Nubia M2 Lite First Impressions: Specky, Snappy & Slippery

Nubia M2 Lite launched for Rs 13,999 in India. We get you first impressions of the device.

The Nubia M2 Lite comes with curved 2.5D glass.(Photo: The Quint)

You might not have heard about this brand much, but what they are offering in the Indian market deserves the spotlight. Nubia, a Chinese player has launched a new device in India dubbed the Nubia M2 Lite.

The phone has been priced at Rs 13,999 for the 32GB storage variant. The company bets big on the front camera of the phone which is 16-megapixel shooter. But is the phone all about the camera? Let’s take a look.

Specifications

• 5.5-Inch HD display
• Octa-core MediaTek processor
• 4GB RAM
• 32GB storage (Expandable up to 128GB)
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 13-megapixel rear camera
• 16-megapixel front camera
• 3000mAh battery

The M2 Lite sports a 16-megapixel front camera.(Photo: The Quint)

Design: An Elegant Looking Bar of Soap

The phone has an impressive design. Although it’s lightweight, one-hand use is difficult because of the size. It comes with an elegant black texture with golden accents running around the metal edges.

No doubt, it’s a very good looking phone. The big problem we faced while handling the phone is that it’s too slippery because of the smooth finish at the back. The rounded 2.5D curved glass on the front leaves a lot of fingerprint marks. However, it’s not a deal breaker.

The Nubia M2 Lite comes with a 5.5-inch HD display.(Photo: The Quint)

Display & Performance: RAM Rescues This One

The 5.5-inch HD display sports 720x1280 pixels and is a vibrant one, but somehow, the colours tend to fade at different viewing angles. It is a TFT display after all. The absence of a sturdy form of protection for the display was a big surprise for us.

It is running on an octa-core MediaTek6750 SoC, coupled with 4GB RAM. Initial experience with the device didn’t reveal any kind of lags, and it doesn’t have an app drawer as well.

Android Marshmallow still? Isn’t it Nougat time already? (Photo: The Quint)

Storage & Battery: Could Have Added More Juice

Though there is just 32GB of internal storage available, the phone comes with memory expansion feature up to 128GB. Thank God for that!

The phone being big, we were expecting a big battery pack inside. However, to our disappointment, it only has a 3000mAh battery, and a bigger bummer – it’s non-removable.

The 13-megapixel camera comes with a lot of modes.(Photo: The Quint)

Camera: Nubia's Biggest Selling Point

This is where we were really impressed with the Nubia M2 Lite. The phone comes with a 13-megapixel rear snapper which works quite well. It packs in a lot of modes to shoot like time-lapse and slo-mo.

The camera app has an interface quite similar to that of an iPhone. The phone’s highlight is the 16-megapixel selfie camera which is pretty good to begin with. Whether it is the best or not, we’ll find out when we have a camera shootout with other selfie snappers.

Worth Buying?

At a price tag of Rs 13,999, it’s actually a very good phone. The specs and the feature seem to be hinting that Nubia wants to hit the mid-range segment hard.

The 16-megapixel front camera is a great addition, and this phone is a perfect device for the selfie lover who doesn’t want a phone that lags. Don’t think too much about the brand because there was a time when people didn’t know much about Xiaomi as well.