Foldable smartphones are now a consolidated reality, but it is undeniable that so far the number of attempts to make them cheaper has been limited.
Putting aside the dominance of Samsung, followed by Motorola and OPPO, there is undoubtedly plenty of room for other manufacturers. This is why we considered the announcement of nubia Flip 5G interesting from the first moment, a folding device sold starting from 599 euros for the 8/256GB model, a variant that we have had the opportunity to put to the test in recent weeks, but There is also a 12/512GB version (available at 699 euros).
Pre-orders for Italy opened on April 29, 2024: the launch promotion allows you to get 20 euros of cashback, but for the first 200 customers the nubia Earbuds are also offered for free (worth 39.99 EUR).
A pocket-sized design
The initial impact with a foldable comes through the design and this nubia Flip 5G is no exception. In this case, as can be seen from the name, the format is clamshell, probably the most appreciated by enthusiasts due to its closed dimensions, which make it more pocket-sized.
Its measurements are 170 x 75.5 x 7mm when open, while when closed they are equal to 87.6 x 75.5 x 15mm, for a weight of 209 grams: everything is normal in terms of handling and the device is comfortable to be used even when using the external display.
The identifying feature of this Flip is precisely the screen that is located externally, with its particular circular shape, set in a margin in which the two photographic sensors are included, while the LED flash is located in the corner.
To wake it up, just double tap: unlocking the smartphone can be done either via facial recognition or via fingerprint, using the sensor integrated into the power button located on the right, next to the volume rocker. At the top we find a microphone, while on the left side there is the tray for the SIM (dual nanoSIM). Finally, at the bottom we find a microphone, the USB-C port and the speaker.
The materials are not bad, with an aerospace grade aluminum frame. The color we had the opportunity to try is called Sunshine Gold, but solutions are also available on the market for those with slightly different tastes.
There is, in fact, a more classic Cosmic Black, while those who want something even more flashy can focus on Flowing Lilac. Once the device is opened, in addition to the central hinge, the presence of a hole for the camera located at the top of the screen is also noticeable.
Speaking of the display, it is worth remembering (as the software does from the first startup) not to remove the pre-applied protective film, as this operation could cause damage to the display. Other things to avoid are bending backwards and exposure to liquids, sand or other foreign objects. Slight creases and small noises, however, are normal for a smartphone of this type. In short, given the foldable design, it is best to treat the device with a little more care and attention.
The sales package, composed of a particular Powered by ZTE packaging, provides a USB-C/USB-C cable, a 33W charger, the pin for extracting the SIM compartment and a semi-rigid transparent cover in two pieces ( to cover the parts that fold, leaving the right space for the hinge area), in addition to the usual manuals. A rather rich endowment, given the times.
Interesting but not top-notch hardware
Under the body there is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, supported in our sample by 8GB of RAM (virtually expandable by a further 12GB) and 256GB (not expandable).
It is certainly not the most recent hardware configuration, but for mid-range use there really aren’t too many problems. To give you some practical examples, during our tests the nubia Flip 5G recorded 690,856 points on AnTuTu Benchmark v.10.2.4, as well as 1,047 points in single-core and 3,024 points in multi-core on Geekbench 6.2.2. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, originally announced in 2022, represents a mid-range solution that is not the latest trend, but still allows you to carry out classic everyday operations without problems, as well as carry out a bit of casual gaming.
More than anything else, the issue that can cause discussion is linked to energy efficiency given that, despite the presence of a 4,310mAh battery (a high value in the foldable field, just think of the 3,700mAh Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5), the autonomy is only in the category average. Average usage gets you through the day, but more intense operations, from video playback to gaming, may require you to turn to the power outlet.
Here the support for 33W fast charging comes into play, one of the flagships of nubia Flip 5G (halfway between the 25W of Galaxy Z Flip5 and the 44W of OPPO Find N2 Flip). Getting hours of use for just a few minutes of charging is always a significant plus. Wireless charging, however, is absent, but it is not missed too much.
Coming to the 6.9-inch OLED internal folding screen with Full HD+ resolution (2,790 x 1,188 pixels) and refresh rate up to 120Hz, the latter is average in terms of color balance. Maximum brightness isn’t bad, but we found the auto-brightness feature trending too low for our liking.
As for the fold, tested for over 200,000 folds, you can feel it to the touch and notice when you look at the smartphone from the side, as is normal, a visibility that tends to reduce during the playback of multimedia content.
Between PWM dimming at 2,160Hz, 20:9 aspect ratio, 95.4% screen-to-body ratio, customizable Always On function and Widevine L1 DRM support (for Full HD playback of Netflix and similar content), the multimedia experience offered by nubia Flip 5G is more than valid. This is also thanks to the DTS:X Ultra stereo audio sector and Dual-mic Noise Cancellation.
As for the external OLED display, the latter has a diagonal of 1.43 inches and a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels. It is always clearly legible from the outside and allows access, via special cards, to various quick operations, from using the camera (with the useful recognition of the V-shaped hand gesture to start the shutter release timer) to checking the weather , through notification management, music playback, calendar, pedometer, audio recording and timer. Little to say in terms of connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC are in place.
Having reached the photographic department, on the back we find a double 50MP (main, AF) + 2MP (for depth of field, FF) sensor. Given the price range, we are referring to a solution that comes down to various compromises, starting with the absence of a wide-angle lens. However, the interesting aspect is that the use of the external display allows you to use what would be the rear cameras also to take selfies and record videos, offering higher quality than usual in this area.
This is a significant turning point for a certain type of user, who might consider it useful on the social side. The photos come out of the mid-range during the day, thanks also to the clever use of artificial intelligence. Of course, there is no shortage of limitations, also in terms of maximum zoom (10x in digital), night shots (in which digital noise is noticeable) and videos (which can be recorded up to 4K/30fps, but it is better to lower the resolution for better stabilization).
The 16MP (FF) front sensor isn’t that bad, but in this case it’s better to take selfies via the external display. It is the form factor of nubia Flip 5G that is interesting, considering that, in addition to the convenient external display which shows a shot preview and takes advantage of the best lenses, you can also possibly think about using the front lens with the smartphone folded in half , so as to make, for example, a video call without the need for media.
In these cases, the software automatically moves the controls to the bottom of the screen, for an optimized experience in every sense.
All things considered, despite the fact that compromises are always made, we are sure that a good number of users can still appreciate what the smartphone offers in this area. To learn more about the quality of the photographic sector of this device, take a look at the uncompressed photos in our dedicated Drive folder.
The software is complete, but what about the support?
The operating system is Android 13 with MyOS13 customization, which at the time of writing has the February 2024 security patches. In this case, as already mentioned, the software winks at the foldable experience, also allowing you to move towards the down controls in third-party apps like YouTube and perform quick operations using your external display.
As a side page to the left of the Home screen there is Z-Board, which provides recommendations on, for example, games and news. We believe, however, that the usual Google Discover screen is much better in this context.
In any case, it is the software cleaning in general that is not the best, also given the presence of pre-installed solutions such as Hot Apps and Hot Games and other apps that are not too useful. Of course, they can often be uninstalled/deactivated, but the situation is not exactly the best in this sense.
It must be said that software customization offers a large number of interesting functions, for example those relating to the external screen.
From the choice of a good number of default wallpapers (including three cute Pet Wallpapers) to the settings relating to the Always On mode, through to the Answer and hang up functionality, to be able to manage calls without having to switch to the internal display.
In short, there is no shortage of interesting aspects and the system fluidity is what is expected from a hardware sector of this type, even if an unknown is represented by the future software support that nubia Flip 5G will receive.
Coming to gaming performance, it must be said that, although it does not represent a smartphone specifically focused on this area, nubia Flip 5G can still guarantee an interesting casual gaming experience. In fact, we put the device to the test with various popular titles, without ever encountering too many problems. Call of Duty Mobile runs without too many problems with Graphics Quality on Very High and FPS on Max, while the more recent Call of Duty Warzone is automatically set to the Medium preset in order to enjoy a good experience.
There are some limitations, which is particularly evident with Diablo Immortal, which manages to run well with Resolution and Quality on High but cannot go beyond that.
It must be said that a device of this type is not exactly ideal for long gaming sessions, also considering that autonomy is significantly reduced with this type of activity. However, the situation is far better than one could imagine.