Billboard Charts Will Put ‘Greater Emphasis’ on Paid Streaming Services Like Apple Music in 2018

Billboard has announced that its Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts — which measure singles and albums, respectively — will begin weighing plays made on paid subscription streaming services/tiers more than plays made on pure ad-supported services/tiers in 2018. This means services that only support paid subscriptions, like Apple Music, will receive a “greater emphasis” in Billboard chart calculations.

The Billboard calculations will include plays made on paid subscription tiers of hybrid services as well, related to Spotify and SoundCloud. For the Hot 100 list, Billboard said that there will now be “multiple weighted tiers” of streaming plays, with paid subscription at the top, then ad-supported streams, and programmed streams. Besides streaming, radio airplay and digital song sales are also still accounted for.

Currently, the Billboard Hot 100 chart weighs streaming music from services like Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon Music under one “on-demand” category, as well as having a “programmed” type for Pandora and other online radio services. In this setup, on-demand has a greater weight, but plays made through paid subscriptions aren’t specifically given more weight over free tiers.

Billboard explained that this shift to a “multi-level streaming approach” reflects how much music listening has changed over the years, particularly with how popular exclusive songs and albums have become for streaming services, which lock this content behind paid subscriptions. These changes not only affect the Hot 100, but also the Billboard 200 and “many other charts,” with the media company stating: “It is our goal at Billboard to accurately portray in an unbiased manner how music performs relative to other music.”

Beginning in 2018, plays occurring on paid subscription-based services (such as Amazon Music and Apple Music) or on the paid subscription tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported platforms (such as SoundCloud and Spotify) will be given more weight in chart calculations than those plays on pure ad-supported services (such as YouTube) or on the non-paid tiers of hybrid paid/ad-supported services.

The shift to a multi-level streaming approach to Billboard’s chart methodology is a reflection of how music is now being consumed on streaming services, migrating from a pure on-demand experience to a more diverse selection of listening preferences (including playlists and radio), and the various options in which a consumer can access music based on their subscription commitment.

The Billboard 200 chart, which tracks albums, only began to count streaming numbers back in 2014, one year prior to Apple Music’s debut. Once the service launched, Apple Music plays were counted towards Billboard’s Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts beginning in August 2015. Other streaming providers that contribute to the charts include Spotify, Amazon Prime, Google Play, Medianet, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Tidal, and Groove Music Pass.

Tags: billboard.com, Apple Music
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Apple COO Jeff Williams and Foxconn Chief Will Reportedly Meet Amid iPhone X Production Issues

Apple’s operating chief Jeff Williams will reportedly meet Foxconn chairman Terry Gou later this month, following several reports about ongoing iPhone X production issues, according to Nikkei Asian Review.

While the report did not say which topics Gou and Williams will discuss, it said the two executives will presumably look at ways to deal with the manufacturing bottleneck for Apple’s new high-end smartphone.

Williams will be visiting Taiwan for the 30th anniversary of TSMC, the sole supplier of the A11 Bionic chip in the latest iPhone models, the report said. A ceremony marking the celebration is scheduled for Monday.

Apple’s suppliers are still struggling to perfect manufacturing of the iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera and 3D facial recognition system, according to the report. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo highlighted the issues last month.

Multiple reports have claimed it has taken more time to assemble the TrueDepth system’s so-called “Romeo” module than the “Juliet” module.

The “Romeo” module reportedly includes the dot projector that beams more than 30,000 invisible dots to create a precise depth map of your face, while the “Juliet” module includes the infrared camera that analyzes the pattern. Together, they help power new iPhone X features such as Face ID and Animoji.

Foxconn is the sole assembler of the iPhone X, while its subsidiary Sharp and LG Innotek are reportedly responsible for assembling the 3D sensor modules.

Today’s report cited an industry executive who said that while the yield rate has improved, it has not yet reached a satisfactory level. The executive believes it’s unlikely the yield rate will reach a level that will enable Apple’s suppliers to churn out the iPhone X at their full capacity by the end of October.

Jeff Pu, an analyst with Taipei-based Yuanta Investment Consulting, recently cut his forecast of the number of iPhone X devices that will be produced this year from 40 million units to 36 million. It was the second time he has revised down his estimate, which originally totaled 45 million earlier this year.

iPhone X pre-orders begin one week from today in the United States and more than 55 other countries. The device launches November 3.

Related Roundup: iPhone XTags: Jeff Williams, Foxconn
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ColorWare Now Offering Apple Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad in Dozens of Colors

ColorWare, a company that custom paints a wide range of electronics and Apple products, is now offering a custom-painted version of the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad.

ColorWare has offered a customized Apple Magic Keyboard for some time, but the Magic Keyboard with Keypad, which was released back in June, is a new addition as of today.

As with other ColorWare products, the keyboard can be painted in one of several different colors, with both solid and metallic paint options available in a rainbow of shades. While some products support multiple colors, Apple’s keyboards can only be painted in one uniform shade, though there are options to choose a gloss or matte finish.

The Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad costs $129 from Apple, but ColorWare is charging $259 for the custom painted version, a premium of $130. Magic Keyboards with Keypad ordered from Apple are currently not shipping out for 5 to 6 weeks, but ColorWare seems to have some stock as the site lists a three week shipping estimate.

With the Magic Keyboard with Keypad delayed from Apple, there has been some speculation that a refreshed version could potentially be released alongside the iMac Pro in December, but we won’t know if that’s true until later this year.

Tags: Magic Keyboard, ColorWare
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Angela Ahrendts Says Apple Won’t Try to Upsell Customers to iPhone X

Apple Store employees won’t try to upsell customers to the iPhone X, according to Apple’s retail chief Angela Ahrendts.

Ahrendts, who is in Chicago today for the grand opening of Apple’s new Michigan Avenue store, told CNBC that Apple recognizes each customer has different needs that may not require purchasing the most expensive iPhone model.

“Internally we said the tagline was ‘an iPhone for everyone,’” she said. “I prefer that we ask you who you’re buying it for. If they’re 6 or 7 years old, what do they need? If it’s someone who’s leaning into something else, what do they need? We do that with Mac, we do that with iPad, why wouldn’t we do that with [the] phone?”

iPhone X starts at $999 in the United States with 64GB of storage, while a 256GB model is available for $1,149. By comparison, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus start at $699 and $799 respectively.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a reputable Apple analyst at KGI Securities, recently said only 2-3 million iPhone X units will be available to purchase when the device launches. Pre-orders begin October 27 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related: iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 8 Plus

Related Roundup: iPhone XTags: Angela Ahrendts, Apple retail
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Review: ElevationDock 4 Offers Excellent Stability and Angle With Tiny Footprint

Elevation Lab first made a name for itself with the original Elevation Dock, which was one of the most popular docks on the market when it came out in 2012. Since then, the company has continued making docks and stands for iPhone and Apple Watch.

The fourth iteration of the original Elevation dock, the ElevationDock 4, was introduced this September, just in time for the debut of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. These devices no longer require docks at all thanks to wireless charging functionality, but they still charge faster over Lightning, so docks continue to be accessories worth considering.

ElevationDock 4 is one of the smallest iPhone docks that I’ve used. It’s smaller than the palm of my hand, with a base that measures in at about two inches on one side and two and a half inches on the other side, which tapers back down to the two-inch size.

With a footprint that small, it can fit just about anywhere and it takes up a lot less desk/table space than a standard dock. It’s less wide than my iPhone, in fact, so it can go anywhere my iPhone will fit.

The dock is made from a medical grade silicone that comes in black or white to match your iPhone. I tested the white version, which is a soft white shade that matches well with everything else on my night stand. This is a lightweight silicone and it’s an interesting choice for a dock — most are made from a much heavier material for stabilization purposes.

At the base, the silicone material is smooth, but the part that rests against the iPhone is textured, I assume for a better grip against a bare device. The silicone looks fine and I have no complaints about it, but I don’t think it looks as quite nice or as high quality as some of the aluminum docks that I own.

From a distance, though, it’s not easy to tell what the ElevationDock 4 made of, and since it’s so small, it’s unobtrusive and largely unnoticeable. This isn’t a dock that’s meant to stand out — it’s meant to be simple, out of the way, and useful. While silicone doesn’t look as nice as aluminum, there is a benefit, because silicone isn’t going to result in any accidental scratches or dings.

With no weight to secure the dock in place, Elevation Lab uses a grippy pad at the bottom to secure it tightly to a flat surface. Elevation Lab calls this a NanoPad that uses “micro air-suction,” and it works well. Whatever’s on the bottom of the dock doesn’t feel sticky, but when placed on a hard surface, it sticks like it’s glued in place.

There’s enough sticking power that once placed, the dock isn’t going anywhere. It’s secure enough for the iPhone to be placed and removed with one hand, and it can also support an iPad. I tested it with a 10.5-inch iPad, and it was able to successfully support the weight of the device to allow it to charge, which is impressive because it’s a lot smaller than an iPad.

My iPhone always feels secure in the dock, with no tilting, wobbling, or other problems that can be common with some docks, and one-handed removal worked for all of my devices, iPad included. If you have AirPods, the design of the dock also supports charging the AirPods case.

The NanoPad at the bottom of the dock stuck well to most surfaces where I tested it, including wood, metal, and granite, but it doesn’t adhere well to brushed aluminum. It should work with most surfaces, though, as long as they’re smooth. When moving it, all you need to do is press down a little to make sure it’s secure. And while it feels like it might damage some surfaces because of the strong suction, I didn’t run into any problems.

Elevation Lab says the dock works with the iPhone 5 and later and all Lightning equipped iPads with the exception of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is just too big for such a small dock. I use the dock with one of Apple’s standard silicone cases, and as long as a case isn’t too thick, it should work well with the dock. It’s not compatible with thicker cases like the ultra rugged options from OtterBox.

At the base of the dock, there’s a built-in Lightning connector, and at the back, there’s a flexible braided fabric cord that’s durable, attractive, and tangle-free. I appreciate that Elevation Lab didn’t just go with some cheap cord — the cable has a nice look and feel and I’m certain it’s going to hold up well over time.

I also appreciate the attention to detail in this dock. Elevation Lab even included a velcro cable wrap with the Elevation Lab logo so extra cord can be wound up and tucked away.

At the back of the dock, there are two stainless steel knobs, and when I first saw the ElevationDock 4, these were what I disliked the most about it. The top knob is designed to allow the angle of the textured back plate to be adjusted by +/-4°, so the iPhone can be positioned straighter or angled slightly backwards depending on your preference. I’m using this dock on my nightstand, so I have it angled back to let me better see the screen in the middle of the night.

The bottom knob lets you adjust the height of the Lightning connector so it can work with thicker cases. Elevation Labs says it supports cases up to 3mm thick.

The knobs definitely stick out, but in person, they’re not as obtrusive as they look in photographs because the dock is so small and because they’re hidden behind it. It’s a clever way to allow for adjustments in such a small dock, though I do wish they stuck out just a bit less. The knobs are the limiting factor that prevent the dock from being placed right up against a wall.

Elevation Lab has also made the Lightning connector built into the dock just a bit flexible, allowing it to have some give to keep the iPhone stable while also preventing possible damage from being knocked around.

ElevationDock 4 doesn’t come with a power adapter, so you’ll need to supply the one that shipped with your iPhone or another power source. It’s just a standard USB-A cable, so it can also work with Macs that have USB-A ports.

Bottom Line

ElevationDock 4 is not cheap at $59, but that price point is on par with other premium docks on the market, and design wise, given the thought that went into the construction of the dock, I’d consider it a premium dock.

It has a tiny footprint, a built-in sturdy Lightning cable, a stable base, and an adjustable angle, which are essentially all of the features that I look for in a dock. I do wish it were constructed from aluminum or another nicer material than plastic, but the simple, no frills design and clean lines make it work.

If you’re looking for a dock that’s not going to take up much more room than the iPhone itself, ElevationDock 4 is worth considering.

How to Buy

ElevationDock 4 can be purchased from the Elevation Lab website for $59.

Tag: Elevation Lab
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 11.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.1 update to developers, just four days after releasing the third iOS 11.1 beta and a month after releasing the iOS 11 update to the public.

Registered developers can download the fourth iOS 11.1 beta from Apple’s Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

iOS 11.1 introduces a range of new Unicode 10 emoji like crazy face, pie, pretzel, t-rex, vampire, exploding head, face vomiting, shushing face, love you gesture, brain, scarf, zebra, giraffe, fortune cookie, pie, hedgehog, and more.

Several emoji also feature some small design changes in iOS 11.1, including the dolphin, octopus, bee, snail, and whale characters, among others. The new designs are more detailed and realistic than existing designs.

The update also introduces a fix for a Reachability bug that’s been present since the release of iOS 11 and it brings back the 3D Touch App Switcher gesture that has been missing from iOS 11 since its release. With the return of the gesture, iPhone users can once again 3D Touch at the left edge of the display to bring up the multitasking App Switcher interface.

A few other small features are included in the iOS 11.1 beta. The built-in keyboard in iOS 11.1 now offers up multiple emoji symbols when using an emoji-related word, there’s an updated camera icon under Restrictions, a new animation when tapping the status bar to scroll upwards, and a faster unlock animation.

As for security fixes, iOS 11.1 addresses a serious vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi standard that protects many modern Wi-Fi networks. Using a key reinstallation attack or “KRACK,” attackers can exploit weaknesses in the WPA2 protocol to decrypt network traffic to sniff out sensitive information.

Though not in the developer/public beta right now, the iOS 11.1 update could introduce the Apple Pay Cash feature, which Apple employees are currently testing in a special version of the beta.

iOS 11 marks a major update to the operating system with systemwide design tweaks, a new Lock screen experience, a revamped Control Center, ARKit, new app features, and an entirely new interface for the iPad that includes a Dock, Drag and Drop support, and a redesigned App Switcher for better than ever multitasking.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers for testing purposes, four days after releasing the third watchOS 4.1 beta and a month after releasing the new watchOS 4 operating system to the public.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4.1 brings support for streaming Apple Music content directly to the Apple Watch Series 3 over LTE and it introduces a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.

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The Music app on the watch looks the same, offering up access to the Music Library, recently played songs, playlists, and Apple Music mixes, but now all Apple Music content can be streamed over an LTE connection and doesn’t need to be downloaded to the device. watchOS 4.1 also adds a new Wi-Fi toggle for turning off Wi-Fi to force the Apple Watch Series 3 to use LTE and it displays the Wi-Fi SSID so users can see the Wi-Fi Network an Apple Watch is connected to.

Support for Apple Music streaming appears to be the main feature in the new watchOS 4.1 update, but Apple is also introducing a range of new Unicode 10 emoji characters that include vomiting face, head exploding, mermaid, zombie, hedgehog, fairy, broccoli, and more.

Apple says the watchOS 4 update addresses a serious vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi standard that protects many modern Wi-Fi networks.

watchOS 4 is a significant refresh of the watchOS operating system introducing new watch faces, including a personalized Siri face, improvements to the Workout app, support for integration with gym equipment, an Apple News app, a vertical Dock, and a new Flashlight feature in the Control Center.

For more on what’s included in watchOS 4, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Moto X4 Review: Return of the X

The Moto X4 revives the Moto X name, but it’s no longer the Moto X we once knew. It now comes in the form of an Android One device and it joins Google’s short list of Project Fi-compatible devices. If we’re being perfectly honest here, the only thing the Moto X4 shares with the Moto X’s of yesteryear is it’s name. Otherwise, this is a completely different device with a new direction.

Being under the Android One program, the Moto X4 becomes a great affordable entry point into Google’s Project Fi. But can the rest of the phone live up expectations? Find out in our full review!

Design

Unlike previous Moto Xs that were highly customizable with different backing materials and accent colors, you don’t get any of that here with the Moto X4. Instead, the design of the X4 falls in line with Moto’s Z series of flagship devices, minus the Moto Mods. It’s made predominantly of glass, like most phones seem to be nowadays, with glass on the front and rear and a smooth metal frame wrapping around the perimeter. The corners are nicely rounded and the backside is ever so slightly tapered along the edges allowing the phone to rest comfortably in the hand.

The phone’s overall footprint isn’t that big either so it’s much easier to use in one hand compared to most other phones out on the market. The glass backing of course does mean that fingerprints are not easy to hide, so if you care about keeping your device looking pristine at all times I’d recommend carrying a cleaning cloth with this one.

Otherwise, there’s nothing too flashy about the Moto X4’s design, as it looks pretty standard in other aspects. The bezels are average in size and the camera on the rear protrudes like other Moto devices, except it’s merely an aesthetic choice here and serves no purpose like it does on the Moto Z line.

Display

The screen of the Moto X4 doesn’t go edge-to-edge, nor does it have curved glass or rounded corners. It’s just a normal smartphone display without any frills. It’s an LCD display that measures in at 5.2 inches with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or Full HD. It’s not a display that will blow your socks off, but it’s perfectly serviceable and I didn’t have any major complaints with this screen during my testing.

The colors are quite pleasant for an LCD, viewing angles are nice, and outdoor visibility was not a problem even under harsh sunlight. Black levels however, are not quite as good as an AMOLED screen. That’s just to be expected, but the screen didn’t exhibit common LCD issues like any noticeable light bleed or uneven lighting around the edges of the screen, at least not on my unit.

Performance

The Moto X4 falls squarely in the mid-range category, so the X4 is powered by a Snapdragon 630 processor and 3 GB of RAM for running apps and multitasking. On paper it may not be the most powerful phone, but just like the display, it’s more than enough. Through everyday use, the X4 performed admirably with no noticeable stutters or lag.

Apps were fast to launch, multitasking proved to handle itself well despite the relatively paltry amount of RAM, and graphically demanding game titles like Need For Speed: No Limits or Marvel’s Contest of Champions ran well without any hiccups. Of course, the X4’s smooth performance also has plenty to do with its lean software experience that Motorola offers, but we’ll get more into that in the software section.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, the X4 offers the standard slew of Android features. There’s 32 GB of onboard storage, but the microSD card slot allows for up to 256 GB of additional space. The fingerprint reader is in Motorola’s typical location on the bottom chin, and it works extremely well in terms of unlocking the phone with reliability and speed. I also enjoy that it can be used to put the phone to sleep like Motorola has done with many of its current devices.

Unlike Motorola’s Z series of smartphones, the X4 does come with a headphone jack located on the bottom side of the phone, so no adapter is needed in order to use your favorite headphones. You may be surprised to know that the X4 is also IP 68 certified against dust and water for up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Considering that most flagships in 2017 carry some sort of water and dust protection, this is fantastic feature to have on a phone at this price point.

The X4 comes with a fairly respectable battery inside, at 3,000 mAh, and while battery life is not phenomenal, it has been enough for a full day’s worth of casual use. This includes checking emails, browsing the web, social media, and some light viewing on YouTube. Just don’t expect screen-on times to be incredibly high, as I never managed to get anything more than four hours and these numbers will most likely be lower if you do plenty of intense gaming or video watching.

Camera

Dual cameras are all the rage on smartphones right now and with the Moto X4, Motorola is bringing that dual camera experience in a more affordable package. We’ve already seen a dual-camera smartphone from Motorola with the Z2 Force, but, unlike the Z2 Force, the X4 features a secondary wide angle lens, whereas the Z2 Force has a monochrome sensor.

The main sensor is 12 megapixels with an aperture of f/2.0 and the secondary is 8 megapixels at f/2.2 with phase detection autofocus. Unfortunately, there’s no optical image stabilization on either lens. The secondary wide angle lens being lower resolution is also rather unfortunate as the difference in quality is easily noticeable, but this wide angle lens does allow for more breathtaking landscape shots and for easily fitting larger groups of people into the frame.

The wide angle lens of the X4 does have quite a bit of distortion along the edges, giving images a GoPro-esque look that could be a positive or negative depending on who you are; I personally do not mind it.

The X4 also leverages the secondary camera for a depth effect or portrait mode as it’s known on other competing smartphones and I like that Motorola’s software allows for some interesting effects such as cropping out the foreground and replacing the background or turning the background black and white to put more emphasis on the subject.

The depth effect however, does not work quite as effectively as it does on many other smartphones that I’ve tested. On the X4 the results have been very unconvincing, with the blurring effect bleeding onto the subjects. Even subjects with sharp and distinct edges posed a problem. You can alter the blur after the fact, but this only mildly mitigates the problem.

The biggest issue with the X4’s camera is that it’s slow. It’s slow to capture photos and it takes a good couple of seconds to switch between the two cameras. This problem is only further accentuated when shooting in low light. The other feature that I’m personally not a fan of is that Motorola still uses tap to expose which can result in a lot of wild exposure swings depending on where you tap on the screen.

Picture quality on the X4 is underwhelming at best. In good lighting, you can achieve some nice results, with accurate color reproduction. But the camera does struggle with dynamic range, with the tendency to crush shadows. Without OIS, the photos captured in low light lack sharpness, and white balance can be problematic, with images being overly yellow on either lens.

Highlights however are handled surprisingly well on the main sensor without any weird lens flares or blooming, but that same thing can’t be said for the wide angle lens. As expected, the wide angle lens performs much worse than the main sensor in low light, as photos are typically noisier, softer and lower quality in general. That’s due to wide angle camera’s lower megapixel count and smaller aperture.

Software

Motorola has always been great about offering a lean and clean software experience, with little to no bloatware to get in the way, and the X4 is no exception. It’s running an essentially stock build of Android Nougat 7.1.1 with the typical Motorola suite of software tweaks such as the ambient display, the double chop to turn on the flashlight, wrist twist to launch the camera,  and many others. All of which provide some nice utility on top of the stock-like experience.

Because this is an Android One device, the Moto X4 will receive timely software updates, so it’s highly likely that Oreo will be landing on the X4 relatively soon.

Specifications

Gallery

Pricing & Final Thoughts

The Moto X4 starts at $399 and is available now through Google’s Project Fi. If you were holding off on getting into Project Fi due to the lack of affordable options, the Moto X4 provides a much more inexpensive entry point that will make Fi more accessible for many people. You do not however have to use the X4 on Project Fi if that isn’t your network of choice, as my testing was done on the T-Mobile network.

The phone itself isn’t flashy or over the top, but Android One devices aren’t meant to be that. They’re meant to offer great experiences that are simple, reliable, and affordable with extra flourishes kept to a minimum. The Moto X4 accomplishes these objectives very well, and you won’t find many smartphones at this price that give you a dual camera experience, overall great hardware, and speedy software updates. It may be a big departure from previous Moto X phones, but the Moto X4 certainly still hits all the right marks.

Budget-friendly, ZTE Blade X available from Cricket Wireless for $120

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a budget smartphone, ZTE has another option for you — the Blade X, which is available on Cricket Wireless.

ZTE has announced yet another budget-friendly phone, this time on Cricket Wireless. The phone is called the ZTE Blade X, and it offers some pretty decent specs for its $119 price-tag.

The company has launched a number of low-cost phones in the past few months, including the ZTE Blade Vantage, which comes on Verizon for only $50, and the ZTE Tempo X, which is also available on Boost Mobile for only $80. The new Blade X seems to be basically a rebranded version of the Blade Force on Boost Mobile, offering more or less the same specs and coming in at a slightly lower price.

The new Blade X seems to sit in the upper end of ZTE’s budget-friendly phones, offering a Qualcomm 425 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage — though that storage can be expanded with a microSD card slot. On the back, you’ll get a 13-megapixel camera, while the selfie cam sits in at 5 megapixels. That’s probably the main difference between this phone and the Blade Force, which only offers an 8-megapixel camera. You’ll also get a headphone jack, and a hefty 3,000mAh battery, which should offer plenty of juice to get you through the day. The display is 5.5 inches, and has a resolution of 1,280 x 720, which obviously isn’t flagship level but should be enough for most people’s needs.

ZTE is shaping up to be a pretty serious contender in the U.S. budget phone market. The company seems to be slowly but surely launching a budget option on each and every carrier, and That’s likely to continue, especially as we head into the holiday season.

“The ZTE Blade X continues our mission to deliver affordable premium devices that deliver an exceptional experience at a price that fits within consumers’ budgets,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices, in a statement. “We created the Blade X with features for the entertainment-loving consumer in mind. With top display features and superb audio sound, the Blade X comes complete with standout features for its category.”

As mentioned, the phone comes in at $119, and you can get your hands on it yourself by heading to the Cricket Wireless website.

Editor’s Recommendations

• ZTE unveils the Blade Force, an affordable phone for the Boost Mobile network
• ZTE makes its Verizon debut with the ultra-budget Blade Vantage smartphone
• ZTE Tempo X smartphone rolls out today on Boost Mobile, costs just $80
• ZTE Blade Z Max hands-on review
• ZTE Axon 8 and Axon M: News and rumors

The best ZTE Blade Z Max cases to keep it safe from bumps and scratches

As we said in our ZTE Blade Z Max review, this phone is really big and adds some new features from last year’s ZMax Pro. It has a huge 6-inch screen and a new design that includes a grippy texture on the back and a repositioned camera in the top left. The headphone jack is located on the bottom of the phone next to the USB-C charging port. Ports that you use all the time should be easily accessible. The Blade Z Max needs a case that will protect that massive screen from drops, but also offer easy access to those ports. Here are our picks for the best ZTE Blade Z Max cases that will do that and more.

If you’re planning to buy more accessories for your ZTE Blade Z Max, then check out our picks for the best USB-C cables and best portable chargers.

Otterbox Achiever Series Case ($30)

Otterbox is here to protect your ZTE Blade Z Max from drops with its renowned Drop+ Protection. Unlike some other Otterbox cases, this one has a slim profile for pockets or purses. The dual-layer inner core and hard outer layer absorb and help to deflect impacts when dropped. All the cut-outs you require for easy access to the camera, fingerprint sensor, and ports are there. The case comes in black and two other options that look quite nice. You can choose cool plum or water stone two-tone color combinations.

Buy one now from:

Otterbox Cases

Jaten Brushed Metal Hybrid Cover ($8)

If you want drop protection and you also want to keep things as slim as possible, take a look at this dual-layer slim-fit case by Jaten. The inner core is a soft TPU sleeve that is surrounded by a hard polycarbonate layer. The hard edges give the phone a good fit all the way around the case which makes it feel nice and compact. The thin, brushed-metal look is nicely done and not overly flashy.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

LeYi Women Glitter Case ($8)

For anyone out there looking for a case that protects the phone with sparkly style, this case from LeYi is a nice choice. It has a dual-layer design that consists of a soft silicone inner layer and a hard polycarbonate outer layer that snaps in place to give the case rigidity. There’s a bezel around the front to protect the screen and you get a screen protector in the box with it. Besides the glitter design, you can choose the case in this mint color, pink, or rose gold.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

NageBee Flip Fold Wallet Case ($10)

Here’s a good quality wallet style case that has card slots for your ID or other cards and a pocket for cash. The magnetic clasp snaps in place to keep everything secured inside the case. The ZTE Blade Z Max goes inside a plastic case that covers the entire phone. The case also doubles as a phone stand in case you want to watch videos. The synthetic leather gives it a nice premium look, and you can choose from a butterfly design or a plum color.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Beyond Cell Flip Wallet Cover ($10)

Sometimes you need a no-nonsense, professional looking wallet cover. This wallet case from Beyond Cell is just that. Inside the wallet, you will find two ID slots and a pocket for cash. The company also includes a wrist strap that could certainly come in handy. There is a magnetic closure that locks the flip cover securely, and the wallet also doubles as a stand for watching videos or reading. The front flip cover has holes so that you can talk on the phone with the wallet completely closed. The cover comes in black and brown, dark blue and brown, red and brown, or rose gold and brown color combinations.

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