ZTE Nubia 5 packs 13MP camera, $450 price tag
Equipping it with a 13-megapixel camera, image stabilization, and sapphire lens, ZTE steps up its cameraphone game with the Nubia 5.
Aimed at photography buffs, the Nubia 5 is ZTE's newest handset for the US market. The unlocked device is available for preorder starting Saturday, October 5, for $449.99 and is compatible with GSM/UMTS carriers.
In addition to a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, the Nubia 5 boasts a 13-megapixel camera that features a Konica-Minolta sapphire lens and image stabilization. Users can shoot in three modes, one of which is called Pro Mode. With this setting, users can shoot panoramas and in high-speed burst mode. Pro Mode also lets you manually adjust the lighting and focus settings of the camera.
The other two settings are Fun Mode (which includes filters), and Auto Mode. In Auto Mode, users can access functions like HDR shooting and smile recognition.
As for the handset itself, the Nubia will sport a 5-inch, 1080p FHD display with 443ppi. The phone will house a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and a 2,300mAh battery inside.
Memory capacity consists of 16GB of ROM and 2GB of RAM. ZTE also included Digital Dolby Plus for enhanced audio.
Although this isn't ZTE's only handset with a 13-megapixel camera (for instance, the Sprint Vital and ZTE Grand S both have one), it is being uniquely marketed in the US by ZTE as a handset with superior camera technology.
True, HDR and panoramic shooting have been a common photo feature in most smartphones, but with the addition of a Konica-Minolta lens and image stablization, it is nice to see the Chinese-based company beef up the Nubia 5's camera capabilities. Of course, the device will face stiff competition against heavy-hitters like the 41-megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, which features an optical zoom.