Skip to main content

ZTE’s 6-inch Blade X Max smartphone costs just $150 on Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless
Kārlis Dambrāns/123rf
ZTE is launching yet another budget smartphone in the U.S., but this time it’s from its international Blade series. The new Blade X Max is a 6-inch smartphone running Android 7.1.1, the latest version from Google, and it will cost $150 exclusively at Cricket Wireless for existing subscribers.

If you’re looking to switch to Cricket Wireless, new customers can grab the phone for a mere $100 — the same promotional price point for other ZTE budget devices, such as the Max XL on Boost Mobile and the ZMax Pro on MetroPCS. The ZMax Pro was later picked up by MetroPCS’ parent carrier, T-Mobile, so the same could happen with AT&T, which owns Cricket Wireless.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Blade X Max’s specifications are quite similar to the recently  announced ZTE Max XL — it runs the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor with 2GB of RAM, and you’ll find the 6-inch display has the same 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution.  It comes packed with 32GB of internal storage, more than the 16GB on the Max XL, and there’s a MicroSD card slot in case you need more space. The Blade X Max also has the same 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front-facing camera setup as the Max XL.

Recommended Videos

It (thankfully) has a headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port, which is superior to the long-running MicroUSB port. You’ll be able to charge faster with Type C, especially thanks to the phone’s support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology. The 3,400mAh battery capacity certainly is a lot larger than that of more expensive phones, and it means the Blade X Max should last a full day.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

There’s a fingerprint reader on the back of the phone — a staple in most smartphones these days, though ZTE goes a step further and allows you to use five fingerprints to access different apps.

The Blade X Max is ZTE’s second Blade smartphone available in the U.S., after the higher-priced Blade V8 Pro. It goes on sale on May 12 on Cricket Wireless for $150, but if you’re a thinking about switching to the carrier, you can get it for a cool $100.

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
This app turns your Apple Watch into a Mac and smart home gesture hub
Wow Mouse app for Mac click and gesture control.

Just about a year ago, a startup named DoublePoint launched a gesture control app that lets smartwatch users control phones, tablets, and headsets, among other devices. The Apple Watch has finally received its own version.

In the lead-up to CES 2025, Doublepoint introduced the WowMouse app for Apple Watch, which boasts a few algorithmic refinements and a partnership with Bosch. The app’s Android version has already raked in over 100,000 downloads, says the company.

Read more
What I want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

One of my favorite devices launched in 2024 was the Samsung Galaxy Ring. It was first teased last January at the Galaxy S24 launch, and then Samsung gave us a sneak peek in February before launching it alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in July.

My excitement for it had been building in the first half of the year, and the final product didn’t disappoint. Samsung delivered an excellent smart ring that didn’t cause discomfort or swollen fingers. However, RingConn and then Oura launched their successors, and the Galaxy Ring lost some of its appeal.

Read more
HMD is bringing back one of 2023’s best lifesaving gadgets
A render of the HMD OffGrid sitting in front of a night sky filled with stars.

Human Mobile Devices, better known as HMD, is launching an interesting new gadget at CES 2025. No, it's not a new smartphone. Instead, HMD is announcing the OffGrid — a small handheld gadget that adds satellite connectivity to virtually any smartphone.

After pairing the OffGrid to your Android phone or iPhone and downloading the OffGrid app, the device equips your smartphone with a few different features — including two-way messaging, locating sharing/live location tracking for up to five recipients, check-in messages, and SOS emergency services. The OffGrid allows all this to work via a satellite connection, meaning you can stay connected even when you're out of range of your phone's carrier.

Read more