There are very few brands that offer gaming-centric smartphones in the affordable segment in the Philippines, and nubia is one of them.
With that being said, the company has recently launched its latest devices under the nubia NEO 5 Series, and here we have the nubia Neo 5 GT.
From the moment we saw the device, it gave us a clear idea of what it offers.
There are only a handful of devices in the market that cater to budget gamers, and that is exactly what the nubia Neo 5 GT aims to deliver.
The device features a mech-inspired design that looks both futuristic and eye-catching.
Our review unit comes in the Electro Gold color variant, with a glossy back panel that is surprisingly resistant to fingerprint smudges.
What stands out the most is its completely flat rear surface, the only noticeable bump is the LED flash.
In terms of dimensions, the device is a little thick and on the heavier side at 200 grams. So during extended use, let’s say more than an hour of continuous gaming, it can feel a bit tiring to hold.
The device features several aspects that distinguish it from other gaming smartphones in its price range.
First are the dual shoulder triggers, called Neo Triggers 5.0. These work particularly well for first-person shooter games, offering responsive input with no noticeable delay. Second is the built-in active cooling fan, which we’ll discuss more later.
Overall, the design is solid, but the weight and the placement of the buttons are kind of our minor concerns, like the volume and power buttons are positioned lower than usual, which sometimes leads to pressing the wrong button by mistake.
Moving on to the display, the nubia Neo 5 GT features a 6.8-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and up to 4500 nits of peak brightness.
Outdoor visibility is not an issue thanks to its strong brightness levels.
Even under direct sunlight, colors and details remain clear. The display also has slim bezels, providing a more immersive viewing experience.
The 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid animations, whether for gaming or media consumption.
In terms of cameras, the device features a 50MP main rear camera and a 16MP front camera.
Image quality is decent for everyday use, with good color reproduction and sufficient detail. However, in some scenarios, images may appear slightly less vibrant.
Daylight shots are suitable for social media, and with minor edits, results can be improved.
Under the hood, the device is powered by a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset.
In daily use, it performs well. It can handle heavy multitasking with decent stability, although there are occasional slowdowns. It also delivers acceptable performance for 4K video editing.
For gaming, titles like Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly with no noticeable stutters or frame drops.
The experience is responsive and consistent. We also tested Where Winds Meet, where performance was generally acceptable, though there were occasional stutters and frame drops.
The device also includes additional gaming-focused features. One is the customizable light strip on the back, which can be adjusted in the settings for different notifications and scenarios.
Another is the built-in cooling fan, with visible vents on the side and bottom. During testing, the device maintained stable temperatures even during extended gaming sessions.
That said, the device performs best with FPS titles, especially when making full use of the shoulder triggers. While it can handle other games, the experience is more optimized for shooter-type gameplay.
Benchmark Results
For the battery, the nubia Neo 5 GT is equipped with a 6210mAh capacity.
Battery performance is strong, continuous gaming lasts around 6 to 7 hours, while casual usage can stretch up to a day and a half.
The nubia Neo 5 GT is available in two configurations. The 12GB + 256GB is priced at PHP17,999, while the 12GB + 512GB costs PHP19,999.
Overall, the nubia Neo 5 GT is a solid gaming-focused smartphone in its category.
It delivers good performance for its price, along with features tailored for gamers, such as shoulder triggers and an active cooling system.
Combined with its striking design and capable display, it stands out as a strong option for budget gamers.
That wraps up our experience with the nubia Neo 5 GT. What are your thoughts on this device? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to have a better look at the nubia Neo 5 GT, you might want to check out our experiential review videos on our YouTube Channel!
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