Home
News
You are here

ZTE's two new affordable phones for the US are a sorry excuse for a comeback

6comments

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Oct 31, 2018, 10:02 AM

Android ZTE

ZTE's two new affordable phones for the US are a sorry excuse for a comeback

ZTE Blade Max View

ZTE made a surprisingly good impression at the IFA trade show in Berlin a couple of months back after almost going out of business earlier this year, but unfortunately, there’s still no word on Axon 9 Pro US availability.

Instead of that powerhouse or even the quirky new Nubia X, the company will attempt to restore trust among smartphone consumers this side of the pond starting with a pair of ultra-affordable Blade-series devices.

While the Blade X2 Max is probably not happening, a $180 ZTE Blade Max 2s and $200 ZTE Blade Max View are up for grabs unlocked from ZTE’s official US e-store, also heading for Newegg and B&H Photo Video before long.

The two low-cost, low to mid-end Android handsets obviously have GSM support for networks like AT&T and T-Mobile in common, but interestingly enough, the Blade Max View can be activated on Verizon as well, whereas the third carrier to provide wireless service for the Blade Max 2s is Sprint.

ZTE Blade Max 2s

There’s not a whole lot separating the two phones from a hardware standpoint, as both of them come with trendy 2160 x 1080 6-inch 2:1 screens, Snapdragon 435 processing power, and generous 4,000 mAh battery capacity.

Marketed as premium “edge-to-edge” affairs, the two devices actually appear to maintain a “conventional” set of top and bottom bezels. The cheaper model is taller, wider, and heavier than the ZTE Blade Max View, despite sharing the same display and battery size. More importantly, the Blade Max 2s only features 2GB RAM, a single 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 5MP front shooter, compared to 3 gigs of memory, dual 16 + 2MP main snappers, and an 8MP selfie cam on the slightly pricier phone.

Tragically, Android 7.1.1 Nougat runs the software show out the box on the Blade Max View, while the Blade Max 2s comes with 8.1 Oreo goodies pre-installed... and little chance of an impending Pie update. That makes these already mediocre devices significantly less attractive than almost all of the best sub-$250 smartphones available today.

$30 /mo

$35

$5 off (14%)

New members get $5/mo off the $35/mo Visible+ plan or $5/mo off the $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan for the first 60 months when they port-in from an eligible carrier. Use code 5OFF5 at checkout to save up to $300.

Buy at Visible

View Full Bio

Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.

Read the latest from Adrian Diaconescu