Review Blog: Nubia Focus Pro 5G – A Budget Phone with a Camera Focus

The smartphone market has no shortage of camera-centric devices, but finding a budget option that genuinely delivers on camera performance is still rare. Enter the Nubia Focus Pro 5G – priced at approximately $200, this phone promises high-level camera features like 4K recording, optical and electronic image stabilization (OIS & EIS), and even a 108MP primary camera. For a device in this price range, the focus on camera quality is a major selling point.

First Impressions and Design

The Nubia Focus Pro 5G clearly wants to make a statement with its design. Right from the box, the packaging emphasizes the camera specs, letting users know they’re holding a device built for photography. The design includes a large circular camera module that not only looks premium but adds a distinct, “camera-first” identity to the phone. With two color options, "Light Brown" and "Classic Black," and a leather-textured back, it’s clear that the Nubia Focus Pro is geared towards aesthetics as well.

Performance and Features

Powered by a Unisoc T760 processor with 8GB of RAM (expandable virtually to 20GB), the device also comes with a 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. This is a notable upgrade over other budget phones, which often feature slower UFS 2.1 or even eMMC storage.

Despite being marketed as a camera-focused phone, the Nubia Focus Pro doesn’t compromise on performance. The T760 chip, although not the most popular, delivers fast speeds comparable to the Helio G100, allowing the phone to handle multitasking and gaming effectively.

Camera Capabilities

The star of the show, of course, is the camera. The 108MP main shooter with OIS paired with a 5MP ultra-wide lens is quite impressive for a $200 device. Nubia has even added a few iPhone-like features, such as a dedicated shutter button and a "sliding shortcut" for quick camera access. These small touches give the Nubia Focus Pro a premium feel, reminiscent of high-end photography devices.

However, as David from the Gadgetin YouTube channel notes, impressive camera specs don’t always translate to exceptional photo quality. Only testing can reveal whether the camera is as good as the numbers suggest, or if it’s more about style over substance.

Downsides

No device is perfect, and the Nubia Focus Pro has a few drawbacks. Its IPS LCD screen lacks the vibrant colors and deep contrasts found in AMOLED displays, which are becoming more common even in budget phones. Brightness is another limitation; while it’s sufficient indoors, it struggles under direct sunlight, impacting usability in outdoor settings.

The device also ships with Android 13 instead of the latest Android 14, which may be a minor drawback for some users seeking the latest software.

Additional Features and Accessories

An exciting extra for early buyers is a special edition case that includes attachable lenses for macro and close-up photography, adding further to its camera appeal. The phone’s Type-C charger and charger adapter are also welcome additions, as many budget phones still use the older USB-A standard.

Final Thoughts

The Nubia Focus Pro 5G brings camera-centric features to a budget audience, offering solid specs and design at an accessible price point. With its combination of style and functionality, this device has potential for photography enthusiasts who don’t want to break the bank. However, users should weigh the lack of AMOLED display and an older OS before committing.

In the end, the Nubia Focus Pro 5G stands out as a budget phone with a dedicated focus on camera capabilities, a feature usually reserved for pricier devices.