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The battle for the best unlocked smartphone rages on as Blu Products on Tuesday announced that its 6-inch Pure XL, will soon be offered direct to US consumers. Sold as an unlocked device, the Android handset will be compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile’s 4G LTE networks.
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The Blu Pure XL plays on the same field as other recently introduced unlocked “affordable premium” smartphones, including the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition and the OnePlus 2 . For consumers, this means less expensive alternatives to flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 (starting at $650 unlocked).
At $350, the Pure XL costs roughly half of what you’ll pay for a more popular brand like Samsung, and it has the specs to match. The Pure XL runs Android 5.1 Lollipop and features a 6-inch display at a 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution. A first for US phones, the Blu unit employs a 64-bit MediaTek Helio X10 2.0GHz Octa-core processor. The Pure XL packs a generous 3500mAh battery with quick charging capabilities.
On the camera front, the Pure XL is flanked by a rear 24-megapixel sensor and a front-facing 8-megapixel wide-angle selfie snapper. In terms of storage, the device offers up 64GB of space, which should be sufficient for most users to house apps, games, and media. Toss in a fingerprint scanner, dual stereo speakers, and an aluminum design and you’ve got the makings of a killer flagship hopeful.
Founded in 2009, Blu has been slowly carving out a niche in the US with its unlocked, direct-to-consumer phones. And, as buyers become increasingly conditioned to purchase handsets without contracts, Blu, along with the likes of Alcatel and Huawei are poised to take advantage.
The Pure XL will be sold in gold and gray when it launches on September 29. In the interim, Blu will be showing the phone off at CTIA Super Mobility this week. Stick with CNET for hands-on and early impressions of the device.
