During MWC, ZTE and its nubia subsidiary made headlines with the release of five new phones. We had the opportunity to test out several of the new models, and here are our initial thoughts on the nubia Flip, Focus Pro, Neo 2, and Music smartphones.
nubia Flip
The nubia Flip caught our attention as an intriguing budget flip foldable competing with the likes of the Galaxy Z Flip5 and Moto Razr 40. It features a sturdy brushed aluminum frame that folds flat, although it is slightly heavier at 214 grams compared to its rivals. The device’s folding mechanism feels robust and reliable.
nubia Flip hands-on
We were impressed by the demo unit’s pearly gradient purple back, which changes colors depending on the viewing angle. The device also features a 1.43-inch cover screen that displays useful information like time, date, notifications, and can even be used for various functions such as taking calls and controlling media playback.
Upon unfolding the nubia Flip, you’re greeted with a 6.9-inch main OLED display featuring FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. While the display appears decent at first glance, the thick bezels surrounding it and the noticeable crease in the middle are evident. The device runs on ZTE’s MyOS 13.5 based on Android 13, offering various features optimized for the foldable screen. Despite sporting an older Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip, the nubia Flip’s starting price of $599/€599 seems reasonable. Additionally, the device is equipped with a 4,310 mAh battery with 33W fast charging support.
ZTE is expected to provide more details on pricing and availability in the coming months. Overall, the nubia Flip appears to be a strong contender in the budget foldable market.
nubia Focus Pro
The nubia Focus lineup focuses on delivering a camera-centric experience in the midrange segment. The Focus Pro features a 108MP Neovision main sensor with OIS, alongside additional photography features such as in-sensor crop, RAW HDR, and RAW super night mode. The device also offers up to 4K video recording capabilities.
The camera-centric design extends to the physical appearance of the Focus Pro, with a dedicated slider for quick access to the camera app and a capacitive capture button on the frame for easy photo capture.
Featuring a 6.72-inch FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 32MP front camera, and a Unisoc T760 chipset with 8GB of RAM, the Focus Pro promises a well-rounded photography experience. The device is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. ZTE plans to release the Focus Pro later this year at an estimated price of $199, making it an attractive option for photography enthusiasts.
nubia Neo 2
The nubia Neo 2 stands out as an affordable gaming phone expected to retail at $199 upon its official launch later this year. The device offers a 6.72-inch display with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, powered by a 5G-capable Unisoc T820 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
nubia Neo 2
Equipped with capacitive shoulder triggers on the right side, typically found in premium gaming phones, the Neo 2 offers an immersive gaming experience. The device features a vibrant and flashy design inspired by previous Red Magic gaming phones.
Game Space 2.0 overlay, similar to the Red Magic 9 Pro, enhances the gaming experience on the Neo 2 by offering customization options, monitoring CPU and GPU performance, and providing quick access to essential features. The device is powered by a 6,000 mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging.
nubia Music
The nubia Music stands out as the most unique device among the new releases, featuring a loudspeaker on the back that is claimed to be 600% louder than traditional smartphone speakers. Inspired by vinyl records, the speaker on the nubia Music offers impressive sound quality and volume.
nubia Music hands-on
Designed as a replacement for Bluetooth speakers, nubia Music also functions as an entry-level Android 13 smartphone with a 6.6-inch (HD+ 90Hz) display, 5,000 mAh battery, and dual cameras. Notably, the device retains dual 3.5mm ports at the top, allowing users to share music with friends using wired headphones in a world shifting towards wireless audio.
Powered by a Unisoc SC9863A chipset with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, nubia Music targets the entry-level market with an estimated price of $149 upon its launch later this year.
