If you're on a budget but want a new LTE smartphone with a pretty solid camera, ZTE might have just the thing for you.
The Chinese phone maker on Wednesday opened pre-orders in the U.S. for a new unlocked handset, the Nubia 5S Mini LTE. The phone has a 4.7-inch display with 720p resolution and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, instead of the newer 4.4 KitKat, on a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor.
It comes with 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 32GB with a micro SD card, and a 2000mAh battery.
Those specs clearly aren't top of the line, but on the bright side the phone is priced at just $279.99 unlocked. It also has a 13-megapixel rear camera with a five-piece sapphire lens and F2.2 aperture, along with a 5-megapixel front camera for selfies.
As an unlocked smartphone, carrier and contract restrictions won't apply, meaning you can avoid a two-year contract and upgrade whenever you want. It will be available beginning August 27, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon.com.
"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.," Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE USA, said in a statement. "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."
For more, check out PCMag's review of the 5-inch ZTE Nubia 5, from last year.