Hands on: ZTE Chorus for Cricket
updated 11:15 pm EST, Thu January 12, 2012
Budget handset features Muve Music
Among the myriad of new smartphones at CES this week, ZTE brought its Chorus handset that will be headed to Cricket. Electronista stopped by ZTE's booth to check out the new device, which offers a hardware and software combination focused on the carrier's Muve Music service.
The Chorus, with a 3.2-inch display, is tiny compared to many of the latest smartphones that have continued to trend toward larger screens. The display is not very bright, while the 320x240 resolution is unheard of in the world of touchscreen phones.
A large circular button centered directly under the screen allows users to quickly access a Muve app. When we first picked up the phone, we instinctively pressed the Muve button to get to the home screen. The placement seems awkward, considering that users will probably use the home button more than the music feature.
Although the Chorus' proprietary OS resembles Android, it is not as polished or refined. The device is clearly a budget offering, however we have seen other low-priced handsets that offer a better experience with Android.
The Chorus is available for $40, while the $55/month Muve plan offers unlimited calling, messaging and mobile Internet, alongside access to a variety of content from 55 record labels.
