ZTE/nubia announced new gaming smartphone models at MWC 2026, the world's largest communications event held in Barcelona, Spain, from Monday, March 2 to Thursday, March 5, 2026.
They also exhibited a collaboration model with a popular VOCALOID character from China.
Neo 5 GT Appears as the True Entry-Level REDMAGIC Model
Among nubia's smartphones, there is the REDMAGIC series specialized for gaming and the Z series focused on cameras, both of which are currently on sale in Japan.
In addition to these, the Neo series is being developed for overseas markets as gaming models that keep prices down while offering mid-to-high-range performance.
Three new devices in the Neo series appeared at MWC.
The most noteworthy model among them is the Neo 5 GT, priced at 399 Euros (approx. 466 USD).
Built-In Lights in a Cyber Back Design
The Neo 5 GT is a mid-to-high-range smartphone equipped with MediaTek's Dimensity 7400 chipset.
The display is a 6.8-inch OLED with 2,720x1,224 pixels and supports a high 144Hz refresh rate.
While the battery is somewhat modest at 6,210mAh, it supports 80W fast charging and bypass charging.
The hawk-eye design on the back is an icon of the Neo series, and it can light up in RGB colors for notifications or during gameplay.
The camera has a minimal configuration with a 50-megapixel wide-angle and a 2-megapixel depth sensor, but this should be sufficient given its gaming focus.
Furthermore, the light shining in the center of the camera section is the air-cooling fan mentioned below.
Equipped with the First Air-Cooling Fan in the Neo Series
Looking at the right side of the device, shoulder trigger buttons for game controls are equipped on the top and bottom (when held horizontally).
The performance is impressive, featuring a touch sampling rate of 550Hz and latency of 5.5ms or less.
Additionally, the slit on the upper side serves as the exhaust for the air-cooling fan.
The air-cooling fan found in nubia's REDMAGIC series has been included for the first time in the Neo series.
The left side of the device features the air intake slit for the fan.
The body is IP64 water and dust resistant, while the slit area is rated at IP54.
Inside, it contains a cooling plate boasting a massive surface area of 29,508mm2, which reportedly maintains the internal temperature at 38.9 degrees Celsius even after an hour of continuous gameplay.
Equipped with MyOS Featuring Enhanced AI Functions
The device runs MyOS based on Android 16, which features enhanced AI functions.
Power management has also been improved; even with only 5% battery remaining, 30 minutes of gameplay is possible, so there is no need to worry about sudden shutdowns.
Furthermore, it reportedly supports 2.3 hours of calls and up to 27 days of standby on that last 5%.
Just like the REDMAGIC series, it is equipped with GAMESPACE, a dedicated mode for immersive gaming.
Only installed games appear in this menu, where you can also configure detailed settings for the game store, CPU, and fan operation.
Additionally, it features AI Copilot Demi 2.0, which provides pro-level advice by analyzing battle conditions in real-time for games like Free Fire, PUBG, and MLBB.
The game chatbot utilizes a large language model to answer questions about strategies and builds 24/7.
By using Demi Auto Chat, the system understands the context of incoming messages and automatically generates natural, emotionally aware responses on behalf of the user.
Delta Force Collaboration Model Likely to Appear as Well
The Neo 5 GT is officially collaborating with the F2P tactical shooter Delta Force.
A limited model themed after the SUBROSA top-tier skin for the Delta Force operator D-Wolf was also on display at the nubia booth during MWC.
However, only the packaging was shown, and further details remain unknown.
Improving the Gaming Environment with Gamepads and Air-Cooling Fans
Several peripheral devices were announced alongside the Neo 5 series.
The nubia Gamepad 2 is a controller that attaches by sandwiching the smartphone body from the left and right.
It is equipped with ABXY buttons and shoulder buttons.
The nubia Magnetic Cooler is an external air-cooling fan with a built-in LED light, providing a cooling effect of up to 3 degrees Celsius.
It can be attached to the phone via magnets or a clip.
Neo 5 Max: A 7.5-Inch Large Screen for Comfortable Gaming
As the name Max suggests, the Neo 5 Max boasts a 7.5-inch screen, making it one of the largest smartphones available.
Most of its detailed specifications have not yet been disclosed.
While the chipset is unknown, it is expected to use a processor one tier below the Neo 5 GT.
The larger body size allows for a bigger cooling plate and it is equipped with a 7,000mAh battery.
The device also features game triggers for comfortable gameplay.
Despite the large body size, the wide screen provides plenty of room to enjoy games.
Gamepad Operation Is Also More Comfortable
When the nubia Gamepad 2 is attached, the screen's larger size compared to the Neo 5 GT becomes evident, making it feel more like a dedicated handheld game console.
The price for this model is currently undecided.
The Base Model: Neo 5
The Neo 5 is the base gaming model with a lower price of 299 Euros.
Detailed specifications for this model have also not been released yet.
Although the shape of the shoulder triggers is different, it reportedly features the same 550Hz sensors as the higher-end models.
Any model in the Neo 5 series is designed for comfortable horizontal gameplay.
As the entry-level model, it also comes in Silver and Yellow.
The hawk-eye section on the back lights up just like the GT model.
The two colors give the phone significantly different looks.
Camera Smartphones Also Collaborate with Characters
A collaboration model of the top-tier camera phone, the Z80 Ultra, was also on display at the nubia booth.
This is the Luo Tianyi model, currently available only in China.
Luo Tianyi is a Chinese character created for speech synthesis software who has since expanded into 3D live performances and music videos.
She is a VOCALOID character similar to Hatsune Miku.
Since the character's signature color is red, the icon is printed on a crimson body.
The finish is quite unique for a camera-focused phone.
While she may not be well known in Japan, she is incredibly popular in China.
Multiple limited-edition wallpapers are pre-installed.
The model is reportedly already sold out in China.
The nubia exhibition at MWC 2026 leaned heavily into gaming and character collaborations.
Simply displaying budget devices or standard camera phones wouldn't have stood out among the competition, but this strategic showcase successfully attracted many visitors.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane
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