Chinese smartphone maker ZTE has unveiled its latest mid-range mobile phone — the Blade V8 Pro, which is poised to release in the United States as well. The handset will attract those looking for a device with impressive specs at a pocket-friendly price.
ZTE announced the phone on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at the International CES 2017. During the Blade V8 Pro's launch event, ZTE USA's CEO and chairman Lixin Cheng revealed that the Blade series was initially launched only for the Asian markets. However, the growing demand for the phone, coupled with the company's foray into the international market, prompted ZTE to announce the Blade series in other parts of the world such as Mexico, Europe and more.
"The Blade series hasn't gone unnoticed here in the US as consumers and partners have continually asked about it so we're excited to kick off 2017 by giving them what they want with the Blade V8 Pro," says Cheng.
The ZTE smartphone sports a 5.5-inch Full HD screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which the company asserts will bring one's "favorite content to life in rich detail." The screen is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 and is equipped to "withstand the rigors of everyday life."
An octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor clocked at 2 GHz powers the latest Blade V8 Pro. The handset houses 3 GB of RAM and comes with 32 GB of onboard storage, which can be expanded to an additional 128 GB with a microSD card.
The ZTE Blade V8 Pro is also equipped with a dual-lens camera that promises to offer high-quality images.
"A first among unlocked smartphones in its class, Blade V8 Pro features an innovative 13MP + 13MP dual-lens camera that supports blazing fast shutter speeds and delivers exceptional depth of field, giving you the power to add beautiful bokeh effects to your photos," says ZTE.
The handset also features an 8-megapixel front-facing camera that will possibly find favor with selfie lovers.
The Blade V8 Pro includes a fingerprint scanner on the device's home button for enhanced security. The highly responsive fingerprint sensor facilitates recognition of multiple user profiles. A 3,140 mAh battery fuels the latest offering from ZTE. It also offers support for Quick Charge.
The device supports dual SIM, which is a handy feature for travelers as it allows them to switch back and forth between carriers with ease.
The ZTE phablet comes pre-loaded with the older Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, which may disappoint some enthusiasts. Hopefully, ZTE will be quick to update the Blade V8 Pro to Android 7.0 Nougat in the near term.
Price And Availability
The Blade V8 Pro has a price tag of $229.98 in the United States. The phone is currently available for preorder from the company's official website, NewEgg, and B&H.
Customers who preorder the Blade V8 Pro from ZTE's USA site will also receive a free Co-Mold Protective Case for the device.
The Blade V8 Pro will face stiff competition from other mid-range phones. However, the impressive specs and its affordable price are expected to attract customers looking to purchase a new phone. Considering its affordable price point and the decent features, the Blade V8 Pro is worth buying if you are eyeing a new mid-range handset.
