Lenovo Z2 plus UI review
Hey Guys,
How are you doing?
Today, I am going to post something interesting here. This time its about a smartphone that I recently bought. It is Lenovo Z2 plus. You can buy this using the below link.
First of all, let me tell you about this device. This is currently the cheapest mobile having a flagship chipset i.e. 820 SD. If you do not know about this chipset, please note that this is one of the top 3 chipsets that Qualcomm is able to offer now. 1st one, of course 835 powering One plus 5,2nd one is 821 powering one plus 3T and 3rd one is 820 powering one plus 3. This 820 also powers some amazing devices like Z2 plus. Basically SD 820 is the best processor of the 1st half of 2016. As the mobile devices launched with flagship prices. But, may be due to price or it may be because of the bad experience of SD 810, people were slow in buying such devices. But, it is not that OP3 did not sell in good numbers. It sold in good numbers. Anyway, the Lenovo Z2 plus is actually Z2 pro which was launched in China with the brand Zuk. Now Zuk is a part of Lenovo like Motorola. You can check the configuration in the link provided below. Lenovo launched it in India with its own brand. However, when Lenovo wanted to lunch it in India, they came up with some interesting yet troublesome ideas.
The good idea was
Price at Rs 20k. Yup, it was cheapest that time with 4GB Ram/64GB ROM with 820 SoC. Antutu score was even better than Iphone 6S.The price dropped to 11k in Amazon in just 7 months and I ditched my iphone 6S (Yup I did) to hold a 820 SoC based device. So, it was good
The Bad idea was,well, there were many in fact.
1. Going with google launcher.
2. Well, it was Okay until they added ZUI 2.
3. omitting the QC 3.0 (Quick Charging) etc etc.
Frankly, some buyers purchased it from Amazon (Initially Exclusive). But, after using ZUI, they found out that the UI sucks including me. Like big time. Now it was okay till it was running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on the top. But serious troubles that People faced are like lack of better notification center, VOLTE issue, then less security patch updates etc. Well, security patches are given by few companies now a days. Who cares about security when we are selling a phone with great hardware? Duh ! Keeping that apart, the multi touch does not work when there is a charger on. The finger sensor sometimes malfunctions. To add the salt to the wound, when everything was fine, Lenovo came up with another update. Much much awaited update. Android 7.0. Its basically an upgrade what Lenovo promised like they ever kept a promise. This time, they wanted to keep their promise of giving an upgrade. I seriously want to ask "lenovo, why exactly?"
When 7.0 came, I am among the few who downloaded the 960mb file and installed it. Of course, who does not want a latest OS that too from Google? Now,here, comes the twist. After installing 7.0, the biggest trouble started. The notification center is just horribly screwed. The mobile starts draining battery. The SoT (Screen On Time) dropped to 3 to 4 hrs from 5 hrs over wifi. The mobile has serious heating issue now.
The only better thing the mobile had excellent gaming performance in a crisp display. But, that too gone because of heating issue.
Other review may go on like display is great. Beautiful build. However, no glass protection. Camera is average. Notification LED is small. Ringtones are horrible. It has descent sound quality though etc etc.
Those reviews, you can find out from any good reviewers in Youtube. For me, Geekyranjit is the best. You can refer his reviews.
So what to do now?
You may ask me "Thanks for writing something we already know, Now give the solution".
If you want that, you can keep on reading. If you dont, you can stop and like the article and leave.
Just to reassure you, if you have bought this device, honestly, you have done a great work. Its indeed a great device. Good in performance. Awesome display. Beautiful construction. The problem is not hardware. The problem is the UI and software. Lenovo has poor software service. you can very well know if you have used devices like K4 note, K5 note, any other vibe series. Now that's affecting Zuk and Motorola too. Sad but true.
Now how to get a great device out of Z2 plus. The solution is INSTALLING A CUSTOM ROM. Now, you may tell "Oh Crap ! Thats for Nerds. It voids Warranty"
Well hold on to that thought.
First of all, its easy to flash a Zuk device. In china, it does not void warranty. but it does in india. Now,secondly, when you install a custom ROM you have to unlock the bootloader (search google for it if you really want to know). Unlocking bootloader basically means unlocking the protection your OEM has input so that you cant use any other OS or ROM in the mobile. Basically, it may protect your device in some cases. but in case of Zuk Z2 plus, its a boon. You unlock the bootloader, you install custom rom, you will be amazed by the Z2 plus performance.
Now, it voids the warranty. but, if you want a warranty, you can install the stock rom at any point of time and it re-locks the bootloader from the custom rom. That way, your warranty is back again. You do not have to worry. Remember to do back up every time.
But, before that which ROMs you should prefer. I will recommend to go for any OFFICIAL CUSTOM ROM instead of Unofficial ROMs. The Official ones will give you periodic update including latest google security patches. You can also report bugs in their pages including in XDA.
If you want Customization, go for Lineage Based ROM. Else, prefer any pure android experience.
As a recommendation from myself, you may go for AICP based on Android 7.1.2 with Lineage kernel which is full of customization.
For pure android experience, go for AOSP Extended. I am using this one and its like a new world for me. That's it for today.
I will post how to install a custom ROM in my next post. Its quite easy. Till then, keep smiling and BE KIND !
Links:
Device info
http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_zuk_z2-8125.php
Link to buy:
http://fkrt.it/HLFZdTuuuN
For any comments, you can also write to ashisiniter@gmail.com
Thank you
How are you doing?
Today, I am going to post something interesting here. This time its about a smartphone that I recently bought. It is Lenovo Z2 plus. You can buy this using the below link.
First of all, let me tell you about this device. This is currently the cheapest mobile having a flagship chipset i.e. 820 SD. If you do not know about this chipset, please note that this is one of the top 3 chipsets that Qualcomm is able to offer now. 1st one, of course 835 powering One plus 5,2nd one is 821 powering one plus 3T and 3rd one is 820 powering one plus 3. This 820 also powers some amazing devices like Z2 plus. Basically SD 820 is the best processor of the 1st half of 2016. As the mobile devices launched with flagship prices. But, may be due to price or it may be because of the bad experience of SD 810, people were slow in buying such devices. But, it is not that OP3 did not sell in good numbers. It sold in good numbers. Anyway, the Lenovo Z2 plus is actually Z2 pro which was launched in China with the brand Zuk. Now Zuk is a part of Lenovo like Motorola. You can check the configuration in the link provided below. Lenovo launched it in India with its own brand. However, when Lenovo wanted to lunch it in India, they came up with some interesting yet troublesome ideas.
The good idea was
Price at Rs 20k. Yup, it was cheapest that time with 4GB Ram/64GB ROM with 820 SoC. Antutu score was even better than Iphone 6S.The price dropped to 11k in Amazon in just 7 months and I ditched my iphone 6S (Yup I did) to hold a 820 SoC based device. So, it was good
The Bad idea was,well, there were many in fact.
1. Going with google launcher.
2. Well, it was Okay until they added ZUI 2.
3. omitting the QC 3.0 (Quick Charging) etc etc.
Frankly, some buyers purchased it from Amazon (Initially Exclusive). But, after using ZUI, they found out that the UI sucks including me. Like big time. Now it was okay till it was running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on the top. But serious troubles that People faced are like lack of better notification center, VOLTE issue, then less security patch updates etc. Well, security patches are given by few companies now a days. Who cares about security when we are selling a phone with great hardware? Duh ! Keeping that apart, the multi touch does not work when there is a charger on. The finger sensor sometimes malfunctions. To add the salt to the wound, when everything was fine, Lenovo came up with another update. Much much awaited update. Android 7.0. Its basically an upgrade what Lenovo promised like they ever kept a promise. This time, they wanted to keep their promise of giving an upgrade. I seriously want to ask "lenovo, why exactly?"
When 7.0 came, I am among the few who downloaded the 960mb file and installed it. Of course, who does not want a latest OS that too from Google? Now,here, comes the twist. After installing 7.0, the biggest trouble started. The notification center is just horribly screwed. The mobile starts draining battery. The SoT (Screen On Time) dropped to 3 to 4 hrs from 5 hrs over wifi. The mobile has serious heating issue now.
The only better thing the mobile had excellent gaming performance in a crisp display. But, that too gone because of heating issue.
Other review may go on like display is great. Beautiful build. However, no glass protection. Camera is average. Notification LED is small. Ringtones are horrible. It has descent sound quality though etc etc.
Those reviews, you can find out from any good reviewers in Youtube. For me, Geekyranjit is the best. You can refer his reviews.
So what to do now?
You may ask me "Thanks for writing something we already know, Now give the solution".
If you want that, you can keep on reading. If you dont, you can stop and like the article and leave.
Just to reassure you, if you have bought this device, honestly, you have done a great work. Its indeed a great device. Good in performance. Awesome display. Beautiful construction. The problem is not hardware. The problem is the UI and software. Lenovo has poor software service. you can very well know if you have used devices like K4 note, K5 note, any other vibe series. Now that's affecting Zuk and Motorola too. Sad but true.
Now how to get a great device out of Z2 plus. The solution is INSTALLING A CUSTOM ROM. Now, you may tell "Oh Crap ! Thats for Nerds. It voids Warranty"
Well hold on to that thought.
First of all, its easy to flash a Zuk device. In china, it does not void warranty. but it does in india. Now,secondly, when you install a custom ROM you have to unlock the bootloader (search google for it if you really want to know). Unlocking bootloader basically means unlocking the protection your OEM has input so that you cant use any other OS or ROM in the mobile. Basically, it may protect your device in some cases. but in case of Zuk Z2 plus, its a boon. You unlock the bootloader, you install custom rom, you will be amazed by the Z2 plus performance.
Now, it voids the warranty. but, if you want a warranty, you can install the stock rom at any point of time and it re-locks the bootloader from the custom rom. That way, your warranty is back again. You do not have to worry. Remember to do back up every time.
But, before that which ROMs you should prefer. I will recommend to go for any OFFICIAL CUSTOM ROM instead of Unofficial ROMs. The Official ones will give you periodic update including latest google security patches. You can also report bugs in their pages including in XDA.
If you want Customization, go for Lineage Based ROM. Else, prefer any pure android experience.
As a recommendation from myself, you may go for AICP based on Android 7.1.2 with Lineage kernel which is full of customization.
For pure android experience, go for AOSP Extended. I am using this one and its like a new world for me. That's it for today.
I will post how to install a custom ROM in my next post. Its quite easy. Till then, keep smiling and BE KIND !
Links:
Device info
http://www.gsmarena.com/lenovo_zuk_z2-8125.php
Link to buy:
http://fkrt.it/HLFZdTuuuN
For any comments, you can also write to ashisiniter@gmail.com
Thank you
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