ZTE Avid 4G Pro Reviews

The ZTE Avid 4G is a serviceable smartphone. The hardware works fine, even if it won't be winning any design awards. The signal performance, call quality, and battery life are all right where they should be in this price range. My biggest problem with the Avid is the bluish screen, which I could not ignore, and the freakish reboots. The software and app features of the Avid 4G all behaved as expected, especially since it does not stray far from stock Android 4.0. The big bonuses are the decent 5-megapixel camera and 720p HD video camera, each of which does a fine job. MetroPCS offers some of today's best phones, such as the Galaxy S III, but often at prices starting above $349. The bulk of Metro's smartphones cost about $99. That leaves the Avid, with its $149 price tag, somewhere in the middle. The Avid certainly outperforms many of its lesser stablemates, and the extra $50 to pick up the Avid is money well spent.

The ZTE Avid 4G brings you a high-res screen and fast processor for a low price, but its quality isn't great.

When you look at MetroPCS' Android lineup, the ZTE Avid 4G is one of the few handsets that feature both 4G LTE and Android 4.0. However, that still doesn't make it the best choice. The LG Motion 4G not only has both fast data speeds and one of the more recent OSes, but it's actually $50 cheaper than the Avid 4G (likely because it was released last summer). Still, despite its earlier release date, it's by far the better choice due to its value, its smoother experience, and its more impressive camera.

The ZTE Avid 4G brings you a high-res screen and fast processor for a low price, but its quality isn't great.