Nubia Neo 2 vs. Motorola Edge 40 Neo: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Contenders

The ZTE nubia Neo 2 and Motorola Edge 40 Neo represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The nubia Neo 2 focuses on delivering raw processing power at an aggressive price point, while the Motorola Edge 40 Neo aims for a more balanced experience with a focus on battery life and faster charging. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around usability and convenience, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly faster 68W charging and impressive 10:28 hour battery life outweigh the nubia Neo 2’s theoretical CPU advantage, especially given the similar chipset fabrication process.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Neo 2 Motorola Edge 40 Neo
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 71, 77 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, February 282023, September 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, Q2Available. Released 2023, September 14
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions166 x 76.1 x 8.5 mm (6.54 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)159.6 x 72 x 7.9 mm (6.28 x 2.83 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight208 g (7.34 oz)170 g or 172 g (6.00 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 120HzP-OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.7 GHz Cortex-A76 & 3x2.3 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.1 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetUnisoc T820 (6 nm)MediaTek Dimensity 7030 (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57Mali-G610 MC3
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, PDAF
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide)32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired68W wired, 50% in 15 min
Type6000 mAh or 5200 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSunfire Yellow, Frost Silver, Storm GrayBlack, Soothing Sea, Caneel Bay, Peach Fuzz
ModelsZ2352NXT2307-1
Price€ 179.00$ 299.00 / € 168.73 / ₹ 19,900

ZTE nubia Neo 2

  • Potentially higher multi-core CPU performance (Unisoc T820)
  • Aggressive pricing likely makes it a value option
  • 6nm chipset offers reasonable efficiency

  • Slower 33W charging
  • Likely lower battery endurance
  • Less refined overall experience

Motorola Edge 40 Neo

  • Faster 68W charging with quick boost capability
  • Superior battery life (10:28h active use)
  • Brighter display (1073 nits)
  • More modern CPU architecture (Dimensity 7030)

  • Potentially higher price point
  • May not match nubia Neo 2 in peak multi-core CPU tasks
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1073 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a clear advantage over the nubia Neo 2 (brightness data unavailable). While both utilize 6nm chipsets, the Edge 40 Neo’s brighter panel and likely superior color calibration (based on Motorola’s brand reputation) contribute to a more enjoyable viewing experience. We expect the Edge 40 Neo to have a higher contrast ratio as well, further enhancing image quality.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera analysis is hampered by limited data. However, the Motorola Edge 40 Neo’s inclusion of Photo/Video capabilities suggests a more versatile camera system. While sensor size and aperture data are missing for both, Motorola typically focuses on computational photography, potentially delivering better image quality in challenging conditions. The nubia Neo 2’s camera specs are currently unknown, making a direct comparison difficult. We can assume the Edge 40 Neo will have better video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both devices employ 6nm chipsets, but the architecture differs significantly. The nubia Neo 2 utilizes the Unisoc T820 with a mix of Cortex-A76 cores, while the Edge 40 Neo features the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 with more modern Cortex-A78 cores. While the T820 has more cores, the A78 cores in the Dimensity 7030 generally offer superior single-core performance, translating to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. The Dimensity 7030’s integrated GPU is also likely to provide a more consistent gaming experience. The lack of LPDDR5x RAM specification for the nubia Neo 2 suggests it may be using slower RAM, further impacting performance.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo shines in the battery department. Its 10:28 hour active use score and 80-hour endurance rating demonstrate significantly better battery life than we anticipate from the nubia Neo 2. Crucially, the Edge 40 Neo supports 68W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 15 minutes. The nubia Neo 2’s 33W charging is considerably slower, requiring a much longer time to fully replenish the battery. This difference in charging speed dramatically impacts user convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Neo 2 if you are a power user who prioritizes maximizing CPU performance for demanding tasks like emulation or light video editing, and are willing to compromise on charging speed and potentially battery endurance. Buy the Motorola Edge 40 Neo if you value a smoother, more convenient daily experience with faster charging, longer battery life, and a more refined overall package, even if it means a slight trade-off in peak CPU performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Unisoc T820 in the nubia Neo 2 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the 6nm process helps, the Unisoc T820's thermal performance is largely unknown. Given its focus on raw power, it's possible it may throttle under sustained load, especially compared to the more refined Dimensity 7030 in the Edge 40 Neo, which benefits from MediaTek's thermal management optimizations.
❓ How does the 68W charging on the Motorola Edge 40 Neo compare to other fast charging standards?
68W is a very competitive charging speed, placing the Edge 40 Neo among the fastest charging phones in its price range. It's faster than many 33W or 45W implementations and allows for a significant top-up in a short amount of time, minimizing downtime.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications on the nubia Neo 2 a cause for concern?
Yes, the absence of sensor size, aperture, and OIS information suggests the camera may not be a primary strength of the device. Motorola typically invests more in camera software and features, giving the Edge 40 Neo a likely advantage in image quality.
❓ Will the Motorola Edge 40 Neo's Dimensity 7030 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile smoothly?
The Dimensity 7030 is capable of running these games, but you'll likely need to adjust graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. Expect medium to high settings at 30-60fps, depending on the game and your preferences.