I. Preface: Established Players Enter the Foldable Arena with a Starting Price as Low as 2999 Yuan
In the current landscape of smartphones where homogeneity reigns, foldable screens have emerged as a new battleground for major manufacturers. With consumers increasingly demanding both aesthetics and functionality from their devices, manufacturers are constantly innovating, striving to stand out in the fiercely competitive market.
According to IDC's report for the fourth quarter of 2023, the shipment volume of foldable smartphones in China reached approximately 2.771 million units, a year-on-year increase of 149.6%. The total shipment volume of foldable smartphones in China for the entire year of 2023 was around 7.007 million units.
As a member of the Middle Kingdom Cool Alliance, ZTE has long been considered a "living fossil" in the industry. Therefore, when ZTE, as a veteran player in the mobile phone industry, launched its first small foldable device under its own brand, priced attractively at 2999 yuan, one wonders if there are any more compelling aspects in terms of design and functionality beyond this price point.
As we all know, compared to mainstream horizontal folding screens, vertical folding screens are more compact and elegant in their folding form, making it easy to fit into the precious little bags of female users. Hence, small foldable smartphones from various manufacturers are primarily targeted towards the female market, emphasizing more exquisite appearance and elegant design.
However, surprisingly, Nubia Flip uses a right-angled border for its small foldable, which begs the question: in the era where smooth curves dominate, is this a sharp anomaly or perhaps tailored for male users? Let's delve into how Nubia's first small foldable, the Nubia Flip, performs.
Here are the detailed specifications of the Nubia Flip:
