Samsung has lengthy reigned within the foldable area, notably resulting from its cheaper Z Flip collection. Nevertheless, Motorola has given the corporate some welcome competitors in North America with the launch of the Razr Plus and the less expensive Razr 2023, the latter of which continues to have shockingly low costs. Now, Nubia has seemingly come out of nowhere with a mid-range flip telephone that goals to threaten Motorola’s maintain on the reasonably priced foldable telephone phase.
You could not have heard of Nubia, however the firm makes some fairly spectacular flagship smartphones and gaming telephones. The Flip 5G is the corporate’s first foray into foldables, which is fascinating since firms usually are likely to launch bigger foldables first earlier than downsizing with flip telephones. However similar to Motorola, Nubia needs to focus on a lower cost level to undercut its greatest competitor, Samsung.
I’ve hoped for a extra reasonably priced Galaxy Z Flip FE, one thing that might launch alongside the corporate’s flagship flip telephone as a extra up-to-date various to these not keen to fork out $999. After all, Samsung must make important modifications to deliver the value down, however Nubia and Motorola present that that is very doable.
At this worth level, there are certain to be some compromises, particularly for a flip telephone. In my time with the Flip 5G, I’ve tried to find out whether or not or not stated compromises destroy the general expertise of proudly owning a contemporary flip telephone, which is at the moment my favourite telephone type issue. To place it plainly, I am blended.
Nubia Flip 5G: Worth and availability
The Nubia Flip 5G was introduced in February 2024 throughout MWC and went on sale in April. The telephone is accessible in two configurations and begins at $499 for the 8+256GB mannequin, whereas the 12+512GB mannequin is accessible for $699.
There are three colours to select from: Cosmic Black, Sunshine Gold, and Flowing Lilac.
The telephone does not look like out there by means of retailers like Amazon, however you should purchase the system unlocked instantly from Nubia.
| Class | Nubia Flip 5G |
|---|---|
| OS | Android 13 (MyOS13) |
| Show (inside) | 6.9-inch, OLED, FHD+ (2790 x 1188), 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM Dimming |
| Show (exterior) | 1.43-inch, round OLED |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP large + 2MP depth |
| Entrance-facing digital camera | 16MP |
| Audio | Twin Audio system, Snapdragon Sound, DTS:X Extremely |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
| Safety | Fingerprint sensor, face unlock |
| Water/mud resistance | ❌ |
| Battery | 4310mAh, 33W wired charging |
| Dimensions (open) | 170 x 75.5 x 7.0mm |
| Dimensions (closed) | 87.6 x 75.5 x 15.0mm |
| Weight | 209g |
| Colours | Cosmic Black, Sunshine Gold, Flowing Lilac |
Nubia Flip 5G: What I like
Flip telephones are identified for being extra compact, however there additionally appears to be extra of a concentrate on design, at the least in comparison with their larger-screened counterparts. That is clear after I have a look at the Nubia Flip 5G; it is most likely one of many best-looking flip telephones I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing. The flat aluminum alloy body and angular chassis remind me numerous the Galaxy Z Flip 5 however with a softer look and contact. Nevertheless, the place the telephone actually stands out is the round housing the place the duvet display and cameras are.
The housing is usually black with a golden ring round it, which provides a premium contact to the design. You probably have a lighter coloration possibility, reminiscent of Flowing Lilac or Sunshine Gold, the digital camera/cowl show housing actually contrasts in opposition to the remainder of the system. In reality, the telephone seems to be extra just like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and TECNO Phantom V Flip had a child.
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At simply 7mm thick when open and 15mm when closed, the Nubia Flip 5G is pretty skinny for a flip telephone, roughly matching the Motorola Razr Plus. Though, at 209g, it is a bit heavier than both of the 2023 Razr fashions and even the OPPO Discover N3 Flip. Even so, it does not really feel notably heavy, particularly with the distinctive glass masking the again panels (which I am going to get to later).
Opening and shutting the telephone feels very satisfying and Nubia’s hinge is kind of sturdy, conserving the telephone open at varied angles. When open, the 6.9-inch FHD+ show is fairly good when seen indoors, and the 120Hz refresh charge retains issues easy, though you may have to enter the settings to allow this for the reason that telephone is ready to 60Hz at default. However even when set to the usual coloration mode, the show is fairly vibrant, and the crease, whereas not as easy as another foldables, is luckily not as deep as on the Z Flip 5 show.
The telephone is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, a two-year-old midrange chipset that also offers good efficiency at this worth level. The telephone does not falter when opening and juggling a number of apps, due to the 8GB of RAM (there’s additionally a 12GB mannequin). Even when gaming, the chipset appears to deal with itself fairly properly. Enjoying Honkai: Star Rail, the Nubia Flip 5G defaults to medium settings, however the telephone is ready to deal with the sport even at excessive settings at 60fps, which is fairly spectacular.
That stated, the highest half of the telephone, notably the body, will get fairly heat once you push it, so you may need to watch out.
The first digital camera is a 50MP sensor with autofocus. I admittedly did not anticipate a lot out of the digital camera, given the value level, however I used to be pleasantly shocked to see that it takes fairly respectable photos in good lighting situations. Pictures are crisp and many vibrant through the day, and the output is healthier than what I might get from the Motorola Razr 2023 (and even the Razr Plus, to an extent). That stated, it may typically go just a little overboard with saturation, and particulars degrade rapidly once you begin zooming in.
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Low-light pictures aren’t notably sturdy, however video seize is nice, even when the telephone tops out at 4K30. Nubia additionally has some enjoyable filters that you may view and edit in actual time when you put together to take a photograph, which might help make photos just a little extra artsy.
Nubia Flip 5G: Cowl display
The duvet display is among the fundamental causes to think about shopping for a flip telephone, due to the added utility of with the ability to test notifications and different features with no need to open the telephone. Sadly, the Nubia Flip 5G is fairly restricted on this regard.
The duvet display is a round OLED panel measuring 1.43, so roughly the scale of a big smartwatch show. Sadly, it isn’t practically as helpful. The duvet display permits you to cycle by means of eight totally different panels with totally different features, reminiscent of a calendar, voice recorder, digital camera, and music participant. You can even view notifications, however you’ll be able to’t do something with them on the duvet display itself, as it is going to simply immediate you to open your telephone to test it. Moreover, whereas I can broaden a number of notifications from the identical app, the telephone does not let me swipe away particular person notifications, leaving “Clear all” as the one viable possibility, and even that does not appear to totally work.
This is not my solely problem with notifications, however I am going to get to that within the subsequent part.
Fortuitously, the duvet display nonetheless acts as a viewfinder for the digital camera, permitting you to take selfies with the first 50MP sensor. You may faucet to begin a 2-second picture timer or swipe up and down to change between picture, video, and portrait modes.
AOD performance is a plus on the duvet display, but it surely appears as if the brightness is related to the primary show’s brightness, which looks as if a bizarre oversight, particularly since there is no strategy to alter it from the exterior display.
General, the restrictions of the display are just a little disappointing, if comprehensible. Once more, I can not assist however examine it to a smartwatch display, which lets me sort, open apps, and extra, however I clearly cannot anticipate the identical from a small cowl display, particularly on the app entrance. Even the Razr 2023 has comparable limitations, and it is barely bigger at 1.5-inches.
Nubia Flip 5G: What I do not like
The Nubia Flip 5G has so much going for it for a $500 foldable telephone, however the telephone makes fairly just a few compromises to get all the way down to that worth. Apart from the pretty small and barely purposeful cowl display, the telephone is restricted to only one usable digital camera. The second 2MP depth sensor appears similar to a motive to pad the spec sheet, because it’s largely ineffective.
Taking Portrait pictures requires fairly a little bit of tinkering earlier than the telephone is ready to get even an honest picture, and even then, the Nubia Flip 5G does not do an important job separating the background type the primary topic.
On the software program aspect, the Flip 5G curiously nonetheless runs Android 13 regardless of launching properly into the Android 14 cycle. The software program itself is usually inoffensive, and Nubia provides some software program thrives to reap the benefits of the foldable type issue, which you may discover with the digital camera app or YouTube when the telephone is at an angle. Sadly, you may be met with fairly a little bit of bloatware once you first get arrange, which is rarely enjoyable. On the plus aspect, you’ll be able to delete or disable any additional apps and options you do not want. I do just like the day by day wallpaper operate, which retains issues contemporary even when a few of the photos are fairly random (why does it present me photos of Celine Dion and Taylor Swift?).
What I am not a fan of is the “Z-Board,” which is Nubia’s bootleg Google Uncover, which sits to the left of the house display. Like Google’s feed, Z-Board makes an attempt to present you related information and different really useful data, however none of it appears notably helpful, and it simply appears to be full of adverts versus precise information. Fortuitously, you’ll be able to disable this, however you’ll be able to’t allow Google Uncover as a replacement.
I’ve additionally had points with notifications. For some motive, notifications are available in extraordinarily late, or they do not are available in in any respect. After a while, I am going to open an app like Instagram, solely to then be bombarded by notifications from the app that had been by no means delivered. My smartwatch is seemingly the one means I can get notifications on time. On the one hand, it is a good strategy to keep centered after I’m attempting to work, however then again, it will trigger me to overlook out on conversations or reply late.
Nubia wasn’t precisely upfront concerning the replace promise and even when the telephone would obtain Android 14, however the truth that we’re already beta testing Android 15 earlier than it launches later this 12 months is a foul signal for the Flip 5G.
My different issues are principally hardware-related, such because the overaggressive auto brightness that continually retains the show too low for my liking or the truth that the gesture to activate the flashlight solely works when the lock display is lively. And whereas I actually just like the design of the Nubia Flip 5G, the AG etched glass feels extraordinarily low-cost, nearly like plastic, though the plus aspect of the matte end is that you may keep away from fingerprints and smudges.
Lastly, battery life is not horrible, however I anticipated extra out of the 4,310mAh battery, as it may barely get me by means of a complete day of mixed-use (social media, video games, pictures). The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a a lot smaller battery and nonetheless appears to last more between prices. Fortuitously, the 33W charging tops up the telephone comparatively rapidly, however the Nubia Flip 5G misses out on wi-fi charging, in contrast to a few of its closest rivals.
Nubia Flip 5G: Competitors
Talking of competitors, if you happen to’re in search of an inexpensive flip telephone, it’s possible you’ll need to contemplate the Motorola Razr 2023. The telephone has a big battery and is powered by the identical Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset with 8GB of RAM. You additionally get a comparatively inventory Android expertise, a vegan leather-based end, and wi-fi charging in addition. The draw back is that it, too, additionally runs Android 13, and Motorola’s monitor document for main software program updates is not nice.
Elsewhere, you may as well have a look at the TECNO Phantom V Flip. It has an identical design to the Nubia, is powered by a MediaTek chipset, and encompasses a dual-camera system that features an ultrawide sensor. Sadly, it suffers from most of the similar disadvantages because the Nubia, and also you seemingly will not have the ability to get your palms on it if you happen to dwell in the US.
When you’re keen to spend just a few extra {dollars}, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is among the higher choices, even when it does price extra. It has higher cameras than what you may discover on most flip telephones, the duvet display is good and huge, and Samsung’s software program is kind of polished. You could spend extra to purchase it, however with a new mannequin more likely to launch in July, you could possibly snag some offers to get the value down.
Nubia Flip 5G: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You desire a an fashionable flip telephone.
- You desire a telephone with an honest digital camera.
- You do not need to spend an excessive amount of in your subsequent telephone.
You should not purchase this if…
- You need polished, dependable software program.
- You desire a versatile digital camera expertise.
- You need an all-day battery.
- You want wi-fi charging.
The advantage of flip telephones is that they’re much extra versatile with regards to worth. The place the bigger, tablet-like foldable telephones can simply price as a lot as $1700, flagship flip telephones are sometimes priced round $999 however can go even decrease. The Nubia Flip 5G is an effective instance of a mid-range foldable telephone, hitting the identical worth level that you’d see from different non-folding and equally specced units.
At a beginning worth of $499, it is cheaper than the Motorola Razr 2023 was at launch, though that telephone is positioned a bit increased with some flagship specs thrown in. The Nubia, then again, is content material to supply a number of compromises to get all the way down to a worth that many individuals may be keen to shell out for a foldable telephone, at the same time as a primary foray into the shape issue.
Battery life is probably not one of the best, and the duvet display is sadly restricted in its usability, however the telephone makes up for it with its one usable digital camera, fairly good efficiency, and a standout design.
As a lot as I would like to see Samsung launch a less expensive (however higher) foldable telephone, the corporate’s sticking to the upper finish permits others to deal with the decrease finish, a technique that has labored for Motorola. At this worth, the Nubia Flip 5G would make a very good first flip telephone—that’s, if you may get previous the bloat.
Premium seems to be, reasonably priced worth
The brand new Nubia Flip 5G often is the most cost-effective flip telephone you should purchase within the U.S. proper now, however that does not imply it’s a low-cost telephone. The Snapdragon chip affords loads of energy, the 50MP digital camera is greater than succesful, and the duvet display makes it pretty simple to view notifications and different data at a look.
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