BLU presents the $199 Vivo 5R smartphone with metal body, 5.5-inch screen, and octa-core chip

United States-based smartphone brand BLU Mobile has a new smartphone in its mid-range line-up to offer. It's the $199 BLU VIVO 5R, a second half of the year refresh of the VIVO 5, which the company debuted in early 2016. On paper, the handset has a lot to offer for the asking price, but Sprint and Verizon customers must mind that the VIVO 5R is not compatible with these carriers' networks.

Still, the 8.1mm-thick smartphone is made of metal and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It's equipped with a 5.5-inch 1080p resolution screen and features a fingerprint scanner on the back panel. The chipset that makes it happen is the MediaTek 6753, featuring an octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and cellular compatibility with nationwide GSM networks, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, Straight Talk, Pure Talk USA, and others.

Moreover, the handset carries a 13MP Sony IMX258 camera (same as on the Sony Xperia XA smartphone, for example) with phase detection autofocus. There's also an 8MP wide-angle selfie camera that should be properly optimized for group shots. The VIVO 5R is powered by a 3150mAh battery and comes with DTS Surround Sound technology. It will be sold in Gray and Gold finishes.

The BLU VIVO 5R seems considerably advanced for a $199 handset and will probably generate interest in budget-minded buyers. Beside the Moto G4 and some older flagship smartphones from the likes of Sony, LG, and HTC, it's pretty hard to find a $199 smartphone that's recent, runs Android 6.0, and features rather compelling design and specs for the price.