ZTE Blade A3 Joy vs. Apple iPhone 11: A David vs. Goliath Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 11 is the clear winner, offering vastly superior performance, camera quality, and a premium experience. However, the ZTE Blade A3 Joy provides incredible value for those on a tight budget, prioritizing affordability over top-tier specs. It's a choice based on priorities and budget.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Blade A3 Joy | Apple iPhone 11 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, June. Released 2020, June | 2019, September 10 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, September 20 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series) |
| Dimensions | 142.2 x 63.2 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.49 x 0.31 in) | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 162 g (5.71 oz) | 194 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density) | 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~86.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6761D Helio A20 (12 nm) | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 10 | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Features | - | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 8 MP | - |
| Video | - | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | - | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2650 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White |
| Models | Z5156CC | A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1 |
| Price | About 50 EUR | $ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 359.95 |
| 256GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 469.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 292.79 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 214.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade A3 Joy
- Extremely affordable
- Decent battery life
- Lightweight and compact
- Basic functionality
- Low performance
- Poor camera quality
- Basic display
- Limited storage options
Apple iPhone 11
- Exceptional performance
- Excellent camera system
- Premium design and build quality
- Long-term software support
- Fast charging (PD 2.0)
- High price
- Limited customization compared to Android
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The iPhone 11 boasts a significantly better display with a 1505:1 contrast ratio and 644 nits of brightness, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Blade A3 Joy's display is adequate for basic use but lacks the clarity and brightness of the iPhone 11. Expect washed-out colors and lower viewing angles on the ZTE.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 11's camera system is a major advantage, capturing stunning photos and videos with excellent detail and dynamic range. The Blade A3 Joy's camera is functional but produces lower-quality images, especially in low light. Expect more noise and less detail from the ZTE.
Performance
The A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 is a beast, delivering lightning-fast performance for demanding games and apps. The Helio A20 in the Blade A3 Joy is a budget chipset, resulting in noticeable lag and slower app loading times. Multitasking is significantly smoother on the iPhone 11.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings around 94 hours. However, the iPhone 11 benefits from faster charging with PD 2.0 and wireless charging capabilities, providing added convenience.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade A3 Joy is ideal for first-time smartphone users, students, or anyone needing a basic phone for calls, texts, and light social media use. The iPhone 11 is perfect for users who demand high performance, a great camera, and a seamless iOS experience, and are willing to pay a premium.