ZTE’s unlocked, quad-core toting, $280 nubia 5S mini is now available to pre-order

Mark Hearn | Aug 20 2014 - 9:50 am PT

Today, ZTE announced release plans for its nubia 5S mini, an unlocked LTE-capable budget-friendly smartphone that offers a little bang for your buck. Available on August 27th for just $280, the Chinese phone maker’s new smartphone sounds pretty decent on paper. The nubia 5S mini sports a 4.7-inch 720 x 1,280 display, a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 16GB of storage space, a 2,000mAh battery, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter for selfies and Hangouts.

So far, so good, but there’s a small caveat here. The nubia 5S mini ships with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean instead of Google’s current mobile operating system. Outdated OS aside, ZTE claims that the nubia 5S mini features some intuitive camera software, like independent control for focus, light metering and white balance capable of making an amateur photographer look like certified pro.

If you’re in the market for an affordable, off-contract smartphone and you don’t mind waiting for software updates, the ZTE nubia 5S mini is now available to pre-order from Amazon.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwjtdlpPA9o]

ZTE unlocks nubia 5S mini in the U.S. with LTE, quad-core power and premier smartphone camera

nubia 5S mini LTE advances smartphone photography with powerful camera platform that delivers a smarter, smoother way to capture, edit and share life’s moments – all unlocked and available now

Richardson, TX., August 20, 2014—ZTE USA, one of the fastest-growing smartphone manufacturers in the United States*, today announced the nubia 5S mini LTE will be available unlocked beginning August 27 and for preorder today, online at Amazon.com for $279.99. The phone’s 13 megapixel rear-camera and 5 megapixel front-camera capture HD video and high-quality images effortlessly with intelligent settings, DSLR-like control and photo editing and effects once reserved for third party apps. The sophisticated camera platform and LTE speeds are matched by the phone’s thin, light build and Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Quad Core processor.

“Selling the nubia 5S mini LTE unlocked, direct to consumers shows ZTE has faith in its products and is capable of delivering LTE devices and consumer-focused innovation in the U.S.,” said Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. “Offering an unlocked Android phone via Amazon addresses consumer demand for alternative devices that deliver more personal value than mainstream brands and don’t tie them to one mobile eco-system.”

The nubia 5S mini LTE smartphone camera software has distinctive independent control of focus, light metering and white balance functionality. It is one of the first widely available phones that has both a 13 megapixel and 5 megapixel camera. The advanced combination of hardware and software capture images that are truer to color as the eye sees and produce excellent dark field, macro and color reproduction.

The phone offers three camera modes, Fun, Auto and Pro, for virtually any scenario or user – from first time smartphone owners to award-winning smartphone photographers. The compact, slim design at only 4.52 ounces makes the nubia 5S mini LTE the perfect travel companion – wherever in the world it goes.

As an unlocked smartphone, carrier and contract restrictions do not apply – roam free and upgrade when you want. For those seeking the most flexibility, avoiding a two year contract or wanting to upgrade now, the nubia 5S mini LTE is a smart choice.

nubia 5S mini LTE specifications: