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ZTE nubia 50 Ultra debuts with 4th-gen Under-Display Camera

Plus an artsy “Starry Night” Collector’s Edition

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ZTE may not be one of China’s popular smartphone brands, but the nubia 50 Ultra is their latest flagship that offers the extraordinary more than the usual.

4th-gen Under-Display Camera

Remember when ZTE launched the first-generation UDC (Under-Display Camera) last 2020? Well, it seems like ZTE is continuing to push the boundaries with its 4th-gen under-display technology called “Neovision UDC”.

Through several processes and advancements such as the UDC Pro+ chip, independent pixel drivers, and display enhancements, they have managed to squeeze in the camera beneath the display like it doesn’t really exist. Heck, even the display bezels are so thin at just 1.68mm (forehead) and 1.48mm (sides), making it the perfect fullscreen viewing companion without the added disruptions of a notch, punch-hole camera/s, or even that floating Dynamic Island.

Up front, it has a flat 6.8-inch AMOLED 120Hz display with a Full HD+ resolution, 1 Billion Colors and HDR10+ support, plus a peak 1500 nits brightness. Beneath all that Neovision UDC tech is its 16-megapixel selfie camera.

Powerful within

Just like any 2023 flagship around, the ZTE nubia 50 Ultra runs the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm chipset by Qualcomm coupled with the Adreno 740 GPU. LPDDR5X RAM configurations range between 8GB, 12GB, and even a whopping 16GB. Storage options are 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with the UFS 4.0 standard.

This flagship smartphone also has a 5000mAh battery capacity with support for 80W fast wired charging — but no word about wireless charging (neither reverse charging). For better heat dissipation, it’s cooled by a 10-layer super large bionic VC (Vapor Chamber).

On the software side, the phone runs the latest MyOS 13 based on Android 13. Moreover, the nubia 50 Ultra features a dedicated slider switch where you can program it based on your liking — either for opening the camera app for instant shooting, gaming for an overall better performance, or just a plain-ol’ mute switch like iPhones and some OnePlus smartphones have.

“DSLR-like” cameras

Plastered on its two-toned camera bump are the terms “35mm” and “85mm”, which are actually based on the focal lengths of DSLR (and mirrorless) prime lenses. Such lenses are helpful when you’re shooting portraits or wider subjects like sceneries or photos in action.

The ZTE nubia 50 Ultra has a camera trio with two 64-megapixel cameras — one for the primary (wide) 35mm lens with a custom Sony IMX787 image sensor and the other for its 85mm periscope lens that optically zooms in to 3.3x. Meanwhile, its third camera has a 50-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide 116-degree FoV (Field of View) that also doubles as a macro shooter.

All lenses support PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) but only the wide (main) and periscope lens feature OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). Laser AF only works with the main sensor. The uncommon ring LED flash is also there to provide ample lighting in certain shooting scenarios.

Video recording relies on gyro-EIS. It supports up to 8K/30fps plus HDR10 / 10-bit in 4K. Also, the Neovision tech isn’t just limited to its UDC, as the imaging system is also found on its rear cameras for better photo quality output.

Starry Night Collector’s Edition

If you’re one of Vincent Van Gogh’s fans like me (if it still ain’t obvious with my Twitter username), the ZTE nubia 50 Ultra is also being offered in this special “Starry Night” Collector’s Edition.

It’s possible to achieve such back design through 3D etching process and a nano-scale photolithographic texture AG glass.

Other than the strong incorporation of the glass materials on its back, the highlight of the phone has got to be the impressionist’s ever-popular Starry Night painting.

Pricing and availability

Other than the special Starry Night Collector’s Edition, the ZTE nubia 50 Ultra is also offered in two colors. There’s Night Sea (more like grayish black) also Dunhuang — which is based from a popular city in northwestern China known for its desert.

Other than the phone itself, you’ll get an 80W fast charger, a red USB-C cable, SIM tray ejector tool, a hard-shell protective clear case, and some paperwork. For the Starry Night Edition, other than the obvious difference in design packaging, you will also get an extra red USB-C cable and charger other than what was stated in its regular packaging.

Looking into ZTE’s launch record, they’ve barely brought the nubia line outside China so hold your hopes for a global release — unless you can’t wait to buy one there, the pricing per configuration are as follows:

  • 8 GB + 256 GB – CNY 3999 (approx. US$577 / EUR 541 / SG$ 776 / PhP 31,744)
  • 12 GB + 256 GB – CNY 4299 (approx. US$620 / EUR 581 / SG$ 834 / PhP 34,125)
  • 12 GB + 512 GB – CNY 4699 (approx. US$678 / EUR 635 / SG$ 912 / PhP 37,300)
  • 16 GB + 1 TB – CNY 5,999 (approx. US$866 / EUR 811 / SG$ 1164 / PhP 47,618)

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nubia to launch new Neo 5 series gaming phones on March 28

Head to SM Megamall for activities, guest appearances, surprises

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nubia Philippines will officially launch the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphone on March 28 at their “Enter The NEOVerse: Born To Win” event. It will be held at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall in Metro Manila.

The nubia Neo 5 series’ design and details will be unveiled during the event. It is inspired by the REDMAGIC Gaming Lab, which is behind the REDMAGIC’s high-performance gaming ecosystem.

The nubia Neo 5 series will introduce a bold gaming-centric aesthetic, paired with performance-driven specs.

Customers can expect a sleek, futuristic styling, as well as powerful hardware engineered to elevate everyday mobile gameplay.

Across the lineup, users can expect high refresh rate displays, powerful processors, advanced cooling systems, and the familiar gaming triggers from the previous series.

It does look like nubia is adding AI-powered gaming optimization to give players an extra edge for every competitive match.

All these, of course, minus the flagship price tag.

Enter the NEOverse

At nubia’s launch event, the activity area will be transformed into a gaming-inspired universe.

Guests can explore interactive zones, participate in challenges, and experience the nubia Neo 5 series firsthand. They can also unlock exclusive rewards and prizes.

Moreover, the event will feature appearances from nubia ambassadors Sanya Lopez and ONIC Philippines.

From there, there will be 1v1 gaming sessions with ONIC PH players, as well as a special “Play” segment featuring a yet-to-be-revealed cosplayer.

nubia will also offer event-exclusive deals for early shoppers during the launch. Customers can enjoy up to seven premium freebies per nubia Neo 5 model. This is available for the first 100 customers.

Furthermore, nubia will officially announce its TikTok Super Brand Week, as well as partnerships with Yanlala and Geely.

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REDMI Note 15 Series named Presenting Partner for Spartan Race Philippines 2026 season

Titan Toughness takes center stage!

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Being a Spartan athlete for five years has taught me that endurance isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about the mental grit to keep moving when your body begs you to stop.

In this world, “toughness” becomes more than just a marketing buzzword. Now, it’s a requirement for survival. That’s why the partnership between Spartan Race Philippines and the REDMI Note 15 Series feels like a shared philosophy.

Partner for a tough course

Starting March 21, 2026, at Parklinks, Pasig City, the REDMI Note 15 Series officially joins the Spartan circuit.

For someone who has navigated these obstacles for years, I know that technology usually doesn’t belong in the mud. But the “Titan Tough” promise of the REDMI Note 15 is built for this exact routine.

It’s designed to be there for the moments that matter. For capturing the raw, unpolished triumph of the finish line; for surviving the grit of the course so you can focus on the next hurdle; and for finding the device at the heart of the festival area and the winner’s circle, mirroring the resilience of the athletes themselves.

Join the journey

Whether you are a seasoned elite racer or stepping into your first Open heat, this season is about testing your limits.

To help you get to that starting line, you can use the discount code REDMINOTE15 to get 10% OFF on all Spartan Race OCR, Spartan Kids Race, and Hurricane Heat events.

See you at the starting line. AROO!

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Stylish, student-friendly HONOR X8d launches

Price, pre-order offers

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HONOR Philippines has launched its latest mass-market smartphone entry that caters to students and the youthful market in general: the HONOR X8d.

The budget smartphone is priced at PhP 15,999 and is available in Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey colors.

As part of launch offers, those who pre-order until March 27 can get a free accessory and can also avail of 0% installment plans via credit cards and Home Credit.

Customers can get the device through Lazada, Shopee, and HONOR stores.

REVIEW: The HONOR X8d is serviceable

The HONOR X8d is powered by a Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM (plus 8GB expansion) and 256GB of storage.

It has a large 7,000mAh battery which supports 45W charging, making it a very long-lasting daily value companion.

The device features a 6.77-inch 120Hz display which has up to 3,000 nits of brightness, making it useful for practical situations.

The handset comes with usual display certifications and protections, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, E-Book mode, SGS drop resistance, and an IP65 rating.

For its cameras, the X8d has a 108MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter can capture decent quality at 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom ranges.

There are also handy AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale.

Out of the box, the HONOR X8d runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. It also has staple productivity tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.

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