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ZTE Nubia A57 Review: Budget Phone with Smooth Display

Mezbah Ahmed
Publish On: September 15, 10:24 AM
153

ZTE Nubia A57 Review: Budget Phone with Smooth Display

Our Rating
The overall rating is based on review by our experts
7
7
Display
7
Performance
7
Camera
7
Battery
7
Design & Build
7
Software
Pros
  • Smooth 120Hz display
  • Large 5000mAh battery
  • 22.5W fast charging
  • IP64 rating protects
Cons
  • Low HD+ resolution
  • Weak processor

    Story Hightlights

  • Display: A large 6.75″ screen with smooth scrolling at 120Hz.
  • Battery: A battery with a capacity of 5000mAh that can withstand heavy daily usage.
  • Charger: 22.5W fast charging, quick top-ups when you're in a hurry.
  • Build: IP64 Splash resistance, it won't spill or be harmed by rain.
  • Security: Side fingerprint sensor, fast, easy unlocking with one touch.

The Nubia A57 is the latest smartphone released by ZTE, which is targeting those who are looking to purchase a smartphone but don't want to spend too much. Here you will find a large 6.75” screen with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a substantial 5000mAh battery capacity and even splash proof rating, all of which are not something you would see this cheap. Of course it's not flawless, but it's pretty close. 

The processor is simple, 5G is not available and the camera system is no different. If you want a phone that can make calls, send messages, browse the internet and watch video without bankrupting you or your battery, then you should consider giving the A57 a second look. Let's break down what it actually offers.

An In-Depth Review on ZTE nubia A57

The ZTE Nubia A57 is designed for budget-conscious consumers who are looking for a dependable handset for everyday use at affordable prices. It is powered by a Unisoc T7250 chipset, a 5000mAh battery and a smooth 120Hz IPS LCD display that is splash resistant. The design, display, performance, camera performance, battery life, price in Bangladesh and value to normal people who look for a budget-friendly day-to-day driver will be discussed here.

Box Content

This is what you get inside the ZTE nubia A57 box:

  • ZTE nubia A57 Smartphone
  • 22.5W Charger
  • USB Type-C cable
  • Protective Case
  • SIM ejector tool
  • User manual

Within the box comes essentials to get you started with the phone. That means the Nubia A57 handset, a USB Type-C charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, as well as a basic user manual. A 22.5W charging adapter is not included in the box, so please inquire with your local outlet before purchasing, depending on region.

Design & Build Quality

The Nubia A57 is both simple and practical, just like its budget price tag. It's 160.1mm high, 70.4mm wide and only 8mm deep, making it easy to carry, no problem. Not the lightest phone in the world, but it is quite light at 193 grams, so you can scroll, send text messages, or hang on to it while talking on a long call.

The back is plastic, as you would expect at this price. It will not have the feel of glass or metal, but will keep the phone much lighter and less likely to break if it drops. There's a bit of choice for buyers, with three different color options: Orange, Silver and Black.


The key factor here is the IP64 rating. This means the phone will remain unaffected by splashes and light rain, and dust won't be able to work its way in. This level of protection is unusual for this class of phones as many budget phones don't provide it at all. It's very useful if you are active with your mobile phone outside, in the kitchen or near water.

Overall the build is not going to be a show stopper but would be useful. It features basic materials that won't look budget-friendly, but it does the essentials, it's comfortable and easy to carry, and it's covered from the everyday spill and dust. That's a good balance for the price of the telephone.

Display

The Nubia A57 comes with a 6.75-inch IPS LCD display, and it's easily one of the highlights of this phone. The screen has a punch-hole design and a screen-to-body ratio of 98.8% to enjoy almost an edge-to-edge viewing experience without a fat bezel in the way. Gorilla Glass, as well, gives it a bit of protection against scratches and minor falls.

The highlight of the device is the 120Hz refresh rate. It's impressive for a phone this pricey and makes everyday use, swiping through social media, swiping through menus or watching videos feel a lot smoother than you'd expect from a budget phone. Brightness is rated at 740 nits, which should help to make the screen easy to see under direct sunlight.


However, that comes with a cost, the resolution. The display (720x1570px, HD+) is not as high a resolution as it is on a higher resolution screen and therefore text and fine details will not be as sharp. While that won't be a problem when you're just taking a look at a website or sending a text, if you're a person who values clear images for photos and videos, then you'll see it.

Overall, this display is an effective choice for its price. While the sharpness may decrease, you'll be getting smooth performance and brightness. The smoothness will be more important for most users on a day-to-day basis than the exact number of pixels, and this is one of the smoother screens you'll find in this price range.

Camera

For video and selfie lovers, the Nubia A57 has only a single 13MP sensor on the back and 8MP on the front camera. No ultra wide or macro lens, so you will shoot with only one lens.

The centerpiece of the rear camera is autofocus, while the LED flash is a helpful feature, along with other helpful features such as HDR mode, continuous shooting, exposure compensation, and ISO control. These are also settings that provide a little more control in your shots than most entry-level budget cameras, particularly in poor lighting conditions. Other features, such as touch-to-focus and face detection, will also make everyday shooting easier, whether you're clicking photos of your food, friends or documents.

Daylight Photo: 

Outdoor photos in good lighting should be decent for a budget cell phone as they will be sharp and properly exposed with HDR support and autofocus. The colours might seem a bit muted in comparison to the more expensive phones, but details should be quite acceptable for social media and sharing.


Low-light Photo: 

This is probably where the camera will have difficulty. There's no dedicated night mode noted in the specs and the 13MP sensor may generate more noise and blur in low-light photos. It has a built-in LED flash for emergencies but with poor results in low light conditions.

The front and rear camera can capture 1080p and 30fps maximum. It works well for casual videos and video calls, but it won't offer the same level of smoothness or detail as 60fps or 4K recording on higher-end phones.


In all, the camera system here seems to be geared more towards casual and routine photography than serious photography. It isn't trying to be a phone with multiple lenses or sophisticated night modes, but it does have the essentials, plus some daylight shots, casual selfies and video calls. For the money, it's a good deal, but any photographer should be searching elsewhere.

Performance & Software

The Nubia A57 will have Android v16 out of the box, which is pretty recent for a budget handset. The Unisoc T7250 chipset, an octa-core processor on 12nm architecture is under the hood. It features two power-saving Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 1.8GHz, six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.6GHz and a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU for graphics.

This is a configuration designed to be used for simple and practical purposes, rather than for speed or intensive multitasking. Calling, texting, browsing the web, checking social media and streaming videos should all work fine. 64-bit architecture also contributes to the efficient operation without rapid battery consumption.


Where it begins to give it away is with anything that requires it. Playing games, particularly those with graphics, is not a forte for this phone. Expect to play lighter titles without an issue, but resource-hungry games might be smoother at lower settings and you may have to reduce the graphical settings to enjoy the game without lag. Running multiple high-ram-consumption applications simultaneously could also result in some performance degradation, particularly when using just 4GB of RAM.

But for its target users, those desiring a phone for making calls, sending messages, socializing and casual browsing, performance here is quite adequate. It is not designed for the power user, but it does get the job done without all the fuss.

On the software side, using Android v16, you'll have a new interface and latest features and security updates at launch. The spec sheet doesn't give much indication of whether ZTE will continue to keep up with future software updates, so if longevity is important to you, then it's worth checking before you purchase.

Battery & Charger

One of the Nubia A57's best attributes is its 5000mAh Li-Poly battery. If you regularly use it for calls or messaging, for browsing or watching video, then this will last you a day, if you are so inclined, and maybe the next.

It has 22.5W fast charging support via USB Type-C 2.0 and fast charging with other devices. It's not the fastest charging rate in the market, but at this price point, it's a solid addition as it will allow you to charge your battery decently fast rather than having to wait for hours to get a complete charge.


It's not a unique battery replacement problem with this phone, as most phones have the battery attached; it's just that if the battery fails eventually you won't be able to swap it out yourself.

Battery life is certainly one of the Nubia A57's best features overall. On top of this, paired with the capacity to work with a lower-resolution screen and the power-saving chipset, this phone ought to have the capacity to last you the length of a basic day without a mid-day recharge.

ZTE nubia A57 Price in Bangladesh

The ZTE Nubia A57 is available with two storage sizes, catering to different budgets. The 4GB+64GB variant is priced at ৳16,999 (Official), while the 4GB+128GB version costs a bit more at ৳17,999 (Official). The price difference of only ৳1,000 for double the storage makes the higher variant worth considering if you have a tendency to have lots of photos, videos or apps on your smartphone.

Final Word

For those who just want a basic smartphone they don't have to pay more for, the ZTE Nubia A57 is a good choice. At this price it has a 120Hz display, a large battery and is IP64 water splash resistant. But don't look for a strong game or some really good cameras, they're a secondary consideration here. For those who rely on a daily basis on calls, web browsing, and social media, the A57 offers good value without breaking the bank. A functional and straightforward selection for daily use.

Mezbah Ahmed

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