The ultra affordable smartphone market has been getting quite competitive with new launches like the JioPhone Next. Now ZTE is launching its new budget smartphone Blade L9.

ZTE Blade L9 smartphone with entry-level specifications has been launched in Mexico. The smartphone is available for MXN 1,699 (approx. Rs. 6,000). It is available in blue and gray colour options.

The ultra affordable smartphone comes equipped with a 5-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 960 pixels. It is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Unisoc SC7731e processor paired with 1GB of RAM and 32GB onboard storage. Moreover, the smartphone has a microSD card slot for up to 128GB.

ZTE Blade L9 has an 8 megapixel primary camera in the rear with a LED flashlight. The top bezel of the device has a 5-megapixel camera for capturing selfies and video calls. The smartphone packs a 2000 mAh battery and features an intelligent power-saving mode that, according to the company’s claims, can detect and limit high energy consumption.

Connectivity options on the ZTE Blade L9 include a Micro-USB port, 3G, Bluetooth v4.2, and more. The phone measures 137.5×67.5x10mm and weighs 143 grams. Its left edge has a micro USB port and its right side features have buttons for volume and power.

There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge. It offers other features like dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2.

In other news, the US Senate voted unanimously on Thursday (October 28) to approve legislation to prevent companies such as Huawei or ZTE that are deemed security threats from receiving new equipment licenses from US regulators. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said, ”Chinese state-directed companies like Huawei and ZTE are known national security threats and have no place in our telecommunications network.”

However, ZTE witnessed profit growth in the first nine months of 2021, with a rising share of the Chinese 5G market driving a double-digit increase in revenue. ZTE’s net profit increased 130.9 percent year-on-year to CNY3.3 million ($516.9 million) on revenue of CNY83.8 billion, up 13.1 percent. The gross profit margin rose by 4.7 percentage points to 36.8 percent.