ZTE Zmax 2
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- gags7997
- IbE
- 26 Aug 2016
I got this phone on sale, $130. The phone conversation is terrible because the Mic is on the back. You have to cup the speaker/mic area or just use speaker or Bluetooth. It's annoying but not the worse.
The camera is freaking horrible. Takes too long to focus and fails half the time. I'm using pro capture all because it's better then stock all, but still terrible.
The upside is the phone is fast and clean. No clutter or bloatware and very responsive.
Why I bought it it fails (phone calls and pics for work) but all in all a solid C+ for the money.
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- Daisy
- 4HR
- 03 Aug 2016
Kdia, 23 Apr 2016Do you have problems with the mic too. When I make calls no... moreMic & speaker on back of phone. Speak into bottom or back. Great sounds.
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- gman8321
- ICY
- 20 Jul 2016
Does this phone support VoLTE?
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- AnonD-561065
- QZQ
- 16 Jul 2016
GPS. Whenever I use the "Runtastic" app for walking/ruining, Just as soon as it starts, I get a minute into the activity and a voice tells me that the GPS signal is lost- (This is every time) I continue for a mile to five miles, and when I check my app for distance, it tells me I went 0.39 miles or less or more, but never what I know my route to be. Had an iPhone 4s Samsung Galaxy S5 and a Lumia 640 prior and they did not have this issue, so it isn't the area. Curious if any one else experiences this.
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- Iva
- IxH
- 06 Jul 2016
Possible Mic Problem. Callers can not hear me but I can hear them. Had this phone under 3 months highly disappointed with ZTE.
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- Dex
- shR
- 12 Jun 2016
Kdia, 23 Apr 2016Do you have problems with the mic too. When I make calls no... moreI have the same problem with my mic. No one can hear me.
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- AnonD-546580
- 4DL
- 08 Jun 2016
I wanted to add a comment about the camera. Reviewers have generally been quite negative about the rear camera of the Zmax 2. Out of the box, using the default camera app, the photos were mediocre outdoors and poor indoors, with or without flash. But, I noticed that some photos were quite good, which made me suspect that the problem is not with the camera itself, but with the ZTE camera app.
I installed the free Google camera app. Outdoor photos were good in auto mode and often terrific using the HDR mode. Color balance and saturation were accurate and pleasing. Fine details were missing or smeared if you zoom in to 100% detail but most people would not notice.
Then I installed the premium paid version of the FV-5 camera app. That app permits manually locking the ISO level at 100, and fine tuning the white balance for lighting conditions (sunny, shade, etc.). FV-5 also permits tapping your finger on the key part of the subject for manual focusing. The results were even better than with the Google app. Outdoor photos look great, and indoor photos are okay, if you pick an ISO level that matches the lighting. You can adjust exposure to make a photo brighter or darker.
Fine details are still missing and blurred, but that is not noticeable when looking at the full image, only by zooming in.
Bottom line: the Zmax 2 is capable of taking photos that are as good or better than you will get from the typical phone in the $60 to $100 price range. Outdoors, photos can come close to the quality of those from a $600 or $700, except for the loss of fine details.
So, as a basic phone (phone call quality, texting, emails), the Zmax 2 is solid, with a plus for the high quality rear speaker with Dolby Audio, and a minus for the quiet volume of the front speaker. As an audio playback device for Spotify, it matches the best phones I have heard. As a camera, it is as good as any phone in its price range after you install a better camera app.
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- AnonD-546580
- 4DL
- 08 Jun 2016
I saw the ZTE Zmax 2 at Best Buy for $60 as a AT&T GoPhone. I removed the AT&T GoPhone Sim card and went to the AT&T Device Unlocking Portal web page and requested the unlocking code. (Check the box for "NON-AT&T Mobility Customer"). Six days later, I received the unlocking code and activated it on MetroPcs, which uses the T-Mobile network.
So far, it has been a solid phone. Voice quality through the front speaker is very natural, but a bit quiet through my elderly ears. I turned on the Dolby Audio app and selected the "Movie" option. Then I selected the tabs for boosting volume and voice clarity. I use manual EQ to boost both bass and treble. The sound quality through the rear speaker is very good. When I connect to good headphones or to my JBL bluetooth speaker, music and movies sound great.
My MetroPcs phones generally show only one or two bars of 4G LTE in my neighborhood. Same with the Zmax 2. Even with that weak signal, Netflix movies start quickly and look good. Spotify music sounds better than with my other phones.
I set screen brightness with the manual slider as the "auto" mode is too dim. Battery life is good, and most folks should be able to get from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. and still have 20% or 30% left. However, playing games, streaming Netfix movies, or using GPS drain the battery much faster. Using GPS navigation with the screen at 100% brightness drained 30% of the battery in an hour.
Two minor problems. When I was using GPS navigation, the ZMax 2 would lose the GPS signal for a minute or so, and then reconnect. My prior Lumia 640 and LG Stylo did the same thing in my area.
The second problem may or may not be the fault of the phone. When I use my banking app to connect to my bank, the log in process goes smoothly using 4G LTE. When I am connected to Wi-Fi, an error message says "your password is not recognized". Odd.
The Zmax 2 is similar in height, width and weight to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and to the Apple iPhone 6s Plus. Those phones sell for over $600. I paid $60 for the ZTE. Is it as good as those phone? Nope. But I would guestimate the ZTE is providing 80% or 90% of the performance of those phones for everyday functions....phone calls, texting, email, music, video, gps...for just 10% of their price. If I drop it, and it breaks, or I lose it, hey...it cost $60.
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- Anthony
- sa3
- 06 Jun 2016
The Zmax 2 is unpopular bigger brother of the original Zmax.
On paper, the 3000 mAh battery and 2gb of ram look good on paper and perform well in real life. However, the phone clearly struggles with it's lack of more pixels, and a more optimized camera. The camera is atrocious at taking video, but pictures are surprisingly decent (In highly lit environments).
The durability of this phone still amazes me to this day. I have a phone holder on my bike, and it fell while I was going over 10 miles an hour. The way it skidded across the pavement lead me to believe there were many scratches beyond repair. As I slowly lifted the phone to reveal the screen, it was untouched. The border of the phone got most of the impact.
From a budget standpoint, this isn't the best bang for your buck. But the incredible value you are given with the plans that come with GoPhones, it sure is worth a try.
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- AnonD-544919
- R0q
- 04 Jun 2016
Anonymous, 27 Nov 2015i cant wait to get it. when i get paid im switching to Att ... morePlease think about changing to ATT. That is all i will say. Check out the fine print first please.
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- AnonD-544919
- R0q
- 04 Jun 2016
Not a big fan. It's ATT go but use with other company. Camera not good. Sound not great. All the ATT apps run often. Personally,I wil not buy a phone from another company like Att, just generally speaking not bashing ATT. Altho, I do think they shoukd stand by the quality and some kind of warranty. Sorry thumbs down on ZTE Z958. You get what you pay for in this situation.
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- Emilio
- Pr8
- 08 May 2016
Anonymous, 22 Mar 2016Yes t the sound does suck.Just turn on the dolby app, and you will enjoy a big sound.
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- Cujo53
- Y6$
- 07 May 2016
The Pepper., 12 Apr 2016How does the output from the headphone port sound? The headset jack has great sound quality I have found everything on this phone to be great.
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- Poetry
- 4MK
- 03 May 2016
AnonD-532594, 01 May 2016I am about to buy a ZTE Zmax 2 (model G111 apparently). I w... more2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G: HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100, 4G: LTE 1900(B2) / 1700(B4) / 2100(B4) / 2600(B7) / 700(B12)
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- AnonD-532594
- Isb
- 01 May 2016
I am about to buy a ZTE Zmax 2 (model G111 apparently). I want to know if this particular model comes with 850 frequency for 4G/LTE networks.
I see in the specs that there's one model that comes with 850 and another one with 2600...
Thank you!
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- AnonD-531367
- kXB
- 28 Apr 2016
Kdia, 23 Apr 2016Do you have problems with the mic too. When I make calls no... moreI do, have you found a fix? Mine doesn't work half the time, maybe more
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- AnonD-531367
- kXB
- 28 Apr 2016
I do. Have you found a fix??
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- Kdia
- THj
- 23 Apr 2016
Kat, 17 Mar 2016The only thing I don't like about this phone is the VOLUME ... moreDo you have problems with the mic too. When I make calls now people can't hear me.
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- Onions
- Qt3
- 21 Apr 2016
prashanth, 06 Mar 2016will this mobile get update its android version to mashmall... moreCheck the XDA forums. Probably a marshmallow ROM already or soon
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- Le Pepper
- rRS
- 15 Apr 2016
The Pepper., 12 Apr 2016How does the output from the headphone port sound? It actually sounds great with that Dolby Digital settings option