Sprint subsidiary Virgin Mobile finally got its first taste of LTE, acquiring its first device compatible with Sprint's growing network.  

The Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE made its debut back in September 2012 as a mid-range smartphone. In other words, the handset is not very expensive, and Virgin Mobile aims to cater to those who want a smartphone without burning a hole through their budget or having to commit to a lengthy contract.

As Virgin Mobile takes its first step into the world of LTE, the contract-free prepaid carrier is selling the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE for $299.99.

The Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE smartphone is already available online as of Tuesday, Feb. 26, and it will become available in national retailers and at participating dealers by mid-March. The handset will work on the Virgin Mobile No-Contract Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plan, which starts at $35 per month.

The smartphone enriching Virgin Mobile's offerings sports the same features it did when Samsung and Sprint first unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE back in September. It packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4-inch display, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of capturing HD video as well, and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter.

The Galaxy Victory runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, and has a micro SD card slot for expandable memory of up to 32GB. Other features include Google Wallet and allShare Play, as well as the popular S Beam technology, which allows users to share content such as video files, photos, documents and more simply by tapping two S Beam-enabled devices together.

The mid-range handset aims to cater to the needs of the more budget-conscious consumers who would like to enjoy the features of a smartphone, but without the hefty price tag usually associated with higher-end devices.

Keep in mind, however, that the LTE service is only available in select markets. Before purchasing the handset with its 4G LTE capabilities in mind, it might be a good idea to check Virgin Mobile's website for coverage.