Okay screen, decent processor, latest Android, very cheap
On the chunky side, bland design, not very distinctive
ZTE has been making its mark at the budget end of the market but the Kis 3 could be the Chinese firm's best bargain yet, with a spec that would be more at home on a considerably more expensive phone.
Chassis and screen
It's not much to look at. Standard smartphone fare reminiscent of several of HTC's midrange efforts from a couple of years ago.
That's not necessarily a bad thing by the way -- just not very distinctive. It's a sliver under 11mm thick, which makes it a bit on the chunky side, and features a detachable rear casing made from tactile rubberised plastic, which gives it a nice, warm feel.
The 4-inch screen offers a sub-HD resolution of 800x480 pixels.
It's hardly "pin sharp", but it's clear enough for browsing web pages, watching movies or viewing pics without the need to squint.
And at 4-inches the screen is just about comfortable enough for typing on without getting your digits in a twist.
Software and processor
It's a pleasant surprise to see that it's running the latest 4.4.2 KitKat version of the Android operating system -- there are plenty of more expensive handsets still being released with earlier versions. As usual ZTE has done little more than give it a light skim with a few changes, including the long press to unlock the home screen.
The 1.2GHz dual-core processor is backed by a modest 512MB RAM and for that reason can seem a little sedate in its performance compared to the high-end powerhouses. But it's no slouch, and even if there are occasional slight delays, we never found that it suffered from the kind of lag that could be a deal breaker. It proved perfectly capable of streaming video (via 3G only, mind, but then we didn't really expect 4G at this price) and playing HD games like Real Racing 3. Our AnTuTu benchmark test gave it a score of 11,621, which puts it in the same ballpark as the Moto E, another budget star.
Photography
The 3-megapixel camera doesn't quite feel like an afterthought either. Despite its relatively low pixel count, it has quite a few settings and modes to play with, while colour balance are generally realistic and autofocus is fairly quick and reliable. Detail isn't great of course, and bright colours can occasionally get a little saturated but overall, it's a decent enough little snapper.
Storing your pics is another matter, since there's only 4GB memory on board but you can add another 32GB via microSD card. The 1,400mAh battery held up reasonably well though, delivering comfortably over a day's worth of fairly heavy use.
Conclusion
There's little that's exceptional about the the spec of the Kis 3.
Okay, so there's nothing special about it. But it is a solid performer, with a perfectly decent spec, for a bit under 50 quid.
As a spare or travel phone, or something for the kids, that's got to be worth a look.
Software: Android 4.4 KitKat
Processor: Dual-core 1.2GHz
Memory slot: Yes
Display: 4in TFT LCD, 800x480 pixels
Connectivity: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports: microUSB, 3.5mm headphone jack
Camera: 3 megapixel
Video playback: MP4, H.264, H.263
Audio playback: MP3, WAV, AAC
Radio: Yes
Battery: 1400mAh
Size: 126x65x11mm
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
