Nubia has revived the old ”phablet” idea with the Neo 5 Max, a 7.5-inch smartphone unveiled at MWC Shanghai 2026. The Nubia Neo 5 Max is aimed at external markets, which means Europe could get an official launch alongside Asia, making this more than a one-off regional curiosity.
The Neo 5 Max is not trying to win spec-sheet bragging rights. Instead, it lands in the entry-to-midrange bracket with an IPS display at 1.5K resolution, MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 chip, a 7000 mAh battery, and Android 16. That mix screams ”big screen first, premium later,” which is exactly the sort of compromise that keeps unusually large phones alive.
Nubia Neo 5 Max specs and gaming controller
The oddest part is also the most practical: Nubia says the Neo 5 Max supports a proprietary removable gaming controller. Attached, the device can double as a portable game console, which is a neat reminder that giant phones still have one advantage over actual handhelds – they already have a cellular connection and a battery big enough to feed one.
- 7.5-inch IPS display
- 1.5K resolution
- MediaTek Dimensity 7100
- 7000 mAh battery
- Android 16
Why oversized phones are back on the table
Nubia is not alone in sniffing around the big-screen niche again. For years, mainstream phone makers have chased thinner bezels and lighter bodies, but gaming, streaming, and split-screen multitasking keep creating demand for devices that behave more like pocket tablets than traditional phones. The Neo 5 Max looks designed for that crowd, not for people obsessed with fitting a handset into skinny jeans.
There is no word yet on pricing or availability, so the real test is whether Nubia can turn the nostalgia of a 7.5-inch screen into a product people actually buy. If it lands in Europe, expect plenty of curiosity – and a few reminders that sometimes the industry circles back to ideas it once tried very hard to bury.