ZTE Grand S will get Nubia Z5 level spec in a thinner body at a lower price!


After launching the Nubia Z5 you would think ZTE would take time to sit back and pat themselves on the back, but oh no they have had to go and out do themselves with the ZTE Grand S!

The Nubia Z5 and ZTE Grand S share some similar features such as a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen, 13 mega-pixel rear camera, 1.5Ghz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU and 2GB RAM.

However ZTE have managed to cram all those same components in a much thinner 6.9mm body! Pretty impressive stuff, even more so when you consider the fact the Grand S will have a slightly larger battery and will cost consirably less!

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According to reports the ZTE Grand S will cost just 2799 Yuan ($449) while the China only Nubia Z5 will go on sale for 3500 Yuan ($555).

zte grand s specificaitons leaked

The Nubia Z5 has already been launched in China and will go on sale next money, while we will have to wait until CES in January to see the ZTE Grand S in the flesh!

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18 Comments

  1. Xiaolu
    December 28, 2012

    Hi again and sorry Andi, do you think that slot on the lower side of the phone is a microSD one? I can’t read it, maybe you have a clue… (would be nice!)

  2. December 28, 2012

    might even be a sim card slot, but this phone seems to be a paradox, similar specs with larger battery with a thinner profile and lower price

  3. geHuC
    December 28, 2012

    I don’t get it why would ZTE undercut themselves like that ? maybe the display isn’t 1080p or the grand S is being targeted at international customes. Otherwise this move makes no sense whatsoever.

    • GS88
      December 28, 2012

      Who would want a Nubia Z if you can get the same phone for a better price, thinner and with a bigger battery?! It is a stupid move from ZTE unless the Nubia Z is only for China and this Grand S is for the international market.

  4. Olivier
    December 28, 2012

    yeah it’s a micro SD !!!

  5. Kim
    December 28, 2012

    I also wonder why they release 2 similar phones at the same time. If the Grand S is for the international market its makes some sense, but according to other webpages it looks it will be sold in china also.

  6. PeterP
    December 28, 2012

    Aha, some more photos. Looks not so bad. It’s really thin.

    It’s still $450, so it’s not cheap at all. $350 would be more like it. Last time I looked, the grand X which this replaces was around $330 although it also started out pricey.

    We’re getting pretty decent 6589 if not record breaking phones for $250, and it’s ZTE, which is a bit of a Skoda brand (actually that’s probably a good thing). And the buttons remind me of the old Monte Carlo I had.

    So without a top flight design and more technical info like an HDR camera / 4 hours to make a super alloy body I really don’t see what the fuss is about.

    • Airyl
      December 28, 2012

      Maybe the fact that it has a 1920X1080 display?

      • PeterP
        December 28, 2012

        So if it has 1080p it’s OK to add $200 plus to the cost. Sorry I don’t buy that at all. And Qualcom over nvidia is what $40 instead of $20. Rockchip a bit less. Google changed the phone pricing landscape a while ago.

        There are loads of companies just about to release 1080p screens.
        Sharp, Samsung, LG, JDI, Innolux to name just the ones I know of.

        Someone is going to do a 1080p phone very soon and retail it for under $300 maybe closer to $250.
        I mean, you can get a retina screen tablet for under $250 all day long.

        I’m wondering how these things are going to compete against an octacore 1080p phone from one of the big chinese names though?

        Rockchip LTE 8 core is coming, ZTE have the u950.
        huawei, lenovo etc..
        But how long before whole A15, A53/57 ball gets rolling.

        When will someone bring out a phone with replaceable chipset I probably just dream.
        Put me down for a Qualcomm 16 core a53/57 hybrid please 🙂

  7. Jason W
    December 28, 2012

    Could it be a 16gb model. If only available with 16gb and no sd card slot for expansion and remove LTE then it shouldnt hurt the higher model.
    Battery life on these 1080p phones is going to be the biggest problem. Droid dna getting reviews that say playing angry birds and words with friends will get you 4 hours battery life is rather disheartening.

  8. njren
    December 29, 2012

    Or it could be that the 2799 price is speculation based on a slip of paper reporters noticed at the press event. You can also find other sites pegging the price at 3598.

    ZTE has not officially announced the price, in other words.

    • kim
      December 29, 2012

      Maybe this can explain more. I dont know if linking is allowed, otherwise, delete the link.
      http://tech.qq.com/a/20121229/000014.htm
      I used google translate 🙂 Looks like “Grand” is the international brand. the 3589 price sounds more right

  9. Stefan
    December 29, 2012

    Hey Andi, I have heard the Grand S will be for the international Market. Do you know if the phone will be available in China too or just outside of China? I am in China in March 2013 and would buy it.
    A other question is: Is the body of the Find 5 out of plastic or aluminium? Sorry for the question in this article.
    Have a Happy new year.

    • njren
      December 29, 2012

      An English-language website that was at the Find 5 unveiling in Beijing said the back is matte plastic.

      No one has held anything but an engineering prototype, though. Oppo has not sent out any production review samples for testing yet.

      Take that as you will.

      • pp
        December 29, 2012

        Off topic 🙂
        Pretty sure in the spec section on the oppo website it said the front bezel and bottom bit is heated to 1600 degrees and its some alloy thing tales 4 hours. I definitely read somewhere.
        And the back didnt say anything so i guess its placky although not all plastics are equal. Eg the nice german ones that they clad houses with are just like expensive ceramic tiles.

    • December 29, 2012

      The Grand S is the international model where as the Nubia Z5 is for the Chinese market only. As for the Find 5 I’m not 100% sure as I haven’t held one, but I’m expecting to review it very soon.

  10. December 29, 2012

    and that is true, If only available with 16gb and no sd card slot for expansion and remove LTE then it shouldnt hurt the higher model.

  11. LuisMa
    January 18, 2013

    Hi Andi,
    I´m planning to change my phone (LG Optimus Black) and I was looking forward for the OPPO Find 5 buuuuut looking the prices between Find 5 ($399) and Grand S ($289) made me start thinking thatthe Grand S could be a great option (for the prices I´m based on the fastcardtech page).

    It will be my first chinese buy so pls advice me on this.

    thanks in advance and your page is great, keep rocking!!!