ZTE Kis 3 Max Comprehensive Guide to Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of ZTE Kis 3 Max

The ZTE Kis 3 Max, announced in September 2014 and released in November of the same year, is among the smartphones that marked a significant footprint in the budget phone market. While it has since been discontinued, it remains a valuable study in economical smartphone design, focusing on providing essential functionality without unnecessary complications.

Design and Build

The ZTE Kis 3 Max features a compact design with dimensions of 132 x 66 x 9.1 mm and a weight of 135 grams. It has a plastic build which is quite robust for the phones in this price segment, giving it a sturdy feel in hand. The phone uses a Micro-SIM card and sports a removable Li-Ion 1850 mAh battery, emphasizing its practical and user-friendly nature. Users can easily replace the battery, which is a rare feature in many modern smartphones.

Display

The ZTE Kis 3 Max comes with a 4.5-inch TFT display, supporting a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. With a pixel density of around 218ppi, the display offers satisfactory clarity and color reproduction for daily tasks and basic multimedia consumption. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 64.1% ensures that the device, despite its compact nature, allocates a major portion to the display.

Performance

Under the hood, the ZTE Kis 3 Max is powered by a Mediatek MT6572 chipset, featuring a dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali-400 GPU. This setup was designed to handle basic tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. The device runs on Android 4.4.2 KitKat, which, at the time of its release, offered a well-rounded experience with access to a comprehensive suite of applications through the Google Play Store.

Memory and Storage

The phone provides 4GB of internal storage accompanied by 512MB of RAM. While this may seem modest by contemporary standards, at its launch, it was a typical configuration for entry-level smartphones. For users needing more storage space, the Kis 3 Max includes a dedicated microSDHC slot, allowing for expanded storage capabilities, which is crucial for storing additional apps, photos, and media files.

Camera Specifications

The ZTE Kis 3 Max features a rear camera of 5 MP with autofocus and LED flash. It supports a panorama mode and can capture videos at 720p resolution at 30 frames per second, making it feasible for capturing everyday moments with reasonable quality given its price point. On the front, the device is equipped with a 2 MP camera, catering to basic selfie needs and video calling functionalities.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity-wise, the ZTE Kis 3 Max is fitted with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, offering DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, and hotspot functionalities. Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP support ensures stable wireless audio streaming. Moreover, the device includes GPS for navigation and an FM radio feature that provides entertainment without the need for data usage. It also supports a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer but lacks NFC capability, which is common for smartphones in its class.

Battery Life

The device's removable 1850 mAh battery is one of its practicality highlights. In terms of standby, it can last up to 650 hours on 2G and up to 700 hours on 3G. For talk time, the phone supports up to 12 hours on 2G networks and approximately 13.5 hours on 3G networks. These battery life metrics make the ZTE Kis 3 Max a reliable companion for daily usage with sufficient longevity to last a full day on a single charge for moderate users.

Sensors and Additional Features

Despite its entry-level positioning, the ZTE Kis 3 Max comes equipped with a basic array of sensors, including an accelerometer, a gyro sensor, a proximity sensor, and a compass. These sensors enable the phone to support basic orientation and motion-based applications.

Concluding Thoughts

In summary, the ZTE Kis 3 Max aimed to deliver value by focusing on usability and essential features. It was priced at approximately 120 EUR at launch, positioning it as an affordable option for consumers seeking a no-frills smartphone experience. Offered in classic black and white color options, it combined essential performance and design features, appealing to budget-conscious buyers and providing a solid step into the world of smartphones for many users at the time of its release.