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ZTE's camera-heavy mini flagship makes rare leap to the US
Chinese phone makers are smacking Samsung and others around right now, but it's still hard to find high-end, non-carrier-branded devices stateside. That said, ZTE -- which has quietly become the world's number five smartphone brand -- has just launched its Nubia 5S mini LTE in the US unlocked for $280. You may be more tempted by a Nexus 5 if specs are your thing, as the Nubia 5s mini is "merely" equipped with a quad-core Snapdragon 400, 2GB RAM, 16GB expandable memory and a 4.7-inch, 720p screen. But ZTE's wooing a younger crowd by touting the ample 5-megapixel front/13-megapixel rear cameras with f/2.2 iris and manual controls, along with the photo effects, LTE (for GSM carriers) and pocketable size. It also vows to repair any damage you inflict for any reason up to 18 months after purchase for $80 -- a boon to any of us who've broken a screen. It's now up on pre-order at Amazon, with shipping set to start on August 27th.
Walmart dropping iPhone 5c to $29, 5s to $99 beginning tomorrow
If you've been holding out for reduced pricing on Apple's latest smartphones, you're in luck. Walmart is planning to make both models a bit more affordable beginning tomorrow, according to a spokesperson. The 16GB iPhone 5c will be available in stores for $29 with a two-year contract (down from $49), while the 16GB iPhone 5s is expected to retail for $99, a 50-dollar savings. The retailer ran a similar promotion earlier this year, but this week's move is permanent and should take effect beginning at 9 tomorrow morning (local time), available only in stores. We don't have specifics for the 32GB versions, but pricing will be reduced for both of those models as well.
A look at iPhone upgrade math
With two new iPhone models launching, Macworld has put up a handy guide detailing all of the options available for folks looking to upgrade to either the iPhone 5c or 5s. For a lot of folks, upgrading to a new device is no problem, assuming of course that they're at the end of their two-year phone contract. If you happen to be stuck in an existing phone contract, however, there's no reason to fret. There are still a few ways you can get the latest and greatest from Apple without breaking the bank. Without question, buying an unsubsidized (read: full-price) iPhone can set you back a few hundred, but if you already own an iPhone, or any other smartphone for that matter, you might want to consider selling it for cash. You'd be surprised as to how much some websites like Gazelle are willing to pay for old devices. A 32 GB iPhone 4S on Sprint, for example, could net you $155. Even a broken 32 GB iPhone 4s can get you $55. If you're tired of your current provider, Macworld reminds us that you can simply bite the bullet, pay an early termination fee and simply sign up for a new two-year contract with an entirely new carrier. Termination fees vary from carrier to carrier and are based on how many months remain on your current contract. That said, make sure to find out exactly how much your termination fee is before jumping ship. The Macworld piece has some more info detailing ways you might be able to make an iPhone 5c or 5s upgrade a reality, so check it out to make sure you're ready come next Friday.
Weekly Roundup: Galaxy Gear hands-on, iPhone 5S and 5C rumors, Microsoft / Nokia acquisition, and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Daily Roundup: iPhone 5S and 5C rumors, Distro Issue 106, LG Nexus 5 at the FCC, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
ViewSonic goes dual-SIM with ViewPhone 4s, 4e and 5e, all packing Android Ice Cream Sandwich
When you're ready, here's yet another load of pre-MWC goodness. This year ViewSonic decided that merely slapping Ice Cream Sandwich on its new ViewPhones isn't good enough, so instead, the company's just-announced 4s, 4e and 5e also come with an extra SIM slot. Starting from the left we have the ViewPhone 4s featuring an impressive 3.5-inch 960 x 640 Super Clear IPS LCD (which, should be very similar to Apple's Retina Display from LG -- rather ironic given the phone's name), along with a five-megapixel camera, a VGA front-facing imager and a 1GHz chip. Pictured in the middle is a similar-looking ViewPhone 4e but packing a 3.5-inch 480 x 320 LCD, a slower processor at 650MHz only, a three-megapixel camera and one extra touch button than its sibling; all of this made with budget in mind, obviously, though somehow ViewSonic's very proud of its 10.3mm thickness.If 3.5-inch displays aren't your cup of tea then you'll have to jump straight to the 5-inch ViewPhone 5e, but so far all we've been told is its 800 × 480 screen resolution. Could there be more in this dual-SIM beast? Stay tuned to our MWC coverage and you'll know as soon as we do.