Zte nubia M2 Play Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The ZTE Nubia M2 Play is a sleek and stylish smartphone that catches the eye with its metal monocoque design and rounded edges. Its 5.5-inch TFT display offers a decent viewing experience, though it leans towards warmer tones. Running on Nubia UI 5.0 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, the software has a learning curve and some radical changes from stock Android. The camera performance is average, with slow autofocus and average picture quality. Powered by a Snapdragon 435 chipset and 3 GB of RAM, the performance is acceptable but not outstanding. The battery life is decent, providing a full day of usage. However, the device lacks USB Type-C connectivity and fast charging support. Overall, while the Nubia M2 Play has its moments, there are better options available in the market at a similar price point.

Design and Build Quality

The Zte nubia M2 Play boasts a sleek and stylish design that is sure to catch the eye. Its metal monocoque construction and rounded edges give it a premium look and feel. The device's aesthetics are further enhanced by its slim form factor and well-placed buttons and controls. The physical appearance is complemented by the choice of materials used, which add to the overall durability and build quality of the device. The back panel of the phone has a textured finish that not only adds to its grip but also adds a touch of uniqueness to its design. Despite its robustness and sturdiness, the phone remains lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around. The bezels are kept to a minimum, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio and providing a more immersive viewing experience. Overall, the Zte nubia M2 Play excels in terms of design and build, offering a sleek and stylish device that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Display

The Zte nubia M2 Play features a 5.5-inch TFT screen with a 720P HD resolution. The display offers a decent viewing experience, although it leans towards warmer tones and has lower brightness levels compared to some other smartphones in its price range. The color accuracy and vibrancy are average, but the viewing angles are satisfactory, allowing for comfortable use from different angles.

While the display lacks any specific protection like Gorilla Glass, it does come with an anti-reflective coating, which helps in reducing glare and improving outdoor visibility. The touch responsiveness is smooth and the screen calibration is adequate.

It's worth noting that the device does not have a notch design, and the bezels are slightly prominent, resulting in a lower screen-to-body ratio. However, this doesn't hinder the overall viewing experience.

The Zte nubia M2 Play does not offer any advanced features like HDR or wide color gamut support, but for everyday use, the display is satisfactory. It also lacks an always-on display feature and a blue light filter, which could be a disappointment for some users.

In conclusion, while the Zte nubia M2 Play's display may not offer the best in terms of resolution or color accuracy, it is still functional and suitable for everyday tasks like browsing, watching videos, and using social media.

Performance

The performance of the Zte nubia M2 Play is decent for its price range. It is powered by a Snapdragon 435 chipset, which provides smooth multitasking capabilities and app loading speeds. The CPU benchmarks show that the processor performs well in handling day-to-day tasks without any noticeable lag. The GPU benchmarks indicate that the device is capable of handling light to moderate gaming with ease.

In terms of gaming performance, the Zte nubia M2 Play delivers a satisfactory gaming experience. The graphics scores are respectable, allowing for smooth gameplay in most popular games. The device manages to maintain a smooth user experience without any significant frame drops or stutters.

The system optimization and thermal management on the Zte nubia M2 Play are commendable. The device efficiently manages its resources, ensuring that it runs smoothly without overheating. Synthetic benchmarks and gaming benchmarks reveal that the device performs well in terms of overall performance metrics.

The processor efficiency of the Snapdragon 435 chipset is acceptable, providing a balance between performance and power consumption. The CPU handles multitasking with ease, allowing users to switch between apps without any noticeable slowdown.

Overall, the Zte nubia M2 Play delivers a satisfactory performance for its price range. It provides a smooth and lag-free user experience, making it suitable for everyday tasks and light to moderate gaming. The device performs well in benchmark tests, showcasing its capability to handle various tasks efficiently. While it may not be the most powerful device in its segment, it offers a good balance between performance and affordability.

Software and User Interface

The software of the Zte nubia M2 Play is based on Nubia UI 5.0, which is built on top of Android 7.1.1 Nougat. The interface has a learning curve and includes some radical changes from stock Android. While customization options are available, the software also comes with a number of pre-installed apps that may not be necessary for all users. This can be considered as bloatware, which takes up storage space and can potentially slow down the device. Additionally, the software has a lot of unnecessary permissions that even basic apps request, which raises concerns about user privacy. Despite these drawbacks, the software does offer some useful features, such as a split-screen option that allows two apps to run simultaneously. Overall, the software experience on the Zte nubia M2 Play is a mixed bag. While it offers customization options and useful features, the presence of bloatware and privacy concerns may be a drawback for some users.

Camera

The camera of the Zte nubia M2 Play offers a decent photography experience with its 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera. The rear camera has an f/2.2 aperture and a focal length of around 28mm, which allows for capturing a good amount of detail in daylight photography. The camera also has a 1/3" sensor size, which contributes to better image quality.

In terms of image quality, the Zte nubia M2 Play produces natural colors and decent sharpness, making outdoor photography enjoyable. The camera also has a good dynamic range, allowing for well-balanced exposures in high contrast scenes. However, the low-light performance of the camera is average, with noticeable noise in low-light situations and limited low-light sensitivity.

The camera app of the Zte nubia M2 Play offers various camera features, including a portrait mode, HDR, and panorama mode. The portrait mode helps in capturing photos with a shallow depth of field, resulting in a pleasing bokeh effect. The HDR mode helps in balancing the exposure of scenes with high contrast, while the panorama mode allows for capturing wide-angle shots. There is also a pro mode available for users who want more control over camera settings.

In terms of video recording, the Zte nubia M2 Play can shoot videos in 1080p resolution. However, it lacks the capability to record videos in 4K resolution. The camera also lacks video stabilization, which can result in shaky footage. There are no slow-motion or time-lapse video recording options available.

Overall, the camera of the Zte nubia M2 Play is suitable for casual photography, especially in well-lit conditions. However, it falls short in low-light performance and lacks some advanced camera features found in other smartphones in its price range.

Battery Life

The Zte nubia M2 Play is equipped with a decent battery that provides a satisfactory battery life. The device comes with a non-removable Li-Ion 3000mAh battery, which is capable of lasting a full day with moderate usage. However, it lacks fast charging support, which means that it takes a bit longer to fully charge the device. The absence of wireless charging options is also a drawback for those who prefer the convenience of wireless charging. In terms of power efficiency, the device performs adequately, but it could have been optimized better to improve battery performance. The battery optimization features are limited, and there is no dedicated battery saver mode. Overall, while the Zte nubia M2 Play offers a decent battery backup, it falls short in terms of fast charging options and optimization features.

Connectivity and Networking

The Zte nubia M2 Play offers a range of connectivity options to keep you connected on the go. It supports dual SIM functionality, allowing you to use two different SIM cards simultaneously. This is great for those who want to separate their personal and professional contacts or take advantage of different network plans. In terms of network compatibility, the device supports LTE, ensuring fast data speeds for browsing the internet, streaming videos, and downloading files.

When it comes to wireless connectivity, the Zte nubia M2 Play supports Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11 a/b/g/n, ensuring fast and stable internet connections when connected to a Wi-Fi network. It also supports Bluetooth, allowing you to connect wirelessly to other devices such as headphones, speakers, or even your car's audio system. The Bluetooth version is not specified, but it is likely to be a recent version that offers improved connectivity and energy efficiency.

For navigation purposes, the device includes GPS, which is essential for accurate location tracking and navigation apps. This ensures that you can easily find your way around unfamiliar places or use location-based services.

In terms of physical connectivity, the Zte nubia M2 Play lacks USB-C connectivity, which is disappointing as this type of connection offers faster data transfer speeds and is becoming increasingly common in newer devices. However, it does offer a standard micro USB port for charging and data transfer.

Overall, the Zte nubia M2 Play provides a decent range of connectivity options, including dual SIM support, LTE compatibility, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. While it lacks some of the latest connectivity features like USB-C, it still offers sufficient options to stay connected and navigate effectively.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Zte nubia M2 Play with other related gadgets in the market, it becomes clear that it falls short in several areas. In terms of design, the M2 Play does have a sleek and stylish metal monocoque design, but when compared to competitors like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 or the Honor 9 Lite, it lacks the premium feel and build quality.

In terms of display, the M2 Play offers a 5.5-inch TFT screen with a 720P HD resolution. However, when compared to devices like the Motorola Moto G6 or the Nokia 6.1, the M2 Play's display leans towards warmer tones and has lower brightness levels, resulting in a less vibrant and immersive viewing experience.

The software on the M2 Play is another area where it falls behind. While it runs on Nubia UI 5.0 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, competitors like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 or the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 offer a more user-friendly and feature-rich interface. Additionally, the M2 Play's software has a lot of unnecessary permissions that even basic apps request, which raises concerns about user privacy.

When it comes to camera performance, the M2 Play again lags behind its competitors. With average picture quality and slow autofocus, it fails to deliver the crisp and detailed images that devices like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 or the Honor 9 Lite can capture.

In terms of performance, the M2 Play is powered by a Snapdragon 435 chipset and 3GB of RAM. While it provides acceptable performance for day-to-day tasks, devices like the Motorola Moto G6 or the Nokia 6.1 offer better processing power and smoother multitasking capabilities.

Considering the price point, the M2 Play is not a good value for money when compared to other devices in the market. With its lackluster performance, average camera quality, and less impressive display, there are better options available at similar or even lower prices.

In conclusion, while the Zte nubia M2 Play may have some appealing features such as its sleek design and decent battery life, it fails to stand out in a crowded market. When compared to devices like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 or the Motorola Moto G6, it falls short in terms of display quality, camera performance, and overall value for money.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Conclusion: While the Nubia M2 Play impresses with its sleek design and decent performance, it falls short in certain areas. The display, although vibrant, lacks brightness and leans towards warmer tones. The camera performance is average at best, with slow autofocus and mediocre picture quality. The Nubia UI 5.0 has a learning curve and comes with unnecessary permissions, raising concerns about user privacy. Additionally, the lack of USB Type-C connectivity and fast charging support is disappointing. Overall, while the Nubia M2 Play has its moments, it fails to provide good value for money, and there are better options available within the same price range.