Cricket Wireless is announcing the ZTE Grand X Max smartphone with a 6-inch display, quad-core Qualcomm processor, and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. The new phone is big, it’s inexpensive, and it’s running on Cricket’s no-contract network. Cricket is aiming this phone at just about everyone, including the “on-the-go mom, a super social user, a business user, or a value seeker wanting the advantages of a larger smartphone”. That’s pretty all-encompassing. ZTE has said that they are moving into the U.S. and this is just the beginning.
The specs on the Grand X Max are mid-range at best, but with this phone it’s all about the display. It measures 6-inches from corner to corner, and has a 1280 x 720 screen resolution. The phone is running Android 4.4 KitKat and has 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot that supports up to an additional 32GB of storage space. The 3,200 mAh battery should keep you going all day. The Grand X Max has additional features like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge and the Peel Smart Remote app that can create a personalized TV remote on your phone. You can
Cricket is also continuing to offer a $100 bill credit if you switch to them from T-Mobile or MetroPCS before October 19. Cricket is also including more high-speed data with their Basic, Smart, and Pro plans. Cricket is a prepaid wireless carrier, so you don’t need a contract or long-term commitment when you sign up with them. You can buy the ZTE Grand X Max for just $199.99 and then pay month-to-month for your plan. AT&T bought Cricket Wireless earlier this year so you could have pretty good coverage, although Cricket data speeds are capped at 8Mbps download. The new AT&T Cricket plans start at $40, though.
The ZTE Grand X Max looks like a decent option at only $199.99, never mind that the ‘X Max’ name makes me think of Christmas. Maybe that was their goal, with the holiday season right around the corner. The Grand X Max will be available October 10.