Update – ZTE adds two new Android phones to its Australian website

ZTE has added a couple of new devices to its line up in Australia, growing its presence in the market with one handset headed for Telstra, and the other likely to sell directly via JB HiFi. The two new phones are the Telstra Tough Max (ZTE T84), a follow-up to the tough handset Telstra sold last year named Dave, and the other is the ZTE Blade V.

Let’s take a look.

Telstra Tough Max (ZTE T84)

The Tough Max (ZTE T84) is the follow up handset to Telstra’s & ZTE’s first rugged collaboration, the Dave, which did prove somewhat popular and like its now older brother, the Tough Max (ZTE T84) has been squarely aimed at those who demand unbreakable handsets, especially those in trades, construction and mining industries.

The full list of specs include:

• 4.7″ TFT Display (720 x 1280)
• Quad-core Qualcomm 1.2GHz Snapdragon
• Adreno 306 GPU
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB On board Memory (with 11GB user space available), expandable up to 32GB via microSD
• 13MP Rear camera, 5MP front facing
• Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0 LE (Low Energy), A-GPS
• Network Connectivity:
  • 2G: 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
  • 3G: 850, 2100 MHz
  • 4G: 1800 (Band 3), 2600 (Band 7), 700 MHz (Band 28)
  • 2500 mAh Li-ion Battery (Non-Removable)
• Dimensions: 142.9 x 71.9 x 12mm @ 163g

Spec wise, the Tough Max (ZTE T84) certainly does come with some impressive specs, to the point that the lack of Android 5.1.1 could be easily forgiven, but we’d rather see that latest version included (seeing as it has been available for quite some time now).

The Tough Max (ZTE T84) hasn’t hit the Telstra website just yet, and so pricing isn’t available at the time of writing, but almost certainly this handset will be available both on plan and as part of Telstra’s pre-paid mobile line up.

UPDATE – We have heard from ZTE that the Tough Max (ZTE T84) is available now from Telstra stores for an outright price of $480, with plans for the Tought Max (T84) as follows:

ZTE Blade V

The next handset ZTE have placed up on their website is the Blade V, which based on the name alone, seems to be a follow up device to the Blade Vec, which was launched in the second half of 2014.

The Blade V comes with:

• 5.0″ HD Display (720 x 1280)
• 1.3GHz MTK Quad core CPU
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB Memory on board (with 5.0GB user space available), expandable to 32GB via microSD
• 13MP Sony rear camera, 5MP Front facing camera
• Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
• Wi-Fi 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, A-GPS
• 2400mAh Li-ion replaceable battery
• Dual-SIM capabilities (Micro-SIM)
• Network Connectivity:
  • 2G: 900, 1800 MHz
  • 3G: 850 MHz, 2100 MHz
• Dimensions: 139.8 x 71.0 x 9.0mm @ 168g

The Blade V isn’t doing too badly spec-wise, for a low-to-midrange phone, but the lack of 4G connectivity is a bit disappointing given Australia’s increasing use of the technology, and launching with Android 4.4.2 does leave the phone being a bit dated before it even goes on sale. Those two quibbles aside, it’s a decent handset for $199 and likely to be popular in the pre-paid market where phone affordability is a key factor.

UPDATE – we have heard from ZTE that the price for the Blade V was incorrectly stated on their website and is now $228. There is no reason provided for the price increase but with this price jump, the Blade V does still come with some pretty good specs for $228.