This terminal comes in a black cardboard box with a red ribbon. At the top, we can see the brand’s name and the features in Chinese at the bottom. The CE logo (European Conformity) is not visible since it is a Chinese version, but I can tell you that the global version does include it, or at least it can be seen in the global rom.
When we open it, we see a box with an instruction guide and the key for the SIM card slot. In this case, I miss the TPU cover, which is difficult to find, and to protect it, we have bought hydrogel protectors for both the front and back screens.
Below is the phone wrapped in a transparent case.
Further down, there is another box with the Chinese charger with 5V to 3A / 9V to 3A / 12V to 2.5A / 15V to 2A output and a 1 meter long micro USB to micro USB type C cable and a USB adapter. Type C to Jack 3.5mm for headphones.
Nubia Z20 Review : Design and Screen
This terminal changes the aesthetics quite a bit concerning what we are used to. It is an “infinity” or “all screen” terminal with hardly any frames and with two color screens (one on the front and one on the back). Because of this, it does not have a selfie camera.
There are two colors (Twilight Blue and Black Diamond). This is the black model in this case, but both adapt very well to the double screen. It is very bright and resembles terminals made of ceramic.
Its dimensions are 75.26 mm wide, 158.63 mm high, and 9 mm thick, which makes the total weight only 186g.
Colors are very vivid (NTSC 100%), including blacks. In addition, it has HDR10 support, and the screen refresh rate is 90Hz, so interaction is faster. The brightness remains at 430cd/m2, and the contrast is 100,000:1, so the sun will not bother us to see the screen rarely. In addition, from the main menu settings, you can calibrate the color and adapt it to different conditions (night mode or reading mode).
In this front part, there is no camera (for that, we have the second screen).
Something that I liked, and that is very rare to find, is the second screen in the back.
In the upper area, it has three cameras placed horizontally, accompanied by two flashes on the sides (to provide the most uniform light possible). And just below and without noticing anything is the second screen.
This second screen comprises a 5.1″ AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1520×720 and a density of 330 pixels per inch. The brightness is 330nits, with a contrast of 100,000:1. It also has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
This screen does not have as much quality or clarity as the one on the front, but we must remember that we will only use it for selfies and video calls. (It can be used for more things, but it doesn’t make sense since the quality and performance of the panel are much lower).
The rear edges are curved to make it more comfortable to hold.
On the right side is the volume down and up button and the on and off switch that also works as a fingerprint reader that works irregularly because sometimes it does not detect my finger well; we have tried screen readers more precious than this side Nubia. On the other hand, on the left side, there is another button with a fingerprint reader and a slot for SIM cards. I have to mention that depending on the inclination with which we unlock it (we will unlock one screen or another).
The bottom part is typical. In the center, it has the USB type C (reversible), and on the sides, there are holes for the speaker and the microphone. The top border is empty. It does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Nubia Z20 Review : Software
This Nubia Z20 brings Android 9 Pie under a clean interface that makes me doubt if it is Pure Android.
In this case, the terminal came with the Chinese ROM and many applications, but we have changed it following this tutorial: here. It is straightforward since there is no need to unlock or root the phone.
Once these steps have been followed (I am not responsible for what may happen), we will have a multilanguage and global rom that can be updated via OTA (automatic update via notification).
It is a global ROM that includes the principal languages: Spanish, Basque, Catalan, and Galician. Although in some sections of the menu, we will find that there are no translations for these languages.
Nubia’s system is a bit lame; it brings in configuration of how we want to use the second screen, an edge pressure option, that by pressing we can take screenshots, but we miss basic things like being able to hide the buttons on the screen, to be able to duplicate applications.
It has two fingerprint readers on the sides that regularly work since it does not detect the finger well on all occasions. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t have facial recognition.
This Nubia Z20 incorporates the “Always On Display” function to always have the screen on, although time slots can configure it. It also allows the configuration of the second screen. This mode consumes much battery.
This terminal comes completely clean, and Malwarebytes antivirus has not detected malicious applications.
Finally, mention that the two screens can be configured in different ways: in the mirror, mode repeating what you are doing, have a one-off, and one on (which will be the usual), or use the two screens to do different things. In this case, we can have an application open on the main screen and another on the back; when turning the mobile, it will detect which screen is facing up to activate it and deactivate the other; it works relatively well; one drawback is that when you have the mobile in your pocket, and they call you when you pick it up if the back screen is slightly higher up it is the one that remains active and even if you turn the main one it does not change it.
In the one month of using the terminal, I have not found anything beneficial for this second screen, except for a couple of things:
· Take selfies with the primary camera and this second screen. · Use it as fire buttons and crosshairs in shooters. As we have said, with the GameSpace mode that the mobile brings, we map two areas of the rear screen (left and right side) against two crucial areas of the front. Having tried phones with physical buttons (like the Vivo iQoo), I think this Nubia option falls further behind since you don’t always hit the rear screen area when you want to shoot, and sometimes you rest the phone on your finger while you play. And you shoot or aim without wanting to.
In summary, this second screen draws much attention, but up to that point, in my opinion, it is not a plus for which I would buy the phone.
