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steve2470

(37,457 posts) Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:10 PM Aug 2018

Smart phone help please: Currently have Android 5.1 on my phone

I don't need anything fancy on my phone or a fast phone, etc etc

I browse a few websites when I'm waiting to see the doctor. I make a few phone calls and send a few texts.

The problem is, my current phone is "stuck" on Android 5.1. I have done a few hours of research on Google, and it appears there is no way for me to upgrade my phone past 5.1. The ONLY way is for me to go to AT&T and use the identical phone and that's just silly, IMHO.
My phone is an ZTE ZMax 2 (and yes I know all about the Chinese, not worried, not in the government or military, etc).

The only reason this is even an issue is because Pizza Hut will not support 5.1 any more. I use their app occasionally. Now I can no longer use it on my phone.

I realize, eventually, that probably ALL third-party app makers will abandon 5.1. Android is up to 9.0 now.

Feedback sought, please. Thanks in advance.

12 replies

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Smart phone help please: Currently have Android 5.1 on my phone (Original Post) steve2470 Aug 2018 OP

Welp, your choices are based on what you want to do. Afromania Aug 2018 #1

eventually, yes, not in a hurry so far nt steve2470 Aug 2018 #2

who are you using now? Afromania Aug 2018 #4

Consumer Cellular, so I could buy a new phone from them steve2470 Aug 2018 #6

ok, seems like there is an update directly from ZTE that will update your phone to 6.0.1 Afromania Aug 2018 #10

oh thanks for that! I'll try it nt steve2470 Aug 2018 #11

glad to help Afromania Aug 2018 #12

Do a Google search for ... PBC_Democrat Aug 2018 #3

You can buy a new smartphone for tracfone for $60 which has a more current android system kimbutgar Aug 2018 #5

good idea, thank you nt steve2470 Aug 2018 #7

Use your outdated phone to call Pizza Hut. HeartachesNhangovers Aug 2018 #8

oh I agree, I'm not going to upgrade my phone just to communicate with them steve2470 Aug 2018 #9

Afromania

(2,768 posts)

1. Welp, your choices are based on what you want to do.

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:20 PM

Aug 2018

Based on your post, I assume you just want to change phones and not your cell phone company?

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

2. eventually, yes, not in a hurry so far nt

Reply to Afromania (Reply #1)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:20 PM

Aug 2018

Afromania

(2,768 posts)

4. who are you using now?

Reply to steve2470 (Reply #2)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:25 PM

Aug 2018

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

6. Consumer Cellular, so I could buy a new phone from them

Reply to Afromania (Reply #4)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:51 PM

Aug 2018

I'm assuming they are at least on 6.0 if not 7.0.

Afromania

(2,768 posts)

10. ok, seems like there is an update directly from ZTE that will update your phone to 6.0.1

Reply to steve2470 (Reply #6)

Wed Aug 15, 2018, 05:17 AM

Aug 2018

current as of Sept 13, 2017 (version 27) upgradeable via a sd card. ATT dropped an update a couple of weeks ago (version 28) but you would need to be an ATT subscriber with it being over the air only.

Step by Step Guide
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/mpk698f8yg0hzbn/ZTE%20ZMAX%202%20Z958%20Upgrade%20Guide%20%28Through%20an%20SD%20Card%29.pdf?dl=1

The Update
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6vnn9duhqw69d6a/America%20Z958%20SD%20card%20software%20package%28339710B1512Z958V1.0.0B27%29.zip?dl=1

Don't know if you've seen this yet but here it is anyway. Good luck with whichever way you decide to go.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

11. oh thanks for that! I'll try it nt

Reply to Afromania (Reply #10)

Wed Aug 15, 2018, 05:35 AM

Aug 2018

Afromania

(2,768 posts)

12. glad to help

Reply to steve2470 (Reply #11)

Wed Aug 15, 2018, 05:39 AM

Aug 2018

also, here is the main page for your phone https://www.zteusa.com/zte-zmax-2-att

PBC_Democrat

(401 posts)

3. Do a Google search for ...

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:23 PM

Aug 2018

the nearest Apple store -- go there and buy the Apple iPhone X.

You'll thank me in the end.

kimbutgar

(21,148 posts)

5. You can buy a new smartphone for tracfone for $60 which has a more current android system

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:41 PM

Aug 2018

They have Lgs, Samsung’s etc. the refurnished ones work fine also.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

7. good idea, thank you nt

Reply to kimbutgar (Reply #5)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 03:53 PM

Aug 2018

HeartachesNhangovers

(814 posts)

8. Use your outdated phone to call Pizza Hut.

Reply to steve2470 (Original post)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 05:43 PM

Aug 2018

The only reason this is even an issue is because Pizza Hut will not support 5.1 any more. I use their app occasionally. Now I can no longer use it on my phone.

Honestly, there is no way I would "update" my phone or buy a new phone primarily to communicate with Pizza Hut. If Pizza Hut no longer has phones, or no longer answers their phones, I would find some other place to get pizza.

PS: I just checked and I have Android 5.1. I'm thinking of getting a new battery so my MotoX can continue another 5 years or so.

PPS: I'm not a cheapskate or a Luddite. I just think that consumerism is bad for the planet. I accept that smartphones are necessary for a modern life, but I reject that people should get new planet-destroying gadgets for trivial reasons.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)

9. oh I agree, I'm not going to upgrade my phone just to communicate with them

Reply to HeartachesNhangovers (Reply #8)

Tue Aug 14, 2018, 06:35 PM

Aug 2018

I looked at my carrier website, and they have a Samsung phone for $100 that has Android 7.0. Just for future planning purposes.

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