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ZTE Blade V8 Mini Smartphone Review

An inexpensive smartphone with a dual camera. ZTE is expanding their lower mid-range product line. Alongside the ZTE Blade V8 64 GB, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has now introduced the ZTE Blade V8 Mini to the mobile market. The ZTE Blade V8's smaller sibling costs only 179 Euros (~$215, recommended retail price; not yet available on the American market). It is equipped with a dual camera, a fingerprint scanner and Android 7.0.
The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's dual camera is unusual in this price bracket
The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's dual camera is unusual in this price bracket

For the original German review, see here.

Chinese manufacturers are jumping more and more into the European and American markets. The best known example is undoubtedly Huawei, but other manufacturers from Southeast Asia – such as ZTE – are expanding their presence. ZTE, the publicity-seeking 2016 co-sponsor of the Borussia Mönchengladbach football club, is now offering the ZTE Blade V8 Mini as another device with a good range of features at an intriguing price.

The highlight of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is certainly the dual camera, with a maximum resolution of 13 MP and the ability to take shots with bokeh and 3D effects. The second camera has a resolution of up to 5 MP. Unlike the 2016 ZTE Blade V7 Lite, which is roughly the same size, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is not housed in a classy aluminum case, but rather one fashioned out of tough polycarbonate. A fingerprint scanner is located on the back. The user operates the ZTE Blade V8 Mini via a 5-inch display with HD resolution. ZTE overlays Google's Android 7.0 operating system with their MiFavor version 4.2 user interface. The octa-core processor clocks at 1.4 GHz. As an alternative to a microSD card, the user can opt to insert a nano SIM card, which transforms the ZTE Blade V8 Mini into a dual SIM smartphone.

As we examine the ZTE Blade V8 Mini in detail, we will compare it against the competing Gigaset GS170 and Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017). Both Android smartphones are equipped with a 5-inch HD display, a 13 MP main camera, and 16 GB of internal storage, as well as similarly fast processors and 2 GB of RAM. The cheapest device in this trio is the Gigaset GS170, with an internet price of about 130 Euros (~$150; also not currently available on the US market). The Samsung Galaxy J3 can be obtained for a price of about 170 Euros (~$200; $150 in the US). At a market cost of around 160 Euros (~$190, not yet available in the US), the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's price point lies in the middle.

ZTE Blade V8 Mini (Blade Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 8 x 1.4 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 505, Core: 450 MHz
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 294 PPI, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 9 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3,5 mm, Card Reader: MicroSD up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot), 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: Acceleration sensor, Proximity sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, WiFi Direct, OTG
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.1, GSM:850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS: 800/850/900/1900/2100 MHz, LTE:800/1800/2100/2600 MHz, Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9 x 143 x 70 ( = 0.35 x 5.63 x 2.76 in)
Battery
2800 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Android 7.0 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix Dual 13 MP + 2 MP, Autofocus, LED flash
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, USB cable, Charger, Stereo headset, ZTE Service (device help), 24 Months Warranty, Average SAR: 0.51 W/kg, fanless
Weight
149 g ( = 5.26 oz / 0.33 pounds), Power Supply: 67 g ( = 2.36 oz / 0.15 pounds)
Price
179 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The on/off and volume buttons are located prominently on the right side of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's case. The 2800 mAh battery is permanently installed in the unibody case.

The fingerprint scanner is found on the back of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini. In terms of its position, this is not optimal, given that it is located outside of the user's field of view. However, the scanner functions reliably. The ZTE Blade V8 Mini is available in black, silver, gold, pink and red – but the surface of the back of the device is extremely prone to fingerprints. ZTE has not protected the Blade V8 Mini against dirt and water, but its manufacturing quality is good – especially for this price bracket.

At 143.5 x 70 x 8.9 mm (5.65 x 2.76 x 0.35 inches), the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is attractively compact. This size is ideal for sticking the smartphone in a jeans pocket. Additionally, the device's weight of 142 grams (0.31 pounds) is not excessive.

The compact ZTE Blade V8 Mini sits comfortably in your hand
The compact ZTE Blade V8 Mini sits comfortably in your hand
The back of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is unfortunately very fingerprint-prone
The back of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is embellished with a fingerprint scanner

Size Comparison

149.7 mm / 5.89 inch 72.5 mm / 2.85 inch 8.05 mm / 0.3169 inch 148 g0.3263 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 142 g0.3131 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 72.3 mm / 2.85 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 139 g0.3064 lbs143 mm / 5.63 inch 70 mm / 2.76 inch 9 mm / 0.3543 inch 149 g0.3285 lbs143.2 mm / 5.64 inch 70.3 mm / 2.77 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 148 g0.3263 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (SD435), a lower mid-range SoC for Android smartphones and tablets. Unlike the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, this chip is still produced using the 28 nm process technology, but it likewise offers an ARM Cortex A53 octa-core processor unit. However, this processor only reaches clock speeds of up to 1.4 GHz. The integrated X9 LTE modem supports category 7 LTE and thus a maximum download speed of 300 MBit/s and upload speed of 100 MBit/s.

Additionally, an Adreno 505 graphics card is integrated with support for Vulkan and OpenGL ES 3.1. WLAN 802.11ac and Bluetooth version 4.1 are also supported. The memory controller supports LPDDR3 at 800 MHz.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's flexibility is also praiseworthy. Inserting two nano SIM cards into the unibody case's sturdy card slot transforms the device into a dual SIM smartphone. Those who need only one SIM card can choose to stick in a microSDHC or microSDXC memory card. The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's internal storage amounts to 16 GB, as is typical of devices in this price range.

The micro USB 2.0 connection is located on the bottom edge of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini. It serves exclusively to charge the device and transfer data. Above the display and to the right lies an LED light for notifications.

Software

Android 7.0 (Nougat) serves as the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's operating system. ZTE has yet to disclose when (or whether) the smartphone's OS might be updated to Android 8.0. ZTE has overlaid the Android operating system with the current version (4.2) of their MiFavor user interface. Unfortunately, this means that all apps must be stored on the home screen – but the user can create folders to establish a sense of order.

Drop-down menu
Drop-down menu
Dual-SIM settings
Dual-SIM settings
Settings main menu
Settings main menu
Pre-installed Google folder
Pre-installed Google folder
Home screen
Home screen

Communication and GPS

The WLAN module integrated into the ZTE Blade V8 Mini supports the IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standards and transmits only on the 2.4 GHz band. At 51.9 MBit/s, the transfer speed to our Linksys EA 8500 reference router is on par with the competition. In direct proximity to the router (O2 HomeBox 2), the attenuation of just under -33 dBm is comparably low.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini can surf the internet via LTE with both nano SIM cards. It goes without saying that it also supports GSM and UMTS. Bluetooth version 4.1 is on board as well. An NFC chip is seldom present in this price bracket – the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is no exception here.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Nokia 5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
112 MBit/s +116%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
Mali-T720 MP2, Exynos 7570, 16 GB eMMC Flash
53.5 MBit/s +3%
ZTE Blade V8
Adreno 505, 435, 32 GB eMMC Flash
53.2 MBit/s +3%
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
Adreno 505, 435, 16 GB eMMC Flash
51.9 MBit/s
Gigaset GS170
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
49.9 MBit/s -4%
iperf3 receive AX12
Nokia 5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
122 MBit/s +150%
ZTE Blade V8
Adreno 505, 435, 32 GB eMMC Flash
54.5 MBit/s +12%
Gigaset GS170
Mali-T720 MP2, MT6737, 16 GB eMMC Flash
49.4 MBit/s +1%
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
Adreno 505, 435, 16 GB eMMC Flash
48.8 MBit/s
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
Mali-T720 MP2, Exynos 7570, 16 GB eMMC Flash
46.9 MBit/s -4%
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's mobile positioning via GPS is satisfactory. Even indoors the Android smartphone did not have any trouble positioning the user, but the GPS sensor's accuracy is mediocre overall.

Our editorial staff also assessed the ZTE Blade V8 Mini on an 8.7 km (~5.4 mi) long test route, comparing its results to those of the Garmin Edge 500 bicycle navigation system. In the end, the recorded distance traveled differed by a negligible 30 meters (~98 ft).

GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS ZTE Blade V8 Mini
GPS Garmin Edge 500
GPS Garmin Edge 500
GPS Garmin Edge 500
GPS Garmin Edge 500
GPS Garmin Edge 500
GPS Garmin Edge 500

Phone Function and Call Quality

Telephone app
Telephone app
Contact list
Contact list

As an Android smartphone, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini uses the familiar Google telephone app, in which the user can save Favorites and log calls. Unfortunately, the keys on the virtual number pad lack borders, but their size enables the user to hit them accurately.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's speech quality indoors is acceptable, though the smartphone's telephone function makes a better impression outdoors. Sadly, the speakers are a little weak and thus diminish the call quality in speaker mode.

Cameras

A highlight of the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is undoubtedly the dual camera on the back, which comprises a 13 MP autofocus camera and a fixed-focus camera with a resolution of two MP. A photo taken with the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's dual camera has the necessary information to become a virtual 3D shot, but the bokeh function is even more interesting. It allows the user to change the focus and the aperture after the photo is taken.

Unfortunately, this function is not yet fully developed – when the focus is fixed on narrow objects, but the aperture is changed from f/1.0 to f/8.0 (as in our photo below), the whole image becomes blurry. In addition, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini takes a relatively long time to convert the photo. Shots taken with the 13 MP autofocus main camera are sometimes underexposed in diffuse lighting situations, but the pictures look fine when taken in daylight.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's second camera is significantly inferior to the main camera. Its maximum resolution is only five MP, and the image borders are unmistakably blurry. On the other hand, the camera has a built-in flash – a rarity in this price category.

13 MP main camera
13 MP main camera
Bokeh original photo
Bokeh original photo
Bokeh effect
Bokeh effect
5 MP front camera
5 MP front camera

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

We subjected the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's main camera to one more test. Under standardized lighting, we shoot a reference image. This procedure simulates photographing scenes that are often challenging for lenses to capture accurately, such as fine lines or text in front of a colorful background. And indeed, in our assessment the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's lens does not do particularly well. Text in front of a red background is a little blurry, the borders of the lines exhibit color fringing, and the image looks unevenly illuminated. Colors are somewhat oversaturated in images captured with the ZTE Blade V8 Mini.

Accessories and Warranty

The usual accessories accompany the ZTE Blade V8 Mini in its box: a short guide, a data transfer/charging cable, a plug adapter, and a stereo headset. ZTE also includes a little metal clasp to open the card slot on the side of the case. The warranty period is 24 months (in accordance with EU law – not applicable for devices purchased in the US). Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Operation

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini is operated via the usual three capacitive buttons below the display, which unfortunately do not light up on contact. The buttons are assigned the functions "Back", "Home" and "Multi-tasking". For text and numerical input, Google's familiar on-screen keyboard stands at the ready.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's display reacts with sufficient sensitivity to pressure. In terms of its ability to interpret input accurately, we find no fault with the device.

On-screen keyboard in portrait format
On-screen keyboard in portrait format
On-screen keyboard in portrait format
On-screen keyboard in portrait format
On-screen keyboard in landscape format
On-screen keyboard in landscape format
Subpixel layout
Subpixel layout

Unfortunately, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's 5-inch display offers nothing more than HD resolution, while other smartphones in this price bracket – such as the Lenovo Moto G5 – are equipped with a Full HD display. In normal use, this is not an issue, but it is noticeable when playing games. It is also a shame that the automatic brightness regulation often sets the brightness level too high. If the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is running out of juice, it would be better to adjust the brightness manually.

388
cd/m²
412
cd/m²
396
cd/m²
396
cd/m²
413
cd/m²
399
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
415
cd/m²
409
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
IPS tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 415 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 402.9 cd/m² Minimum: 8.44 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 93 %
Center on Battery: 413 cd/m²
Contrast: 1007:1 (Black: 0.41 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.31
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
1280x720, 5.00
ZTE Blade V8
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
Nokia 5
IPS, 1280x720, 5.20
Gigaset GS170
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
PLS, 1280x720, 5.00
Screen
9%
18%
-21%
29%
Brightness middle
413
482
17%
630
53%
418
1%
502
22%
Brightness
403
448
11%
635
58%
418
4%
494
23%
Brightness Distribution
93
79
-15%
90
-3%
92
-1%
89
-4%
Black Level *
0.41
0.64
-56%
0.57
-39%
0.45
-10%
0.35
15%
Contrast
1007
753
-25%
1105
10%
929
-8%
1434
42%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6
4
33%
5
17%
9.7
-62%
4.6
23%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
12.9
6.5
50%
8.7
33%
18.9
-47%
8
38%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
8
3.4
57%
6.9
14%
11.3
-41%
2.5
69%
Gamma
2.31 95%
2.13 103%
2.37 93%
2.27 97%
2.29 96%
CCT
7923 82%
6774 96%
8736 74%
10414 62%
6351 102%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 2273 Hz ≤ 3 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2273 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 3 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 2273 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

We measured the maximum brightness at 385 cd/m², which is not particularly high. With the adaptive ambient light sensor activated to control the display brightness, the display reaches 418 cd/m². The APL50 test (Average Picture Level), which simulates everyday conditions with evenly distributed light and dark areas, reports an almost identical maximum brightness level of 412 cd/m² in the middle of the screen, with a black value of 0.43 cd/m². 

In comparison with other devices, the IPS panel's colors appear dull in everyday use. However, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's contrast ratio is reasonable for a device in this price category. The display's results in the CalMAN sRGB color space coverage tests were not too bad either. The average DeltaE color and grayscale deviations compared to the sRGB color space are acceptable for a device in this price range, as is the color temperature.

CalMAN grayscale (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN grayscale (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color saturation (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color saturation (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color space (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color space (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color accuracy (target color space sRGB)
CalMAN color accuracy (target color space sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
28.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17.6 ms rise
↘ 10.8 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 71 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19.6 ms rise
↘ 18.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 49 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Thanks to IPS technology, the screen content on the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's liquid crystal display looks stable from nearly every angle. Even from flat viewing angles, the colors of the screen content are not distorted – although the display does look somewhat darker. Despite the fact that the LED backlight's maximum brightness is not particularly high, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini does reasonably well in bright ambient light. The screen content is always readable.

In...
In...
...outdoor...
...outdoor...
...use
...use
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

The processor is the clearest indicator that the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is a lower mid-range smartphone. At a clock speed of 1.4 GHz, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 (SD435) is one of today's more feeble processors. In addition, the integrated Adreno 505 graphics card decidedly belongs in the price bracket between 150 and 200 Euros (~$175 to ~$225). 

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
45572 Points
ZTE Blade V8
45868 Points +1%
Nokia 5
45274 Points -1%
Gigaset GS170
30144 Points -34%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
35669 Points -22%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
4481 Points
ZTE Blade V8
4978 Points +11%
Nokia 5
5060 Points +13%
Gigaset GS170
3344 Points -25%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
3606 Points
ZTE Blade V8
3815 Points +6%
Nokia 5
3807 Points +6%
Gigaset GS170
2600 Points -28%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
3436 Points -5%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
928 Points
Nokia 5
958 Points
Gigaset GS170
538 Points
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
704 Points
System (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
1562 Points
Nokia 5
2154 Points
Gigaset GS170
1170 Points
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
1395 Points
Memory (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
812 Points
Nokia 5
788 Points
Gigaset GS170
610 Points
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
1055 Points
Graphics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
787 Points
Nokia 5
740 Points
Gigaset GS170
210 Points
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
252 Points
Web (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
744 Points
Nokia 5
671 Points
Gigaset GS170
558 Points
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
662 Points
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
675 Points
Nokia 5
671 Points -1%
Gigaset GS170
581 Points -14%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
634 Points -6%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
2786 Points
Nokia 5
2849 Points +2%
Gigaset GS170
1595 Points -43%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
1858 Points -33%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
1135 Points
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
9961 Points
ZTE Blade V8
9932 Points 0%
Nokia 5
9529 Points -4%
Gigaset GS170
3666 Points -63%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
4381 Points -56%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
10302 Points
ZTE Blade V8
10271 Points 0%
Nokia 5
9684 Points -6%
Gigaset GS170
3167 Points -69%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
3725 Points -64%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
8928 Points
ZTE Blade V8
8905 Points 0%
Nokia 5
9023 Points +1%
Gigaset GS170
8178 Points -8%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
11426 Points +28%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
612 Points
ZTE Blade V8
613 Points 0%
Nokia 5
581 Points -5%
Gigaset GS170
152 Points -75%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
115 Points -81%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
534 Points
ZTE Blade V8
542 Points +1%
Nokia 5
503 Points -6%
Gigaset GS170
227 Points -57%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
92 Points -83%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
1257 Points
ZTE Blade V8
1127 Points -10%
Nokia 5
1268 Points +1%
Gigaset GS170
781 Points -38%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
925 Points -26%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
321 Points
ZTE Blade V8
318 Points -1%
Nokia 5
298 Points -7%
Gigaset GS170
93 Points -71%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
79 Points -75%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
265 Points
ZTE Blade V8
263 Points -1%
Nokia 5
245 Points -8%
Gigaset GS170
74 Points -72%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
63 Points -76%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
1222 Points
ZTE Blade V8
1214 Points -1%
Nokia 5
1227 Points 0%
Gigaset GS170
772 Points -37%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
923 Points -24%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
27 fps
ZTE Blade V8
9.7 fps -64%
Nokia 5
27 fps 0%
Gigaset GS170
11 fps -59%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
11 fps -59%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
18 fps
ZTE Blade V8
11 fps -39%
Nokia 5
17 fps -6%
Gigaset GS170
6 fps -67%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
6.8 fps -62%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
15 fps
ZTE Blade V8
4.5 fps -70%
Nokia 5
14 fps -7%
Gigaset GS170
4.8 fps -68%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
5.4 fps -64%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
7.7 fps
ZTE Blade V8
4.6 fps -40%
Nokia 5
7.2 fps -6%
Gigaset GS170
2.2 fps -71%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
2.6 fps -66%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
11 fps
ZTE Blade V8
4.9 fps -55%
Nokia 5
10 fps -9%
Gigaset GS170
3.4 fps -69%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
3.8 fps -65%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
5 fps
ZTE Blade V8
2.4 fps -52%
Nokia 5
4.6 fps -8%
Gigaset GS170
1.4 fps -72%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
1.7 fps -66%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
2.7 fps
ZTE Blade V8
2.7 fps 0%
Nokia 5
5.2 fps +93%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
2.4 fps
ZTE Blade V8
2.1 fps -12%
Nokia 5
2.5 fps +4%
Lightmark - 1920x1080 1080p (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
5.11 fps
Basemark X 1.1
Medium Quality (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
16733 Points
ZTE Blade V8
16486 Points -1%
High Quality (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8
8015 Points
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value)
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
110 Points
ZTE Blade V8
110 Points 0%

Legend

 
ZTE Blade V8 Mini Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, Qualcomm Adreno 505, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
ZTE Blade V8 Qualcomm Snapdragon 435, Qualcomm Adreno 505, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Nokia 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Gigaset GS170 Mediatek MT6737, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 Samsung Exynos 7570 Quad, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash

Compared to the competition, however, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini does quite well. The browser benchmark tests substantiate this. Subjectively, the browser speed is reasonable for a device in this price range – although page content does need a little time to load. Scrolling on the ZTE Blade V8 Mini is not always smooth either.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
21.48 Points +18%
ZTE Blade V8 Mini (Chrome 62)
18.14 Points
ZTE Blade V8 (Chrome 57.0.2987.132)
17.52 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 (Chrome 59)
17.17 Points -5%
Gigaset GS170 (Chrome Version 59)
14.34 Points -21%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
3138 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 (Chrome 59)
2921 Points +2%
ZTE Blade V8 Mini (Chrome 62)
2874 Points
ZTE Blade V8 (Chrome 57.0.2987.132)
2826 Points -2%
Gigaset GS170 (Chrome Version 59)
2284 Points -21%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Gigaset GS170 (Chrome Version 59)
16723 ms * -35%
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 (Chrome 59)
12791 ms * -3%
ZTE Blade V8 Mini (Chrome 62)
12383 ms *
ZTE Blade V8 (Chrome 57.0.2987.132)
12297 ms * +1%
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
10396 ms * +16%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 (Chrome 59)
60 Points
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
57 Points
ZTE Blade V8 (Chrome 57.0.2987.132)
53 Points

* ... smaller is better

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini offers 16 GB of storage space, as is typical for this price category. The connection with the microSD card is of course not as fast as in high-end devices, but it is quite good for a lower mid-range smartphone (reference memory card: Toshiba Exceria Pro M501; max. read: 95 MB/s, write: 80 MB/s). The Androbench 5 benchmark test reveals that the ZTE Blade V8 Mini performs reasonably well when reading data blocks, both large and small.

ZTE Blade V8 MiniSamsung Galaxy J3 2017ZTE Blade V8Gigaset GS170Nokia 5
AndroBench 3-5
-20%
19%
-39%
1%
Sequential Read 256KB
262.3
177.7
-32%
278.1
6%
197.9
-25%
255.6
-3%
Sequential Write 256KB
97.6
51
-48%
77.7
-20%
44.79
-54%
74.9
-23%
Random Read 4KB
27.49
24
-13%
39.89
45%
18.34
-33%
40.54
47%
Random Write 4KB
10.89
9.5
-13%
12.69
17%
10.45
-4%
8.39
-23%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
84.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
70.3
-16%
96.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
15%
37.41 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-56%
83.9
0%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
58.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
59.6
2%
87.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
50%
21.34 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-63%
62
7%

Games

The graphics unit integrated into the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 is a Qualcomm Adreno 505. As a result, it was to be expected that current games from the Android Play Store – for example “Dream League Soccer 2017” – would stutter occasionally when running on the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's GPU. But less demanding games such as “Angry Birds 2” are no problem for the ZTE Blade V8 Mini.

Dream League Soccer 2017
Dream League Soccer 2017
Dream League Soccer 2017
Dream League Soccer 2017
Angry Birds 2
Angry Birds 2

Emissions

The Android smartphone does not have a problem with overheating in daily use. After at least an hour in the stress test (both CPU and GPU under maximum load with the Stability Test app), the ZTE Blade V8 Mini reached a maximum of 36.3 °C (~97.3 °F) on the top of the device. Large sections of the back remained below 33 °C (~91.4 °F).

Max. Load
 34.8 °C
95 F
34.8 °C
95 F
35.7 °C
96 F
 
 34.6 °C
94 F
34.5 °C
94 F
36.3 °C
97 F
 
 32.9 °C
91 F
34 °C
93 F
35.5 °C
96 F
 
Maximum: 36.3 °C = 97 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
32.3 °C
90 F
32.5 °C
91 F
33.1 °C
92 F
31.8 °C
89 F
32.4 °C
90 F
33 °C
91 F
31.8 °C
89 F
32.7 °C
91 F
32.5 °C
91 F
Maximum: 33.1 °C = 92 F
Average: 32.5 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  27.3 °C = 81 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.3 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 33.1 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.3 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heat development
Heat development
Heat development
Heat development

Speakers

Pink noise speaker test
Pink noise speaker test

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini has one speaker on the back of the case, and another on the front above the display. The maximum volume of 84.4 dB(A) is reasonably loud. We were less pleased with the sound quality, as the speakers sometimes produce a quiet rattling.

At 500 Hz to 7 kHz within the mid-to-high tone spectrum, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's sound is hardly linear. Bass tones are barely detectable, and very high pitches above 8 kHz are also underrepresented.

When the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's standard headset is plugged in, the sound quality generated over the 3.5 mm jack will not blow anyone away – but it is acceptable for a device in this price range. Excessive noise is not present here.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.241.62532.934.23137.235.74031.736.25039.632.86328.3308027.331.810026.930.512526.727.81602427.520020.931.325020.936.331519.542.540018.548.950017.558.663017.561.680015.765.1100015.871.7125016.674.6160015.874.1200015.475.3250015.573.931501671.4400015.869.250001668.6630016.371.9800016.374.51000016.276.41250016.472.11600016.461.3SPL28.684.4N1.156.4median 16.4median 68.6Delta2.213.931.640.625.43825.330.532.931.833.632.831.634.128.428.4272820.828.32226.521.331.620.838.521.246.819.453.419.556.717.760.217.960.617.870.417.372.217.471.416.768.317.268.818.267.517.973.117.674.217.771.217.862.817.956.918.15418.238.73081.81.347.9median 17.9median 60.21.414.429.131.129.129.330.129.329.929.929.938.634.438.628.234.628.226.829.326.828.632.228.630.234.130.238.836.938.843.923.843.951.521.551.555.620.955.65921.35961.419.761.463.520.163.563.918.563.967.519.367.570.417.870.471.217.471.272.916.472.972.816.472.872.416.672.475.416.175.474.816.174.870.716.170.768.11668.167.316.167.36616.16658.81658.849.21649.283.630.183.655.71.455.7median 66median 17.4median 667.72.97.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseZTE Blade V8 MiniZTE Blade V8Nokia 5
ZTE Blade V8 Mini audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 36% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 61% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 77% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

ZTE Blade V8 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (31.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 78% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 89% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 9% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Nokia 5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 21% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 42% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequenzdiagramm im Vergleich (Checkboxen oben an-/abwählbar!)

Battery Life

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's energy consumption is on par with the competition. The power draw under load is no exception. Unfortunately, the Android smartphone is not equipped with fast charge technology. It takes about one and a half hours to charge fully.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.17 / 0.83 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.21 / 2.26 / 2.27 Watt
Load midlight 3.89 / 5.96 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
2800 mAh
ZTE Blade V8
2730 mAh
Nokia 5
3000 mAh
Gigaset GS170
2500 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
2400 mAh
Power Consumption
19%
25%
32%
21%
Idle Minimum *
1.21
0.98
19%
0.52
57%
0.54
55%
0.82
32%
Idle Average *
2.26
1.76
22%
1.78
21%
1.56
31%
1.94
14%
Idle Maximum *
2.27
1.79
21%
1.96
14%
1.6
30%
2.06
9%
Load Average *
3.89
2.89
26%
3.23
17%
3.18
18%
3.31
15%
Load Maximum *
5.96
5.62
6%
4.88
18%
4.42
26%
3.89
35%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini's battery reached a run time of 615 minutes in our test – leaving it behind our comparison devices in terms of battery life. But on the whole, its capacity of 2800 mAh is adequate. The manufacturer indicates a maximum of 12 hours talk time in 3D mode or 24 days in standby. In practice, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini easily lasts 24 hours on a full charge. Fast charging is unfortunately not on board, but this Chinese smartphone is certainly not the only model in this price range to lack the technology.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
10h 15min
ZTE Blade V8 Mini
2800 mAh
ZTE Blade V8
2730 mAh
Nokia 5
3000 mAh
Gigaset GS170
2500 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017
2400 mAh
Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3
615
700
14%
713
16%
442
-28%
722
17%

Pros

+ dual camera for cheap
+ reliable fingerprint scanner
+ optional dual-SIM

Cons

- relatively slow processor
- imprecise display brightness regulation
- speakers produce quiet rattling sound

Verdict

In Review: ZTE Blade V8 Mini. Test device courtesy of ZTE Germany.
In Review: ZTE Blade V8 Mini. Test device courtesy of ZTE Germany.

The ZTE Blade V8 Mini offers a dual camera that functions reasonably well, although it has trouble converting bokeh shots. Its features include LTE, the option to use two SIM cards, and a reliable fingerprint scanner. It also has a sufficiently large battery and a tough polycarbonate case. At just 179 Euros (~$215, recommended retail price; not yet available in the US), the price is also attractive.

For just 179 Euros (~$215, recommended retail price), the ZTE Blade V8 Mini offers a good range of features and even a dual camera. On the other hand, the processor is not particularly fast – as is generally the case with devices in this price bracket.

Buyers will have to make a compromise when it comes to the processor, especially in terms of the device's gaming capabilities. The 5-inch display unfortunately offers only HD resolution, and the automatic brightness regulation sometimes sets the brightness too high. In terms of reception and call quality, the ZTE Blade V8 Mini's performance is perhaps a little weak for indoor connections – outdoors it does not have any trouble.

ZTE Blade V8 Mini - 11/08/2017 v6(old)
Thomas Meyer

Chassis
83%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
29 / 60 → 48%
Weight
92%
Battery
93%
Display
82%
Games Performance
24 / 63 → 37%
Application Performance
44 / 70 → 63%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
74 / 91 → 81%
Camera
70%
Average
72%
82%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Thomas Meyer, 2017-11-23 (Update: 2020-05-19)