While I’m not one for making bets, envisioning the highlights of MWC 2024 would have led me to anticipate the emergence of unique innovations like the Nothing Phone 2a, reminiscent of Eve from Wall-E, featuring a bendable concept phone wearable as a wrist cuff, and the introduction of transparent laptop screens. Notably, Samsung kicked off the year by unveiling its inaugural transparent micro-LED display.
However, one development that wasn’t on my radar was ZTE’s unveiling of a vibrant, vinyl-styled smartphone equipped with not one, but two analog 3.5mm headphone jacks, accompanied by a substantial DTS:X-certified speaker on its rear panel. This move positions it as a formidable competitor to the current champion in sound quality, the Sony Xperia 1 V.
Enter the Nubia Music smartphone from ZTE, boasting a vinyl-styled, rear-mounted speaker reminiscent of the Nokia 130, albeit a more potent offering. ZTE claims this speaker delivers a remarkable 600% increase in volume compared to standard smartphones. If accurate, it could render the need for a separate Bluetooth speaker obsolete during outdoor gatherings or camping trips.
And let’s not overlook the inclusion of two 3.5mm headphone jacks! While Sony’s Xperia series remains one of the few to retain support for the traditional headphone jack, encountering dual jacks on a portable device brings to mind the Sony Walkman from my childhood. Not even FiiO’s new CP13 tape player, a clear homage to the Walkman, features dual jacks.
Adding to the allure is Nubia’s proprietary music companion app, facilitating control over the RGB strip along the screen’s edge to synchronize with the music—a nod to the future of entertainment lighting, reminiscent of Ambilight, despite Philips scaling back its Ambilight features last year.
According to reports from NotebookCheck, the Nubia Music phone integrates “a powerful amplifier and an AI algorithm” to achieve its significantly amplified volume output. Additionally, it purportedly boasts a 90Hz HD display, a dual 50-megapixel camera setup, a robust 5,000mAh battery, and up to 8GB of RAM.
While specific details remain scarce—the processor is an unspecified Unisoc variant, and details regarding the DAC chip, pricing, and availability are yet to be confirmed by ZTE—it’s likely to emerge as a compelling mid-range offering. Needless to say, I’ll be keeping a close eye on its developments.
