INTRODUCTION:
With durability remaining a key focus for smartphones as we welcome 2026, budget-friendly options are stepping up their game. The nubia V80 Max is one such device, promising a tough exterior and extended battery life for just P6,499. That's half the price of many smartphones with similar promises. Sounds good, right? Let's see where it delivers and where it doesn't.
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| nubia V80 Max |
DISPLAY and DESIGN:
The nubia V80 Max greets you with a notably tall build, which could be a stretch for one-handed users. That height, however, translates into a roomy 6.9-inch display suited for watching videos and scrolling through content at HD+ resolution (1640 x 720). While playback is limited to 720p, viewers who don't mind streaming below FHD+ should find the experience perfectly serviceable.
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| nubia V80 Max Display |
Surrounding the display are thick bezels, a prominent chin, and a waterdrop notch that feels dated – but none of these are unusual for an entry-level smartphone. What stands out is the nubia V80 Max's durability. The device challenges the idea that affordable smartphones are fragile, offering 360-degree all-round protection designed to withstand drops of up to 1.8 meters, along with an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance.
Read: Embrace the Daily Grind with the Newly Launched nubia V80 Max; Yours for Only Php6,499
We have the Sky Cyan unit, dressed in a soft pastel blue that subtly shifts when light hits the rear. Its matte finish resists smudges and fingerprints – a welcome touch which is often overlooked on a budget device. Other available options include Stardust Purple, Stellar Silver, Aurelia Gold, and Space Black.
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| nubia V80 Max in Sky Cyan |
A design highlight on the nubia V80 Max is its red power button, which doubles as a side-mounted fingerprint sensor next to the volume rockers. On the opposite side, the SIM tray accommodates two nano SIMs and a microSD card at the same time – so you don't have to sacrifice storage for a second SIM.
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| nubia V80 Max power and volume buttons |
There's a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom of the device, an almost obsolete sight on smartphones these days. Along with it, you'll find a microphone, USB-C port, and speakers.
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| nubia V80 Max bottom ports and hardware |
Overall, the nubia V80 Max is a solidly built device. Its design is simple and clean – nothing flashy, just a smartphone made to handle everyday wear and tear.
PERFORMANCE:
With its entry-level Unisoc T7250 combined with 8GB of RAM and 128GB expandable storage, the nubia V80 Max is built for the basics. It handles texting, calls, emails, and light social media or web browsing with ease. Don't expect it to run heavy apps or multitask smoothly, but for everyday tasks, it gets the job done without fuss.
See also: nubia Air Review; Slim in Form, Heavy on Functions
Bloatware is present, with several pre-installed games and apps that can be easily uninstalled. On top of that, ads keep popping up – even while browsing the web – which can be a bit of a test of patience.
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| nubia V80 Max AI Suite |
Impressively, the nubia V80 Max comes with a serviceable AI suite, easily accessible through a homescreen widget. The standouts – especially for a budget device – include AI Live Translator for multi-person offline conference translation, AI Scam Alert that delivers smart reminders for scam calls and SMS, Call Assistant with Call Subtitles, Call Translation, and more; and AI Transcript that extracts summary from recordings.
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| nubia V80 Max Benchmark Results |
CAMERAS:
Packing a 50-megapixel AI triple camera on the back and a 16-megapixel front-facing selfie lens, the nubia V80 Max delivers decent photos in good lighting. Colors and sharpness aren't always perfect, but images work well for everyday snaps or social media. There's a slight lag between pressing the shutter and seeing the photo, so quick shots can be a bit tricky.
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| nubia V80 Max Cameras |
An AI shooting mode is included, though it's more of a fun addition than a real game-changer since there's no built-in AI image editing. Videos can be recorded up to 1080p at 30 fps, but without optical image stabilization, handheld footage may look shaky.
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| nubia V80 Max Camera Interface |
Related: The More Affordable 'Air'; nubia Air Comes in Heavy with Features for P12,999
Check out our sample photos taken using the nubia V80 Max on Teknogadyet's Facebook page.
BATTERY:
Battery life is one of the standout features of the nubia V80 Max, thanks to its massive 6,000mAh capacity. In our testing, the device comfortably lasts up to two and a half days of moderate use on a single charge.
It also comes with handy battery protection features, including app power optimization for apps that aren't in use, helping to stretch every bit of juice even further.
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| The nubia V80 Max scored 17h 21min on PC Mark Work 3.0 Battery Life Test with 20% battery life to spare. |
We'll update this part with more detailed charging logs soon.
CONCLUSION:
The nubia V80 Max succeeds where it matters most for its target audience: keeping you powered through long days and surviving the occasional drop. At P6,499, it's an honest budget phone that doesn't pretend to be something it's not.
You should buy the nubia V80 Max if you prioritize battery life above all else, need a phone that can take a beating, and your daily routine involves calls, messaging, social media, and light browsing.
For students, field workers, delivery riders, or anyone tired of daily charging and cracked screens, the nubia V80 Max delivers exactly what it promises.