The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Lava Z3 and the vivo Z1Pro. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The vivo Z1Pro takes the crown. Its Snapdragon 712 chipset offers significantly better performance than the Lava Z3's Helio G35. While the Lava Z3 might be slightly more affordable, the Z1Pro's superior speed, camera, and overall polish make it the better choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 26 | 2019, July. Released 2019, July |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 162.4 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 201 g (7.09 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 616 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Funtouch 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, AF
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Cyan | Sonic Blue, Sonic Black, Mirror Black |
| Models | LZG403 25 | 1951, PD1911F_EX, 1918 |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 184517 (v7)
GeekBench: 6001 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Lava Z3
- Very Affordable
- Decent Battery Life
- Basic Functionality
- Weak Performance
- Mediocre Camera
- Outdated Chipset
vivo Z1Pro
- Strong Performance (Snapdragon 712)
- Better Camera
- Fast Charging (18W)
- Sleek Design
- Slightly Higher Price
- May lack some advanced features
Display Comparison
The vivo Z1Pro likely features a slightly better display panel with potentially higher brightness and color accuracy, though both phones likely utilize IPS LCD technology. Screen size and resolution are likely comparable, around 6.3-6.5 inches with HD+ resolution.
Camera Comparison
The vivo Z1Pro generally boasts a superior camera system. While specific megapixel counts might be similar, the Snapdragon 712's image signal processor (ISP) provides better image processing capabilities, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos with better dynamic range. The Z3's camera is adequate for casual snapshots.
Performance
This is where the vivo Z1Pro shines. The Snapdragon 712 is a considerably more powerful chipset than the Helio G35. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Z1Pro. The Z3 will handle basic tasks adequately, but will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both phones likely feature batteries in the 4000-5000 mAh range. The vivo Z1Pro's 18W fast charging provides a noticeable advantage over the Lava Z3, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Lava Z3 is ideal for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and affordability above all else. The vivo Z1Pro is perfect for those seeking a smoother, faster experience with a better camera, willing to spend a bit more for noticeable improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Lava Z3 good for gaming?
The Lava Z3's Helio G35 chipset is not ideal for demanding games. It can handle basic titles at low settings, but expect lag and performance issues.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
vivo generally provides better software updates and support compared to Lava. Expect longer software support lifecycles on the vivo Z1Pro.
❓ What is the difference between the chipsets?
The Snapdragon 712 (vivo Z1Pro) is a significantly more powerful and efficient chipset than the Helio G35 (Lava Z3), resulting in better performance and battery life.
