It doesn’t matter how great a deal you got on your last business smartphone, there’s one company that almost certainly has it beat.
How much would you pay for a phone with the following specs?
- 6-inch display with a 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution
- Octa-core Snapdragon 617 processor
- 13-megapixel rear camera
- 5-megapixel front camera
- 2GB of RAM
- 32GB of storage
- MicroSD card slot
- 3,400 mAh battery
- Rear fingerprint sensor
- Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software
- USB Type-C
For most people the answer would probably be $300 or more. But ZTE has priced the ZMax Pro, which by the way has all these specs, so low it has many of the leading tech publishers online singing the company’s praises.
So how much is the ZTE ZMax Pro? The answer is $99. Yes, this feature packed phone is less than $100.
The company is known for manufacturing budget phones, but it also has high-end products, such as the Axon 7, which can go toe-to-toe with the leading flagship phones of global brands. So the question has to be asked, why is ZTE pricing a phone with these specs so low? Market saturation is the most obvious answer, because high-end phones are beginning to have a harder time selling than in a saturated market.
Small Business Deals
According to Gartner, Apple had its first double-digit decline year on year, with iPhone sales down 14 percent in Q1 of 2016, and Samsung also saw a decline, although it wasn’t as dramatic. As for low-cost Chinese brands like ZTE, they are experiencing a boon as consumers look for high-quality phones that are more affordable.
The ZMax Pro fits a Small Business’ Needs, and Budget
For small businesses looking to give their employees company phones, the ZMax Pro has come at the right time. This phone has all the features a business needs to chat, text and video conference by bringing everyone together no matter where they are. The 13 MP camera, HD audio, VoLTE, 3,400mAh battery, 32GB of storage and microSD all means they will be able to communicate across all channels while capturing and storing rich media.
As many of the reviewers of the ZTE Zmax Pro have said, there is not a phone out there with these specs anywhere for $99. Whether you are a consumer or a business, this represents an option if you are in the market for a smartphone/phablet at a budget price.
The Zmax Pro is only going to be available through MetroPCS, and you can pre-register to get one here.
Image: ZTE
I’d say that buying a phone is not just about specs. It is also about your experience as you use the smartphone. This experience easily gets translated into referrals through word of mouth.
I’ve had the current ZTE Zmax for a year now and I love it. Can’t wait for the new one. You’d be silly to pass this up. I’ll likely STILL keep my current one because the screen is amazing.
Hi Vivian,
You are absolutely correct, it is an offer too good to pass up. I had to do a double-take of the price to make sure it wasn’t a typo.
I have had the ZTE Zmax for over a year now, and I have to admit for the $109 I paid for it, its held up pretty well. I’ll be right there at my closest MetroPCS come Monday morning.
Hi Sharon,
This is a great price, I hope MetroPCS will be able to keep up with the demand.
I’ve owned the ZTE Zmax for almost 2 years now, and I love it! At one third the price of the IPhone and anything Samsung or LG, it gives me everything I need. Plus, it rides on the MetroPCS network, all the data, all the time, at a low cost. I’ve preregistered and can’t wait for the new model!!
Hi Tom,
ZTE has managed to give its customers low end prices with high end specs, and the Z Max Prove proves that point. At $99, I don’t know many companies that will be able to compete with these specs.
What about the alleged lack of Near-field communication (NFC) and Android Pay in the ZTE ZMax Pro? How important are these now, and in the future? Will the lack of NFC, apart from not allowing the use of the smartphone to pay bills at a register, will it also prevent airline companies from reading your ticket at the gate, in effect meaning that getting a ticket with the phone only works if the ticket is printed out? Are these valid questions and if so, how should they be answered? Thanks.
Hi Napoleon,
I agree the lack of NFC will be an issue as the adoption rate continues to grow. However, at $99 ZTE probably had to make some hard choices. And when you take into account all of the great specs of the phone, something had to give, and in this case it was NFC. But future versions of the Z Max Pro will have to include NFC if it wants to be relevant in any way.
I know ZTE Zmax pro is unlocked but still it’s a advertising gesture meaning that actual cost is more that 100$ (both companies paid for it)
Zmax pro in other countries won’t be 100$
Hi Vahid,
I don’t know what the price will be outside of the US, so we will have to wait and see how much more it is going to be.
I love my ZMax 970. To bad they won’t upgrade Android, though. But I am still going to buy the ZMax Pro.
Hi Vince,
The Z Max Pro comes running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and some UI customization from ZTE. Only downside is bloatware from MetroPCS.
Ive had the ZTE ZMax for over a year now, its not the best phone in the world but its fits my demands which makes it perfect for me. I was Skeptical about it at first when I saw it for $99. But when I brought I was hoping for another one to come out and look what we got now!! the ZTE Z max Pro… I cant wait to get it!!!!!
Hi Dtrew,
Some how ZTE manages to give you just what you need at a great price. The Z Max Pro may not be the best phone out there either, but for $99 it is a deal you can’t pass up.