ZTE Nubia Flip2 Review: Style Meets Foldable Function on a Budget

Foldable smartphones are no longer reserved for luxury tech lovers. The category is slowly but surely becoming accessible, with more brands offering clamshell-style phones at mid-range prices. Enter the ZTE Nubia Flip2—a bold, fashionable flip phone that promises flagship flair without the flagship cost.

With its minimalist elegance, solid performance, and surprisingly useful features, the Flip2 is targeting a demographic that values style, function, and innovation—all wrapped in a compact foldable form. But is it truly ready to stand up against more established foldables?

Let’s take a deep dive.

First Impressions: A Fashion Statement That Folds

The Nubia Flip2 follows the sleek and slim clamshell-style foldable format. What makes it stand out visually is the circular outer screen, which is uniquely positioned in the center of the back, mimicking a pocket watch or compact mirror. It’s bold and different, instantly drawing attention.

The outer shell uses matte-finished Gorilla Glass and a durable metal frame—available in colors like Black, Rose Gold, and Pearl White. It not only looks premium but feels like it, especially when compared to mid-tier smartphones. The symmetrical hinge folds flush and feels solid in hand, with minimal gap and tight construction.

ZTE claims the hinge is rated for 200,000 folds, which puts it in the same category as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip5. While long-term durability is yet to be proven, the phone feels sturdy and reassuring.

Dual Displays:

Unfold the Flip2, and you’re greeted with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It’s tall and narrow—ideal for vertical scrolling, social media, and video watching. Color reproduction is vibrant, blacks are deep, and the screen gets bright enough for outdoor use.

The outer screen—a 1.43-inch circular AMOLED panel—offers far more than just a clock face. You can:

• Check notifications
• Control music
• Access camera for selfies
• Switch themes and clock styles
• Use customizable widgets

This outer display is more functional than you’d expect, especially for quick interactions or controlling music without opening the phone.

Performance: Surprisingly Capable

Powering the Flip2 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset. While not a flagship processor, it’s built on a 4nm process and delivers impressive efficiency and performance for everyday use.

Paired with 8GB or 12GB RAM, the phone runs smoothly through multitasking, social media, messaging, and even some light gaming (like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG at medium settings). The Adreno 644 GPU holds its own in casual graphics tasks, but it’s not designed for high-end gaming or intensive workloads.

Storage options include 256GB and 512GB—plenty for most users, though there’s no microSD slot.

Cameras: Practical, Not Powerhouse

Let’s be real—foldables usually don’t lead in camera performance, and the Flip2 follows that trend. It Foldables tend to prioritize design and fold mechanics over high-end camera systems, and the Flip2 follows suit.

Here’s what you get:

• 50MP primary sensor (f/1.8): Produces sharp, well-balanced shots in daylight, with acceptable dynamic range and color processing.
• 2MP depth sensor: Primarily supports portrait mode, but adds little value.
• 16MP front-facing camera: Best used for video calls or selfies when the phone is unfolded.

The cool trick? Use the main 50MP camera for selfies using the outer display as a viewfinder. This feature alone enhances selfie quality drastically compared to traditional front cameras.

Night photography is decent but lacks the finesse of flagship phones. Still, for the price, it gets the job done.

Battery Life & Charging

A 4310mAh battery keeps the Flip2 going throughout the day. Foldables often struggle with battery life due to the larger screen and hinge design, but Nubia has done a solid job with optimization.

With casual use, you can expect a full day of usage on a single charge. For heavy use, you may need a top-up by evening.

Thankfully, the 44W fast charging helps. It goes from 0 to 70% in around 30 minutes, which is great when you’re in a hurry. No wireless charging, but that’s expected at this price.

Software: MyOS on Android 14

The Nubia Flip2 runs MyOS 14, based on Android 14. The interface is clean, colorful, and fairly close to stock Android with a few foldable-focused enhancements.

You can run two apps side by side, or use Flex Mode to split the screen when the phone is partially folded—ideal for watching YouTube while browsing or chatting. Nubia also added some fun customization options for the cover screen and lock animations.

Software support is a concern, though. Nubia isn’t known for long-term updates. Expect 2 major OS updates and 3 years of security patches at most.

Extras & Features

Here’s what else the Nubia Flip2 offers:

• Stereo speakers are present and surprisingly loud, though not the most balanced.
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable.
• Face unlock works, but isn’t as secure.
• 5G support (SA/NSA), dual-SIM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• No IP water/dust resistance, so be careful in rain or pools.

It’s fairly well-equipped, though the lack of an IP rating and expandable storage might disappoint some.

ZTE Nubia Flip 2 Highlights

Does the Nubia Flip 2 support 5G?

6.9″ Foldable AMOLED Display – Smooth 120Hz refresh rate with immersive visuals.

Circular Outer Display – Check notifications, control music, and take selfies with style.

Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Processor – Reliable performance for daily use and multitasking.

50MP Dual Rear Camera Setup – Great for daytime photography and selfies via outer screen.

4310mAh Battery + 44W Fast Charging – All-day power with quick top-ups.

Affordable Foldable Experience – Priced under $600 in some markets, making it one of the most budget-friendly foldables.

Stylish Design – Matte glass finish with bold color options and compact flip form.

MyOS 14 Based on Android 14 – Custom UI with foldable-focused features and clean interface.

✅ Final Verdict: Not Just a Gimmick

The ZTE Nubia Flip2 doesn’t aim to be the most powerful phone on the market. It’s not here to dethrone Samsung’s foldables or impress camera nerds.

Instead, it delivers style, innovation, and practicality in a foldable form — at a price that doesn’t make your wallet cry. For users who want the flip experience without splurging, or someone looking for a secondary phone with flair, the Flip2 is an excellent choice.

It’s not perfect, but it’s proof that foldables can be fun, functional, and affordable.