ZTE Fury Review

Introduction:

ZTE probably isn’t a company most people have heard of, but they are actually the fourth largest phone manufacturer in the world and have a presence on all of the major US carriers. Much like HTC back in the early 2000s, ZTE devices are typically carrier branded such as the AT&T Avail and the Verizon Salute, but in an effort to gain traction in the US market, we are beginning to see more ZTE branded devices. One such device is the Android-powered ZTE Fury, available through Sprint. The Fury is an entry-level device, featuring a 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera and a 3.5” IPS display. Included in the box you’ll find a 1500mAh battery, microUSB cable with AC adapter and a 2GB microSD card.


Design:

When we first unpacked the ZTE Fury we couldn’t help but be reminded of the LG Optimus S. The Optimus S wowed us by being an entry level phone with solid performance and good construction, and the ZTE Fury feels almost exactly the same in your hand. It is coated with high-quality soft touch paint so it immediately has a very reassuring feel in your hand.

The spartan design features only a chrome trim ring to offset the otherwise black Fury. The volume rocker, power and camera buttons all have a good travel to them and the 3.5mm headset jack is conveniently located at the top. The display is actually set just slightly back in the housing, which is nice because you can lay the phone on its face without the display touching the surface. With a significant wrap-around on the bottom of the device it almost appears as if the ZTE Fury is wearing a case.

Like the LG Optimus S, the ZTE Fury really impresses us with its design. It may be simple, but it is executed very well. When you hold the phone you don’t get the feeling that ZTE cut corners with cheap materials or shoddy build quality. Instead the soft-touch soothingly glides across your hand and you quickly forget that the Fury is merely $19.99 on contract.

Display:

At 3.5”, the HVGA (320x480) IPS display is slightly larger than the Optimus S’s. Unfortunately it isn't very easy to read in direct light, but otherwise the display is responsive and performs well.