The transverse momentum ( pT ) distribution of primary charged particles is measured at midrapidity in minimum-bias p–Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC in the range \(0.15 GeV/ c . The spectra are compared to the expectation based on binary collision scaling of particle production in pp collisions, leading to a nuclear modification factor consistent with unity for pT larger than 2 GeV/ c , with a weak indication of a Cronin-like enhancement for pT around 4 GeV/c . The measurement is compared to theoretical calculations and to data in Pb–Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76 TeV
