nubia Air Launches with Slim Build and Smart AI Features!

Sunday, 07 September 2025 at 21:04

ZTE has added a new model to its lineup at IFA 2025: the nubia Air. At first glance, it looks like another slim smartphone trying to win on style. But dig a little deeper and you’ll see ZTE is betting on something more: a thin phone that actually lasts.

A slim frame with real stamina

The phone measures 5.9mm at its thinnest point and weighs only 172 grams. It’s light in the hand, but ZTE still fit in a 5,000mAh battery. According to the company, it should handle more than 1,000 charging cycles, and with built-in AI power management, it’s designed to keep working reliably for years. That’s not common for a device this slim.

Durability isn’t an afterthought

The nubia Air isn’t fragile. The aluminum alloy frame has been through drop and stress tests that would normally scare off an ultra-thin phone. On top of that, it carries IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. In practice, that means it can sit in water for half an hour, take on dust, and even survive blasts of hot water at high pressure. It’s a rare mix of thin design and rugged build.

Hardware and everyday use

Inside, the phone runs on the UNISOC T8300 5G chip. It ships with 8GB RAM (expandable to 12GB with dynamic memory) and 256GB of storage. Out of the box, it runs Android 15.

To help with performance, ZTE added an AI Performance Engine. It learns which apps you use often and which ones you don’t. Unused apps get frozen, and the CPU is tuned on the fly. The result: a claimed 20% longer battery life and 25% less power use.

nubia Air Technical Specifications:

6.78-inch 1.5K (1224 x 2720 pixels) 120Hz AMOLED display, 440ppi, 4500 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
8GB RAM (up to 12GB dynamic RAM), 256GB storage
UNISOC T8300 (6 nm) Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 and 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) SoC with Mali-G57 MP2 GPU
AI Performance Engine
Android 15
50MP sensor (f/1.6), 2MP depth sensor, and Auxiliary lens
20MP Front Camera
In-display fingerprint reader
Smart AI features: Dynamic Image, AI Sport Snapshot, Video Anti-shake, AI Magic Photos, AI Real-time Translate, AI Conversation Translate, Dual-Mic AI Noise Cancellation
IP68, IP69, IP69K certified
HiFi 4 DSP with High-performance Audio Codec
5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4 + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.4 LE, GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, USB Type-C 2.0
Dimensions: 164.2 x 76.6 x 6.7 mm; Weight: 172 g
5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.

Cameras and features

The rear setup includes a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and an extra lens. The front has a 20MP camera. Camera software leans on AI, offering tools like sport snapshots, anti-shake video, and real-time translation.

Other touches include an in-display fingerprint reader, dual-mic noise cancellation, Wi-Fi 6, and 33W fast charging via USB-C. Audio comes with a HiFi 4 DSP chip for clearer sound.

Price and availability

The nubia Air comes in Titanium Black, Streamer Black, and Titanium Desert. It will roll out in Europe first, then expand to Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Starting price is USD 279 (around ₹24,595).