ZTE introduces ZTE Nubia Z5s and ZTE Nubia Z5s mini

Last week we told you to expect Chinese manufacturer ZTE to take the wraps off of a couple of new handsets on November 19th. The ZTE Nubia Z5S and ZTE Nubia Z5S mini were both introduced on time. On Monday, we told you that ZTE will launch multiple smartwatch models next year along with a Windows Phone flavored model. According to ZTE's executive vice president He Shiyou, the manufacturer wants to join the ranks of the top three smartphone producers, up from the current 4th or 5th (depending on the survey). That means a move away from low-end models and a new focus on high-end hardware.

The new ZTE models introduced on Tuesday could be a first step in that direction. The ZTE Nubia Z5S is hardly a low-end model. In fact, the specs on the phone would make almost any Android phone proud, starting with the 1080 x 1920 Sharp IGZO display (minus the burn-in, of course) and the quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU under the hood. Inside the phone will be 2GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of native storage.

The rear snapper sounds like something to behold with a 13MP sensor with an aperture of f/2.0 which will allow users to snap clear and useful photos even in low-light situations. OIS makes it look like you employed a tripod and there will be 4k video capture. The front-facing camera weighs in at 5MP and a 2300mAh battery keeps the gerbil's wheel spinning. There is dual-band Wi-Fi support and depending on where you live and which carrier you use, the device will offer 4G LTE or 3G connectivity. Android 4.2.2 is pre-installed out of the box. The phone can be used as an infrared remote and the device measures  137.7mm × 68.8mm × 7.6mm, weighing in at 126grams. The 3G 16GB model will be priced in China at 1999 Yuan ($328 USD), while the 32GB LTE version will go for 3456 Yuan ($567). The device will be available in black or white and will launch November 26th by appointment.

There will also be a ZTE Nubia Z5S mini model that will powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and will feature 2GB of RAM with 16GB or 32GB of native storage. While the camera out back will also be 13MP, it will have an aperture of f/2.2 which means it won't be as generous in low-light conditions as the Nubia Z5S camera. Also, there will be no OIS with this model, so you might want to skip that morning Starbucks before you snap pictures with the camera. A 5MP front-facing camera is on board and Android 4.2.2 is pre-installed. The ZTE Nubia Z5S mini is 7.6mm thick and weighs in at a little lighter 120 grams. The 16GB 3G model will be priced at 1499 Yuan ($246 USD), while the 32GB 4G LTE version will be priced at 2345 Yuan ($348 USD). The phone will be available in four colors, red, yellow, blue and green.

There is no word on whether the pair will be released in the U.S., but these two models appear to be just the ticket to kick off ZTE's quest to challenge Apple and Samsung for global smartphone market share.


source: MyDrivers (translated), Sina (translated)