Zopo ZP990

TheSloth · 20-09-2013, 22:24

A beast of a phone for between £250 and £290 - 16GB and 32GB models with 1GB and 2GB RAM respectively, a 1080p screen and a quad core CPU.

Darn it, these Chinese folk are now tempting me after I'd finally set my sights on the Note 2 after an eternal wait for financial approval from Mrs Sloth.

I'm hard of seeing, so a 6" HD screen appeals to me.

With the trusty Galaxy S running like a charm on Jelly Bean 4.2.2, I can afford to mull it over for a while yet but would welcome thoughts on this Zopo beast, especially from folk who've migrated from a Super AMOLED screen to one.

Sadly, said financial approval falls short of the shillings required for a Note 3. £300 SIM free is where I'm at. The incoming Nexus 5 may wrestle for my drool soon but I'm not keen on its probable non-removable battery and lack of external expansion. Why do they think that's a GOOD idea?

Thoughts welcome. Again

I'll definitely buy something by November 2013 - I promise

jabbamk1 · 20-09-2013, 22:39

Zopo are rebranded HERO handset and usually carry a premium price. Not worth buying Zopo brand name when you can get cheaper handsets direct from HERO or from other manufacturers who provide better spec and price. But for the spec the Zopo isn't bad either. Just may be overkill for your needs.

Check this thread tomorrow. I don't have time right now but tomorrow i can post recommendations and advice.

Just PM me if i forget. Been a bit busy during the day with work recently.

TheSloth · 20-09-2013, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Zopo are rebranded HERO handset and usually carry a premium price. Not worth buying Zopo brand name when you can get cheaper handsets direct from HERO or from other manufacturers who provide better spec and price.

Check this thread tomorrow. I don't have time right now but tomorrow i can post recommendations and advice.

Just PM me if i forget. Been a bit busy during the day with work recently.

Ah, interesting - many thanks! Will I be holding out for a HERO...

Sniffle774 · 20-09-2013, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSloth

Ah, interesting - many thanks! Will I be holding out for a HERO...

*groan*..

jabbamk1 · 21-09-2013, 22:15

So the Zopo ZP990 certainly is an excellent phone. 6Inch 1080p phone for £199 with 1GB RAM and £219 with 2GB RAM. However it may be a bit overkill. Here are some other options to consider.

STAR N6000 - £129
______________________
1.5GHz Quad Core
6" IPS Screen 1280x720
1GB RAM + 16GB ROM
12mp rear camera + front camera
Android 4.2
2800mAh Battery

STAR N9589 - £119
______________________
1.2GHz Quad Core
5.7" IPS Screen 1280x720
1GB RAM + 8GB ROM
8mp rear camera + front camera
Android 4.2
3600mAh Battery

UMI X2 - £149
______________________
1.5GHz Quad Core
5.0" IPS Screen 1920x1080
1GB RAM + 32GB ROM
13mp rear camera + front camera
Android 4.2
2500mAh Battery

Now there are a few things you need to know. Chinese phones do not come with any UK warranty. If the phone breaks down or you smash the screen you either throw it in the bin or face a 30 day minimum wait by shipping the phone back to China to be repaired. Also the phone sometimes comes with Chinese apps or some problems. So a basic to mid level knowledge of Android is a must just to be able to deal with any small problem you may encounter. E.g knowing how to delete apps or sideload apps or root a phone etc...

If you're happy with the above then you can get some great bargains and great spec phones. Now obviously the branded phones are going to be better experiences but i and many others are happy with our dual sim phones and they are great for the price. There are some websites i can recommend to buy from such as Etotalk who cater to western audiences and ALIExpress who usually have the cheapest deals. I suggest looking up the phones online and on youtube and then if you want to go ahead post back here and i can help a bit more.

BTW the prices quoted above are with free 14-30 day shipping. You may have to pay more for 7 day shipping.

enapace · 21-09-2013, 22:25

Jabba have you seen the cheap quality devices that the american company blu is coming out with? Some of those are good value for money. Certainly in english and think the warranty might be better on them as well.

jabbamk1 · 21-09-2013, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by enapace

Jabba have you seen the cheap quality devices that the american company blu is coming out with? Some of those are good value for money. Certainly in english and think the warranty might be better on them as well.

It's good for the US only. No warranty in the UK.
And besides. $299 + shipping = £200 in the UK for a phone that's not as good as the one i posted above at £130.

enapace · 21-09-2013, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

It's good for the US only. No warranty in the UK.
And besides. $299 + shipping = £200 in the UK for a phone that's not as good as the one i posted above at £130.

True I just think it would be a more reputable seller. You wouldn't get any of the Chinese stuff either.

jabbamk1 · 21-09-2013, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by enapace

True I just think it would be a more reputable seller. You wouldn't get any of the Chinese stuff either.

Depending on where you buy from you wouldn't get any Chinese apps or language on the Star phone as well.

enapace · 21-09-2013, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabbamk1

Depending on where you buy from you wouldn't get any Chinese apps or language on the Star phone as well.

Ah that is good then.

SkipTracer · 22-09-2013, 20:06

Have you guys heard or tried this site, http://digitalplayworld.co.uk/ thats been getting a few mentions over at AVForums.

Not tried them myself but they say stock is in the UK so no duty worries and phones come with warranty.

They cost a bit more than direct from China but less risk.

TheSloth · 23-09-2013, 13:04

Thanks for all the excellent replies.

Having mulled it over, I've decided to play safe - quality control and warranty worries have put me off risking one of these, although it's good to see some ditributors have at least started to spring up in the UK with a promise of some kind of warranty - but they're not established enough to gain my full trust.

I'll see what the Nexus 5 brings (Nexus are always good bang for buck despite the downside of no card slot/removable battery) and I'll revisit the Note 2's price once the Note 3 has taken off.

Thanks, again - still worth highlighting these phones as many have taken the plunge and have been very happy with what they've got.

spat · 19-10-2013, 10:55

This has been an interesting thread.

I've no way of finding out where Hero advertise or what model they called their copy. I'd be interested to know, to check they're identical. I can't see the ZP990 on digitalplayworld either.

I took delivery of a ZP990 2GB/32GB this week from the Zopomobile shop. 7 days from order to delivery, shipped by DHL from their depot in Italy so there was no excise/VAT issue. I used paypal to send them £270, it came with flip cover and conventional leads and a couple of screen protectors which I'll not use.

So far it's behaved impeccably, no unpleasant surprises. I attached a bluetooth keyboard so I can type adequately and added swype for other occasions when I'm not sat down, I'll try a bluetooth mouse when I have one to hand.

My selection criteria, in order of importance, was 6" FHD so I can browse the Internet adequately; Dual SIM; 2GB; quad with a fast enough processor. The 13MP/8MP cameras is a bonus, the main one gets pretty good results. I've not tried the skype one yet. The battery's giving me around three days at the moment.

The only Chinese characters I've seen anywhere are on the boot screen which is fair enough to have there. The applications are completely English.

My last phone was a Samsung Ace and I spent hours combing the Samsung apps off of it to clean it up, and even then I only made enough space by rooting it. This one's spacious and has no fluff to comb. Nothing manufacturer-specific at all, just vanilla Android 4.2.

20-09-2013, 22:24	#1
TheSloth Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Under Your Bed Posts: 5,508	Zopo ZP990 A beast of a phone for between £250 and £290 - 16GB and 32GB models with 1GB and 2GB RAM respectively, a 1080p screen and a quad core CPU. Darn it, these Chinese folk are now tempting me after I'd finally set my sights on the Note 2 after an eternal wait for financial approval from Mrs Sloth. I'm hard of seeing, so a 6" HD screen appeals to me. With the trusty Galaxy S running like a charm on Jelly Bean 4.2.2, I can afford to mull it over for a while yet but would welcome thoughts on this Zopo beast, especially from folk who've migrated from a Super AMOLED screen to one. Sadly, said financial approval falls short of the shillings required for a Note 3. £300 SIM free is where I'm at. The incoming Nexus 5 may wrestle for my drool soon but I'm not keen on its probable non-removable battery and lack of external expansion. Why do they think that's a GOOD idea? Thoughts welcome. Again I'll definitely buy something by November 2013 - I promise

20-09-2013, 22:39	#2
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Zopo are rebranded HERO handset and usually carry a premium price. Not worth buying Zopo brand name when you can get cheaper handsets direct from HERO or from other manufacturers who provide better spec and price. But for the spec the Zopo isn't bad either. Just may be overkill for your needs. Check this thread tomorrow. I don't have time right now but tomorrow i can post recommendations and advice. Just PM me if i forget. Been a bit busy during the day with work recently.

20-09-2013, 22:53	#3
TheSloth Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Under Your Bed Posts: 5,508	Quote: Originally Posted by jabbamk1 Zopo are rebranded HERO handset and usually carry a premium price. Not worth buying Zopo brand name when you can get cheaper handsets direct from HERO or from other manufacturers who provide better spec and price. Check this thread tomorrow. I don't have time right now but tomorrow i can post recommendations and advice. Just PM me if i forget. Been a bit busy during the day with work recently. Ah, interesting - many thanks! Will I be holding out for a HERO...

20-09-2013, 23:03	#4
Sniffle774 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Planet Mongo. Posts: 19,548	Quote: Originally Posted by TheSloth Ah, interesting - many thanks! Will I be holding out for a HERO... groan..

21-09-2013, 22:15	#5
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	So the Zopo ZP990 certainly is an excellent phone. 6Inch 1080p phone for £199 with 1GB RAM and £219 with 2GB RAM. However it may be a bit overkill. Here are some other options to consider. STAR N6000 - £129 ______________________ 1.5GHz Quad Core 6" IPS Screen 1280x720 1GB RAM + 16GB ROM 12mp rear camera + front camera Android 4.2 2800mAh Battery STAR N9589 - £119 ______________________ 1.2GHz Quad Core 5.7" IPS Screen 1280x720 1GB RAM + 8GB ROM 8mp rear camera + front camera Android 4.2 3600mAh Battery UMI X2 - £149 ______________________ 1.5GHz Quad Core 5.0" IPS Screen 1920x1080 1GB RAM + 32GB ROM 13mp rear camera + front camera Android 4.2 2500mAh Battery Now there are a few things you need to know. Chinese phones do not come with any UK warranty. If the phone breaks down or you smash the screen you either throw it in the bin or face a 30 day minimum wait by shipping the phone back to China to be repaired. Also the phone sometimes comes with Chinese apps or some problems. So a basic to mid level knowledge of Android is a must just to be able to deal with any small problem you may encounter. E.g knowing how to delete apps or sideload apps or root a phone etc... If you're happy with the above then you can get some great bargains and great spec phones. Now obviously the branded phones are going to be better experiences but i and many others are happy with our dual sim phones and they are great for the price. There are some websites i can recommend to buy from such as Etotalk who cater to western audiences and ALIExpress who usually have the cheapest deals. I suggest looking up the phones online and on youtube and then if you want to go ahead post back here and i can help a bit more. BTW the prices quoted above are with free 14-30 day shipping. You may have to pay more for 7 day shipping.

21-09-2013, 22:25	#6
enapace Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4,249	Jabba have you seen the cheap quality devices that the american company blu is coming out with? Some of those are good value for money. Certainly in english and think the warranty might be better on them as well.

21-09-2013, 22:35	#7
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Quote: Originally Posted by enapace Jabba have you seen the cheap quality devices that the american company blu is coming out with? Some of those are good value for money. Certainly in english and think the warranty might be better on them as well. It's good for the US only. No warranty in the UK. And besides. $299 + shipping = £200 in the UK for a phone that's not as good as the one i posted above at £130.

21-09-2013, 22:39	#8
enapace Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4,249	Quote: Originally Posted by jabbamk1 It's good for the US only. No warranty in the UK. And besides. $299 + shipping = £200 in the UK for a phone that's not as good as the one i posted above at £130. True I just think it would be a more reputable seller. You wouldn't get any of the Chinese stuff either.

21-09-2013, 22:41	#9
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Quote: Originally Posted by enapace True I just think it would be a more reputable seller. You wouldn't get any of the Chinese stuff either. Depending on where you buy from you wouldn't get any Chinese apps or language on the Star phone as well.

21-09-2013, 22:50	#10
enapace Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4,249	Quote: Originally Posted by jabbamk1 Depending on where you buy from you wouldn't get any Chinese apps or language on the Star phone as well. Ah that is good then.

22-09-2013, 20:06	#11
SkipTracer Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The City and County of Bristol Posts: 2,623	Have you guys heard or tried this site, http://digitalplayworld.co.uk/ thats been getting a few mentions over at AVForums. Not tried them myself but they say stock is in the UK so no duty worries and phones come with warranty. They cost a bit more than direct from China but less risk.

23-09-2013, 13:04	#12
TheSloth Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Under Your Bed Posts: 5,508	Thanks for all the excellent replies. Having mulled it over, I've decided to play safe - quality control and warranty worries have put me off risking one of these, although it's good to see some ditributors have at least started to spring up in the UK with a promise of some kind of warranty - but they're not established enough to gain my full trust. I'll see what the Nexus 5 brings (Nexus are always good bang for buck despite the downside of no card slot/removable battery) and I'll revisit the Note 2's price once the Note 3 has taken off. Thanks, again - still worth highlighting these phones as many have taken the plunge and have been very happy with what they've got.

19-10-2013, 10:55	#13
spat Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England Posts: 1	This has been an interesting thread. I've no way of finding out where Hero advertise or what model they called their copy. I'd be interested to know, to check they're identical. I can't see the ZP990 on digitalplayworld either. I took delivery of a ZP990 2GB/32GB this week from the Zopomobile shop. 7 days from order to delivery, shipped by DHL from their depot in Italy so there was no excise/VAT issue. I used paypal to send them £270, it came with flip cover and conventional leads and a couple of screen protectors which I'll not use. So far it's behaved impeccably, no unpleasant surprises. I attached a bluetooth keyboard so I can type adequately and added swype for other occasions when I'm not sat down, I'll try a bluetooth mouse when I have one to hand. My selection criteria, in order of importance, was 6" FHD so I can browse the Internet adequately; Dual SIM; 2GB; quad with a fast enough processor. The 13MP/8MP cameras is a bonus, the main one gets pretty good results. I've not tried the skype one yet. The battery's giving me around three days at the moment. The only Chinese characters I've seen anywhere are on the boot screen which is fair enough to have there. The applications are completely English. My last phone was a Samsung Ace and I spent hours combing the Samsung apps off of it to clean it up, and even then I only made enough space by rooting it. This one's spacious and has no fluff to comb. Nothing manufacturer-specific at all, just vanilla Android 4.2.

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