Nubia Flip 5G Review: The Flip Side on a Budget

Value When Reviewed

$499

Finest Costs Immediately: Nubia Flip 5G

Trendy flip telephones have by no means appealed to me for one easy motive: the value. I by no means noticed the purpose of spending flagship cash on a foldable that usually has digital camera downgrades in comparison with equally priced basic slab handsets.  

In the end, there’s a flip cellphone on sale for a mid-range worth. Positive, it doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles like the most recent Galaxy Z Flip cellphone. However in the event you’re merely after that folding know-how however have been held again by these eye-watering prices, the Nubia Flip 5G could be sufficient to transform you to the flip facet.  

Design & Construct 

• Three colors
• 209g
• No waterproofing

For those who’re a giant fan of 2000’s tech, the Nubia Flip 5G can be proper up your avenue. It folds in half, which means it’s smaller to carry and put in your pocket. It’s a godsend for girls’s denims, the place usually telephones find yourself protruding of the highest, making them fodder for thieves.

This cellphone makes use of waterdrop hinges and seems nearly gapless – I can slip my fingernail in, however in any other case, it closes and not using a hitch. It measures 7mm thick when closed shut, which is certainly not the slimmest foldable available on the market. Nonetheless, the retro-inspired design works with its barely chunkier nature. It’s additionally on the heavier facet at 209g, although nonetheless lighter than many non-folding telephones.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

I examined out the Sunshine Gold color. This can be a shimmering impartial end, which is ideal in the event you’re a fan of a clear aesthetic. Nubia additionally presents the cellphone in Cosmic Black and Flowing Lilac, which additionally have that contact of sparkle.  

It’s constituted of Starlight AG etched glass with an aluminium body. Regardless of the fabric, it’s not tremendous slippery and fairly strong. I had a number of (unintentional) drops and the Flip survived and not using a scratch.

The quantity rocker and energy button sit on the right-hand facet of the Nubia Flip 5G, with the USB-C port on the underside. There’s additionally assist for dual-SIM included.  

The outer show is impressed by a vinyl file, and definitely stands out from competitor telephones, giving this handset a particular design. The one notable Nubia branding is on the oblong hinge on the rear of the cellphone.  

Haptics are fairly weak and flimsy, with no choice to vary the power of them: they’re both on or off. Biometrics are a deal with, as face recognition works each with and with out glasses, and fingerprint recognition (through the sensor constructed into the pink energy button) has at all times been profitable.

Watch out about utilizing the Nubia Flip 5G round water, although, as there’s no IP score for water and mud resistance. It’ll in all probability survive being caught within the rain or a visit to the seaside, however you may’t make certain of that.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Screens & Audio system 

• 6.9-inch AMOLED most important show
• 1.43-inch OLED outer show
• Stereo audio system

There are two shows to mess around with on the Nubia Flip 5G. Let’s cope with the primary, inside one first.  

When unfolded, the Flip 5G sports activities a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a decision of 1188 x 2790 and 95.4% screen-to-body ratio. This has as much as a 120Hz refresh price, however you may also go for 60Hz, 90Hz and Auto, which switches between these figures. Nonetheless, there’s no LTPO tech to permit it to drop beneath 60Hz and save battery life when not wanted.

The show is constituted of plastic, and you’ll really feel a distinction between this and a glass display. Swipes aren’t as clean, and faucets really feel spongier. Alas, that’s one of many pitfalls of a folding gadget. On its web site, Nubia claims that it’ll final over 200,000 folds, although.

Indoors, the display is sweet for movies and watching Netflix. Nonetheless, it doesn’t maintain up beneath brilliant daylight. I obtained lots of glare, and even the utmost brightness wasn’t fairly sufficient to have the ability to view my messages with out squinting. Granted, I did transfer to it from the cellphone with the brightest show available on the market – however it’s price noting. 

We additionally want to speak in regards to the crease. Sure, it’s there and it’s noticeable. You may really feel the ridge in the course of the display, and whether or not you’ll see it or not is determined by the angle. For instance, from this picture beneath you’d barely even be capable to inform it is a folding cellphone.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

The outer show is a 1.43-inch OLED, with a thick bezel and a decision of 466 x 466. The round form is a departure from what we’ve seen from different flip rivals, and while it doesn’t maximise on area it doesn’t essentially have to, because it has restricted features, which I’ll discuss extra within the software program part beneath.

The Nubia Flip 5G contains stereo audio system with assist for DTS: X encompass sound. The audio is surprisingly punchy and clear. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t depend on it for any ground-breaking cinematic sound.

Specs & Efficiency 

• Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor
• As much as 12GB RAM
• As much as 256GB price of storage

The Nubia Flip 5G runs on a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, the identical chip seen within the Motorola Razr 40 and the Honor 90. That is paired with both 8- or 12B RAM and 128- or 256GB price of storage.  

This can be a mid-tier Qualcomm chip, and efficiency is about in keeping with what you’d anticipate from a cellphone of this worth. It’s nippy sufficient for every day duties and switching between apps, however not the handset for demanding video games and heavy-duty apps. It’s additionally somewhat sleepy when first booting up.  

That is all mirrored in our benchmarking scores, with the Nubia Flip attaining related scores to the rivals talked about above.

Nubia Flip 5G benchmarks

As you may see, it’s eclipsed by the Galaxy Z Flip 5, however that’s one of many trade-offs when choosing a less expensive handset.  

The Nubia Flip 5G has all of the connectivity choices you want, with assist for Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, NFC and 5G (if the title didn’t clue you in already). 

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Digicam & Video 

• 50Mp most important digital camera
• 2Mp depth digital camera
• 16Mp selfie digital camera

Cameras on the Nubia Flip 5G aren’t fairly as sturdy as different mid-range rivals at this worth, however compromises had been at all times doubtless at this worth.

The principle digital camera is a 50Mp snapper, which additionally comes with an accompanying (and barely disappointing) 2Mp depth sensor. You get the choice to shoot in both 26mm or 50mm focal lengths, and you’ll digitally zoom as much as x10. However there’s no telephoto lens, so no optical zoom.

See a comparability of the 2 completely different focal lengths beneath:

Pictures taken in brilliant daylight carry out the very best. Textures have some pop, and shadows are precisely recreated. Nonetheless, like different cheaper cellphone cameras, this gadget tends to blow out some tones, particularly brilliant colors. Hotter tones even have a little bit of a yellow tinge to them.

One of many key advantages of utilizing a flip cellphone is that you would be able to primarily use the extra highly effective rear digital camera with a selfie window, so you may see what you’re doing. You may see the way it captures the tremendous fur on the kitten on this snap: 

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Nonetheless, this entrance display is kind of delicate to oblique swipes. For instance, I had the cellphone in my pocket and didn’t contact it for about 20 minutes. I then observed that the cellphone felt radioactive scorching, and once I took the handset out I noticed {that a} video had began recording – probably the cellphone jostled towards my leg and by some means activated the digital camera.

With no OIS (optical picture stabilisation), the Nubia Flip 5G isn’t sturdy sufficient to seize transferring topics simply, and its efficiency is diminished indoors. Evening mode does elevate particulars, however tremendous strains can seem comfortable and blurred.

Portrait mode has a powerful bokeh impact by default, however this may be adjusted accordingly. There’s no wide-angle digital camera onboard as you’ll discover on the Razr 40, neither is there a devoted macro mode (although I’m not as treasured in regards to the latter). 

The 16Mp inside digital camera captures an excellent degree of pores and skin element, however the portrait impact is fairly darn poor. I took a number of images, and each single one ended up blurring a few of my hair. For those who’re utilizing this digital camera, I’d stick to the usual mode.

I’m additionally (but once more) begging cellphone corporations to cease placing the dystopian ‘magnificence’ filter on cameras mechanically. This blurred out my freckles and made me seem like I used to be sporting extra make-up than I used to be. It perpetuates the concept that filters are wanted to look engaging, and it completely shouldn’t be on the digital camera as normal.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

For video, the Nubia Flip 5G can file in 1080p at each 30fps and 60fps. You can too go for 720p or 4K, however these codecs solely file at 30fps. There’s additionally a function built-in to stabilise towards shakes, although this does depart a little bit of a bizarre and compelled end.

Battery life & Charging 

• Day and a half battery life
• 33W charging
• No wi-fi charging

The Nubia Flip 5G boasts a 4310mAh battery, which is greater than the cell within the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.  

In typical utilization, I’d say this will get me round a day and a half price of utilization. That features taking calls, snapping images, listening to Spotify, watching movies and having the always-on show turned on. Contemplating this gadget is powering two shows, I used to be fairly impressed.  

Charging isn’t groundbreaking, with solely assist as much as 33W. The mandatory charger is included within the field, and obtained the cellphone to 76% from flat in half-hour. No wi-fi charging assist is obtainable.  

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Software program & Options 

• MyOS 13
• Some apps adapt when display is flexed
• Unconfirmed variety of OS and safety updates

The Nubia Flip 5G runs on MyOS 13, Nubia’s pores and skin that’s based mostly on Android 13 slightly than the most recent Android 14. It’s disappointing that there’s nonetheless no signal of an replace to the most recent model of Google’s working system.

However no doubt, probably the most annoying factor in regards to the Nubia Flip 5G is the extreme bloatware. Some apps, like Reserving.com, may be uninstalled – however not all. I’ve a complete folder of ‘scorching video games’, which I can’t say earns its title as a result of I’ve not heard of a single one.  

In any other case, navigation is near what you may discover on telephones from Honor and Oppo. There are all of your normal Google apps, plus assist for all the large social media websites equivalent to WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram through the Google Play Retailer.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

The outer show has restricted features that you need to use it for. This contains the digital camera, a timer, voice recorder, restricted Spotify playback, climate, step rely and calendar. There’s additionally the choice to have a digital animated ‘pet’, which can attraction to youthful customers.  

You can too rapidly learn missed notifications and messages, and even take calls with the show closed. The cellphone will immediate you to open once you attempt to do one thing that requires the primary show.

Some video apps equivalent to YouTube and Messenger mechanically modify the format when the cellphone is folded, supplying you with another angle for watching movies, identical to Samsung’s ‘Flex Mode’. Sadly there isn’t the identical assist for Netflix and Disney+ on the time of writing.

The folded mode may also be used to take hands-free images utilizing the timer, which is a pleasant contact.

The foremost query round this cellphone is the shortage of assured software program and safety updates. A spokesperson for Nubia informed me that the group is trying into this, however on the time of writing, we don’t know what number of Android upgrades it can get. That can be a dealbreaker for many individuals.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Value & Availability 

For those who’ve been trying to find a flip cellphone that gained’t break the financial institution, that is it. The Nubia Flip 5G begins from £499/$499 for the 8GB model. You can too go for the 12GB model for £699/$699.

The cellphone is accessible to pre-order now within the UK and is on sale within the US.

No networks are promoting the cellphone on contract, so that you’ll have to purchase it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.

That worth is £300/$200 lower than the previous least expensive foldable, the Motorola Razr 40 , when it first launched. That mentioned, this cellphone has some huge reductions on the time of writing. It’s additionally a whopping £550/$500 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which comes with a smaller battery.  

Take a look at our charts of the very best folding telephones and the very best mid-range telephones for extra choices.

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Hannah Cowton / Foundry

Must you purchase the Nubia Flip 5G? 

Promoting a folding cellphone for £499/£499 is a big milestone for Nubia. This worth of the Flip 5G is a lot extra accessible than many different rivals, and it’s not only a copycat of different clamshell builds, with its signature round outer show and daring colourways.  

As with all mid-range telephones, be ready to make sacrifices – the digital camera is a combined bag, and the software program isn’t as clear as what you’ll discover on Samsung and Motorola fashions. It’s additionally unclear how lengthy it will likely be supported for.

Nonetheless, if folding tech on a finances is what you’re after, then that is the smartphone for you.  

Specs 

• Android 13
• 1.43-inch, OLED cowl show 
• 6.9-inch, 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, Full HD+ most important show 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 
• 8- and 12GB RAM 
• 256- and 512GB storage 
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp most important digital camera 
  • 2Mp depth digital camera
  • 16Mp selfie digital camera 
• 4310mAh
• 33W wired charging 
• Stereo audio system
• Aspect fingerprint scanner (energy button) 
• 5G 
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Wi-Fi 6E
• GPS
• USB-C
• 170 x 75.5 x 7mm (open) 
• 209g 
• Launch colors: Sunshine Gold, Cosmic Black, Flowing Lilac