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ZTE announces U.S. availability for Grand S, nubia 5 hero phones

Published Oct 3rd, 2013 9:00AM EDT
ZTE Grand S Release Date

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ZTE quickly ascended the ranks to become a top-five smartphone vendor earlier this year, and it hopes to capitalize on that success with the release of two powerful new smartphones. The Grand S phablet was revealed at CES in January, although at the time there was no indication of whether the phone would make it to the U.S. or not. The wait is now over because the Grand S will be available for preorder on October 5th along with the ZTE’s new high-end offering, the nubia 5.

The Grand S specifications include a 5-inch 1920 x 1080-pixel display, Snapdragon quad-core processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera, 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. The Grand S also runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and will retail for $399.99 off contract.

ZTE is also bringing the nubia 5 to U.S. shores, a phone with very similar specs to the Grand S but with a focus on photo and audio capabilities. The nubia 5 comes equipped with a Konica-Minolta 13-megapixel camera with three photography modes — Fun Mode, Auto Mode and Pro Mode. The new phone also includes Digital Dolby Plus audio and it will cost $449.99 without any subsidies.

The official press releases for the Grand S and nubia 5 can be found below.

ZTE’s Grand S™ Makes a Grand Entrance in the U.S.

Available for Preorder Oct 5, ZTE’s Slimmest Smartphone is Elegant, Stylish and Open

RICHARDSON, Texas, October 3, 2013 – ZTE USA, the fastest-growing smartphone provider in the United States, today announced the U.S. pricing and availability of the award-winning Grand S, a beautifully-crafted smartphone decorated with the 2013 iF International Design Award.

First introduced globally at CES 2013, the 0.27-inch Grand S is ZTE’s slimmest smartphone available in the United States, and is compatible for use with GSM/UMTS carriers. The phone is available for preorder on Saturday, October 5 with an MSRP of $399.99, through Amazon and other channels.

With a large, eye-catching five-inch display and 13 megapixel camera, the Grand S caters to today’s design-conscious consumer by providing the perfect combination of aesthetics and technology. Its quad-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and use of several MiFavor applications designed by ZTE provide the brains behind the elegant uni-body design, capturing true user demands.

“For many consumers, technology and design are inseparable. Today’s higher-end smartphones must be both physically and emotionally compelling, and the Grand S offers this winning combination of form and function,” said Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. “We’ve been looking forward to bringing the Grand S to the U.S. since we announced the device at CES. Our goal is to launch more products like this in the future.”

ZTE Grand S technical specifications include:

  • OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • Display: 5” FHD (1920 x 1080), 440 ppi with scratch-resistant glass
  • Processor: Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM S4 Pro processor with 1.5 GHz quad-core CPUs
  • Cameras: 13 megapixels Auto Focus with Flash, and 2 megapixels Front Facing camera
  • Battery: 1780 mAH
  • Dimensions: 5.59” x 2.72” x 0.27”
  • Memory: 16GB in ROM, 2 GB in RAM

For additional information on the ZTE Grand S features, please visit http://www.zteusa.com/grands.html.

The ZTE nubia 5™ Packs Advanced Photography and Entertainment Into the Palm of Your Hand

Available for Preorder Oct 5, ZTE’s nubia 5 Features Full HD Display, Dolby Digital Plus, and a 13MP Camera

RICHARDSON, Texas, October 3, 2013 – ZTE USA, the fastest-growing smartphone provider in the United States, today announces the U.S. pricing and availability of ZTE nubia 5™, a high-end smartphone packing entertainment and performance into an approachable industrial profile. The ZTE nubia 5 is compatible with GSM/UMTS carriers, and is available for preorder on Saturday, October 5 with an MSRP of $449.99, through Amazon and other channels.

Whether you’re a photo enthusiast looking to capture and edit amazing pictures using a 13 megapixel camera with a Konica-Minolta lens and intelligent stabilization, an always-on road warrior looking to stay connected via countless apps, or an audiophile looking to plug into Digital Dolby Plus audio with specially-designed earbuds, the ZTE nubia 5 packs a punch. With a low-profile bezel, matte finish and glowing red custom fixed buttons complementing the industrial design, the ZTE nubia 5 creates a mobile experience unlike any other Android smartphone.

“As the software and apps available on today’s smartphones replace more and more of the other devices we use on a daily basis, the specifications for features like cameras, displays and speakers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The nubia 5 really pushes that trend further,” said Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ZTE USA. “Moreover, the launch of the ZTE nubia 5 builds on our ongoing commitment to the U.S. ZTE will be working closely with our customers to make devices like this available in the U.S.”

The nubia 5 offers one of the most versatile smartphone photography experiences available through three photography modes – Fun Mode, Auto Mode and Pro Mode. Fun Mode is for taking quick snapshots and applying filters, while Auto Mode provides a step up in features, like smile recognition and HDR. Lastly, Pro Mode brings the core functions of a professional SLR into the phone through features like 4-direction panoramic shooting, burst mode continuous shooting, and putting control of light, focus, and gradient into the user’s hands.

ZTE nubia 5 technical specifications include:

  • OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
  • Display: 5” FHD 16.7M Color 1920 x 1080, 443PPi
  • Processor: Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM S4 Pro processor with 1.5 GHz quad-core CPUs
  • Cameras: Konica-Minolta 13 MP Auto Focus with LED Flash and Sapphire Lens, and 2 MP Front Facing camera
  • Battery: 2300 mAH
  • Dimensions: 5.43” x 2.71” x 0.30”
  • Memory: 16GB in ROM, 2 GB in RAM

For additional information on the ZTE nubia 5, please visit http://www.zteusa.com/nubia5.html.

Jacob Siegal
Jacob Siegal Associate Editor

Jacob Siegal is Associate Editor at BGR, having joined the news team in 2013. He has over a decade of professional writing and editing experience, and helps to lead our technology and entertainment product launch and movie release coverage.