This New “Audiophile” Smartphone Will Have Two Headphone Jacks

The new Nubia Music smartphone takes sharing music to heart.
The new Nubia Music smartphone takes sharing music to heart.

We independently review all our recommendations. Purchases made via our links may earn us a commission. Learn more ❯

Nubia Music is loud, proud, and dual-jacked

Nubia, a ZTE sub-brand, stepped up at the Mobile World Congress 2024 with its latest creation: the Nubia Music smartphone.

This smartphone aims to address the frustrations many felt when Apple decided to ditch the headphone jack back in 2016. But, Nubia Music doesn’t just bring the headphone jack back—it doubles down by offering two of them, allowing users to share their music in a whole new way.

The smartphone release is part of Nubia’s wider plan to expand their reach globally. It’s announced at the same time as other smartphones that target different audiences like the nubia Focus 5G for photography enthusiasts, and nubia Neo 2 5G for gamers.

Nubia Music Features

The dual 3.5mm headphone jack of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Robert Nawrowski)
The dual 3.5mm headphone jack of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Robert Nawrowski)

Designed for music enthusiasts, the Nubia Music smartphone focuses on the users’ audio-sharing experience. Its standout feature is the inclusion of not one, but two 3.5mm headphone jacks. This allows users to plug in two headphones at a time to avoid sharing one pair of earbuds.

This thoughtful design choice is a tribute to the shared joy and communal aspect of music listening. It’s a rare find in today’s digital age, although not completely unique since we already had devices like the Marshall London.

Holding the Nubia Music smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2024 (From: X/Dr Mobile Yasuhiro Yamane)
Holding the Nubia Music smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2024 (From: X/Dr Mobile Yasuhiro Yamane)

Complementing the dual headphone jacks, the Nubia Music also boasts an ultra-loud speaker on its back.

This speaker claims a volume output six times louder than average smartphone speakers. According to ZTE, this uses an “AI-powered extreme volume algorithm” to make the sound louder without causing distortion. It’s a feature that promises to fill the room, making music a shared experience once again.

The aesthetic of Nubia Music is as notable as its sound capabilities.

It takes inspiration from classic record players. The phone’s design features vibrant and youthful elements, with a circular speaker that mimics the look of a turntable. This unique design element is not just functional but also a homage to the golden age of music.

A close look at the vinyl-like speakers at the back of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Gerrit Schneemann)
A close look at the vinyl-like speakers at the back of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Gerrit Schneemann)

It also comes with a wide variety of bold color options, much unlike most modern smartphones.

“Inspired by its slogan “Be Yourself”, nubia is committed to providing a broad array of choices with differentiated designs, features and experience for young people.” says ZTE in a press release.

Technical Specifications:

  • Display: 6.6 inches HD+ IPS LCD, 90Hz refresh rate
  • Chipset: Unisoc SC9863A
  • RAM: Options of 4GB or 8GB
  • Storage: Options of 128GB or 256GB
  • Rear Camera: Dual setup with a 50MP main camera and a secondary camera (specifications unspecified but presumed to be 2MP)
  • Front Camera: 5MP
  • Battery: 5000mAh, non-removable
  • Operating System: Android 14
  • SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
  • Connectivity: GPS, Bluetooth, WLAN
  • USB: Type-C 2.0
  • Audio: Dual 3.5mm jacks, ultra-loud back speaker with AI-powered volume enhancement
  • NFC: No

Where to Buy

The Nubia Music, priced at $149, is already on sale in China and will launch in Europe in April. But, it’s expected to also be released to the US soon as nubia works on expanding globally.

The pure yellow color option of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Robert Nawrowski)
The pure yellow color option of the Nubia Music smartphone. (From: X/Robert Nawrowski)

Ideal for those who value music sharing and powerful audio, it’s available in multi-colored options with blue, red, yellow, and white patterns, and a purely yellow color option.

Leave a Reply