Alibaba opens its mobile payment system to 4 million US stores

Chinese internet titan Alibaba has struck a deal to let its global AliPay customers buy things in the US through First Data, makers of the Clover point-of-sale system. Just don’t mistake this for a full American expansion to compete with Apple Pay and Android Pay: The partnership is explicitly aimed to convenience AliPay’s 450 million existing global users visiting the US.

Which isn’t to say that won’t happen in the future. This could be a move to get AliPay’s foot in the door to later open its service up to US consumers. For now, the deal allows current customers to make purchases through the service at four million First Data-connected merchants, saving them the fuss and expense of currency exchange or international credit card fees.

As The Verge points out, if you’re keen on keeping track of the global payment system scorecard, AliPay is now accepted in 70 countries compared to Apple Pay’s 15 or Android Pay’s 10. PayPal is still the leader by a longshot: Its service is supported in 200 countries and 25 currencies.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: First Data

Apple Acquires ‘Beddit’ iPhone-Connected Sleep Monitoring System

Apple recently acquired Beddit Sleep Monitor, an app and sleep system designed to monitor daily sleep habits through the iPhone, according to an updated privacy policy posted both on the Beddit website and in the Beddit app when creating an account. A link within the app also directs to the Apple Privacy Policy.

As of May 8, the Beddit privacy policy says the following:

Beddit has been acquired by Apple. Your personal data will be collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Apple Privacy Policy.

The Beddit 3 Sleep Monitor, which can be purchased from Apple for $150, is a thin, flexible sensor that’s designed to be placed under the sheet on the top of a mattress. It collects and analyzes sleep-related data like sleep time and efficiency, heart rate, respiration, movement, snoring, room temperature, and room humidity.

All of the data collected by the Beddit Sleep Monitor is then made available to iPhone users through an accompanying Beddit iPhone app, which provides “personalized insights” and “customizable sleep coaching” to help users improve their sleep habits.

According to the Beddit website, the device uses ballistocardiography (BCG) to measure the mechanical activity of the heart, lungs, and other body functions. When the heart beats, for example, the Beddit sensor can measure the mechanical impulse generated by the acceleration of the blood through the circulatory system.

Based on the changes to the Beddit privacy policy, it appears Apple may have plans to continue selling the device and collecting health-related data from it, which could potentially be used to enhance future versions of products like the Apple Watch.

Tags: Apple acquisition, Beddit
Discuss this article in our forums

Google hopes new languages keep you from saying ‘adios’ to Allo

When Google released its Allo chat app late last year, the accompanying chatbot known as Google Assistant was only able to offer helpful advice and Smart Replies in English. Knowing full well that you can’t have an international chat assistant without supporting multiple languages, Google eventually introduced support for German, Hindi and Japanese as well. Today, that repertoire grows even larger as Assistant in Allo now supports two of the most popular languages in the world: French and Spanish.

Seeing as Google Assistant is the main way that Allo is differentiating itself from the other messaging apps out there, the support of multiple languages is pretty important if only to get additional marketshare. Allo users can use the Google Assistant to search for information, come up with quick smart replies, offer emoji suggestions or look up what the weather will be like that day. In order for Google Assistant to work in a different language, simply say “Talk to me in [language]” or “Speak to me in [language].”

It was just a couple of weeks ago that Google finally added basic chat functions to Allo, like encrypted incognito mode in group chats, link previews and the ability to backup and restore your messages. Still, we’re not sure if all of this will be enough to persuade folks to start using Allo over Hangouts. But at least now you can see if you can trick Google Assistant into offering “Me cago en la leche” as a Smart Reply.

Source: 9to5 Google

Researchers are using neural networks to get better at reading our minds

Why it matters to you

Using neural networks to make brain scans more accurate brings us closer to technology that can overcome blindness, paralysis, and other afflictions.

Researchers are doing a remarkable job of scanning the human brain and extracting information that can be used for a number of important applications. Known as brain decoding, this technology could help with such things as curing some forms of blindness and controlling PCs and other devices using the brain as an input device.

One of the technologies used in brain decoding is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which is able to determine brain states while certain mental functions are being carried out. An example is reconstructing visual stimulus, and a group of researchers has determined a way to extract cleaner and more accurate data, as Engadget reports.

Essentially, some Chinese researchers applied neural network algorithms to the process of mapping brain scan data to what a person sees. As can be seen in the illustration below, algorithms accomplish varying degrees of accuracy in recreating what a person is seeing using fMRI real-time scanning.

The researcher’s Deep Generative Multiview Model (GDDM) provides an uncanny representation of the letters being viewed by a test subject. This means that the decoding process is essentially reading the subject’s mind and displaying the results on-screen. While the technical details are incredibly complex, the overall concept is relatively simple — use neural network algorithms to make mapping real-time data vastly more accurate.

The applications for this kind of technology are mind-bogglingly exciting. While this particular research only handled the brain’s processing of simple visual data, more accurate systems could potentially handle more complex images and even video. Should the technology progress that far, then applications could be developed for using the brain to control devices, analyze dreams, and create a cure for blindness.

Future work will be aimed at perfecting the algorithms and neural networks with an eye to reconstructing dynamic vision. In addition, the researchers are looking at how to use the fMRI imaging measurements for multi-subject decoding. If they succeed, then it will not be too long before scientists can read our minds and act on that data — which is both a promising and terrifying proposition.

Researchers are using neural networks to get better at reading our minds

Why it matters to you

Using neural networks to make brain scans more accurate brings us closer to technology that can overcome blindness, paralysis, and other afflictions.

Researchers are doing a remarkable job of scanning the human brain and extracting information that can be used for a number of important applications. Known as brain decoding, this technology could help with such things as curing some forms of blindness and controlling PCs and other devices using the brain as an input device.

One of the technologies used in brain decoding is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which is able to determine brain states while certain mental functions are being carried out. An example is reconstructing visual stimulus, and a group of researchers has determined a way to extract cleaner and more accurate data, as Engadget reports.

Essentially, some Chinese researchers applied neural network algorithms to the process of mapping brain scan data to what a person sees. As can be seen in the illustration below, algorithms accomplish varying degrees of accuracy in recreating what a person is seeing using fMRI real-time scanning.

The researcher’s Deep Generative Multiview Model (GDDM) provides an uncanny representation of the letters being viewed by a test subject. This means that the decoding process is essentially reading the subject’s mind and displaying the results on-screen. While the technical details are incredibly complex, the overall concept is relatively simple — use neural network algorithms to make mapping real-time data vastly more accurate.

The applications for this kind of technology are mind-bogglingly exciting. While this particular research only handled the brain’s processing of simple visual data, more accurate systems could potentially handle more complex images and even video. Should the technology progress that far, then applications could be developed for using the brain to control devices, analyze dreams, and create a cure for blindness.

Future work will be aimed at perfecting the algorithms and neural networks with an eye to reconstructing dynamic vision. In addition, the researchers are looking at how to use the fMRI imaging measurements for multi-subject decoding. If they succeed, then it will not be too long before scientists can read our minds and act on that data — which is both a promising and terrifying proposition.

Microsoft expands on its stance to not to use a USB Type-C port

Why it matters to you

Microsoft’s continued stance against using USB Type-C ports is a good example of the confusion from the multiple uses of this technology.

Microsoft seemingly made waves when it introduced the Surface Laptop last week. Ranging from $999 to $2,199, the device aims to tackle the high-end Chromebook market packing a restricted version of Windows 10. But what the laptop does not pack is a USB Type-C port, which left many customers and members of the press scratching their heads. The technology, according to one Microsoft designer at the time, isn’t ripe for the picking.

As we mentioned last week, USB Type-C has nothing to do with speed — it defines the port size and type of connector. The typical USB 3.1 port uses a large, rectangular “Type-A” interface relying on a single-sided this-side-up connector. But with the combined introduction of USB 3.1 Gen2, Thunderbolt 3, and Type-C, there is a lot of misconception that they are all one in the same.

But that is not the case at all. Even more, there are specific cables required for the technology residing behind the Type-C port and they all generally look the same. Adding to the confusion, Type-C ports are sometimes used to charge their host devices. Customers could essentially grab the wrong Type-C charger and quickly run out of battery juice because the charger was not up for the task. Users would then turn to the device maker with their complaints, not the charger manufacturer.

Microsoft does not want that. Microsoft does not want customers to deal with the various Type-C cables, underwhelming chargers, all the adapters, and the third-party Type-C docks. That is why the Surface Laptop features only one USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port, one headphone jack, one Mini DisplayPort connector, and the Surface Connect port. Simplicity.

That latter connection is how customers can “safely” expand their Surface device experience. Microsoft’s $200 Microsoft Surface Dock adds two Mini DisplayPort connectors, one gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports, and one audio out port. The dock connects to a compatible Surface device via Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect port. Right now, it works with the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4, and Surface Book but the Surface Laptop will undoubtedly be added soon.

While limiting a Surface device’s connectivity seems like forcing customers into purchasing the dock, Microsoft sees this setup as brand stability. Customers won’t get ticked at Microsoft because they are confused about the different types of cables, chargers, and so on. Microsoft is controlling the end-to-end experience and there is nothing wrong with that.

Call it consumer confidence.

“It’s not like we haven’t known about USB-C for a long time,” general manager of Surface Engineering Pete Kyriacou told The Verge. He added that through the closed docking scenario, Microsoft can provide additional connectivity options with confidence.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Surface Laptop targets the education sector despite its high-end price. It takes aim at students and teachers who already have peripherals on-hand, eliminating the need for an annoying adapter that may eventually be misplaced. But why only include one USB port in the first place?

“That came down to design and space,” Kyriacou said.

China’s Alipay expands into the U.S. thanks to deal with First Data

Why it matters to you

The mobile payment market is heating up, ensuring that companies continue to improve their offerings in order to compete.

Apple Pay and Android Pay may dominate the mobile payments market in the United States, but there’s now a new competitor on the block. It’s called Alipay, and it’s actually one of the most popular mobile payment platforms in China. Now, it’s expanding beyond the Far East, and is available to use across the U.S.

The expansion comes as a result of a deal between Alipay and First Data, and there are around 4 million merchants that will accept Alipay at launch, according to a report from Bloomberg.

“This will open up Alipay to where it’s truly ubiquitous across the United States and hopefully more countries later,” said Souheil Badran, president of Alipay North America, in an interview with Bloomberg. “We decided rather than trying to do it on our own, this is an ecosystem that we’re looking for a partner that can provide scale.”

While Alipay is expanding beyond China, the service may not actually gain all that many new users. It’s actually largely targeted at Chinese customers who travel to the U.S., so they don’t have to sign up for a new payment service while they’re traveling. It also eliminates the need to get cash and convert it to local currency, or face having to pay high international credit card fees. Alipay has expended to other countries too. In fact, according to the report the service is accepted by as many as 100,000 retailers in 70 international markets.

In China, Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate the mobile payments market, and combined they hold a hefty 90 percent share. Leveraging the millions of Chinese customers who travel abroad could help the company better take on WeChat.

While Apple Pay and Android Pay were both launched in the past few years, Alipay actually dates back to 2004. At the time, it was launched as a payment platform for Alibaba’s ecommerce websites.

Here is how to follow along with the Microsoft Build 2017 event

Why it matters to you

Microsoft Build 2017 is your best chance to find out what the company is up to and what to expect to see in the near future.

Microsoft Build 2017 starts on Wednesday, kicking off the company’s most important event for convincing developers to build solutions around Microsoft products and services. Build 2017 is also a great opportunity to learn about those technologies that are most important to Microsoft and therefore to get a glimpse of what is coming from the company over the next year or so.

If you’re interested in following along with Build 2017, then there are a few ways to do so. Note that the conference starts with the first keynote at 8 a.m. (PT).

• Microsoft has its main Build 2017 portal, where the main events will be live-streamed.
• Microsoft’s video site, Channel 9, will host the keynote live-streams along with the various Build sessions.
• Microsoft has apps for Windows 10, iOS, and Android.

We’ve already covered what we expect Microsoft to highlight at Build 2017, and here is a quick list of the topics we think will take front and center at the event:

• Visual Studio 2017: Microsoft’s primary development toolset was introduced in March and is likely to be heavily featured throughout the conference.
• Windows 10: Redstone 3, Windows 10 S, Universal Windows Platform, and Project Centennial are all central to Microsoft’s various strategies and are likely to be covered in both the keynotes and in various sessions.
• Windows Mixed Reality: Microsoft has built virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) functionality into Windows 10 and its partners are making low-cost headsets for delivery this holiday season. Expect Windows Mixed Reality to receive significant attention.
• Cortana Skills Kit and Cortana-powered devices: Microsoft will likely officially introduce the Cortana Skills Kit and provide some coverage to the Harman Kardon Invoke and other Cortana-powered devices.
• Cloud computing: Microsoft Azure is an important revenue-generating product for Microsoft and it is growing fast. The company wants developers to build solutions for Azure and so cloud-computing will receive significant attention.
• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and bots: Microsoft has more irons in the artificial intelligence fire than just Cortana and Build 2017 will likely continue the emphasis on these technologies that were also important at Build 2016.

If you are hoping to see new Surface hardware at Build 2017, then you are likely to be disappointed. However, everything else that is interesting about Microsoft is likely to get at least some coverage over the event’s three information-packed days.

3D-printed fingertip sensors could give robots a sense of touch

Why it matters to you

University of Minnesota’s 3D-printed silicone pressure sensor could give robots a sense of touch, or provide surgeons with haptic feedback as they operate.

Wearable tech is getting smaller all the time. The latest example comes from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where researchers have developed a silicone pressure sensor able to be 3D-printed directly onto a person’s hand.

The results could one day be used to give robots a sense of touch, restore it for humans who have lost their own due to skin damage, or provide haptic feedback for use-cases like carrying out delicate surgical procedures.

“This work involves the 3D printing of stretchable sensors which act as tactile or touch sensors,” Michael McAlpine, a materials scientist who led the research project, told Digital Trends. “In other words, when you touch the sensor, you get a change in electrical conductivity as a result of how the touch interacts with the device. The device consists of many layers of 3D-printed materials which are first formulated as inks, and then extruded into device ‘fabrics’ that are stretchable. These fabrics are connected by a central coil which is particularly responsive to pressure, and therefore gives the entire device the ability to ‘feel.’”

Flexible, stretchable sensors open up a range of exciting possibilities when it comes to creating bionic augmentations for humans.

In its current iteration, the 4mm-wide sensor is relatively simple; being more of a showcase of the 3D-printing technology that’s able to print with soft silicone-based ink on the complex curve of a hand. However, the researchers showed that it was still sufficiently advanced that it can read a human pulse. An article describing the work was published in the journal Advanced Materials.

So far, the technology has only been used to print on an artificial hand. But expect that to change soon. “We demonstrated the concept of 3D printing a complete tactile sensor directly on the curved surface of a mannequin finger,” McAlpine continued. “In the future, we would like to extend this concept to actually 3D printing devices such as sensors onto real hands.”

We may still be a distance from some of the use-cases we described up top, but thanks to the pioneering work of labs like the University of Minnesota’s, we’re getting closer every day.

ZTE Zmax XL review

Research Center:
ZTE ZMax XL

Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE took us by surprise last year with the ZMax Pro, namely because of its $100 price tag (on MetroPCS). Its big, bright, beautiful screen, solid performance, and long-lasting battery made its disappointing camera easy to forgive.

Now, ZTE’s back with another budget-focused phone: The ZMax XL. It’s the spiritual successor to the ZMax Pro, but outfitted with a bigger battery and other minor updates. Best of all, it costs the same $100, though this time that price is available only on Boost Mobile.

Unfortunately, the ZMax XL’s upgrades aren’t money well spent. A long-lasting battery isn’t enough to justify a subpar screen, a sluggish processor, and another disappointing camera. The ZMax XL may be cheap, but its price isn’t low enough to justify the compromises.

Slightly thicker, but more comfortable to hold

You’d be forgiven for mistaking the ZMax XL for the ZMax Pro. From the front, the two phones look identical.

Despite the ZMax XL’s massive 6-inch footprint, I didn’t find it any more awkward to handle than last year’s ZMax Pro. Admittedly, one-handed use is pretty much impossible — you’re forced to shimmy up the ZMax XL’s edges to reach the top. But considering the generous amount of real estate afforded, it’s a price to pay for fans of large-screen phones.

The ZMax XL’s giant screen is shielded by curved 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3.0. The edges are ever-so-slightly raised above the ZMax XL display, and contoured around the phone’s four edges. We’re big fans of the execution, here — the sloping glass feels and looks just as good, if not better, as it does on the ZMax Pro.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While the XL is lighter than the Pro, it feels bulkier and is thicker. It’s likely due to the bigger battery in the XL, and we don’t mind — after all, who doesn’t want more battery life?

The other differences between the two phones are a little tougher to spot. The ZMax XL inherits the ZMax Pro’s sturdy textured power button and two-button volume rocker. The SIM card tray and MicroSD card slot haven’t moved from their respective positions on the phone’s upper-left side. The XL retains a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port, which is more than can be said for some budget phones.

On the back, the ZMax XL’s rear camera — a perfect circle — sits above a single LED flash. The embedded fingerprint, positioned below the flash, has a sloping edge that’s not as harsh on skin as the the ZMax Pro sensor’s sharp edges.

Another miss is the ZMax XL’s lack of a NFC chip.

There’s one similarity between the ZMax XL and ZMax Pro we were disappointed to see: Its three-button row of touch-sensitive navigation buttons. They don’t have any distinguishable icons to remind you which is the back button, and which is the Recent apps button — and worst of all they’re sometimes unresponsive.

Another miss is the ZMax XL’s lack of a near-field communications (NFC) sensor. Just like the ZMax Pro, it doesn’t support Android Pay — you can’t tap to pay at grocery stores, coffee shops, and other retailers with contactless terminals; pair with other NFC devices; or transfer files via Android Beam. Tap-to-pay platforms like Android Pay are gaining steam, so it’s sad to see ZTE leaving NFC out. But the company isn’t alone — Lenovo’s Moto G5 lacks NFC in some territories as well.

All that said, the ZMax XL isn’t devoid of improvements. It’s a tad bit more comfortable to hold, thanks to rounded-out sides and corners. It ditches the ZMax Pro’s gold accents, instead opting for a solid light-grey scheme. The new back cover material resists oily fingerprints, and has a much better grip.

Pinkish hues in the display

We weren’t expecting much from the ZMax XL’s Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) screen, and that intuition turned out to be on point. In our testing, text was sharp and the panel’s scale lent a cinematic quality to movies and TV shows, but we noticed pinkish distortion that seemed to worsen in apps with white menus like Chrome and YouTube. We reached out to ZTE about this issue, but did not get a response.

Viewing angles weren’t great either — tilting the ZMax XL a little to the left or right resulted in washed-out colors.

ZTE ZMax XL Compared To

Huawei Mate 9

ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe Special…

Meizu M3 Max

LG X Power

ZTE ZMax Pro

Lenovo Moto Z

Blu Pure XL

Huawei Mate 8

Marshall London

ZTE Grand X Max+

Nexus 6

HTC One Remix

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

Motorola Moto E

LG G Flex

Brightness is more or less the same at the maximum setting, when compared to the ZMax Pro’s screen. Still, it’s a shame the XL’s screen is such a step down.

The XL’s external speaker is also about the same. We found the ZMax Pro’s loudspeaker to be tinny and indistinct, and the ZMax XL’s model is no different. The included Dolby Audio equalizer app, which lets you tweak frequency levels and switch between pre-programmed audio profiles, didn’t seem to improve anything.

Average performance

The ZMax XL shares even more with the ZMax Pro internally than it does externally. It packs the same octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor — the processor inside the Moto G4 and G4 Plus. We would have liked to see a new chipset here, but the 617 isn’t bad at all.

In our testing, the ZMax XL handled light tasks like a champ. Albums in Facebook and Chrome loaded relatively quickly, as did chat threads in Slack and Facebook Messenger. Pinch-to-zoom in Google Maps was as speedy on the ZMax XL as it is was the ZMax Pro. We didn’t notice any slowdowns while opening large attachments in Gmail, which sometimes bogs down even the best performers.

That said, the Snapdragon 617 is starting to show its age. In Chrome, high-res images strained the Adreno’s 450 chip — panning and zooming became noticeably jittery. Apps sometimes hesitated a second or two before launching, and there seemed to be a slight, pervading lag on the home screen and in the multitasking menu.

But it didn’t show in benchmarking tests. In 3D Mark’s Sling Shot ES 3.1 test, the ZMax XL managed a score of 380 — a little better than the ZMax Pro (368) and about even with the Moto G4 (384), but far short of aging competition like the two-year-old Nexus 5X (1,487), which was slightly more expensive and has a different processor.

Day-long battery life

We were impressed by the ZMax Pro’s long-lasting battery, and the ZMax XL is an even better performer. That’s not exactly surprising — its 3,990mAh battery is almost 600mAh bigger than the the ZMax Pro’s (3,400mAh). The Snapdragon 617 is also power efficient, as our reviews of Lenovo’s G4 and G4 Plus revealed.

Over the course of three fairly long workdays, the ZMax XL lasted like a champ.

Over the course of three fairly long workdays, the ZMax XL lasted like a champ. Facebook updates, email attachments, RSS feeds, and light internet browsing drained it to about 40 percent. By the time I slapped it on the charger around midnight, it had about 25 percent. Altogether, that worked out to about 18 hours of battery life.

The ZMax XL, just like the ZMax Pro, supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 rapid charging technology. It doesn’t charge as quickly as the chip maker’s new Quick Charge 4.0-enabled chips, which deliver up to five hours of battery life in five minutes. But it’s no slouch. In our testing, the ZMax XL took between forty minutes to an hour and a half to recharge fully.

Poor camera

The ZMax Pro’s 13-megapixel rear camera struggled with detail, color inaccuracy, and noise. Unfortunately, the ZMax XL — which packs the same sensor — doesn’t improve on much.

In decent sunny, outdoor lighting, the ZMax XL captured competent — but not great — shots. It rendered buildings in New York City’s Flatiron district a little dimmer than it should’ve, and shadows lacked detail.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Indoor shots were a different story. Under the bright florescents of Digital Trends’ NYC office, contrast was substantially degraded. The ZMax XL had a tough time accounting for artificial light sources, resulting in low-contrast, out-of-focus photos with lots of noise.

The front-facing 5-megapixel camera was no better. In our testing, selfies came out blurry and noisy.

Near-stock Android software

One of the best things about the ZMax Pro was its “light touch” take on Android.

One of the best things about the ZMax Pro was its “light touch” take on Android. If we didn’t know any better, we’d think it was running bone-stock Android Nougat 7.1.1 — the icons, lock screen, and menus are as close as you’ll find to the vanilla version of Android. It isn’t completely untarnished — the notification shade is transparent, for example — but ZTE left the core elements intact.

ZTE has kept bloatware to a minimum, too, just as it did with the ZMax Pro. Lookout, a mobile security app, is in tow, as is a sound recorder app, an FM radio app, and a basic file manager. That’s about it.

Warranty, pricing, and availability

ZTE provides a standard one-year limited warranty on the ZMax XL. It offers replacements and repairs on units that are found to be “defective in material or workmanship,” and offers a refund if a repair is determined to be impossible. It doesn’t cover unauthorized modifications made to the ZMax, of course, and accidental damage will also void the warranty. In other words, if the ZMax’s screen shatters or its casing scratched, those repairs will have to be paid for out of pocket.

The ZTE ZMax XL is exclusive to Boost Mobile, T-Mobile’s prepaid brand, for the time being. It’s available for $100 after a $30 promotional discount.

Our Take

ZTE’s ZMax Pro may not have been perfect, but it was a pretty compelling deal at $100. There’s less to recommend about the ZMax XL.

How long will it last?

ZTE’s generally good about keeping its phones up to date, though you may have to wait a few months. It recently rolled out Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the newest version, to the ZMax Pro, and Axon 7. It announced that older phones, including the Axon Max, and Axon Elite will receive the upgrade to Nougat in the near future.

The DT Accessory Pack

ZTE Max XL Premium Leather Pouch Holder

$6.98

Sandistore USB Type-C Cable

$0.20

ZTE Max XL Rugged Holster Case

$11.99

Historically, ZTE’s baked major new features into software updates. The Axon 7, for example, got support for Wi-Fi calling and Google’s Daydream virtual reality platform. If you pull the trigger on the ZMax XL, you can expect it to last at least a year.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. Last year’s ZMax Pro, which retails for about the same price as the ZMax XL on Amazon, is better in several respects. It captures sharper pictures, and the screen doesn’t exhibit the same pinkish tinge. The ZMax Pro’s battery won’t last as long, but we think the other positives outweigh the negatives.

If you can spring for a higher tier of budget phone, though, we highly recommend the Lenovo Moto G5, which has a far better camera, processor, and screen than both the ZMax Pro and the ZMax XL. It starts at $230, but in our estimation, it’s extra money well spent.

Should you buy it?

No. The ZMax XL may be a cheap phone, but it’s not a very good one. Unless you’re a Boost Mobile customer who doesn’t want to fork out a penny over $100, we’d recommend giving the ZMax XL a pass. Its predecessor is measurably superior in some ways, and there are better options out there at the $200+ price point.