14 DAY TRIAL // Chinese handset manufacturer ZTE is about to introduce a high-end Android phone in North America. Mostly known for its entry-level handsets, ZTE plans to boost its market share in mature markets, such as United States and Canada.
The folks over at TalkAndroid have been tipped off on the upcoming launch of the ZTE Flash, an unannounced Android phone which is expected to hit shelves in the United States via Sprint.
According to a source close to the matter, ZTE Flash will be launched in the US in the fourth quarter of the year, but there are no other details on the exact release date and pricing options.
ZTE Flash is a powerful smartphone equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, probably a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, though it’s a bit too early to say this for certain.
There’s also 1GB of RAM inside, as well as 8GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD memory card.
On the back, ZTE Flash is said to boast an impressive 12.6-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording, as well as a secondary 1-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls.
The smartphone also sports a stunning 4.5-inch IPS capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720 x 1280 pixels) resolution.
Software-wise, ZTE Flash is expected to arrive with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich onboard, but it won't be a surprise if the Chinese company launches this one with Jelly Bean out of the box.
In the same piece of news, ZTE has recently launched the Grand X in Europe last week, a mid-range smartphone powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Besides the fact that it runs Ice Cream Sandwich, ZTE Grand X will probably be very popular among Android enthusiasts due to its low price. The phone is currently priced in the UK at 190 GBP (300 USD/240 EUR) on PAYG, but customers can also grab this one for free on select plans.