ZTE smartphones appeared in our reviews very rarely, and so I even started to get lost in the company’s budget models. But it’s a shame, because it turned out to have almost the best selection of available models – at least in terms of uniqueness. How cool is it? Let me explain using the example of the Nubia Neo 2 5G, Nubia Focus 5G and Nubia V60 Design.
Video review of Nubia Neo 2 5G, Nubia Focus 5G and Nubia V60 Design
Market position and price
All these smartphones are priced under $200, come with 256GB of storage, have a screen refresh rate higher than 60Hz, a display size around 6.7 inches, feature both Type-C and NFC, dual main cameras, and batteries starting from 5000 mAh.
They also share the same processor manufacturer, fingerprint scanners integrated into the power buttons, and the same software interface—MyOS.
However, you can already see how much the devices differ from one another, starting with their designs. So now, I’ll talk about each model individually.
Read also:
Nubia Neo 2 5G
Let’s start with the most expensive model. The Nubia Neo 2 5G, in its 8/256 version, costs $193 or €173. As you can see, it has the most aggressive design, clearly aimed at gamers.
It’s also helped by the FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Unisoc T820 system-on-chip with Mali-G57 GPU, and the fast UFS 3.1 storage.
In AnTuTu, the smartphone scores over 500,000 points, meaning you can play any modern game, at least on minimum graphics settings.
If that surprises you—just a reminder, this smartphone costs less than $200. And yet, you can still get 120 FPS in games. Add to that Android 14 out of the box, a 50-megapixel main camera, and support for Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2.
EXAMPLE PHOTOS of Nubia Neo 2 5G in FULL SIZE
Additionally, it offers up to 15 hours of battery life in the PCMark Battery Test and charging speeds of up to 33W.
The only thing I didn’t like about this smartphone is the placement of the power and volume buttons. It’s the only one of the three where the volume buttons are on the left side instead of the right.
I know people who love that—but I’m not one of them. Also, this is the only smartphone of the three that doesn’t have a headphone jack; the others do.
Nubia Focus 5G
Next up is the Nubia Focus 5G, priced at around $170 or €150 for the 6/256 version.
Yes, the screen is HD, but it still features a 120Hz refresh rate. Yes, the storage is still fast UFS 3.1, but the RAM is 2GB less—though it still has the option for expansion.
Yes, the AnTuTu score isn’t as impressive. Yes, the battery is slightly smaller, the charging is a bit slower, and the processor is less energy-efficient, resulting in a weaker score in the PCMark Battery Test.
However, the Focus 5G has a few features that make up for it. I personally like the design much more; it’s clearly flagship-level—both understated and sophisticated. It will appeal to a much wider audience than the aggressive gaming design of its predecessor. And then there’s the camera: a very decent 108-megapixel one with support for 4K video recording, while the predecessor only had a maximum of FHD.
EXAMPLE PHOTOS OF Nubia Focus 5G IN FULL SIZE
So in my opinion, its place in the large design element is justified.
Nubia V60 Design
Finally, we have the Nubia V60 Design. This is the most traditional budget smartphone, with no claims to being a flagship, but it does hint at a certain well-known company.
That’s not bad in itself, and it will definitely find its customer base. The V60 Design is priced at $136 or €120 for the 6/256 version without discounts. This includes a 90Hz display and a camera setup that is almost identical to the Nubia Neo 5G—although the front camera here is inferior, at 8 MP compared to 16 MP.
EXAMPLE PHOTOS of Nubia V60 Design in FULL SIZE
It comes with Android 13 out of the box, not 14. Video recording is also limited to Full HD, not 4K. And its AnTuTu score is the lowest among all of them.
Similar to its predecessor, it features charging speeds of up to 22W and a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh.
However, the result in PCMark is two hours better. Does the Nubia V60 Design have anything that the higher models don’t? Yes, it has a microSD slot. What doesn’t it have? 5G support.
Conclusions
Now, onto the recommendations. It’s straightforward. The Nubia NEO 2 5G is for budget gamers, though I found it surprisingly pleasant to use for everyday tasks. The Nubia Focus 5G is for those who appreciate flagship design and quality cameras. And the Nubia V60 is for anyone looking for a budget work smartphone with NFC and a memory card slot.
That’s probably all from me. And in the comments, don’t forget to share which device you would choose for yourself. Personally, I’d like to pick the most expensive one, but I don’t play games on my smartphone; I need to shoot 4K video from time to time. But you all go ahead—write your thoughts and don’t be shy!
Read also:
- ID-Cooling FX280 Liquid Cooler Review
- ASUS ROG Strix LC III 360 ARGB LCD Review
- Ajax BulletCam, DomeCam Mini, TurretCam and Ajax NVR Cameras Review