Boost Mobile has renamed the ZTE Iconic phablet as the Boost Max and is now selling it for $299.99 contract-free.

For that price tag, you'll get a pretty good and budget-friendly phablet with plenty of screen real estate and without any lengthy contract agreements to tie you down.

This budget Android phablet first made its debut back at the International CES 2014 as the ZTE Iconic. The device boasts a massive 5.7-inch display that really blurs the line between smartphone and tablet. The IPS display has an HD (720p) resolution, Gorilla Glass protection for extra resistance, and delivers vivid colors.

Now available on Boost Mobile, the Boost Max phablet, aka the ZTE Iconic, packs a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 1-megapixel front-facing shooter, and a large 3,200 mAh battery that will provide up to 16 hours of talk time. The phablet also comes with dual mode 3G and 4G LTE that will work on Sprint's network, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

In terms of design, the ZTE-made Boost Max is sleek and minimalistic, sporting an elegant aluminum case. On the software side, the device runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. It remains unclear at this point just when it will receive an update to a newer version of Android, but the latest KitKat OS is probably not in the cards for this handset.

Another great feature the Boost Max has to offer is Dolby Digital Plus support, which aims to deliver a superior audio experience. Software enhancements such as Smart View, meanwhile, will allow users to take advantage of the large display and run two apps simultaneously on a split-screen mode.

In the battle of affordable Android phablets, the ZTE Iconic aka the Boost Max is definitely a worthy contender. It may not have very high-end specs, but a $299.99 price tag without a contract will surely appeal to plenty of phablet fans.

It's worth pointing out, however, that Boost Mobile is offering the Boost Max for $299.99 online only, as it is a web-exclusive deal. Boost Mobile's Monthly Unlimited plan starts at $55 per month and comes with unlimited talk, text, and data. The carrier further notes that this is a limited-time offer and it is for new customers only.