Although we have previously reviewed devices from ZTE, the parent company of nubia, this is the first time we are reviewing a nubia smartphone. The nubia V80 Design is obviously intended for consumers seeking a smartphone that is both reasonably priced and provides a contemporary experience. But is it something to think about? In this review, let’s find out.
Table of Contents
nubia V80 Design Specifications
| OS: | MyOS 16 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Unisoc T7280 |
| Display: | 6.75″ 120Hz IPS LCD |
| Wireless Connections: | LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Memory: | 4GB+256GB 8GB+256GB |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C, OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 Front Camera: 16MP |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual nano SIM with dedicated microSD card slot |
| Battery: | 5,000mAh 22.5W Wired Charging 10W Reverse Wired |
| Price | 4GB+256GB: Php 5,799 8GB+256GB: Php 6,499 |
The Design
You can tell right away which phone served as the inspiration for the back panel design. The main back panel of the nubia V80 Design has a matte texture, while the area surrounding the camera bump has a glossy finish. Despite being made of plastic, the phone does not appear or feel cheap.
Although nubia offers other color options like Pale Amber, Celadon Cyan, and Peach Fuzz, our review unit is available in the Midnight Black color variant.
The red-accented power button and the volume rocker are on the right side of the buttons and ports. The AI button and the SIM tray, which accommodates two nano SIM cards and a microSD card slot for additional storage, are located on the left. The speaker grille, USB Type-C port, microphone hole, and 3.5mm audio jack are located at the bottom.
The Display and Speaker
The 6.75-inch IPS display on the nubia V80 Design has a resolution of 900 × 1940 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. For the price, the screen quality is decent. It’s fun to watch videos and browse content because colors don’t change when viewed from different perspectives.
The 120Hz refresh rate, which aids with scrolling and overall UI fluidity, also makes gaming feel responsive and fluid.
The phone has a single down-firing speaker for audio. At maximum volume, it does not significantly distort and sounds loud enough for casual use. The speaker performance is adequate for a low-cost smartphone.
The Performance
The Unisoc T7280 chipset powers the nubia V80 Design, which has 256GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. A less expensive version with 4GB of RAM and the same 256GB of storage is also available, but choosing the higher RAM model is advised for a more reliable and seamless experience.
Larger storage capacities are becoming commonplace in low-cost smartphones, which is good because 128GB is no longer sufficient for many users, especially since contemporary games and apps now require more than 10GB.
Below are the benchmark results we recorded using the nubia V80 Design.
The device runs on MyOS 16, based on Android 16. Bloatware is kept to a minimum, resulting in a clean interface that feels close to stock Android.
In daily use, performance is what you would expect at this price point. The phone handles basic tasks smoothly, with only occasional slowdowns when rapidly switching between apps.
For gaming, casual titles run well on low graphics settings. In games like Honor of Kings, frame rates remain stable even during intense clashes. Heavier games such as Genshin Impact are still playable, but occasional stutters and frame drops are noticeable, especially during more demanding scenes.
The Camera
The nubia V80 Design features what appears to be a triple rear camera setup, but in real-world use, only one camera is functional. The main camera is a 50-megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus, which helps keep shots sharp in most conditions.
nubia V80 Design – Front Camera Sample For selfies, the phone is equipped with a 16-megapixel front camera placed in a punch-hole cutout. This gives the device a more modern and premium look compared to budget phones that still use a waterdrop notch. Selfies turn out decent, especially in good lighting, where you can expect good detail and fairly natural skin tones.
nubia V80 Design – Main Camera Sample In well-lit environments, image quality is acceptable, delivering photos with decent detail and controlled processing. Colors lean slightly toward higher saturation and contrast, but they remain natural-looking. At night, the camera struggles with bright light sources such as lamp posts and LED signage, often failing to properly balance exposure. Still, for its price, it can produce passable shots with acceptable details and colors.
For video, both the rear and front cameras can record up to 1080p at 30fps. As expected for a budget device, there is no video stabilization, and colors appear somewhat flat. That said, the video quality is usable for casual recording given the phone’s price point.
The Battery
The bubia V80 Design is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day with regular use such as browsing, social media, music streaming, and messaging.
Charging is handled by the included 22.5W charger. From empty to full, it takes around an hour and a half, which is reasonable and in line with other smartphones in the same price segment.
nubia V80 Design Verdict
The nubia V80 Design delivers a solid and well-balanced experience for a budget smartphone. It stands out with its modern design, smooth 120Hz display, generous 256GB storage, and clean software experience that feels close to stock Android. Daily performance is reliable for basic tasks, casual gaming runs smoothly, and battery life is good enough to last a full day without worry.
That said, it is not without compromises. The camera setup is more style than substance, with only one functional rear camera, and low-light performance is limited. Gaming performance is also restricted to lower settings for more demanding titles, which is expected at this price point.
Overall, the nubia V80 Design is worth considering if you are looking for an affordable smartphone with a large, smooth display, plenty of storage, and decent all-around performance. If camera quality and high-end gaming are not your top priorities, this phone offers good value for the price.
The nubia V80 Design is priced at Php 6,499 for the 8GB RAM with 256GB storage variant, while the 4GB RAM with 256GB storage model is available for Php 5,799. For the Philippine market, the phone comes in three color options which are Midnight Black, Pale Amber, and Celadon Cyan.
