ZTE nubia Music review
This phone suits someone on a tight budget who treats it as a music and messaging device and does not mind waiting for apps to load. Anyone who streams video, games, or runs heavy apps should spend a little more; anyone who values fast charging will be frustrated every day."
This review is based on ZTE’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the ZTE nubia Music, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The nubia Music is a no-frills budget Android with a 5000 mAh battery and 90Hz screen that get the job done for media and messaging, but its ancient Unisoc chipset and 4GB RAM struggle with anything demanding. At 80 EUR it is cheap enough to forgive, as long as you do not expect to game or run multiple apps at once.
Design & build
At 199 grams and 8.6 mm thick, the nubia Music is lightweight and slim—a rare comfort at this price. The form factor feels balanced and does not stick out of a pocket. Dual Nano-SIM slots (or SIM plus microSD) give you carrier flexibility, which matters in regions where carrying two numbers is routine. There is no hint of what materials are used, and the specs do not say, so assume plastic. That is typical for the money; what matters is that the phone does not feel like it will snap in half after a week.
Display
The 6.6 inch, 90Hz IPS LCD is where ZTE committed real resources. The 90Hz refresh is a genuine comfort for scrolling, swiping, and gaming—you feel the difference versus a static 60Hz. That said, 720p resolution over 6.6 inches means 267 ppi, which is soft. Text in apps and web pages looks slightly fuzzy if you hold the phone at normal distance; it is not unusable, but it is a step down from the 300+ ppi you get on mid-range phones. For video, music videos, and casual web browsing the smoothness outweighs the sharpness loss, but anyone coming from a newer phone will notice the trade-off.
Performance
The Unisoc SC9863A is a low-power chip designed to stretch battery life, not to impress. It handles messaging, email, music streaming, and light browsing without stutter. The moment you load Instagram Reels, TikTok, or any 3D game, it buckles. Apps will freeze for a second or two, scrolling turns herky-jerky, and you will wait for the screen to respond. With 4GB of RAM, multitasking is tight; close one app and the next one reloads if you switch back. This is the phone's biggest limitation. It works for someone who listens to music, reads news, and takes photos, but it is not a phone for anyone who actually uses their phone heavily during the day.
Software
Android 13 with unspecified ZTE customization. No word on update roadmap, and for a 2024 budget device running a 2022 OS, do not expect anything beyond one or two years of security patches. That is the standard at this tier and price, but worth knowing if you use the phone for banking or sensitive login. Day to day, the software is quiet and does not get in the way, which is all you need from a budget Android.
Camera
The 50 MP f/1.9 main sensor with PDAF is the surprise here. In daylight and golden hour, it captures sharp, clean stills with decent color—f/1.9 lets in enough light to avoid that flat, overprocessed budget-phone look. Indoors under artificial light it holds up better than you would expect. The problem is what is missing: 1080p video only (no 4K), no telephoto, no ultrawide, and the 5 MP selfie is basic. For a second or third phone or a gift, the still camera is enough. For anyone who wants to zoom into a distant subject or film a moment in high resolution, this is a letdown.
Battery & charging
The 5000 mAh battery is the phone's anchor. In light-to-moderate use—email, messages, some music streaming—it lasts a full day and into the next morning. Heavy use (video streaming, maps, or games) drains it in 8 to 10 hours of screen time. The real problem is charging: 10W takes roughly 3 to 4 hours from empty, and that is if you leave it plugged in undisturbed. You cannot top it up in 30 minutes before leaving the house. Most rivals at this price now offer 30W or 50W. This feels like a deliberate cost cut that hurts every single day you own the phone.
Connectivity & audio
LTE but no 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n but no Wi-Fi 6—both are standard budget compromises, and they hold the phone back on download speeds and video call quality over Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 5.2 works fine. The standout here is the dual 3.5mm headphone jacks and built-in FM radio. Neither is necessary by modern standards, but they exist, and for someone who still listens to FM radio or wants to plug two wired headsets into one device (uncommon but real), this matters. Most 2024 phones have already ditched both.
Value & verdict
At 80 EUR, the nubia Music competes with older mid-range phones and true-budget rivals from Redmi or Moto. For the money, you get a surprisingly good 5000 mAh battery, a smooth 90Hz screen, and a decent still camera. The Unisoc chip and 10W charging are the real compromises, and they will bite you daily if you use the phone hard. This is a phone for someone on a strict budget who listens to music, reads, messages, and takes occasional photos—and who is patient enough to wait for the phone to wake up when they tap an app. It is not a phone for anyone who streams video heavily, juggles multiple apps, or expects modern charging speeds.
Verdict
This phone suits someone on a tight budget who treats it as a music and messaging device and does not mind waiting for apps to load. Anyone who streams video, games, or runs heavy apps should spend a little more; anyone who values fast charging will be frustrated every day."
- 5000 mAh battery holds a full day of light-to-moderate use (email, messaging, music streaming) without anxiety
- 90Hz IPS display keeps scrolling smooth even on tight budget; 6.6 inches gives you room without being a brick
- Dual 3.5mm jacks and FM radio are a genuine rarity now—a small win for anyone who still listens to radio or plugs in two headsets
- 50 MP f/1.9 main camera captures decent daylight and low-light stills; PDAF ensures sharp focus for the price
- Unisoc SC9863A stumbles on any app heavier than messaging: Reels, TikTok, or casual games lag noticeably, making this phone feel frustrating if you do more than browse and text
- 10W charging crawls—3 to 4 hours from zero to full, barely faster than a 2015 phone; rivals at this price now hit 30W or 50W
- 267 ppi on a 6.6 inch screen softens text and icons noticeably compared to even mid-range competitors, a constant reminder of the budget
ZTE nubia Music Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, February 28 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.6 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.4, (wide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 10W wired |
| Software | Android 13 |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 74.9 x 8.6 mm (6.44 x 2.95 x 0.34 in) |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
ZTE nubia Music FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the nubia Music support 5G?
No. The nubia Music tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the nubia Music use?
The nubia Music runs on the Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm).
What display does the nubia Music have?
A 6.6 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~85.4% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 90Hz, 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density).
How big is the nubia Music battery?
The nubia Music has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 10W wired.
Does the nubia Music have NFC?
Yes, the nubia Music has NFC.
Does the nubia Music support a microSD card?
Yes, the nubia Music supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Does the nubia Music have a headphone jack?
Yes, the nubia Music has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the nubia Music isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
nubia Music 2
Blade A34
Axon 60 Lite
Blade V60
Galaxy M06 5G
