What's good
- Large, color accurate screen
- Great battery life
- Decent performance
What's bad
- Low screen resolution
- Unwieldy to hold and slippery
- Camera focus and shutter speed very slow
Despite ZTE's best efforts, it has struggled to make itself a household name. With the release of the ZMAX, ZTE hopes to penetrate the relatively small market of budget phablets. As an entry-level device, the ZMAX offers a generic rectangular design and tapered edges. Measuring in at 6.4 x 3.3 x 0.35 inches, it falls on the larger side of phablet territory and also weighs a hefty 190 grams. Most experts describe it as unwieldy and uncomfortable to hold not only due to its dimensions but also because of its slippery plastic back.
At the forefront of the device is the 5.7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 720 pixels. With a pixel density of only 258ppi, it isn't the sharpest display on the market, but reviewers didn't mind the slightly lower pixel density and praised the display's natural colors and decent contrast. Unfortunately, they did notice colors tended to wash out under bright light and when viewed at certain angles.
As to be expected of the lower price tag, the ZMAX doesn't have the fastest processor on the market, but the 1.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM is enough to perform seamlessly enough during basic tasks for most critics. With that said Android Authority adds, "This isn't the fastest or smoothest processing package available" as they experienced some stuttering transitions and delays when launching apps. Its one major advantage over other smartphones is the 3,400mAh battery. Due to the weaker processor and lower resolution screen, the ZMAX's battery lasted critics a full day of moderate to high use.
When it comes to camera quality, the 8MP shooter offers no surprises. Experts were able to produce decent photos in good lighting situations and, as to be expected, noisy and poorly detailed low light images. They also add that the camera churned out many blurry images due to slow focusing and shutter speed.
Although the ZMAX might not be as feature-rich as far as phablets go, its low cost of entry, long battery life and solid experience win the recommendation of reviewers to consumers buying their first Android device. Phone Scoop states, "It's a solid device that gets most of the basics right…it's well made…and a solid performer for the money."
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Eric M. Zeman, Phone ScoopThis Android handset should appeal to cost-conscious buyers who want the biggest screen they can afford.
- Joshua Vergara, Android AuthorityZTE is able to bring a large screen experience to the very affordable segment of the Android space, but does so under a decidedly mid-range scope. When you factor in how affordable it is, the ZTE ZMax stands out from the pack. After all, there are plenty of people out there that want to enjoy a larg...
- John V., PhoneArenaLooking at the overall package, we can say that the ZTE ZMAX is as generic as they get, but for a phablet, we’re content to know that it’s accompanied with an affordable price tag of $252 outright. Certainly, it’s the least features rich phablet we’ve come across, as it mostl...
- Eugene Kim, PC MagazineIn its quest for relevancy in the U.S., ZTE is starting at the bottom. That's not necessarily a bad thing—the level of quality for entry-level Android phones has never been higher, and the Zmax helps raise the bar for low-cost, big-screen devices. It's aggressively priced and manages to avoid...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the ZTE ZMAX user manual here.
ZTE backs up the ZMAX with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your ZMAX has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact ZTE support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find ZTE's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- ZTE ZMAX Manual (PDF)
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