nubia Music Pro is a new budget smartphone designed and tuned for music enthusiasts. It combines striking design with an audio system that breaks the norm, even at the age of foldable phones. It touts a 2.1-channel speaker array, made possible by a large “subwoofer” in the rear, right beside the camera island. On the software side, it features DTS:X Ultra spatial processing and a number of widgets and applets that enhance the audio and music experience.
In the Philippines, it launched August 8 with a price tag of only Php4,299. As if that’s not affordable enough already, lucky buyers could snag it for only Php3,780 via special TikTok promo. An audio-centric phone is something that needs to be experience firsthand, so thankfully, nubia Music Pro is also available nationwide through authorized retailers.
With such an affordable value proposition, we dig deeper to find out if the nubia Music Pro is the phone to get for Filipinos who prioritize sound without breaking the bank.
Design and Build
The Music Pro’s industrial design is unapologetically bold and “music-inspired.” Its rear cover comes in vivid Pop Art (red/orange) or Melody Wave (blue) finishes, each patterned with graphics evoking sound waves and equalizers.
Notably, the large circular speaker grille occupies much of the back, flanked by two rear cameras, giving it a distinctive “turntable” look. Built at 202 g and just 8.6 mm thin, the phone feels solid in hand. Nubia even bundles a clear protective case so users can show off the colorful back.
In the upper corner of the back sits the “AI Melody Breathing Light” – an LED accent that pulses or changes color in sync with audio. This decorative LED light is a fun touch that reinforces the phone’s musical identity.
In short, the Music Pro’s build quality is typical of a budget phone: it lacks an official IP rating, but the eye-catching finish and speaker design make it a true conversation piece.
Display
The phone uses a 6.7‑inch IPS LCD with a 20:9 aspect ratio and an HD+ resolution (approximately 1612×720 pixels). This yields roughly 260 ppi, so text and images aren’t ultra-sharp, but it keeps costs down.
More importantly, the panel supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, an unusually high spec at this price. The fast refresh makes animations and scrolling feel very smooth – beneficial when flicking through playlists or streaming video.
Nubia quotes an ~88% screen-to-body ratio thanks to slim top/bottom bezels.
In actual use, the 120 Hz refresh and good brightness mean the display is responsive and watchable (e.g., watching YouTube on it is fine, up to 1080p), but the low resolution limits detail and sharpness.
Overall, the Music Pro’s screen is serviceable for media and UI tasks, but it’s intentionally balanced for power efficiency at this price point.
We would also like to point out that the nubia Music Pro only carries Widevine L3 certification, which means Netflix playback is limited to Standard Definition (SD) instead of High Definition (HD).
Audio and music features
The nubia Music Pro’s defining strength is its audio system. It employs a 2.1-channel speaker setup (three individual drivers) and supports DTS:X Ultra object-based surround processing. Nubia claims the speakers can get up to 600% louder than a normal phone, and in practice, the Music Pro delivers very loud, room-filling sound with surprisingly solid bass for a sub-₱5K device.
The speaker output is loud and crisp at higher volumes with minimal distortion, and the bass presence is stronger than expected from a smartphone in this segment.
The DTS:X Ultra engine simulates multi-channel surround sound, enhancing spatial clarity and adding depth to bass. Listeners will also find a 3.5 mm audio jack, allowing wired headphones without any adapter – a rarity in 2025 smartphones.
Beyond hardware, nubia adds several music-centric software features:
- “Music Box” mode: Boosts speaker output and emphasizes bass, ideal for parties or gatherings.
- Volume Booster: Pushes the speaker system beyond typical levels.
- Bluetooth Speaker mode: Turns the phone into a wireless speaker for another device – effectively letting it act as a portable Bluetooth speaker.
- FM Radio without earphones: The internal antenna means you can tune into radio stations without plugging in headphones.
- NFC Touch-to-Share: Lets you beam music instantly to another device.
- Melody Breathing Light: LED light pulses to the beat of your music.
Together, these features make the Music Pro more than just a loud phone – it becomes a pocket-sized music hub.
Performance and battery
The Music Pro runs on a 12nm UNISOC T7200 octa-core chip with 4GB RAM (plus an extra 4GB “Extended RAM” virtual boost) and 128GB of storage (expandable via microSD). This configuration handles everyday tasks smoothly — switching between music apps, browsing, and social media is fluid, and the Mali-G57 MP1 GPU can run casual games just fine.
However, it’s not built for heavy gaming or demanding multitasking, and users may notice slowdowns in graphically intensive apps.
A major plus is the 5000 mAh battery. In endurance testing, the Music Pro lasted over 12 hours in PCMark-style benchmarks, translating to well over a full day of use on a single charge even with music streaming and video playback.
The trade-off is that charging is capped at 10W wired, meaning a full recharge takes several hours. For heavy users, an overnight charge is recommended.
Cameras
While not the main selling point, the Music Pro still comes with a dual-camera setup: a 50MP main rear sensor and a 2MP depth sensor, with a 5MP selfie camera up front.
The cameras are serviceable for casual photography and social media, but they lack the sharpness, low-light capability, and processing finesse of higher-end devices.
We wish it could be better, but for the price point that it’s aiming for, we understand that compromises had to be made.
Check out these samples:
Verdict
The nubia Music Pro is a niche but compelling device for its intended audience. Its defining attribute is the audio system: few phones in any category can match its raw volume and feature set on speakers. For Filipinos who live and breathe music on a budget, it delivers exactly what it promises. At under Php5,000, you get a genuinely loud, bass-rich sound system in your pocket.
If you prioritize speakers and music features above all else, the Music Pro is a fantastic choice. However, those expecting a more balanced smartphone experience will notice its compromises in display sharpness, processor speed, and camera quality. In essence, nubia has built a pocket party phone – it won’t compete with flagship devices in overall performance, but as an affordable “party in your pocket,” it succeeds brilliantly.
Pros:
- Exceptionally loud and clear audio with strong bass
- Unique music features (Bluetooth speaker mode, volume booster, FM radio without earphones, NFC music share)
- DTS:X Ultra surround sound support
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Distinctive and bold design with LED accents
- Large 5000 mAh battery
- 120 Hz display, rare at this price point
- Affordable pricing under Php5,000
Cons:
- HD+ display resolution limits sharpness
- Entry-level UNISOC processor not suited for heavy apps or gaming
- Slow 10W charging
- Cameras are basic and unremarkable
- No water/dust resistance rating
