Smartphones have come a long way since the days of old. What was once simply a communication device for calls and texts has now become an essential utility in one’s work and personal life, whether you’re a content creator, remote worker or even an urban commuter. There are even different price segments with target audiences that have next-gen features like enhanced durability, photography, and AI.
Enter nubia, which has just released its latest budget-friendly smartphone, the nubia V80 Max, packed with features and tech that you would want out of a modern-day smartphone.
So how does the nubia V80 Max stack up when pitted against its competition and price tag?
Let’s find out.
Design and build
For starters, the nubia V80 Max’s design language is similar to most smartphones nowadays, as it has a wide 6.9-inch full-screen display, but it is not bulky or cumbersome to handle. It has a sleek and modern aesthetic, and there are also different color options to choose from: Space Black, Stellar Silver, Sky Cyan, Stardust Purple, and lastly, Aurellia Gold, which is the color I got for testing.
It has a 3.5mm audio jack, audio speakers, and a Type-C charging port at the bottom. Both the top and bottom panels feature secondary/auxiliary microphones to pick up background sounds or for noise-cancellation during calls. On the left side is your standard dual-sim ejector-type tray. And lastly, on the right, you have the two volume rocker buttons and a main side power button in the middle. The nubia V80 Max’s package comes with a silicone case and a Type-C charger and power adaptor.
In terms of durability features, the nubia V80 Max is packed with practicality and ease of mind for your active lifestyle. It has a durable glass front display, as well as a TUV Certified Drop Resistance technology with up to 1.8-meter drop protection. And lastly, it has an IP64 water/dust resistance, with 360-degree protection.
So I found that the features mentioned above definitely live up to the hype since I conducted my own performance tests at home. The first being a drop test from atop a dusty bookshelf, as well as a water splash test on my bathroom faucet. I even captured it on TikTok for reference.
Display
When it comes to the display, the nubia V80 Max has you covered with its 6.9-inch HD+ (1640 X 720) water drop display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 780 nits brightness. Whether I was streaming Netflix action-thriller movies like The Rip, or getting caught up in the wild, wild west with games like Red Dead Redemption, the immersion is definitely there.
I was definitely satisfied with the overall experience, especially coming from someone who travels abroad with long commutes. Although the only con for most would be the HD+ resolution, which only reaches up to 720p. For my tastes, I can say that the nubia V80 Max’s display package and immersion are up to par for my entertainment and gaming needs. In fact, being the old-school gamer that I am, I’m actually so stoked to find out that my favorite game of all time and one of the GOAT RPG and story-telling games, Final Fantasy VII, is now playable on Android in its original PS1 form, so I can’t wait to finally play and finish such a classic of a game on the nubia V80 Max.
Camera
For capturing the perfect moment that life brings you, the nubia V80 Max’s camera features are also decent for its price. It has a 50MP Triple Camera in the back, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 16MP front selfie camera. It also has an AI filter camera feature, which gives you recommendations, and which I found best when testing it, especially during low-light settings. Other AI features, such as Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Portrait Light, Photos search, Organization, and Storytelling, are all there for you to make the most out of life’s precious events and memories.
Performance
As far as performance goes, the nubia V80 Max doesn’t let up either. It’s powered by a Unisoc T7250 Octa-core processor (1.8GHz) with 16GB dynamic RAM (8GB RAM + 8GB virtual RAM) and 128GB internal storage/ROM.
I found no qualms with the performance of the nubia V80 Max, whether I was streaming my favorite Spotify tunes, playing games, and/or editing photos, the UI remained fast and responsive even while multitasking.
The audio speakers of the nubia V80 Max also feature up to 200% volume boost, something which I’ve come accustomed to with the brand. Furthermore, the quality and audio fidelity are also great with the nubia Sound Effect feature, which allows you to customize your listening experience to whatever mood/genre you’re jamming to.
Where the nubia V80 Max really shines is its numerous AI features, which cater to those remote workers or content creators. There’s AI Writing, Call Assistant, Live Translator, AI Transcript, AI Scam Alert, AI Memory, AI Input, and lastly, AI Notepad, among others.
Battery and charging
Last but not least, the nubia V80 Max’s battery and charging features are also a standout. It has a 6,000mAh battery capacity with 22.5W fast charging, 10W reverse charging, and AI power-saving. The nubia V80 Max’s battery didn’t let me down even after extended use, as I kept on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings while streaming high-def music. And once the the battery needed charging I found it to be quick, reliable, and consistent.
Verdict
So coming in at an SRP of PHP 6,499, the nubia V80 Max is a competent, bang-for-your-buck smartphone for budget-conscious users. Its AI, camera, and durability features are its main drawing points. And I feel that you get more than what you pay for, with the HD resolution limitations being the only minor issue I had with it.
