News

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

Plus an artsy “Starry Night” Collector’s Edition

Published

March 9, 2023

Vincenz

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)

News

FIFA World Cup: Lenovo’s Referee View received positively by fans

Unique first-person perspective brings action closer to viewers

Published

July 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

Lenovo has revealed that technological advancements at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has made viewers “feel closer” to the action than ever before.

Surveying fans across Australia, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Lenovo bared that 87% say technology is improving the viewing experience.

Close-to-action camera perspectives have also help 84% of surveyed viewers, making them feel they’re right on the pitch.

Of course, Lenovo AI has introduced Referee View throughout the World Cup. This AI-powered technology gives viewers a first-person POV of the match from a referee’s perspective.

Lenovo Referee View has been featured on an average of three times per match across the tournament in over 220 countries and territories worldwide, according to preliminary FIFA data.

Through a lightweight camera mounted on the match official, the technology gives a first-person POV of the match.

And while raw footage is fast-moving and sometimes unstable, Lenovo’s AI-powered video analytics platform automatically transforms the clips into smooth, broadcast-quality video in real-time.

Other findings from Lenovo’s research include:

76% of viewers have seen or heard about Referee View
91% say the close-to-action Referee View POV is appealing
88% say smooth and stable footage is an important part of viewing sports footage
98% say clear picture quality has been important when watching the FIFA World Cup 2026
91% are interested in seeing more technology that creates immersive or close-to-action sports experiences

Apps

Netflix suddenly resurrects 30-day free trials

It’s available only in some countries.

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Over the weekend, a report emerged about Disney+ allegedly considering a new tier offered to users for absolutely free. Apparently, Disney isn’t the only one. Netflix is now resurrecting its free trial program in select countries.

Back in the day, it was easy to get into Netflix. With a 30-day free trial, you can watch the shows you’ve always wanted to catch. If you liked what you saw, you can pay the monthly fee to access the entire library without constraints. Eventually, the platform got rid of this system to favor a cheaper ad-supported tier.

Perhaps not seeing the benefits of ad-supported tiers, Netflix has suddenly resurrected its free trial program. Spotted online (via Android Authority), some countries, including Brazil and India, are experimenting with the program again. New users can get 30 days of free Netflix access.

Because only regular users are spotting this (rather than an official announcement), we don’t have a list of where the free trials are available.

Still, it’s an interesting move. Cable isn’t a thing anymore so “cutting the cable” isn’t a popular phrase anymore, but people are definitely cancelling subscriptions over rising prices. Some even rely on short clips from YouTube to catch up with their shows. Having a free trial opens up more possibilities for users, but it remains to be seen whether it’s enough for users to return to Netflix.

Apps

Disney+ might get a free tier

What would you like to see in a free Disney+ tier?

Published

July 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In a world disappointingly obsessed with increasing prices beyond our means, Disney+ has miraculously remembered the phrase, “free sample.” According to a report, the streaming platform is considering making a free subscription tier.

As of late, it’s been difficult to maintain a healthy collection of streaming services. When you have to pay the equivalent of a full-course meal every month for just a single platform, you start to evaluate which ones really matter.

Perhaps feeling the sting of users leaving the platform over pricing, Disney+ is reportedly experimenting with a tier that comes at no cost to users (via Business Insider). According to two sources, adding such a tier might help the platform reach customers more.

Now, it’s still a mystery how this tier might work. Disney+ already offers an ad-supported tier, so it’s unlikely to be another one like that.

One possibility is a heavily curated feed of content either designed specifically for free users or limited exactly to give users a free sample. For the latter, think of the limited content you get on a plane. Sure, you might get the first three episodes of The Mandalorian, but you’ll have to fork over cash if you want to see the rest of the story.

And for the former, you can imagine short-form content available for free. Going back to Star Wars, you might see a short anthology series like Star Wars: Visions.

Either way, it’s an interesting concept. If the tier does offer full content, it’s a great way to get into franchises you were thinking of trying without the need to spend for a taste.