Nubia Flip 5G overview: The telephone I want Samsung would make

Samsung has lengthy reigned within the foldable house, significantly because of its cheaper Z Flip sequence. 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 section.

Chances are you’ll not have heard of Nubia, however the firm makes some relatively spectacular flagship smartphones and gaming telephones. The Flip 5G is the corporate’s first foray into foldables, which is fascinating since corporations usually are likely to launch bigger foldables first earlier than downsizing with flip telephones. However similar to Motorola, Nubia desires to focus on a cheaper price 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 different to these not prepared to fork out $999. After all, Samsung must make important adjustments to convey the worth 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 spoil the general expertise of proudly owning a contemporary flip telephone, which is presently my favourite telephone type issue. To place it plainly, I am combined.

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 offered in two configurations and begins at $499 for the 8+256GB mannequin, whereas the 12+512GB mannequin is offered for $699.

There are three colours to select from: Cosmic Black, Sunshine Gold, and Flowing Lilac.

The telephone would not seem like out there via retailers like Amazon, however you should purchase the gadget unlocked instantly from Nubia.

Nubia Flip 5G: What I like

Flip telephones are recognized for being extra compact, however there additionally appears to be extra of a deal with design, not less than 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 a number of 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 generally black with a golden ring round it, which provides a premium contact to the design. If in case you have a lighter coloration choice, resembling Flowing Lilac or Sunshine Gold, the digicam/cowl show housing actually contrasts in opposition to the remainder of the gadget. In truth, the telephone seems to be extra just like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and TECNO Phantom V Flip had a child.

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’s kind of heavier than both of the 2023 Razr fashions and even the OPPO Discover N3 Flip. Even so, it would not really feel significantly heavy, particularly with the distinctive glass overlaying the again panels (which I will get to later).

Opening and shutting the telephone feels very satisfying and Nubia’s hinge is kind of sturdy, conserving the telephone open at numerous angles. When open, the 6.9-inch FHD+ show is fairly good when considered indoors, and the 120Hz refresh fee retains issues clean, 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 clean 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 would 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. Taking part in 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, significantly the body, will get fairly heat if you push it, so you may need to watch out.

The first digicam is a 50MP sensor with autofocus. I admittedly did not count on a lot out of the digicam, given the worth 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 in the course of the day, and the output is healthier than what I’d get from the Motorola Razr 2023 (and even the Razr Plus, to an extent). That stated, it may possibly generally go a bit overboard with saturation, and particulars degrade rapidly if you begin zooming in.

Low-light images aren’t significantly robust, however video seize is sweet, even when the telephone tops out at 4K30. Nubia additionally has some enjoyable filters which you could view and edit in actual time when you put together to take a photograph, which can assist make photos a bit extra artsy.

Nubia Flip 5G: Cowl display

The quilt display is likely one of the principal causes to think about shopping for a flip telephone, due to the added utility of with the ability to test notifications and different capabilities with no need to open the telephone. Sadly, the Nubia Flip 5G is fairly restricted on this regard.

The quilt display is a round OLED panel measuring 1.43, so roughly the dimensions of a big smartwatch show. Sadly, it isn’t practically as helpful. The quilt display allows you to cycle via eight completely different panels with completely different capabilities, resembling a calendar, voice recorder, digicam, and music participant. You may also view notifications, however you’ll be able to’t do something with them on the duvet display itself, as it’ll 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 would not let me swipe away particular person notifications, leaving “Clear all” as the one viable choice, and even that does not appear to totally work.

This is not my solely subject with notifications, however I will get to that within the subsequent part.

Happily, the duvet display nonetheless acts as a viewfinder for the digicam, permitting you to take selfies with the first 50MP sensor. You may faucet to start out a 2-second picture timer or swipe up and down to modify between picture, video, and portrait modes.

AOD performance is a plus on the duvet display, nevertheless it 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 method to modify it from the exterior display.

Total, the restrictions of the display are a bit disappointing, if comprehensible. Once more, I am unable to assist however evaluate it to a smartwatch display, which lets me kind, open apps, and extra, however I clearly cannot count on 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 loads 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. Other than the pretty small and barely practical cowl display, the telephone is restricted to only one usable digicam. The second 2MP depth sensor appears similar to a cause to pad the spec sheet, because it’s largely ineffective.

Taking Portrait images 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 would not do an ideal job separating the background type the primary topic.

On the software program facet, the Flip 5G curiously nonetheless runs Android 13 regardless of launching properly into the Android 14 cycle. The software program itself is generally inoffensive, and Nubia provides some software program prospers to reap the benefits of the foldable type issue, which you may discover with the digicam app or YouTube when the telephone is at an angle. Sadly, you may be met with fairly a little bit of bloatware if you first get arrange, which isn’t enjoyable. On the plus facet, you’ll be able to delete or disable any further apps and options you do not want. I do just like the each day wallpaper perform, 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 offer you related information and different beneficial data, however none of it appears significantly helpful, and it simply appears to be crammed with adverts versus precise information. Happily, you’ll be able to disable this, however you’ll be able to’t allow Google Uncover instead.

I’ve additionally had points with notifications. For some cause, notifications are available extraordinarily late, or they do not are available in any respect. After a while, I will open an app like Instagram, solely to then be bombarded by notifications from the app that have been by no means delivered. My smartwatch is seemingly the one manner I can get notifications on time. On the one hand, it is a good method to keep centered after I’m attempting to work, however alternatively, it’s going to trigger me to overlook out on conversations or reply late.

Nubia wasn’t precisely upfront in regards to 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 yr 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 facet of the matte end is which you could 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 possibly barely get me via a complete day of mixed-use (social media, video games, images). The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a a lot smaller battery and nonetheless appears to last more between expenses. Happily, the 33W charging tops up the telephone comparatively rapidly, however the Nubia Flip 5G misses out on wi-fi charging, not like a few of its closest rivals.

Nubia Flip 5G: Competitors

Talking of competitors, in the event you’re on the lookout for an affordable flip telephone, chances are you’ll need to think about 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 besides. The draw back is that it, too, additionally runs Android 13, and Motorola’s monitor report 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 incorporates a dual-camera system that features an ultrawide sensor. Sadly, it suffers from lots of the identical disadvantages because the Nubia, and also you probably will not be capable of get your fingers on it in the event you dwell in the USA.

If you happen to’re prepared to spend just a few extra {dollars}, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is likely one of the higher choices, even when it does value extra. It has higher cameras than what you may discover on most flip telephones, the duvet display is sweet and enormous, and Samsung’s software program is kind of polished. Chances are you’ll spend extra to purchase it, however with a new mannequin prone to launch in July, you might be able to snag some offers to get the worth down.

Nubia Flip 5G: Must you purchase it?

You should purchase this if…

• You need a an fashionable flip telephone.
• You need a telephone with an honest digicam.
• 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 need a versatile digicam expertise.
• You need an all-day battery.
• You want wi-fi charging.

The good thing about flip telephones is that they’re much extra versatile in relation to worth. The place the bigger, tablet-like foldable telephones can simply value as a lot as $1700, flagship flip telephones are sometimes priced round $999 however can go even decrease. The Nubia Flip 5G is an efficient instance of a mid-range foldable telephone, hitting the identical worth level that you’d see from different non-folding and equally specced gadgets.

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, alternatively, is content material to supply a number of compromises to get all the way down to a worth that many individuals could be prepared to shell out for a foldable telephone, whilst a primary foray into the shape issue.

Battery life will not be the very best, and the duvet display is sadly restricted in its usability, however the telephone makes up for it with its one usable digicam, 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 first flip telephone—that’s, if you will get previous the bloat.