The ZTE Cymbal T features a dual-display setup. The primary internal display is a 3.5-inch TFT touchscreen with a resolution of 320×480 pixels. While small and relatively low-resolution compared to modern smartphones, it’s functional for basic tasks and apps. The external display is a 0.96-inch (or described as 1-inch in some sources) monochrome screen with a 128×64 resolution. This smaller display serves the traditional flip phone purpose of showing basic information like time, date, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID without needing to open the device. The external display’s simplicity contributes to battery conservation and quick information glances. The internal display, while modest, allows for interaction with Android apps and features.
Operating System and Software
The ZTE Cymbal T runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, a surprisingly full-fledged operating system for a flip phone. While a relatively stock version of Android, it’s been modified to work seamlessly with the phone’s physical keypad and buttons. This integration allows physical buttons to replicate standard Android navigation functions, enhancing usability, particularly for users unfamiliar with touchscreen navigation. The inclusion of a full Android OS allows access to the Google Play Store and its vast library of apps, a key differentiator from basic feature phones. However, the Cymbal T’s limited processing power and storage capacity should be considered when installing and running apps.
Processor and Performance
The ZTE Cymbal T is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 (MSM8909) processor, a quad-core CPU clocked at 1.1 GHz. This is paired with an Adreno 304 GPU and 1GB of RAM. While modest by modern smartphone standards, this hardware configuration is sufficient for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light web browsing. Performance can be sluggish, particularly with more demanding applications or multitasking. However, gaming performance is surprisingly acceptable for less graphically intensive games, largely due to the phone’s low-resolution display reducing the processing load. Benchmark results place the Cymbal T in the low-end category, comparable to other budget-friendly devices of its time. Users should temper their expectations regarding performance, recognizing it’s designed for essential functions rather than heavy usage.
Memory and Storage
The ZTE Cymbal T comes with 8GB of internal storage, of which approximately 3.23GB is available to the user. This limited storage can quickly fill up with apps, photos, and other media. Fortunately, the device supports microSD cards up to 32GB (and some reports suggest even 64GB cards function correctly), providing crucial expandable storage. Users are encouraged to utilize a microSD card to store apps, photos, videos, and music, freeing up internal storage for essential operating system functions. Managing storage effectively is essential for a smooth user experience on the Cymbal T given its limited internal capacity. The ability to move apps to the SD card is a valuable feature for maximizing usable space.
Camera
The ZTE Cymbal T features a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. Image quality from both cameras is reminiscent of early 2000s camera phones, often producing blurry images, especially in low-light conditions. While capable of capturing 720p video at 30 frames per second in good lighting, the frame rate drops significantly in low light, resulting in jerky footage. The cameras are adequate for basic snapshots and video calls but shouldn’t be expected to deliver high-quality results. The camera functionality, while basic, integrates well with the phone’s physical buttons, allowing the select key to function as a shutter button. Despite its limitations, the camera’s integration with standard Android features like Google Photos auto-upload is a notable advantage over traditional feature phones.
Battery Life
The ZTE Cymbal T is equipped with an 1800mAh non-removable battery. While this capacity may seem small compared to modern smartphones, the device’s low-resolution display and less demanding hardware contribute to respectable battery life. In testing, the Cymbal T achieved over six hours of continuous video streaming over LTE. Under typical usage patterns, the battery should last for a couple of days, requiring recharging every two days or so. This battery performance is adequate for a device primarily intended for basic communication and light app usage. The smaller screen size helps offset the relatively small battery capacity, providing a reasonable balance between functionality and power consumption.
Connectivity
The ZTE Cymbal T offers 4G LTE connectivity, specifically on Verizon’s network through TracFone. This allows for relatively fast data speeds for web browsing, app usage, and video streaming, a significant advantage over older 2G or 3G feature phones. It also supports single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for internet access, providing an alternative to cellular data. Bluetooth connectivity is available for pairing with headsets and other devices. It’s important to note that the Cymbal T is locked to TracFone and cannot be unlocked for use with other carriers, even Verizon directly. This limitation restricts users to TracFone’s prepaid plans and pricing structure. While offering modern 4G LTE connectivity, the carrier lock is a significant constraint for potential buyers.
