The Sprint Vital from ZTE
Available on June 14 for $99.99 after a mail-in rebate and carrier agreement, the Sprint Vital is manufactured by ZTE and features a 13-megapixel camera, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and a 5-inch HD display.
A tight squeeze
The Vital has a 5-inch screen with a 1,280x720-pixel resolution. While it's physically too big to fit nicely in my jeans pockets, it still feels comfortable in the palm and can be easily maneuverable with one hand.
Nice blue polish
The battery cover has a subtle blue tint to it when held in the light, and has a smooth, matte, rubber-like finish that I find pleasing to the eye. There is a quarter-size bulge on the phone's rear for the camera and flash.
Not too heavy
The phone measures 5.59 inches tall, 2.8 inches wide, and 0.39-inch thick. Weighing in at 5.44 ounces, the handset isn't very heavy for a device of its size.
A flimsy camera key
On the right is a shortcut key to launch the camera. The button itself feels a little flimsy, and it's difficult to tell whether I'm pushing down on it hard enough because I can feel two levels of "clicks" when I press it.
A look at the 13MP shooters
The phone's 13-megapixel camera comes with a bounty of editing options. Some include digital zoom, 11 Instagram-esque filters; seven shooting modes like macro zoom, HDR, and panorama; a timer; burst shot; and three interval modes (ranging from 18 photos in 90 seconds to 6 photos in 30).
A few more features
The camera can record 1080p video, and you'll get a front-facing 1-megapixel camera for video chatting and vanity shots. Furthermore, the handset runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and features a 2,500mAh battery.