With the introduction of the Nubia Focus 2, a smartphone that prioritizes imaging without going over budget, ZTE is further solidifying its position in the low-cost smartphone market. This model aims to achieve the ideal balance between performance, style, and camera-focused features, and is geared toward content makers and amateur photographers. Does it fulfill its promise, though? Let’s examine the specifics in this review.
Unboxing Contents
- nubia Focus 2 Smartphone
- Translucent Case
- 22.5W Charger
- USB A to C Cable
- User Manual
- SIM Ejector Tool
- Screen Protector
Design & Build: Sleek and Functional
The nubia Focus 2, which comes in understated yet fashionable hues, dazzles at first glance with its smooth matte texture and crisp lines. It feels light and pleasant in the hand because to its plastic frame and back panel, which also contribute to reduce weight. One advantage in this regard is that the phone doesn’t shout “budget.”
Three cameras are neatly arranged in a circular module at the back, creating a contemporary look. The power button has a fingerprint sensor built into it for dependable and speedy unlocking.
Overall the phone is weighted at 197 grams and thickness at 7.95mm, it is still by far relatively on par with some of the phones size and weight with some of the weight aspect actually on the rear camera module, however it does held sturdy and fairly comfortable for whole day use.
Display: Bright Enough for Daily Use
The Focus 2 has a 6.7-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 720 x 1612. Despite not being Full HD, the screen works well in most situations, providing good contrast and brightness for social networking, web browsing, and streaming videos. The user experience is made smoother by the 120Hz refresh rate, and viewing angles are acceptable. Additionally, because HD+ resolution renders less, it does contribute to longer battery life.
Audio wise, some corner had to be cut, as it only hosts a single firing at the bottom which still be able to product adequately moderate quality. However with multi application sound adjustment and tuning from DTS sound with AI Smart selection content.
Performance: Modest but Capable
In addition to 8GB of RAM (with 10GB of Virtual RAM) and 256B of internal storage, the ZTE Nubia Focus 2 is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T760 5G chipset and other components. For daily use, casual gaming, and light multitasking, performance is surprisingly good.
Navigating the UI feels responsive, especially when paired with the 120Hz refresh rate. However, power users and gamers might find limitations when pushing the device with more intensive apps. This is particularly noticeable sometimes as the nubia Focus 2 storage is still on EMMC storage and not the newer, much standard UFS fast storage solutions. Gaming wise, setting Genshin Impact to the lowest graphic settings with 60FPS cap can keep up to about hovering 45FPS to 55FPS, which is still impressive but the EMMC storage may cause the game to load slower, however eSports games should be no issues and will run smoothly since such games are more optimized for fast loading times and more fluid even on the nubia Focus 2.
Benchmarks
Camera System: The Star of the Show
The nubia Focus 2 places a lot of attention on its photography skills, as the name implies. The 108MP primary rear sensor, which takes crisp, clear pictures in well-lit environments, is the camera’s most notable feature. Color reproduction is good, autofocus speed is reasonable at best, and most photos have some softness, but noise is not noticeable.
A 2MP macro lens and a depth sensor supplement the primary camera, providing more versatility, however the quality of the images produced by these auxiliary cameras is more constrained. An 8MP selfie camera on the front performs admirably in both video calls and selfies.
AI scene optimization and a pro mode add more flexibility for those who want to experiment beyond auto settings. For a budget phone, the photography experience is above average.
Over to the video side, the nubia Focus 2 is capable of video recording up to 4K at 30FPS, which is a welcome improvement that indicates that ZTE does wanted to have some high resolution recording in the phone, however the downside the phone does not support 60FPS on any resolutions.
Battery Life: It lasts for a day
Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, the Focus 2 comfortably lasts a full day of moderate to heavy usage. From streaming and messaging to photography and browsing, you’ll get through the day without reaching for a charger too soon.
The device supports 22.5W fast charging, which is reasonable at this price point. It takes a little over an hour to get a full charge from zero, which is quite efficient.
Software Experience: Clean and Straightforward
The Nubia Focus 2, which runs on Android 15 with less bloatware, has a clear user interface. With customisable features and practical shortcuts, the user interface is easy to use. Even while it doesn’t have as much polish as more costly Android skins, it’s still reliable and easy to use. The MyOS 15 user interface incorporates AI, which includes dialogue translation, real time translation, call subtitles, however Google Photos is mostly used for photography-based AI object and subject removal.
It remains to be seen how timely ZTE is with software updates, but for now, the out-of-box experience is solid.
Connectivity and Extras
Focus 2’s 5G support, which is gradually becoming standard at this pricing point, is one of its unexpected features. Additionally, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C charging, expandable storage (via microSD), and compatibility for two SIM cards, all features that users who love adaptability will appreciate.
Verdict: A Strong Entry in the Budget Segment
Instead of attempting to be a flagship, the ZTE Nubia Focus 2 recognizes its position and provides its target market with an affordable device that supports 5G, has a long battery life, and a respectable still picture camera.
The Nubia Focus 2 is a good option for customers on a tight budget who want a good everyday vehicle with a strong emphasis on photography. Although it isn’t the most powerful phone available, it is incredibly affordable for its class.
The nubia Focus 2 5G is officially retailed at RM999, for more information and purchase, click here to find out more.