When it comes to making phones, China doesn't necessarily lack in that department. As a matter of fact, if you do a simple Google search using the phrase "chinese phone maker", brands like Huawei, Lenovo, and of course, ZTE, will come up. If you're not familiar with these names, there's no need to fret -- these brands are not that well-known in the United States.
Take ZTE, for instance. Not many realize that ZTE has been selling its products here in the US for many years now, although oftentimes its phones are rebranded by carriers. And because their devices are mostly of the low-end prepaid phone type, they don't garner much attention from the press, not to mention the average phone buyer. It's a bit of a shame because for the last few years, ZTE has been releasing some high-end devices unlocked through Amazon that are actually worth checking out.
Now, the Chinese phone manufacturing company is announcing the release of its Nubia 5S mini LTE phone, specifically for the US market. Measuring 4.7 inches in height, this smartphone comes with a 720p display, a 13-megapixel camera, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, and more significantly, support for T-Mobile and AT&T networks here in the US. Moreover, buyers can get the phone for only $279.99 (unlocked, without contract), which is definitely a win considering that the device performs quite impressively, at least according to advance reviews. Although the phone won't be available until August 27, those interested can pre-order the device online through Amazon's official website.
ZTE's Nubia 5S mini LTE has a solid plastic build, with its back cover boasting a matte finish. Its 4.7-inch display may not have the high resolution that 1080p displays provide (the Nubia 5S sports a 720 x 1280 Sharp IGZO display), but it does offer enough pixel density to make web browsing and image/movie viewing a pleasant experience. Plus, the capacitive buttons situated directly below the display help facilitate easy navigation and operation.
Perhaps the most appealing feature of the Nubia 5S mini LTE is the cameras. The phone has a front-facing 5-megapixel camera as well as a 13-megapixel rear camera. Some of the latest phones available in the market feature cameras of this type, but not both of them in one single device. And given that the phone only costs $279.99, you'd be hard-pressed to find another phone with a similar price that sports dual cameras.
The full specifications of the Nuba 5S mini LTE include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad Core with Adreno 305 GPU at 1.2 GigaHertz, 2 gigabytes of random access memory, 16 gigabytes of internal storage (expandable to 32 gigabytes when using a microSD card), Android 4.3 Jelly Bean mobile operating system, Bluetooth 4.0 (802 b/g/n Wi-Fi), and a 2000 mAh battery.
ZTE has recently (and quietly) become the number five smartphone manufacturer in the world. With the release of its Nubia 5S mini LTE phone, the company continues to provide high-quality devices at very accessible prices. More importantly, with the newly launched device, it hopes to finally become a household name in the United States.
