ZTE Targets Younger Buyers With Sub-$600 Nubia Flip 5G Foldable

ZTE showed off a bunch of new products centered around the theme "Better for All" under its Nubia brand at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, all of which have relatively low starting prices. Here's a rundown.

Nubia Flip 5G

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

ZTE calls the Nubia Flip 5G "the first flip smartphone for young people," which may be a nod to its $599 starting price. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 system on a chip (from 2022). The hinge is made of a steel alloy and when the phone is unfolded it reveals a 6.9-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

ZTE claims the screen is "wrinkleless" when open. Many foldable phones feature a non-flat center area where the screen bends, so this would be a nice advancement. On the outside are two 50MP cameras and an outer screen.

The Nubia Flip has a low price for a foldable phone. It is less expensive than the Moto Razr ($699.99), Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 ($999), and Moto Razr+ ($999). In person, the phone is rather thick and chunky. The hinge feels solid, but it's a little tough to open one-handed.

Nubia Neo 2 5G

For gaming, ZTE fired up the Nubia Neo 2 5G. Starting at $199, it features ZTE's custom software like Gaming Space as well as dedicated touch shoulder buttons. The display is 6.72 inches with a 120Hz refresh rate. Gaming sessions should last a long time thanks to the Neo 2's 6,000mAh battery, which can charge at 33W wired. ZTE also touts DTS:X Ultra audio for its dual speakers.

Nubia Focus Series

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

There are two phones in this series, the Nubia Focus 5G and the Nubia Focus Pro 5G, and both focus on camera prowess. They feature a 108MP dual-camera system and have the "world's only dual photography buttons." They both are powered by an unnamed octa-core 6nm 5G chip with a max frequency of 2.2GHz. A sliding shortcut can activate the camera and there is a dedicated button to capture images. Additionally, the duo has a large 5,000mAh battery inside.

The Focus features a 6.6-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and four focal lengths. The Focus Pro has a larger 6.72-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and five focal lengths. The Focus series starts at just $199.

Nubia Music Series

Here's something you don't see every day: a phone centered around music. The Nubia Music series (starting at $149) has speakers that ZTE says will make the "phone volume 600% louder than average models" without going into specifics as to what it considers to be average. The Music series also features dual 3.5mm headphone jacks for sharing your music.

Recommended by Our Editors

I Got to Play With Motorola's Bendy Phone

The Best Folding Phones for 2024: Google, OnePlus, Samsung, and More

Honor Debuts AI-Infused Phone, High-End Tablet at Mobile World Congress

Nubia Pad 3D II

The Nubia Pad 3D II is the second generation of the glasses-free 3D tablet made by ZTE. This new model has an 80% increase in 3D resolution and is now 100% brighter in 3D mode compared to the older one. The Nubia Pad 3D II uses eye tracking to show you a 3D image without the need for glasses and can display 3D media in either portrait or landscape mode. The tablet can also take 2D content and convert it to 3D on the fly in real time. The 12.1-inch display has a resolution of 2,560 by 1,600 pixels with a 144Hz refresh rate.

The tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, connects to 5G, comes with up to 512GB of storage, and has a 10,000mAh battery capable of wired charging at 66W. As for sound, there are quad speakers. The Pad 3D II is capable of shooting 3D images and videos thanks to its dual camera setup.

Global Expansion

All of these devices are going to be available in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia beginning in March. Exact pricing may differ depending on the region.

Like What You're Reading?

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

About Iyaz Akhtar

Mobile Analyst

I’m one of PCMag’s mobile analysts. That means I check out phones, hotspots, and mobile networks. Technology has been my passion and hobby since I was a child. I’ve covered tech professionally for over 15 years at outlets including The Apple Blog, This Week in Tech, and CNET.

Read Iyaz's full bio