Boost Mobile Boost Max Review
Our friends over at Boost Mobile have sent us the Boost Max for us to review. The Boost Max is the carrier first phablet device and it certainly is the largest device on the carrier. If you are looking for a small device, I would suggest you take a look at our Boost Mobile Moto G Review(Click Here To See It). The Boost Max has a 5.7-inch display, this is similar to the screen real estate on the Galaxy Note series. The Boost Max comes in at $299.99 with no contract and it can be paired with Boost Mobile’s shrinking payments plan. Keep reading to see our full thoughts on the Boost Max!
Hardware
Powering the Boost Max is a dual core processor, a 1.2GHz dual core processor with 1GB of RAM. Running on the Boost Max is a user interface developed by ZTE and Boost Mobile over Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. This mid range dual core processor means that the Boost Max is a mid range handset. It behaves like a mid range handset, at times the operating system can get slowed down. I specifically noticed this when multitasking with over 4 apps open and when pulling down the notifications bar. Graphics intense and processor intense applications may not perform as well as you would like. For the average uses, it should be fine, as in checking email, browsing the web, and similar tasks.
In terms of connectivity on the Boost Max, you get a quite a few features. From WiFi to Bluetooth and all the way to 4G LTE support. Boost Mobile utilizes Sprint Nationwide Network, now Sprint Spark is not supported on this device. Sprint Spark is the even faster portion of their 4G LTE network, this is on devices like the LG G Flex. 4G LTE speeds are still found on the Boost Max, in the New Jersey area we tested the phone our average download speed was 8.79Mbps and the average upload speed was 3.59Mbps. While this is not as fast as Verizon’s 4G LTE network, this is not the network performance everyone will receive. Network performance can and will vary from area to area, for instance while 4G LTE is available in our area, it might not be available in your area just yet. If no 4G LTE is available in your area, the Boost Max will utilize the 3G EVDO network.
Inside the Max is a 3200mAh battery that performs very well. On a full charge with brightness all the way up to the top and with an average amount of usage, I got a full 12 hours of battery life. This is enough to get you through the whole day and it should be enough for most customers.
Internally the Boost Max features 8GB of internal storage, however out of the box around 4GB is available. Not to worry, as there is a micro SD card slot built right into the side of the device. This can be expanded with up to a 64GB micro SD card.
The big story with the Boost Max is that it is Boost Mobile’s first phablet. It features a 5.7-inch HD IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass. Notice how there is no “full” in front of HD, that means the Boost Max is only a 720p device. While this is not the biggest deal, it does mean the display is not as sharp as you might expect. Most of the other phablets on the market do feature the 1080p display, but as a mid range device I think a 720p display works.
Software
The Boost Max was originally announced at the 2014 CES as the Iconic by ZTE. For the most part it is the same device, except for a lower version of Android. Out of the box this device is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, since the Iconic variant had a higher version of Android, this gives us hope for future software upgrades. It is very much so a mid range device due to the 1.2GHz dual core processor.
ZTE and Boost Mobile added an interesting skin to the device. The lock screen for instance is now a start button that you hold to unlock the phone. It gives you the option to open the camera and access volume controls as well. When you pull down the notification bar, you will see some customization via the settings button quick access. You can multitask via Smart Viewer, it basically cuts the device’s screen in half. Unlike many of the competitor devices, you can use any two applications with this mode. The only issue is the processor sometimes slows down this nice feature.
There are a quite few pre-loaded applications on the Boost Max. Many of these can be removed by the user, if you choose to do so. You will see applications like Google App Suite, Google Play Suite, airG, Boost Music, Boost Zone, Google Chrome, Dolby, eBay, Full Share, Kingsoft Office, Lumen Toolbar, Mobile ID, NextRadio, Qualcomm Enhanced, SoundTracking, and more.
Design
The Boost Max is a large device and there is no way to hide that, it is phablet. It has a height of 6.5-inches and width 3.25-inches. While it is big in length and width, the thickness is only 0.4-inches. You can still feel it in your hands at 6.87-ounces. It is most certainly a two-handed device, using it with one hand will simply not happen. The back is a mix of plastic and an aluminum type build. The top and bottom of the back are a light black with the middle being silver. The front of the device is totally black and there is a silver rim going around the edges.
Above the 5.7-inch display you will find an earpiece, a 1 megapixel camera, and an LED light. Below the display you will find three physical touch buttons, this being back, home, and menu. Your power button and camera shutter are on the right hand side, while the left hand side has the micro SD card slot, volume rocker, and micro USB port. The back features an 8 megapixel back camera with LED flash and a speaker.
Bottom Line
The Boost Max for Boost Mobile is a mid range device that happens to be a phablet. For those looking for a phablet, you might just be looking at the screen. An okay 5.7-inch 720p HD display is on board and while it is not the sharpest, it compares with other mid range devices. The cameras perform show-show and they really do depend on the specific situation. It is currently running Android Jelly Bean with a unique user interface, with future updates hopefully coming. It has a design, that keeps the focus on the large display. At $299.99 with no contract, it is cheaper than several other devices on the carrier, but also more expensive than other devices. If you are looking for a phablet and have you heart set on one, the Boost Max for Boost Mobile would be the one. Click Here For More Information On The Boost Mobile Boost Max. We would like to thank Boost Mobile for providing us with a copy of the “Boost Mobile Boost Max”.
