ZTE Maven and ZTE Sonata 2 Cell Phones
Recently two of our KIDS FIRST! jurors reviewed the AT&T ZTE Maven and the Cricket ZTE Sonata 2 cell phones. Here are their findings:
At&T ZTE Maven
Reviewed by Candace Carteen
Recently, I received the AT&T ZTE Maven GoPhone for review. I’ve moved into a new century! This is a solid, light weight phone with fast connections and, at only $59.99, I was amazed by its abilities. I love the feature that allows you to touch and hold the screen to unlock your phone. I also love that the clock is large and easy to read. This phone is just what you need if you’re a light user. It comes with forward and backward facing cameras that take spectacular pictures and easy selfies. I produced a short movie of my son with the video feature and was happily surprised with the quality and ease of shooting. Sound for both the video and the radio are note worthy. Sometimes I had difficulty with the sound on my old phone, but had no concerns with the Maven. The touch screen makes texting flawless even for the older crowd, like me. Add the fact it’s an Android with a 5.1 Lollipop operating system that will keep the grandkids happy and that the Maven is a pay as you go phone and you’ll have everyone smiling. It is now available!
The Cricket ZTE Sonata 2
By Keefer C. Blakeslee
This is an easy and fast smart phone that is a fun portable tool to stay in contact with friends and family, acquire quick internet access and more great things. The Sonata 2, in many respects, is your average smart phone but the quality is enhanced a lot. You are able to take clear pictures and video with the 5 MP camera with flash. The built in speakers produce clear and booming sound. A nice touch is when you put on headphones. It gives you a disclaimer about hearing damage if you have the volume up to high. Cricket Wi-Fi allows you to automatically connect to free Wi-Fi Hot spots. This is really useful for internet access on the go.
As a KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, I have a busy schedule and sometimes need a planner to keep track of everything. With the Sonata 2 calendar, I can plan events, set up reminders and be able to stay organized with my busy agenda.
It gives you access to many of your favorite apps from the play store. So, when you are feeling bored, Fruit Ninja is at your finger tips.
The best is it’s paid month to month. No long term contracts! If you’re looking for a new phone that is both useful, inexpensive and amusing, I recommend the Cricket ZTE Sonata 2 as a smart phone that will work for you.
More about both phones: ZTE USA, the fourth largest phone manufacturer in the U.S. and second largest in the no-contract market*, released the ZTE Maven with AT&T and ZTE Sonata 2 with Cricket Wireless earlier this summer. The ZTE Maven is available at www.att.com and in select AT&T retail stores nationwide for $59.99**. The device can be activated on both AT&T postpaid and GoPhone prepaid service. Compact in size, with voice-directed navigation and a pre-installed navigation app, the ZTE Maven is the perfect phone for anyone or any family on-the-go. With 4G LTE***, a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor, you get fast speeds streaming, downloading, and surfing
The ZTE Sonata 2 is available with Cricket Wireless online at www.cricketwireless.com and in select Cricket Wireless retail stores nationwide for $29.99 with new line activation or with an eligible upgrade. Following the success of the original Sonata, the Sonata 2 has been upgraded with more talk time and new looks. Fun meets function with a selfie shortcut button, a 5 MP rear camera with LED flash and 4x zoom, and a 2 MP front-facing camera. With 32GB of expandable storage (MicroSD card sold separately), 1.2GHz Qualcomm dual-core processor, 4G speeds, and plenty of battery, this phone will not slow you down or hold you back.
