It’s common to see great value Chinese smartphones, but it isn’t all that common to see them launch across the pond in the U.S and remain competitively priced, well not until the release of the new ZTE ZMax.
The ZTE ZMax is quite the break through for ZTE, one which is already being compared to the excellent Moto G, and a phone that costs only $230!
The ZMax was launched during an event in New York, where special guests were able to get their hands on the budget phablet ahead of customers. The launch announced that the 5.7-inch phone will only be sold through TMobile, who will have the option to pay the phone off over 24 months for only $10.50 a month.
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Normally when we see a phone priced this competitively outside of China alarm bells start to ring once looking at the hardware, but a scan of the ZTE Zmax specs sheet reveals some excellent component choices. For example the large screen is a 1280 x 720 HD model, the processor is a quad-core Snapdragon 400, with 2GB RAM and there is even a huge 3400mAh battery under the hood!
And yes the ZTE Zmax is an LTE device, and it has an SD card memory slot and test it is running Android 4.4 Kitkat, which looks to be pretty much a stock install.
We’ve and had are hands on the phone yet, but those who have do comment that is is a rather bulky phone, however for the price, and for those specifications it still seems like a bargain to us!
ZTE is looking like the leading alternative to major established brands for US customers….Thanks Andi
Blu is a great alternative if you live in the US. All of their phones are re-branded phones mostly from Gionee, but include the correct antennas to work on ATT and Tmobile.
thanks for letting me know.. i’ll look into them ;-D
I bought one a few years ago and never had a problem with it, actually had one of the best cameras I ever used on a phone. Most of their phones don’t have LTE but they are all under $300 (with the exception of a few).
it’s a hard buy since the Nubia z7 mini cost about 60 dollars more and it’s quite better than this.
Just wondering, whats so amazing about the Snapdragon 400 SoC?
Dear ZTE, can you please stop releasing these crappy phones in the US and release the ZTE Nubia Z7 mini/max instead for around $300/$350? If you release the Z7 line in the US you would get so many orders from the demand that you would probably be sold out for weeks! No one cares about these phones you’re currently releasing. I would rather get the Moto G LTE then any of these phones for just $200.
I would have ordered the Nubia z7 Mini from a reseller by now but it doesn’t have the bands to use 4G LTE in the US. That’s why I’m hoping ZTE can release it in the US one day for a reasonable price. If you release the Z7 line you are really going to get your brand known in the US.
The Z7 won’t work on US 4G LTE networks but it does work on both ATT and Tmobile 3G+ networks.
YAWN! Who cares? It’s not the version we want.
Perhaps they should focus on shipping the actual Z7, and stop screwing around with mini and max versions of it.
With a price tag of $179, I am very happy with my recent purchase of the ZMAX. I have no complaints with the phone. However since TMobile is by far the worst service I could possibly have in the middle of Kansas, I will be returning the phone for a full refund. No point in having a 4gLTE capable phone that only gets 2g service, and that is very hit and miss, unless I drive 25 miles then there is 3g, and 4gLTE is only another 10 mile drive beyond that, but God forbid you go up or down a hill while driving or even walking, walk or drive 20 feet full bars 4gLTE walk or drive 20 more feet lose service completely, go another 20 feet and back to 2g. AT&T still wont provide me with 4gLTE where I am located without driving a ways but at least 3g service is not a problem. But still both AT&T and TMobile promoting nationwide coverage is a load of bull there are so many completely dead man zone areas around central Kansas, Verizon by far has the best service. Stinks that all the brands of phones I like are not compatible with Verizon. Since I can’t stand any phone branded Verizon, I am forced with choosing between service and a quality phone that has not taken the phones controls and options out of my hands.