The ZTE Blade A73 5G, launched in 2023, is an affordable smartphone aimed at delivering 5G connectivity and decent everyday performance. With a 6.52-inch HD+ display, a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, and a 5000mAh battery, it promises a lot for budget-conscious users who want to experience 5G on a tight budget. However, like many budget phones, the Blade A73 5G has its fair share of issues and drawbacks.
In this detailed review, we’ll explore the most common problems users face with the ZTE Blade A73 5G, potential solutions, and whether the device is still a good option for those seeking an affordable 5G smartphone.
1. Display Issues: Touch Sensitivity and Brightness Inconsistencies
The ZTE Blade A73 5G comes with a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution. While the display size is generous for a budget device, users have reported issues related to touch sensitivity and brightness levels.
Common display problems include:
- Unresponsive or inconsistent touch: The screen sometimes fails to register light touches, especially at the edges.
- Inconsistent brightness levels: Users report that adaptive brightness doesn't always work correctly, either being too dim or too bright for the environment.
- Low maximum brightness: The screen can be difficult to read in bright sunlight or outdoors.
Possible solutions:
- Manually adjust the brightness and disable adaptive brightness for more consistent results.
- If touch sensitivity issues persist, consider re-calibrating the display using third-party apps or resetting the device.
- A screen protector can sometimes interfere with touch sensitivity, so ensure it's properly installed.
User experience:
"The display is okay indoors, but in bright sunlight, it's hard to see anything, and I often have to adjust the brightness manually. Also, the touch responsiveness is not always accurate."
2. Performance Lag and App Freezing
The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset powering the ZTE Blade A73 5G is adequate for basic tasks but starts to show its limitations under heavier usage. Users have reported performance slowdowns and app freezes, especially when running multiple apps or switching between them.
Performance issues include:
- Laggy performance when switching between apps or navigating the user interface.
- App freezing or crashing, particularly when running resource-heavy apps or games.
- Delayed response times, such as when opening the camera or launching apps.
Workarounds:
- Clear cache regularly to free up resources and improve performance.
- Close background apps to prevent the phone from being overwhelmed by too many processes.
- Perform a factory reset if performance issues persist, though this is a temporary fix.
User complaints:
"For everyday tasks, the phone is fine, but when I try to do more than one thing at a time or run a heavy app, it starts lagging or freezing. It’s definitely not built for multitasking."
3. Camera Quality and App Issues
The ZTE Blade A73 5G is equipped with a 50MP dual-camera setup at the rear and a 5MP front camera. While this sounds impressive on paper for a budget device, users have noted several shortcomings with the camera performance, especially in low-light conditions and with the camera app itself.
Camera issues include:
- Blurry or noisy photos in low-light environments.
- Slow focus times, making it difficult to capture moving subjects.
- Camera app crashes or delays when switching between photo and video modes.
- Inconsistent color accuracy, with colors often looking washed out in certain lighting conditions.
Potential fixes:
- Use third-party camera apps like Open Camera to improve stability and potentially enhance image quality.
- Make sure your camera software is up to date and that the phone is running the latest system update.
- Enable HDR mode for better dynamic range in challenging lighting situations.
User feedback:
"The camera works well enough for quick shots during the day, but at night or indoors, photos come out blurry or grainy. The app also tends to crash occasionally when switching between modes."
4. Battery Drain and Slow Charging Speeds
The ZTE Blade A73 5G boasts a large 5000mAh battery, which theoretically should provide extended battery life. However, some users have reported faster-than-expected battery drain and issues with slow charging.
Battery and charging problems:
- Battery drain even during moderate use, with some users reporting that the battery drops significantly overnight or while idle.
- Slow charging speeds, despite the device supporting fast charging.
- Overheating during charging, especially when using the phone while it's plugged in.
Workarounds:
- Limit background app activity and use battery saver mode to extend battery life.
- Turn off 5G in areas where the signal is weak or inconsistent, as 5G connectivity can drain the battery faster.
- Use the original charger and cable, as third-party chargers may not provide optimal charging speeds.
User experience:
"The battery life is supposed to be one of the strong points, but I find myself needing to charge it more often than I expected. Charging is also pretty slow, even with the fast charger."
5. Software Bugs and Stability Issues
The ZTE Blade A73 5G runs on Android 12 with ZTE's custom UI. While Android 12 provides a clean and user-friendly experience, some users have encountered software bugs that affect the overall stability of the device.
Common software issues include:
- Random system reboots or crashes when using certain apps.
- Notification delays or missed notifications, particularly from messaging and social media apps.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity issues, with users reporting frequent drops or difficulty pairing devices.
Potential fixes:
- Restart the phone regularly to clear temporary system bugs and improve performance.
- Ensure your phone is running the latest software updates, as ZTE may release patches to fix known issues.
- Reset network settings to fix connectivity issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
User complaints:
"The phone sometimes just reboots out of nowhere, and I often miss notifications from messaging apps. It’s frustrating because I rely on those for work."
6. Fingerprint and Face Unlock Issues
The ZTE Blade A73 5G features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock for biometric security. While these are welcome features on a budget phone, users have reported inconsistencies with both.
Common issues include:
- Fingerprint sensor delays or failing to recognize the fingerprint after several attempts.
- Face unlock struggles in low-light conditions or at certain angles.
- Frequent misrecognitions, requiring the user to resort to a PIN or password.
Troubleshooting:
- Re-register your fingerprint in settings for better accuracy and speed.
- Use fingerprint unlock in combination with a PIN or password if face unlock doesn’t work well in certain lighting.
- Ensure that the fingerprint sensor is clean and free of dust for optimal performance.
Conclusion: Is the ZTE Blade A73 5G Worth Buying?
The ZTE Blade A73 5G is a commendable attempt to bring 5G connectivity to the budget market. It offers decent performance for everyday tasks, a large display, and a sizeable battery, which are all desirable features in this price range. However, its performance limitations, camera issues, and software bugs may be dealbreakers for some users.
If you are looking for a basic 5G phone for browsing, social media, and light media consumption, the Blade A73 5G might be suitable. However, if you expect to use it for gaming, multitasking, or if you require a reliable camera and better software stability, it may fall short of expectations.
Recommended Alternatives:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G: Offers smoother performance, better software optimization, and a more reliable camera system.
- Realme 8 5G: Known for delivering solid performance and better battery life at a similar price point.
- Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: Provides a better software experience and superior build quality for those looking for a budget 5G device.
In conclusion, while the ZTE Blade A73 5G is an affordable way to experience 5G, the compromises in performance and camera quality might make other alternatives in the same price range more appealing, especially for users who want long-term reliability and better overall performance.