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

Samsung has lengthy reigned within the foldable house, specifically because of its less expensive Z Flip collection. However, Motorola has given the corporate some welcome festival in North America with the release of the Razr Plus and the a lot less expensive Razr 2023, the latter of which continues to have shockingly low costs. Now, Nubia has reputedly pop out of nowhere with a mid-range turn telephone that objectives to threaten Motorola’s cling at the inexpensive foldable telephone phase.

You won’t have heard of Nubia, however the corporate makes some somewhat spectacular flagship smartphones and gaming telephones. The Flip 5G is the corporate’s first foray into foldables, which is attention-grabbing since corporations most often have a tendency to release bigger foldables first earlier than downsizing with turn telephones. But identical to Motorola, Nubia needs to focus on a lower cost level to undercut its largest competitor, Samsung.

I’ve was hoping for a extra inexpensive Galaxy Z Flip FE, one thing that would release along the corporate’s flagship turn telephone as a extra up-to-date choice to these now not keen to fork out $999. Of route, Samsung must make important adjustments to deliver the cost down, however Nubia and Motorola display that that is very attainable.

At this value level, there are certain to be some compromises, particularly for a turn telephone. In my time with the Flip 5G, I’ve attempted to decide whether or not or now not mentioned compromises spoil the full enjoy of proudly owning a contemporary turn telephone, which is lately my favourite telephone shape issue. To put it evidently, I’m combined.

Nubia Flip 5G: Price and availability

The Nubia Flip 5G used to be introduced in February 2024 all the way through MWC and went on sale in April. The telephone is to be had in two configurations and begins at $499 for the 8+256GB style, whilst the 12+512GB style is to be had for $699.

There are 3 colours to choose between: Cosmic Black, Sunshine Gold, and Flowing Lilac.

The telephone does not seem to be to be had thru outlets like Amazon, however you’ll acquire the instrument unlocked at once from Nubia.

Nubia Flip 5G: What I really like

Flip telephones are identified for being extra compact, however there additionally appears to be extra of a focal point on design, no less than in comparison to their larger-screened opposite numbers. That’s transparent after I have a look at the Nubia Flip 5G; it is most certainly some of the best-looking turn telephones I’ve had the excitement of reviewing. The flat aluminum alloy body and angular chassis take me back to the fact numerous the Galaxy Z Flip 5 however with a softer glance and contact. However, the place the telephone actually stands proud is the round housing the place the quilt display screen and cameras are.

The housing is most commonly black with a golden ring round it, which provides a top rate contact to the design. If you will have a lighter colour choice, reminiscent of Flowing Lilac or Sunshine Gold, the digicam/quilt show housing actually contrasts in opposition to the remainder of the instrument. In truth, the telephone appears extra just like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and TECNO Phantom V Flip had a toddler.

At simply 7mm thick when open and 15mm when closed, the Nubia Flip 5G is quite skinny for a turn telephone, more or less matching the Motorola Razr Plus. Although, at 209g, it’s kind of heavier than both of the 2023 Razr fashions or even the OPPO Find N3 Flip. Even so, it does not really feel specifically heavy, particularly with the original glass protecting the again panels (which I’ll get to later).

Opening and shutting the telephone feels very pleasing and Nubia’s hinge is somewhat strong, retaining the telephone open at more than a few angles. When open, the 6.9-inch FHD+ show is beautiful great when seen indoors, and the 120Hz refresh fee assists in keeping issues clean, even if you will have to move into the settings to allow this for the reason that telephone is about to 60Hz at default. But even if set to the usual colour mode, the show is beautiful colourful, and the crease, whilst now not as clean as every other foldables, is thankfully now not as deep as at the Z Flip 5 show.

The telephone is powered by way of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, a two-year-old midrange chipset that also supplies just right efficiency at this value level. The telephone does not falter when opening and juggling more than one apps, because of the 8GB of RAM (there is additionally a 12GB style). Even when gaming, the chipset turns out to deal with itself somewhat smartly. Playing Honkai: Star Rail, the Nubia Flip 5G defaults to medium settings, however the telephone is in a position to deal with the sport even at top settings at 60fps, which is beautiful spectacular.

That mentioned, the highest part of the telephone, specifically the body, will get somewhat heat while you push it, so you will want to watch out.

The number one digicam is a 50MP sensor with autofocus. I admittedly did not be expecting a lot out of the digicam, given the cost level, however I used to be pleasantly stunned to look that it takes beautiful first rate photographs in just right lighting fixtures stipulations. Images are crisp and many colourful all the way through the day, and the output is healthier than what I’d get from the Motorola Razr 2023 (or even the Razr Plus, to an extent). That mentioned, it may every now and then move slightly overboard with saturation, and main points degrade temporarily while you get started zooming in.

Low-light pictures don’t seem to be specifically sturdy, however video seize is just right, despite the fact that the telephone tops out at 4K30. Nubia additionally has some a laugh filters that you’ll view and edit in actual time when you get ready to take a photograph, which is able to help in making photographs slightly extra artsy.

Nubia Flip 5G: Cover display screen

The quilt display screen is among the primary causes to imagine purchasing a turn telephone, because of the added application of with the ability to take a look at notifications and different purposes while not having to open the telephone. Unfortunately, the Nubia Flip 5G is beautiful restricted on this regard.

The quilt display screen is a round OLED panel measuring 1.43, so more or less the dimensions of a giant smartwatch show. Unfortunately, it is not just about as helpful. The quilt display screen means that you can cycle thru 8 other panels with other purposes, reminiscent of a calendar, voice recorder, digicam, and track participant. You too can view notifications, however you’ll’t do the rest with them at the quilt display screen itself, as it’s going to simply urged you to open your telephone to test it. Additionally, whilst I will enlarge more than one notifications from the similar app, the telephone does not let me swipe away person notifications, leaving “Clear all” as the one viable choice, or even that does not appear to completely paintings.

This is not my simplest factor with notifications, however I’ll get to that within the subsequent phase.

Fortunately, the quilt display screen nonetheless acts as a viewfinder for the digicam, permitting you to take selfies with the main 50MP sensor. You can faucet to start out a 2-second photograph timer or swipe up and down to modify between photograph, video, and portrait modes.

AOD capability is a plus at the quilt display screen, however it kind of feels as regardless that the brightness is attached to the primary show’s brightness, which turns out like a unusual oversight, particularly since there is not any solution to modify it from the exterior display screen.

Overall, the restrictions of the display screen are slightly disappointing, if comprehensible. Again, I will’t assist however evaluate it to a smartwatch display screen, which shall we me kind, open apps, and extra, however I obviously can not be expecting the similar from a small quilt display screen, particularly at the app entrance. Even the Razr 2023 has equivalent obstacles, and it is moderately 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 somewhat a couple of compromises to get all the way down to that value. Aside from the quite small and infrequently purposeful quilt display screen, the telephone is proscribed to only one usable digicam. The moment 2MP intensity sensor turns out identical to a reason why to pad the spec sheet, as it is in large part unnecessary.

Taking Portrait pictures calls for somewhat slightly of tinkering earlier than the telephone is in a position to get even a good symbol, or even then, the Nubia Flip 5G does not do an ideal activity setting apart the background shape the primary topic.

On the instrument aspect, the Flip 5G interestingly nonetheless runs Android 13 in spite of launching smartly into the Android 14 cycle. The instrument itself is most commonly inoffensive, and Nubia provides some instrument thrives to make the most of the foldable shape issue, which you can realize with the digicam app or YouTube when the telephone is at an attitude. Sadly, you can be met with somewhat slightly of bloatware while you first get arrange, which is rarely a laugh. On the plus aspect, you’ll delete or disable any further apps and contours you do not want. I do just like the day by day wallpaper serve as, which assists in keeping issues recent despite the fact that one of the vital photographs are somewhat random (why does it display me photographs of Celine Dion and Taylor Swift?).

What I’m now not keen on is the “Z-Board,” which is Nubia’s bootleg Google Discover, which sits to the left of the house display screen. Like Google’s feed, Z-Board makes an attempt to provide you with related information and different beneficial data, however none of it kind of feels specifically helpful, and it simply appears to be full of commercials versus precise information. Fortunately, you’ll disable this, however you’ll’t allow Google Discover instead.

I’ve additionally had problems with notifications. For some reason why, notifications are available in extraordinarily overdue, or they do not are available in in any respect. After a while, I’ll open an app like Instagram, simplest to then be bombarded by way of notifications from the app that have been by no means delivered. My smartwatch is apparently the one means I will get notifications on time. On the only hand, it is a great solution to keep centered when I’m looking to paintings, however alternatively, it will purpose me to fail to see conversations or reply overdue.

Nubia wasn’t precisely in advance in regards to the replace promise or even if the telephone would obtain Android 14, however the truth that we are already beta trying out Android 15 earlier than it launches later this yr is a foul signal for the Flip 5G.

My different issues are most commonly hardware-related, such because the overaggressive auto brightness that continuously assists in keeping the show too low for my liking or the truth that the gesture to show at the flashlight simplest works when the lock display screen is lively. And whilst I actually just like the design of the Nubia Flip 5G, the AG etched glass feels extraordinarily affordable, nearly like plastic, even if the plus aspect of the matte end is that you’ll steer clear of fingerprints and smudges.

Lastly, battery lifestyles is not horrible, however I anticipated extra out of the 4,310mAh battery, as it may slightly get me thru a complete day of mixed-use (social media, video games, pictures). The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has a way smaller battery and nonetheless turns out to last more between fees. Fortunately, the 33W charging tops up the telephone fairly temporarily, however the Nubia Flip 5G misses out on wi-fi charging, not like a few of its closest competition.

Nubia Flip 5G: Competition

Speaking of festival, if you are searching for an affordable turn telephone, chances are you’ll need to imagine the Motorola Razr 2023. The telephone has a big battery and is powered by way of the similar Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset with 8GB of RAM. You additionally get a fairly inventory Android enjoy, a vegan leather-based end, and wi-fi charging in addition. The drawback is that it, too, additionally runs Android 13, and Motorola’s observe document for main instrument updates is not nice.

Elsewhere, you’ll additionally have a look at the TECNO Phantom V Flip. It has a equivalent design to the Nubia, is powered by way of a MediaTek chipset, and includes a dual-camera machine that comes with an ultrawide sensor. Unfortunately, it suffers from most of the identical disadvantages because the Nubia, and also you most likely will not be able to get your palms on it when you reside within the United States.

If you might be keen to spend a couple of extra bucks, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 is among the higher choices, despite the fact that it does value extra. It has higher cameras than what you can to find on maximum turn telephones, the quilt display screen is sweet and massive, and Samsung’s instrument is somewhat polished. You might spend extra to shop for it, however with a brand new style more likely to release in July, you could possibly snag some offers to get the cost down.

Nubia Flip 5G: Should you purchase it?

You will have to purchase this if…

• You need a an fashionable turn telephone.
• You need a telephone with a good digicam.
• You do not need to spend an excessive amount of for your subsequent telephone.

You mustn’t purchase this if…

• You need polished, dependable instrument.
• You need a flexible digicam enjoy.
• You need an all-day battery.
• You want wi-fi charging.

The advantage of turn telephones is that they’re a lot more versatile relating to value. Where the bigger, tablet-like foldable telephones can simply value up to $1700, flagship turn telephones are ceaselessly priced round $999 however can move even decrease. The Nubia Flip 5G is a superb instance of a mid-range foldable telephone, hitting the similar value level that you’d see from different non-folding and in a similar fashion specced units.

At a beginning value of $499, it is less expensive than the Motorola Razr 2023 used to be at release, even if that telephone is situated slightly upper with some flagship specifications thrown in. The Nubia, alternatively, is content material to supply a number of compromises to get down to a cost that many of us may well be keen to shell out for a foldable telephone, at the same time as a primary foray into the shape issue.

Battery lifestyles might not be the most productive, and the quilt display screen is sadly restricted in its usability, however the telephone makes up for it with its one usable digicam, beautiful just right efficiency, and a standout design.

As a lot as I’d love to look Samsung release a less expensive (however higher) foldable telephone, the corporate’s sticking to the upper finish permits others to take on the decrease finish, a method that has labored for Motorola. At this value, the Nubia Flip 5G would make a just right first turn telephone—this is, if you’ll get previous the bloat.