
    September 22, 2014

    Zopo sells crap. Written by sad owner of ZP980+

  2. Adam Irvine
    September 22, 2014

    Zopo are loosing it big time… I had a zp998 before I got my OnePlus One invite. The zp998 has since been sold on to a good friend of mine, and he is as happy as I was with it! I know there was a lot of negativity about the zp998 but with the official 4.4 Kitkat rom on it, I found it absolutely spot on to be honest!

    Now, I feel they’re going backwards in a big way, Shame really…

    • The Chosen One
      September 23, 2014

      I agree with you.

      My wife and I have had Zopo’s up too and including the ZP 998 and we’ve never experienced the issues others had.

      We had the ZP 998 as of April and all was well. Two weeks ago I did some extensive travelling for the first time since having the phone and I was about to complain about very poor battery life (burned through 2 in less than 12hrs).

      But 6days ago I got another OTA firmware update and since then the battery life has improved tremendously.

      I’m waiting to see if they’ll launch a 64bit 4G LTE unit soon and hopefully regain the position they once held.

      As long as the pricing, software, hardware and build quality are sound then, they can do it.

      The time to step up is now Zopo! Competition demands it and your diminishing fans request it!

  3. Tony
    September 23, 2014

    zoposhop website specs says its a dual sim phone…?

    Model: ZOPO ZP520

    CPU: MT6582M(28nm HPM)

    RAM: 1GB

    ROM: 8GB

    OS: android 4.4 android 4.4

    Band: 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz 3G: WCDMA 900/2100 MHz 4G(FDD-LTE):800/1800/2600MHz

    Sim Card: dual Micro Sim

  4. September 23, 2014

    sad to see they’ve lost their edge.
    the original zp100 lasted me for ages but since it eventually died a slow agonizing death (first the wifi no longer working, then the micro-sd no longer being fully recognised and eventually even 3g data failing) i was looking forward to getting a new zopo, but due to the lack of decent devices coming out instead i now ordered the zte nubia z7 max.

    i hope they can get their things together & when i need a new phone can once again consider them. (as they do have shops in NL & DE)

  5. sandro khokhiashvili
    September 23, 2014

    jiayu g4s

  6. NatadeCoco
    September 23, 2014

    Yeah agree with the negative comments. Had a ZP950 phablet & it came with buggy firmware. Spent lots of time researching on web & finally flashed a new rom & got it working. But after 2 firmware releases, nothing for almost 2 years. Phone got discontinued & no software updates! Volume button not working & rear camera died! A friend got the C2 & same issues with buggy firmware. Again, no new firmware nor software update. Zero support from Zopo. Our Zopo phones stuck in Android version 4.1.2 lala land forever!

  7. A
    September 23, 2014

    Who
    knows another phone, which has WCDMA 900 / 2100MHz FDD-LTE 800/1800 /
    2600MHz? It is the frequency I need!

  8. Don Rogers
    September 23, 2014

    I bought one of these for my wife as she wanted a bigger screen and 4G, she is not bothered with games and video so the screen resolution and performance is not a problem. The only thing I do not like is that it is single SIM. The LTE frequencies 800/1800/2600 MHz is spot on for the UK as that is exactly the frequencies that most of the UK telecom companies are using. If you want a 4G phone in the UK there are only a few budget / midrange Chinese phone models supporting LTE UK frequencies. Other phones to look at are Coolpad Dashen F2, Elephone P3000s, Kingzone N3 & ZTE Blade Vec 4G.

    Personally I am waiting for Jiayu to launch a decent 4G phone that is suitable for the UK with a +5 inch screen mtk6595 SOC 2G ram and a decent camera.