ZTE Zmax 2 Comprehensive Review of Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of ZTE Zmax 2

The ZTE Zmax 2 is a mid-range smartphone that was announced and released in September 2015. Despite its discontinuation, it remains a popular choice among budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone. The Zmax 2 provides a balanced combination of performance, display quality, and user-centric features.

Design and Build

The ZTE Zmax 2 has a sleek design with dimensions of 153.9 x 76 x 9.4 mm and weighs 170.1 grams, making it comfortable to hold and use. Its body is equipped with a Micro-SIM slot, and while it doesn’t offer cutting-edge aesthetics, it’s practical and sturdy for daily use.

Display

The smartphone features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. This offers a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi, ensuring decent clarity and vibrant colors suitable for various media consumption needs. The screen-to-body ratio stands at around 71.3%, offering ample display real estate for viewers.

Network and Connectivity

The Zmax 2 supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, ensuring comprehensive network coverage. It operates on multiple bands across 2G, 3G, and 4G spectrums, providing a versatile connectivity experience. The device achieves speeds of HSPA and LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, making it adequate for everyday browsing and multimedia downloading activities.

Performance

Under the hood, the device is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 chipset, built on the 28 nm process. The quad-core CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 is paired with an Adreno 306 GPU, ensuring smooth performance for basic to moderate applications and games. The ZTE Zmax 2 originally comes with Android 5.1 (Lollipop) and is upgradable to Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), offering user flexibility regarding software preference.

Memory and Storage

The smartphone includes 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, enough to handle daily applications and processes, with the additional benefit of expandable storage via a dedicated microSDXC slot.

Camera Capabilities

The main camera is an 8 MP shooter with autofocus capabilities. It offers features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama, allowing it to perform well under various lighting conditions. The device can record 1080p videos at 30fps, capturing memories in clear detail. A 2 MP front-facing camera is also included for selfies and video calls.

Audio and Sound

The Zmax 2 is equipped with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack that offers flexibility for audio output. Although it lacks advanced audio technology, the basic sound features are sufficient for a good multimedia experience.

Battery Life

One of the notable features is the 3000 mAh removable Li-Ion battery, which supports up to 384 hours of standby time and approximately 17 hours of talk time on a 3G network. This long-lasting battery ensures users remain connected throughout their daily routines.

Sensors and Additional Features

The device is equipped with essential sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, providing adequate functionality for most standard applications.

Connectivity

The phone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n with dual-band and hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, GPS for navigation, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. However, it lacks NFC and radio functionalities, which can be a downside for some users.

Pricing and Availability

Originally priced at around 130 EUR, the ZTE Zmax 2 offered excellent value for its price range, combining performance, and functionality. Despite being discontinued, you may still find it available in some markets or through secondhand channels.

Conclusion

Overall, the ZTE Zmax 2 provides a practical choice for users looking for a reliable smartphone with decent performance and features. Its balance of design, display, network capabilities, and battery life makes it a worthy option in the budget segment.