ZTE Cymbal 2 vs. Apple iPhone 11: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 11 unequivocally wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. However, the ZTE Cymbal 2 offers incredible value for those on a tight budget, providing basic functionality at a significantly lower price point. It's a clear case of 'you get what you pay for'.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE Cymbal 2 | Apple iPhone 11 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 66 | 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, January. Released 2020, January | 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 | 109 x 56 x 19.5 mm (4.29 x 2.20 x 0.77 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 | 135 g (4.76 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 | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density) | 828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~39.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| Cover display: TFT LCD, 1.77 inches | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm) | Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 308 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Linux 3.18.71 | iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| - | 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 | 2 MP | - |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 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 | No | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | 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 1600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White |
| Models | - | A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1 |
| Price | About 60 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 Cymbal 2
- Extremely affordable
- Decent battery life
- Lightweight and compact
- Low performance
- Basic camera
- Limited features
- Lower quality display
Apple iPhone 11
- Powerful performance
- Excellent camera
- Premium design and build quality
- Long software support
- Great display
- Higher price
- Older model (though still supported)
- No expandable storage
Display Comparison
The iPhone 11 boasts a superior display with a 1505:1 contrast ratio and a measured 644 nits of brightness, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Cymbal 2's display is likely more basic, with lower resolution and brightness, suitable for everyday use but lacking the premium feel of the iPhone 11.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 11's camera system is renowned for its image quality and features, offering excellent photos and videos in various conditions. The Cymbal 2's camera is likely more basic, with lower resolution and fewer features. Expect a significant difference in image quality and low-light performance.
Performance
The A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 is a significant leap ahead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 powering the Cymbal 2. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience on the iPhone 11. The Cymbal 2 will handle basic tasks adequately, but struggles with demanding apps or games.
Battery Life
Both phones boast impressive endurance ratings (94h). While the Cymbal 2's lower power consumption due to its less demanding chipset might contribute, the iPhone 11's optimized power management also plays a crucial role. Both should easily last a full day of moderate use.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Cymbal 2 is ideal for users who need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light browsing, and are extremely budget-conscious. The iPhone 11 is perfect for users who prioritize performance, a great camera, and a premium user experience, and are willing to invest more.