ZTE Max
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“While it's not the fastest smartphone in its class, the $299 Boost Max is still a very good value. This 5.7-inch device offers a quality 720p screen, good audio quality and very long battery life. We also like the split-screen multitasking feature. If faster 4G speeds are important to you, you might want to consider a phablet on a different carrier, such as the AT&T Galaxy Note 3. But in the no-contract phablet space, the Boost Max is a smart buy”
“Consider the Boost Max if you want a cheap Android handset with a lot of screen. But if you can pay a little extra, the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 is the better budget phablet.”
“We’re more hopeful for the future of this device than anything else. If it weren’t for the lag and performance hangs throughout our entire review period, we probably would have come away from this review a little more jazzed about the phone.No, the display isn’t mind-boggling like some other devices in this size category, the storage is a bit low for our tastes, and the need for a removal tool too access the microSD card still boggles us a bit. But a few compromises are par for the course when building a budget phone. It’s important to remember how small Motorola’s profit margins are on a device like the Moto G, and the quality of that device shouldn’t take from the accomplishments ZTE has made with the Boost MAX.For the price, the build quality is impressive, its battery life if fantastic, and the camera performance could have been much worse – that’s usually the first corner cut in a budget device.”
“The Boost MAX is a solid performer and should be a device considered by any Boost Mobile customer looking for a bigger screen. In fact, given the size, this handset could serve as a large phone, and also a small tablet for some users. The display, overall performance, battery life, and camera all proved to be solid during our testing time. We also really liked the overall look, and the lack of branding. The device was clean, and as mentioned earlier in the review -- it feels rather sturdy. Boost Mobile has the MAX priced at $299, and offers options for monthly or daily plans.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
ZTE has entered phablet territory with the release of its ZTE Max smartphone. The IPS display measures a whopping 5.7 inches, offering resolution of 720 x 1280. Although this translates to a relatively low pixel density of 257ppi, most reviewers were generally pleased with color reproduction, viewing angles and overall sharpness of the screen. They did notice, however, that whites on the screen were very clearly off-white.
As a mid-range product, the Max might not have high end specs; however it does offer a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. With this, experts found that the phone generally operated smoothly, albeit slowly, when performing small and necessary tasks. According to CNET, even processor intensive games still ran without noticeable lag though they did suffer from lower frame-rate and choppy rendering.
One of the biggest disappointments for critics was the 4G speed. Although the actual connection is reliable, Android Central states that the performance itself was hit-or-miss and often very slow when scrolling through more complicated sites. During battery tests, experts were able to get around 12 hours from the device. Unfortunately, they mentioned that the phone takes a very long time to reach full charge, coming in at around 8 hours.
Like all smartphones, the ZTE Max comes equipped with a rear-facing camera. While basic, the 8 megapixel camera did produce acceptable pictures for reviewers in decent lighting for the most part. Critics did notice that some images would come out slightly blurry and low light pictures often had a notable amount of digital noise.
Reviewers generally have mixed opinions on the device. Laptop Mag states, “the Boost Max is still a very good value.” Android Guys, one the other hand, says, “The Boost Max tries to offers as much as its competitors, but ultimately falls short in some important areas.”
What people actually want to know
Why does my router show instantmessaging-pa.googleapis.com traffic when I don't use messaging apps?
This domain appears in router logs because Google services on Android devices use it for background processes, even if you don’t actively use messaging apps.
What causes this traffic:
- Push notifications from Google apps
- Background sync for Google services
- System-level Google Cloud Messaging (Firebase)
- Disabled apps like Hangouts may still run background processes
To reduce this activity:
- Verify Google Hangouts is fully disabled (not just hidden) in Settings → Apps
- Disable Google sync services you don’t need in Settings → Accounts → Google
- Turn off push notifications for Google apps in Settings → Notifications
Important: This traffic is normal for Android devices with Google services and does not indicate malware or security issues. Blocking this domain may disrupt notifications and other Google features. Router logs showing instantmessaging-pa.googleapis.com are expected behavior for the ZTE Max and similar devices.
When was the ZTE Max released?
The ZTE Max was released on January 28, 2014.
How long does the battery last on the ZTE Max?
The ZTE Max has a 3,200 mAh battery.
Does the ZTE Max support wireless charging?
No, the ZTE Max does not support wireless charging.
Does the ZTE Max have a headphone jack?
Yes, the ZTE Max has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the ZTE Max have NFC?
No, the ZTE Max does not have NFC. Contactless payments and tap-to-pair will not be available.
Where can I download the ZTE Max manual?
You can view and download the ZTE Max manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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