Published on September 19th, 2024 | by Andrew Paul
ZTE Nubia Focus 5G Review
Summary: The ZTE Nubia Focus 5G provides fantastic value for money!
4
Value value!
It’s great that Australia has more choice for their smartphone purchases and Nubia which has been available in other countries is finally here in Australia. Best of all, this affordably priced smartphone at just $299AUD (September 2024) comes with impressive specifications that include;
- Unisoc T760 2.2GHz Octa Core Processor
- 4GB + Up to 10GB Extended RAM
- 256GB Storage
- 6.6″ 120Hz HD+ Display
- 108MP Main Camera with the NeoVision Photography System (including 2MP rear sensor and 5MP front facing camera)
- Tap to Pay via NFC
- 5000mAh long lasting battery with fast charging support.
All this for $249? This sets a new bar for its competitors.
Out of the box, the Nubia Focus 5G is not your standard looking phone because when you flip it over, the 108MB lens slightly protrudes from the back. Now for the price, it is a plastic phone but the shimmer on the back does look great, however the front is a little Spartan.
It also has a power button and two volume buttons on the right of the smartphone, so from the front, it’s quite unassuming, however flip it over and that camera is a beast and it weighs in at just 210 grams with the dimensions being 163.3 x 74.9 x 8.9mm. It also comes with a large 6.6” display which boasts excellent overall image quality with a resolution of 1612 x 720 with a 120Mhz refresh rate.
Unboxing
The Setup
The phone comes with Android 14 as the base operating system and setting it up is through the standard Wizard that most people should be familiar with these days, especially those not from the Apple camp. However once it was up and running, I found the Nubia Focus 5G a fast and responsive device.
Benchmarks
Given that this is a budget smartphone, 3Dmark and Geekbench 6 scored the phone slightly above its similarly priced competitors and I had no issues with it on a day-day basis. Gaming on this phone is more for casual gamers, although some titles such as Asphalt 9 can still be played but with tweaked graphics. However, surfing the net, using apps, streaming, listening to music, it didn’t miss a beat.
Battery
The 5000mAh battery was another impressive element of this ZTE phone which easily gets you through a day of heavy usage.
Photography
The Nubia Focus 5G comes with a 108MP camera and just because the megapixel is high, doesn’t mean it will outperform a camera with a lower MP rating or add some amazing optical zoom capabilities. However, the camera system behind this smartphone is no slouch and did take some decent shots which were clear, vibrant and full of colour. The phone does struggle with lowlight but for most day to day photos, you should be able to capture some decent photos, especially if you’re on a budget.
Final Thoughts?
Given the specifications of the Nubia Focus 5G and its capabilities, a smartphone priced at well under $300AUD should not be this good. It was fast, performed well (even with games), a true all-day battery and took some impressive shots. So if you’re on a budget and looking for an Android phone, it’s hard to look past the ZTE Nubia Focus 5G.