Nubia Fold Debuts in Japan, Challenging Foldable Market with Large Battery Capacity

The technology company ZTE, through its Nubia sub-brand, has officially introduced its first book-style foldable device, the Nubia Fold, to the Japanese market. This launch coincides with the introduction of the clamshell-style foldable model, the Nubia Flip3, signaling an aggressive move by Nubia into the increasingly competitive flexible screen segment.

The Nubia Fold is scheduled to go on sale exclusively in Japan on December 4, 2025, with an initial price set at approximately 178,560 yen, equivalent to about $1145 for the black color variant. The device features impressive visual specifications, including an internal 8-inch OLED display with a sharp 2480 x 2200 pixel resolution, designed to deliver a superior visual experience. For quick interactions when folded, there is a 6.5-inch external panel with a 2748 x 1172 pixel resolution. Both displays support a 120 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth interface navigation and gaming performance.

The device's physical dimensions are also considered, measuring 11.1 mm thick when folded and slimming to 5.4 mm when open, with a total weight of 249 grams. It carries an IP54 rating for protection against dust and water splashes. The primary advantage offered by the Nubia Fold is its substantial 6560 mAh battery capacity, which at the time of launch represented the largest capacity among comparable foldable devices, further supported by 55W fast-charging technology.

The processing power is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a flagship processor from the previous generation, manufactured using 3 nm fabrication technology. This performance is augmented by a configuration of 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, running on the latest Android 15 operating system. The Snapdragon 8 Elite, while a previous-generation chipset, still delivers high performance, distinguishing it from other variants that might use lower-tier chipsets, such as the Dimensity 7400X found in the Flip3.

The imaging system on the Nubia Fold utilizes a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel main lens, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. For self-portraits and video calls, the device is equipped with two front-facing camera modules, each with a 20-megapixel resolution—one concealed beneath the main screen and the other under the external screen.

This exclusive Japanese debut suggests ZTE/Nubia's strategy to gauge local market reception for their premium device offering, particularly by emphasizing superior battery capacity over some direct competitors. Nubia has confirmed that a global release for the Nubia Fold is anticipated to follow in 2026, allowing the company to assess the dynamics of the Japanese market before broader expansion. Concurrently, the Flip3 model, which is more compact, uses the Dimensity 7400X chipset and features a 6.9-inch main screen and a 4-inch cover screen, with sales slated for mid-January 2026.