Last year we saw ZTE’s Nubia division shake things up with the Nubia Flip 5G-a foldable for a mere $499. That was a pretty bold undercut of competitors like the Tecno Phantom Z Flip and Moto Razr+ 2024, showing that foldables doesn’t need to be ridiculously expensive. Today, it’s pushing things even further by announcing the release of the Nubia Flip 2.
The Nubia Flip Legacy
The first Nubia Flip wasn’t a feature-set trendsetter, but it did the very important work of disrupting the foldable phone space with high prices. Up until recently, the term “foldable” was nearly synonymous with “expensive,” with prices sometimes more than $1,000. Products such as the Moto Razr 2024 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 continue this trend. Then foldables became more generally affordable when prices started to come down with devices like the Nubia Flip, Tecno Phantom Flip and entry-level versions of the Razr.
In some ways, the 5G version of the original Nubia Flip was something of a harbinger of this trend because it showed foldable phones really could be rather competent without necessarily requiring too much cash being thrown at them. And now there’s the Nubia Flip 2.
The Nubia Flip 2
Nubia has taken a fresh approach with the design of the Nubia Flip 2. Unlike its predecessor, which featured a prominent circular camera bump and a small external display, the new model goes for a sleeker, more practical design.
That’s changed; the external display is now a rectangular 3-inch screen that dominates much of the front panel, even though it doesn’t quite match the expansive external displays on Samsung’s and Motorola’s foldables. Alongside the display, there’s space to place two separate camera sensors discreetly, as well as a ring light flash.
It keeps the previous generation’s textured, matte-finished chassis that looks at once stylish and durable. However, one of the more obvious changes relates to the design of the frame. Whereas the first Nubia Flip had a completely flat frame – similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 -, the Flip 2 makes do with a rounded frame that may be easier to open and close.
Display and Hardware
The Nubia Flip 2 comes with excellent features considering its modest price.
Outer Display:
Size: 3 inches
Resolution: 422 x 682 pixels (267 PPI)
Inner Display:
Size: 6.9 inches
Technology: AMOLED
Resolution: 1080p
Under the hood, the phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X SoC which promises solid mid-range performance. Not intended for serious gamers, the chip still pushes out enough power for daily consumption. Driving the chipset is 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Running on Android 14, the Nubia Flip 2 is quite competent in most regards.
Camera Capabilities
The camera on the Nubia Flip 2 is not particularly shabby. Headlined by a 50MP main sensor and a depth sensor with a resolution of 2MP, options for solid photography options are available. A 32MP selfie camera inside rounds out quality video calls and selfies.
Additional Features and Battery
It is fairly durable for day-to-day usage, thanks to the basic water and dust resistance provided by IP4X and IPX2 ratings. The 4,300mAh battery guarantees decent longevity, but specific details on charging speeds remain under wraps.
Nubia also brings AI capabilities on the Flip 2 with features like a real-time call translator, call transcription, and a customizable voice assistant that boost its functionality further.
Pricing and Availability
Currently, the Nubia Flip 2 is only available in Japan for ¥64,080, which translates to approximately $410. If it were to ever come to other regions, it would be priced slightly different, but still the most unprecedented value for a foldable phone.
A Gateway to Foldable Phones
The Nubia Flip 2 is not positioned to compete with flagship foldables such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 or Moto Razr+. It’s an entry-point device for people wanting to join the foldable phone market, and for less than $500, it does bring solid performance, stylish design, and some pretty useful features.
Conclusion:
The Nubia Flip 2 carries forward the brand’s tradition of democratizing foldable technology by offering impressive value at a price that’s hard to beat.
