Firefly Mobile Z2 2018 Android Smartphone, In The Flesh: Price, Specs, Features, Actual Unit Photos
My mom and I were walking around SM Manila earlier today - June 5, 2018, when we chanced upon the kiosk of Pinoy handset brand FireFly Mobile right smack in the middle of the mall's CyberZone area.
Curious about their current offerings, I asked the sales staff, "Miss, what's your best-selling Android smartphone currently?"
She pointed to the smartphone in front of me, right beneath the glass panel of the display cabinet.
"This one, sir. Our 2018 flagship smartphone, Firefly Mobile Z2. It sells for only PHP 7,999 and it already has great technical specifications."
There was a piece of paper beside device showing its main features and key selling points. I gave it a quick look and the list got me even more interested.
"Can I take a closer look at the smartphone?" I asked her.
"Sure, sir"
Then, she took the handset out of the display cabinet and handed it to me.
The 5.5-inch IPS screen - underneath the scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass touchscreen - doesn't have a trendy 18:9 aspect ratio but it looked very crisp and brilliant. "Not bad," I thought.
I flipped the phone over and I saw the logo of Japanese tech giant "Sharp" right smack in the middle of the aluminum shell.
"Does Firefly Mobile sell Sharp handsets now?" I asked the sales staff.
"It's a rebranded model sir. This is known as Sharp Z2 in other countries," she answered.
"I see."
Actually, Sharp Z2 was released in other territories, including Singapore, as a flagship-level smartphone in October 2016 -- so this is actually pretty dated model as reflected by its Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.
Nonetheless, its stellar design, build, and technical specifications still make it a very attractive handset until today. I totally understand why Firefly Mobile brought this here -- albeit a bit late.
Measuring 153 x 76 x 8.4 mm and weighing just 160 grams, Firefly Mobile Z2 aka Sharp Z2 is powered by 2.3 GHz Deca-Core Mediatek MT6797 Helio X20 processor which incorporates a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 32GB of internal storage that can be augmented using the hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot that can also take in a microSD card.
This set of internal hardware makes Firefly Mobile Z2 capable of running nearly all resource intensive games that you can download from Google Play Store smoothly. Whether you like Rules of Survival or Mobile Legends, this phone should be able to run the title with little to no lags.
MediaTek's Helio X20 chipset features an innovative Tri-Cluster structure that allocates processing power based on the requirements of the application or the game being run to maximize both performance and battery life.
As for imaging capabilities, this model has a 16 MegaPixel camera at the pack with Phase Detection AutoFocus, Electronic Image Stabilization, and Dual LED flash. In front, there's an 8 MegaPixel snapper for capturing clear selfies, especially in well-lit conditions.
I tried out both cameras at the store and I got crisp photos and selfies. Then again, that part of the mall has good lighting so the sensors weren't pushed to their limits. I'd love to test the Z2 more just so I could show you sample shots taken using the device.
Oh, and if you love to take selfies and you're thinking of getting this phone, just download YouCam Perfect because I don't think its camera integrates a good beautification software.
For users who value security and privacy, the phone has a Fingerprint Scanner at the back, just below the camera module. I think its location is ideal for touching using the pointer finger while holding the device with either right or left hand.
How about the battery? Well, Dual SIM, 4G-enabled Firefly Mobile Z2 is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Ion pack that can be fast-charged via the USB Type C port, which is located at the rear.
So am I recommending this phone? It's an old flagship that still has good specs. Frankly, at PHP 7,999, I don't think it will be a bad purchase -- especially when you consider its anodized aluminum shell and stellar set of internal hardware. Personally, I also don't mind that it has a 16:9 display and that it lacks a Dual Camera module; But that's just me. I just hope Firefly Mobile or Sharp would upgrade its firmware to at least Android 7.0 Nougat; That would be nice.
Curious about their current offerings, I asked the sales staff, "Miss, what's your best-selling Android smartphone currently?"
She pointed to the smartphone in front of me, right beneath the glass panel of the display cabinet.
"This one, sir. Our 2018 flagship smartphone, Firefly Mobile Z2. It sells for only PHP 7,999 and it already has great technical specifications."
There was a piece of paper beside device showing its main features and key selling points. I gave it a quick look and the list got me even more interested.
"Can I take a closer look at the smartphone?" I asked her.
"Sure, sir"
Then, she took the handset out of the display cabinet and handed it to me.
The 5.5-inch IPS screen - underneath the scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass touchscreen - doesn't have a trendy 18:9 aspect ratio but it looked very crisp and brilliant. "Not bad," I thought.
I flipped the phone over and I saw the logo of Japanese tech giant "Sharp" right smack in the middle of the aluminum shell.
"Does Firefly Mobile sell Sharp handsets now?" I asked the sales staff.
"It's a rebranded model sir. This is known as Sharp Z2 in other countries," she answered.
"I see."
Actually, Sharp Z2 was released in other territories, including Singapore, as a flagship-level smartphone in October 2016 -- so this is actually pretty dated model as reflected by its Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system.
Nonetheless, its stellar design, build, and technical specifications still make it a very attractive handset until today. I totally understand why Firefly Mobile brought this here -- albeit a bit late.
Measuring 153 x 76 x 8.4 mm and weighing just 160 grams, Firefly Mobile Z2 aka Sharp Z2 is powered by 2.3 GHz Deca-Core Mediatek MT6797 Helio X20 processor which incorporates a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with 32GB of internal storage that can be augmented using the hybrid secondary nanoSIM slot that can also take in a microSD card.
This set of internal hardware makes Firefly Mobile Z2 capable of running nearly all resource intensive games that you can download from Google Play Store smoothly. Whether you like Rules of Survival or Mobile Legends, this phone should be able to run the title with little to no lags.
MediaTek's Helio X20 chipset features an innovative Tri-Cluster structure that allocates processing power based on the requirements of the application or the game being run to maximize both performance and battery life.
As for imaging capabilities, this model has a 16 MegaPixel camera at the pack with Phase Detection AutoFocus, Electronic Image Stabilization, and Dual LED flash. In front, there's an 8 MegaPixel snapper for capturing clear selfies, especially in well-lit conditions.
I tried out both cameras at the store and I got crisp photos and selfies. Then again, that part of the mall has good lighting so the sensors weren't pushed to their limits. I'd love to test the Z2 more just so I could show you sample shots taken using the device.
Oh, and if you love to take selfies and you're thinking of getting this phone, just download YouCam Perfect because I don't think its camera integrates a good beautification software.
For users who value security and privacy, the phone has a Fingerprint Scanner at the back, just below the camera module. I think its location is ideal for touching using the pointer finger while holding the device with either right or left hand.
How about the battery? Well, Dual SIM, 4G-enabled Firefly Mobile Z2 is powered by a non-removable 3,000 mAh Li-Ion pack that can be fast-charged via the USB Type C port, which is located at the rear.
So am I recommending this phone? It's an old flagship that still has good specs. Frankly, at PHP 7,999, I don't think it will be a bad purchase -- especially when you consider its anodized aluminum shell and stellar set of internal hardware. Personally, I also don't mind that it has a 16:9 display and that it lacks a Dual Camera module; But that's just me. I just hope Firefly Mobile or Sharp would upgrade its firmware to at least Android 7.0 Nougat; That would be nice.
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