Usually when we spot a device at the FCC that can mean only one thing, once approved by the Agency, a U.S. launch is not far behind. The ZTE Nubia Z5 (SRQ-NX501) just dropped in for an inspection, so we wonder if we will see it soon in our market. It works on GSM and WCDMA networks and has both Bluetooth and WLAN radios.
For now, other than the processor, the specifications appear fairly decent, although Chinese sources say that when released into the American market the ZTE Nubia Z5 will have the processor upgraded to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, as the Snapdragon S4 Pro is a little outdated for a flagship device. If that is the case, then this could shape up to be a very competitive phone in the U.S. market.
ZTE is not well known in the U.S., but they, LG, and Huawei, are battling constantly for third place sales in global smartphone sales after number one Samsung and number two Apple. ZTE (formerly Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Company) is the world’s fifth largest telecoms equipment manufacturer and with the evolution in the mobile industry, ZTE has grown significantly. They sold mostly to their homeland of China, but have since begun to branch out with their eye squarely on the U.S. for their high-end smartphones. The Nubia Z5 will be their first flagship device for the U.S., and with the specifications listed below (with the swap of the processor) it should stack up against the competition. ZTE claims it is the thinnest smartphone with a Full HD Display.
- 5-inch Full HD 1080p Resolution Display (1920 x 1080) IPS
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro Quad-Core Processor at 1.5GHz
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB Internal Storage
- 13MP Camera w/f2.2
- 2MP FFC
- Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- NFC, HSPA+ connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0
- 138 x 69.2 x 7.6mm and weighing in at 126 grams
- 2300mAh Battery
- Black & White Colors
The phone is costing approximately $550 at this point, and we would expect a release in the U.S. in time for the holidays.