nubia Air Review; Slim in Form, Heavy on Functions

INTRODUCTION:

Ultra-thin smartphones aren't new, but it's safe to say their moment has officially arrived. With major players like Apple unveiling their slimmest devices yet, the race is on. On the Android side, brands are rolling out their own contenders one after another – each promising a phone that's easy on the pocket, light in the hand, and big on features.

nubia Air

If you're in the market looking for a device that fits the bill, the nubia Air is one worth considering. Let's take a closer look.

DESIGN and BUILD:

At first glance, the nubia Air immediately brings to mind the iPhone Air, thanks to its slim profile and elongated, pill-shaped camera module. But despite its 5.9mm thin build, it feels surprisingly durable – a quality many ultra-slim smartphones miss. Its design is refined throughout, featuring flashy, metallic-like edges and a glossy rear panel that catches light beautifully.

The nubia Air is 5.9mm thin and weighs only 172 grams.

nubia's decision to give the nubia Air a matte, shiny back pays off, cleverly elevating the look despite the rear panel being fully plastic.

Related: The More Affordable 'Air'; nubia Air Comes in Heavy with Features for P12,999

nubia Air's slim profile

Speaking of durability, the nubia Air has three certifications – IP69K, IP69, and IP68 – making the device dust- and water-resistant.

The nubia Air does away with the now-obsolete 3.5mm headphone jack, leaving audio playback to Bluetooth earphones or its single down-firing speaker grille. Alongside the speaker are a USB-C port, a SIM card tray, and the primary microphone.

On the right, a subtle design accent stands out – a red power button positioned just below the volume controls. The left side remains clean and uncluttered, while the top houses a nearly invisible secondary microphone.

The nubia Air has a red power button.

DISPLAY:

Aside from its slim design, the nubia Air stands out for its 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, delivering more than you'd expect for its price. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, adding extra resistance against scratches. While the bezels are noticeable, they're far from distracting.

nubia Air display

Other notable features include a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness, ensuring the display remains clearly visible even under the harsh sunlight of Metro Manila.

PERFORMANCE:

Running on Android 15 with MyOS 15 on top, the nubia Air delivers a straightforward, uncomplicated user experience. While many devices today are loaded with AU features, the nubia Air keeps in minimal, offering only AI Translate by default, with Gemini AI available.

Performance-wise, the device impresses. Multitasking is effortless, even with multiple apps running in the background. That's thanks to the nubia Air's 8GB RAM which is expandable up to 20GB.

See also: nubia Pro League Season 1 Elevates Local Gaming Landscape

MyOS 15 also adds convenient touches, including the Live Island feature – reminiscent of the iPhone's Dynamic Island – and an in-display fingerprint sensor that unlocks the phone securely in an instant.

Gaming is a weak point for nubia Air, with stutters affecting immersive gaming sessions even at low graphics settings.

CAMERA:

The nubia Air's triple camera setup – which includes a 50MP main lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and an auxiliary shooter – produces photos that are serviceable but not particularly remarkable. Getting the right balance of sharpness and saturation from point-and-shoot mode can be hit or miss, even in well-lit conditions.

nubia Air cameras

Night mode, in contrast, is surprisingly impressive. With some post-processing, photos retain good detail and clarity. Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, but the built-in stabilization does a decent job of keeping footage steady.

Check out our camera samples on the TeknoGadyet Facebook page.

BATTERY:

Beneath the slim build of the nubia Air is a 5,000mAh battery, decent enough to last almost a full day of moderate to heavy usage. Recharging took us an hour and 18 minutes with the nubia Air's 33W fast-charging support.

CONCLUSION:

The nubia Air package

All things considered, the nubia Air is proof that thin can still be powerful. It's stylish, well-built, and packed with features you'll actually use. Sure, the camera and gaming performance won't blow you away, but for everyday users, this phone punches well above its weight. If you're after a slim smartphone that looks great and gets the job done, the nubia Air is worth having on your shortlist.

The nubia Air is priced at P12,999.