ZTE Racer II vs LG Optimus G: A Throwback Tech Showdown

Remember the early days of smartphones? The ZTE Racer II and LG Optimus G represent a snapshot of that era. Both were budget-friendly options offering a taste of the mobile revolution. But which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The LG Optimus G decisively wins this comparison. Its significantly faster processor, superior display, and longer battery life make it a far more capable device than the ZTE Racer II, despite both being older models. The Racer II's charm lies in its compact size and simplicity.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Racer II	LG Optimus G E975

Network
2G bands	GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - E975, E973, E971
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - E975
4G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - E975 (market dependent)
Speed	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, September	2012, August. Released 2012, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	104 x 55.4 x 13.5 mm (4.09 x 2.18 x 0.53 in)	131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm (5.19 x 2.71 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	100 g (3.53 oz)	145 g (5.11 oz)
	-	Optical trackpad

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Resolution	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density)	768 x 1280 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~318 ppi density)
Size	2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~42.1% screen-to-body ratio)	4.7 inches, 62.9 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT, 256K colors	True HD-IPS + LCD

Platform
CPU	500 MHz ARM 11	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Chipset	-	Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro
GPU	-	Adreno 320
OS	Android 2.2 (Froyo)	Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradаble to 4.4.2 (KitKat)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	256MB 512MB RAM	32GB (25GB user available), 2GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash, HDR
Single	3.15 MP	13 MP/8 MP, market dependent, AF
Video	Yes	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	-	1.3 MP
	No	No

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	Dedicated music keys

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	4.0, A2DP
NFC	Optional	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	-	HTML
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Organizer Document viewer Voice memo Predictive text input	BlackBerry maps Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player MP4/H.264/WMV player Organizer Voice memo/dial

Battery
Music play	-	Up to 30 h
Stand-by	Up to 166 h	Up to 456 h (2G) / Up to 411 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h 35 min	Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 13 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1100 mAh battery	Non-removable Li-Po 2100 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White
Models	-	E973, E971, E975, F180L, F180K, F180S
Price	About 200 EUR	About 160 EUR
SAR	-	0.58 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.43 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -89.9dB / Crosstalk -87.1dB
Camera	-	Photo
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 71dB

ZTE Racer II

Extremely compact
Simple and easy to use
Lightweight

Very slow performance
Low-resolution display
Poor camera quality
Short battery life
Limited app support

LG Optimus G E975

Faster processor
Better display
Improved camera
Longer battery life (originally)
More app compatibility

Older technology
Battery degradation likely
May lack modern software updates
Larger than Racer II

Display Comparison

The LG Optimus G boasts a significantly superior display. Its contrast ratio (1438:1 nominal, 1.753:1 sunlight) is exceptional for its time, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in bright conditions. The ZTE Racer II's display is a basic, lower-resolution screen, adequate for its intended purpose but lacking in detail and brightness.

Camera Comparison

While both phones have cameras, the LG Optimus G's camera is expected to be noticeably better, offering higher resolution photos and video. The ZTE Racer II's camera is basic and produces lower-quality images. Specific camera specs are missing for both, but the Optimus G's hardware was generally considered superior at the time.

Performance

The LG Optimus G's Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with a 1.5 GHz Quad-core Krait processor utterly dominates the ZTE Racer II's 500 MHz ARM 11. The Optimus G offers vastly improved speed and responsiveness for apps, browsing, and multitasking. The Racer II feels sluggish by comparison.

Battery Life

The LG Optimus G's endurance rating of 45h suggests a significantly larger battery and better power efficiency than the ZTE Racer II. While both batteries are old and likely degraded, the Optimus G started with a considerable advantage.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Racer II is for those seeking a tiny, ultra-basic phone for calls and texts, or for collectors of retro devices. The LG Optimus G is for anyone wanting a more functional smartphone experience from that era, with better performance and features, even if it's showing its age.