The nubia Neo 2 5G is ZTE’s latest affordable gaming smartphone, packing some impressive specs and features into a package priced just shy of 10 thousand pesos.
With a 6.72-inch 120Hz display, beefy 6,000mAh battery, and mecha-inspired design, the Neo 2 aims to bring premium gaming specs to the budget segment. Let’s dive into this in-depth review to see if it lives up to the hype.
Display and Design
Right out of the box, the nubia Neo 2 5G makes a bold statement with its eye-catching Sunfire Yellow colorway. The rear panel features a striking mecha-inspired design with an octagonal camera module that resembles a cyborg eye. It’s a refreshing departure from the typical gaming phone aesthetics.
The 6.72-inch IPS LCD display has a 2400 x 1080 resolution and buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Colors are vibrant and motion looks great, though viewing angles could be better. The minimal bezels give it a modern look.
I appreciated the chamfered metal frame which adds grip and premium feel. On the left edge are ZTE’s signature capacitive shoulder triggers which can be remapped for gaming. The in-hand feel is quite nice despite the massive 6,000mAh battery.
Overall, ZTE nailed the design hitting the sweet spot between aggressive gaming looks and everyday usability.
Performance and Gaming
Under the hood, the Neo 2 packs the capable Unisoc T820 octa-core processor and Mali-G57 GPU. This mid-range chip allows the phone to handle most games without issue.
In my testing, I was able to play demanding titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings with only minor stuttering in intense scenes. The GPU struggles a bit with cutting-edge mobile games at max settings, but finds a good balance at high.
The 8GB RAM and 256GB storage provide plenty of headroom for multitasking and storing games locally. ZTE’s Game Space software optimizes performance, reduces accidental touches, and even lets you map functions to the shoulder triggers.
While not the most powerful gaming phone, the Neo 2 5G delivers a smooth experience for the price. The device does get quite warm under extended gaming sessions, but never became too hot to hold comfortably.
Multimedia and Camera
For media consumption, the Neo 2 5G shines with its large 120Hz display and dual stereo speakers. Video look crisp and vibrant, while the speakers get surprisingly loud without distorting. You’ll want to use headphones for the best experience, but the built-in audio is serviceable.
Camera performance is about what you’d expect from a budget device. The 50MP main shooter is decent in good lighting, capturing solid detail and color. Low light photos are smudgy mess though. The 16MP selfie cam is passable for basic use.
While not a camera flagship, the Neo 2 5G can handle basic photo and video duties when needed. Just don’t expect mind-blowing quality.
Battery Life and Charging
With its massive 6,000mAh battery capacity, the nubia Neo 2 5G lasts an incredibly long time on a single charge. Even with heavy gaming, I regularly made it through a full day without issue. Light users could potentially get two days of use.
ZTE includes a reasonably fast 33W charger in the box. It’ll take around 90 minutes to fully juice up the massive cell. I appreciated the inclusion of bypass charging which allows you to charge while gaming without throttling performance.
Verdict
At just PHP 9,999 (around $180 USD) for the 8GB/256GB model, the nubia Neo 2 5G offers stellar value for the money. You’re getting a capable gaming device with a smooth 120Hz display, huge battery, and eye-catching design.
It’s not the most powerful Android phone available, but the Neo 2 5G delivers an excellent gaming experience for the budget price point. If you want to get into mobile gaming without breaking the bank, this is an easy recommendation.
Some areas could use improvement like the camera performance and built-in speakers. But overall, ZTE crammed an impressive amount of hardware into an affordable package with the Neo 2 5G. For the price, it’s an absolute steal for gamers on a tight budget.
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ZTE nubia Neo 2 5G specs
- Display: 6.72 inches; FHD+ 2400 x 1080 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate
- SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- OS: Android 13, MyOS 13
- Chipset (SoC): Unisoc T820
- CPU: Octa-core, up to 2.7GHz
- GPU: Mali-G57
- Memory (RAM) + storage: 8 GB LPDDR4X + 256 GB UFS 3.1
- Main camera (rear): 50 MP (wide), 2 MP (depth)
- Selfie camera (front): 16 MP (wide)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, USB Type-C
- Battery: 5200/6000 mAh (typical value) with 33W wired charging
- Colors: Sunfire Yellow, Frost Silver, Storm Gray
- Features: Side fingerprint sensor, dual stereo speakers, dual soulder triggers, NFC
- Price (Philippines): PHP 9,999 (8+256 GB)