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ZTE ZMAX Pro
ZTE ZMAX Pro
ZTE ZMAX Pro
ZTE ZMAX Pro
...


6.4/10
Informr score
The ZTE ZMAX Pro currently has an Informr score of 6.4 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 8 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Great price
  • Plenty of storage space
  • microSD card support
  • All-day battery life
  • Mostly stock Android experience

What's bad

  • Inconsistent camera performance
  • No NFC support
  • Hard to use one-handed
  • Poor color accuracy on display
  • Limited availability and carrier support

ZTE has consistently challenged market expectations with their handsets, pairing affordable prices with surprisingly capable phones. With the ZMAX Pro, ZTE goes big--both on size and discounts. But can a $100 phablet really be worth owning?

We’ve dug through the reviews from the leading sites on the Internet so you don’t have to! Let’s see what people are saying!

With a 6-inch display, there’s only so much you can do to keep the phone small. Fortunately, reviewers were universally happy with the phone’s design. While the shell is plastic, no reviews mentioned issues with flexing, noise or durability concerns. Many also praised the matte rear cover for its grippy texture and classy appearance. PC Magazine noted, “One-handed use is pretty much impossible, but that's to be expected with a screen this big. There's a curved, soft-touch back panel that helps make the phone easier to hold.”

Heading around to the front of the phone, you’ll find a 6-inch 1080p display. The TFT LCD received good marks for brightness and clarity, though many reviews noted an obvious blue tint to most images. Most reviews praised the viewing angles and had no issue with seeing the large screen in direct sunlight. Digital Trends said, “I could see the pixels if I squinted a bit; but no app, photo, or video ever had that “blurry mess” quality that rears its ugly head on low-resolution displays.”

Performance reviews were decent from the phone’s octa-core 1.5Ghz Snapdragon 617 processor. Android Authority put the phone through a week of use and found, “it suffices for the basic stuff, but it’s not suited to do more intensive operations – gaming in particular, where it exhibits too much choppiness for it to be a candidate.” Reviews also noted that the 2GB of RAM does pose problems for heavy multitasking.

The phone runs a mostly-stock version of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. There’s 32GB of internal storage to hold your games, apps and media. If you need more space, the microSD card slot supports cards up to 256GB. Unlike many carrier-branded phones, reviewers found minimal bloatware on the device. Phonescoop said, “The phone has 22.5 GB of storage available to users and it supports memory cards, so you're in good shape.”

The phone’s 3400mAh battery is sealed--so you can’t swap batteries if you run low on power. Quick Charge 2.0 support does help to speed up top-offs when needed. However, reviews on battery life were outstanding. Android Authority noted, “We’re able to get through a solid 2 days of battery life – and even into the start of a third day. Using the included USB Type-C charger, it takes approximately 125 minutes to fully recharge its battery.”

Unfortunately, while ZTE appears to have struck a nice balance with most features, the camera reviews were lackluster at best. Reviews indicate that while the rear-facing 13MP camera focuses quickly, shots show inconsistent exposure and lack detail. The front-facing 5MP lens had similar issues. Digital Trends tested the cameras and declared, “Beyond Facebook, Instagram, and perhaps the occasional text message, I’d be hesitant to depend on The ZMax Pro’s camera day-to-day.”

However, the phone does include two features that aren’t typically found at this price point--a fingerprint scanner and USB-C support. PC Magazine tested the scanner and said, “It's [at] a natural resting point for your index finger, though the scanner itself isn't the fastest. It takes about two seconds to register your finger, wake the screen, and unlock the phone.”

Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t include NFC, so don’t expect to tap into the fingerprint scanner for mobile payments or other handy services.

Overall, if you’re not looking for a phone with an exceptional camera, reviews on the ZMAX Pro are good. Phonescoop summed up opinions well, saying, “The ZTE ZMax Pro is a budget phablet like no other. It boasts a compelling design, a strong spec sheet, and an impressively low price point. MetroPCS customers would be hard-pressed to find a better bargain than the ZMax Pro.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
3400 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GreenBot
GreenBot

While the ZMax Pro performance meets the minimum expectations of a $179 smartphone, it doesn't do anything to go beyond that. In other words, this is a budget phone where I felt like you are getting what you pay for. Unlike the similarly-priced Moto G4 line, where at the end of the day you kind of f...

- Jason Cipriani, GreenBot
Pocketnow
Pocketnow

We came away very impressed with the ZMAX Pro. Don’t mistake, this is not the most powerful phone on the market. Standing toe-to-toe with A Note 7 or HTC 10, this phone will lose in almost every category. But it won’t lose by much. And have I mentioned it’s $99 dollars? There are p...

- Adam Doud, Pocketnow
Digital Trends
Digital Trends

ZTE’s ZMax Pro is the most uncompromising budget phone in its price range. It’s disruptive. That’s not to put the Pro on a pedestal. The little niggles add up: the cameras aren’t nearly as good as the competition. The omission of NFC is inexcusable. Performance isn’t to...

- Kyle Wiggers, Digital Trends
Android Authority
Android Authority

Owning a cheap phone no longer means you’re getting a cheap phone, that’s just not the case anymore after checking out the ZTE ZMAX Pro.

- John Velasco, Android Authority
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

With high-end phones often commanding sky-high prices, you'd probably expect a $100 phone to be an ugly hunk of plastic with a washed-out screen, underwhelming performance, and few features. But the ZTE Zmax Pro proves otherwise, with a high-quality build, a 6-inch 1080p display, a Qualcomm Snapdrag...

- Ajay Kumar, PC Magazine


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the ZTE ZMAX Pro user manual here.


ZTE backs up the ZMAX Pro with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your ZMAX Pro 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.




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Quick view

Screen Size
6"

The ZTE ZMAX Pro's screen size is 6 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 Octa core 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3400mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3400 mAh battery. ZTE's performance ratings are 16.7 days standby time.

ZMAX Pro Specs

Overview
Release Date August 1, 2016
Regions Available USA
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 Octa core 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.15 W/kg
Body: 1.11 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included Data Cable, Manual, USB Power Adapter
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, HDR, Exposure, Time lapse, Anti-band
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 367 pixels
Size 6 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3400 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 16.7 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black
Dimensions [H x W x D] 16.5 x 8.4 x 0.9 cm (6.5 x 3.3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 175 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

Additional Sensors: Fingerprint sensor
Related Links Manual (PDF)
ZTE ZMAX Pro Reviews
Where to buy ZTE ZMAX Pro
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