Instead of zoom levels, Nubia lists the focal length (the distance where the lens and sensor converge) measured in millimeters, with smaller numbers meaning a wider field of view and depth of field. The Flip 5G camera gives you the option of 50mm or 26mm. There is no telephoto lens, so zooming tends to blur details. The processing is usually heavy, sometimes taking a second or two and resulting in an oil painting effect.
Most of the optional modes, including portrait, are poor and the resulting photos never look natural, but you can achieve a reasonable bokeh effect with the regular camera. Rely on automatic setup and you’ll be disappointed regularly. It works best if you turn off the AI and best if you’re prepared to play with Pro mode, but there’s a lot of nonsense in the camera app. There’s not much need to use the 16-megapixel front camera outside of video calls, but it’s acceptable.
Software Concerns
The Nubia Flip 5G gets off to a bad start on the software front, with the already outdated MyOS 13 on top of Android 13. It’s pretty close to stock Android, but there’s some bloatware and useless shortcuts for downloading apps and games that you almost certainly don’t want. .
It is important to note that the cover screen does not support third-party applications. It can display notifications, music controls, the weather, your calendar, a pedometer, a stopwatch, or a voice recorder, and it lets you take selfies with the main camera, but that’s about it. “Interactive” pets are super cute (my daughter loved the cat), but they’re not actually interactive; They are just animated wallpapers.
Nubia has a poor update history. When I asked the company for clarity, it was unable to provide a definitive timeline for Android 14 or later updates. Based on previous phones, you’ll be lucky to get three years, and that’s unfortunate considering Google is offering seven years for the similarly priced Pixel 8A.
Photography: Simon Hill
The closest competitor is the Motorola Razr (2023) and unfortunately, Motorola is also bad at software updates. There isn’t much separating them beyond the different designs. I prefer the look of the Nubia Flip 5G. It charges faster and comes with more storage. But the Razr supports wireless charging and gets an IP52 rating. One final consideration that could influence Motorola is network compatibility. The Flip 5G should mostly work on T-Mobile or AT&T in the United States, but check the supported bands with your carrier before purchasing.
If you can live without the fold, go for something better among the best cheap phones. If you’re set up with a foldable phone, try to find around $200 extra for something like the Motorola Razr+ (7/10, WIRED recommended) or the Samsung Z Flip5, which offer a more usable clamshell screen. In the end, I enjoyed using the Nubia Flip 5G and it’s so cute that my 11-year-old daughter asked to trade it in for her Pixel 6.