This week, AnTuTu released its updated ranking of February's best value-for-money smartphones.
True to expectations, the list is largely dominated by the fierce competition between Redmi, Realme, iQOO, and OnePlus.
However, a new phone from three years ago unexpectedly outperformed its competitors, boasting a price of just over 900 CNY and a benchmark score of 960,000, claiming the throne as the king of all phones!
Yes, that amazing device you mentioned before the new year is indeed the ZTE A31 Pro.
Click the image to read more.
While this phone may not be considered a successful product (otherwise there wouldn't be a huge inventory three years later), it still boasts flagship specifications, featuring the somewhat outdated Snapdragon 888 chipset at a price point well below a thousand dollars, which is quite a steal.
According to online tests, even with well-known benchmarking software like Genshin Impact, if you lower the graphics settings a bit, you can still achieve a stable frame rate of around 58 frames per second (FPS).
Certainly, the true essence is revealed in high definition:
The ZTE A31 Pro is gaining popularity among tech enthusiasts due to its ability to unlock the bootloader for custom firmware installation. Some users on the Coolapk forum have even managed to install the gaming-focused Red Magic 6R system on it. With the 1.8GHz "downclocked" version of the Snapdragon 888 processor being overclocked to its full 2.84GHz potential, the device's performance has seen a whopping 50% increase in benchmark scores!
This performance is comparable to the Tianji 8100 chip.
However, the trade-off is that if you're not careful, it can turn into a hot potato, literally. So, if you're eager to try it out, make sure to take proper heat dissipation measures, like using a back clip fan or cooling patches.
After all, this phone was initially designed with low-power consumption in mind, so nobody knows which component might get fried when it heats up.
Don't believe me? Just look at the Xiaomi 11 series back then...
The battery of this phone is small to begin with, only 4200mAh, even smaller than the flagship Xiaomi 14 with a smaller screen. If the Snapdragon 888 is allowed to run freely, I seriously doubt it can last for three hours.
The charging speed is quite decent, with the 55W QC4 fast charging solution making it a flagship feature even in the budget segment.
By the way, its USB Type-C port supports the USB 3.1 protocol! Although it's the 5Gbps version, it still outperforms devices like the Redmi 12 and iQOO Z8x in the same price range, even faster than the iPhone 15.
In terms of the display, this device features a 6.67-inch 144Hz high refresh rate screen, supporting 10-bit color depth, which is pretty solid.
If we're nitpicking, the only downside might be the 1080P resolution, which is a bit outdated, but there aren't any stronger options at this price point anyway!
Moreover, this screen also supports a pseudo-DC dimming feature, and eye protection functions are also covered. However, based on user feedback, enabling the pseudo-DC dimming mode may result in a "dirty screen" issue at low brightness, meaning severe color unevenness. So, those who mind should take note of this.
The imaging capability is a major advantage of the A31 Pro: it boasts a 64-megapixel dual main camera setup!
It consists of a standard wide-angle main camera with a 1/1.73-inch Sony IMX682 sensor, and an ultra-wide-angle secondary main camera with a 1/1.97-inch Samsung GW3 sensor, along with two additional lenses for good measure.
While the focal range isn't complete (missing a telephoto lens), considering it's a budget phone, this setup is impressive!
Just the secondary main camera alone is larger than the main cameras of some competitors.
Overall, the ZTE A31 Pro truly dominates in terms of benchmark scores and gaming performance, offering unbeatable value for its price.
If you're looking for a device in this price range that can handle popular games like "King of Glory," "PUBG," and "Genshin Impact," while also craving a new phone, then the A31 Pro is your best bet.
However, its shortcomings are also evident. To enjoy seamless gameplay, you'll need to use a cooling back clip, and battery life inevitably takes a hit.
Therefore, its target audience is quite clear: budget-conscious students who enjoy tinkering with their devices, and who also value convenient charging options.
For those looking for a job, upgrading to the iQOO Z8 with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chip for an extra $200 seems like a much better choice, as it offers improved performance and battery life across the board.
What do you guys think? Feel free to discuss in the comments!
