Though you might not recognize ZTE by name, it's possible you've already owned one of its devices without ever realizing—the Chinese company has been churning out white-label products for Sprint and various MVNOs for years. Now ready to shed its OEM roots here in the U.S., ZTE offers up the Nubia 5s mini, an unlocked Android smartphone sold under the ZTE brand directly to customers on Amazon, instead of through shady, third-party importers. For $279.99, you get a surprisingly sleek and well-built device with a high-quality display and 4G LTE compatibility for T-Mobile and AT&T. The latter spec is a rarity for budget-friendly unlocked devices, and reason enough to consider the disingenuously named 5s mini. It falls somewhere between the LTE-lacking Motorola Moto G and the oversized Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G. If you don't care about stock Android and want a reasonably sized phone, the ZTE Nubia 5s mini is an excellent choice on the unlocked market.

Design, Features, and Call Quality

The Nubia 5s mini is made entirely from plastic, but it's not the glossy, creaky plastic you associate with low-cost handsets—the back shell is sturdy and has a powdery, matte finish that feels a lot like the OnePlus One's. At 5.43 by 2.71 by 0.32 inches (HWD) and 4.52 ounces, the 5s mini is sleek and nicely suited for one-handed use. That size puts it right in line with Apple's newly announced iPhone 6, which also features a 4.7-inch display.