nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Review - The under PHP 13K gaming contender nobody saw coming

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G may be priced at just PHP 12,999, but it's packed with features usually found in much pricier devices.

nubia Neo 3 GT 5G: The affordable gaming phone that doesn't play around

We spent almost a month using this phone, testing it out on a demanding game such as Genshin Impact, as well as lighter games like Call of Duty Mobile and Mobile Legends, and even a casual game in Pokémon GO. We also brought it with us during our trip to Taiwan and did casual photo walks to see how it performs beyond gaming. Here’s everything we found so far.

Unboxing/Accessories

@gizguideph We unboxed the new #nubiaNeo3GT (PHP 12,999 SRP) entry-mid gaming smartphone with Mini LED + RGB lights, 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED FHD+ screen, the new UNISOC T9100 5G chip, and 4,083mm² Multi-Layer Heat Dissipation System. 💯💯💯 Full specs: https://bit.ly/41XuIAe #GIZGUIDEPH #TechPH ♬ HOT - LE SSERAFIM

Upon unboxing, we are welcomed with the unit itself, all decked out in the Interstellar Gray colorway. It looks sleek and futuristic with the mecha back design, which perfectly fits the gamer aesthetic.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G unboxed

Right out of the box, you'll find:

• A frosted hard case
• User manual and warranty card
• SIM ejector pin
• 80W fast charger
• USB Type-C cable

Build Quality/Design

Mecha design with a smooth finish (Plus Mini LED and RGB lights)

Despite its gaming look, the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G keeps things lightweight thanks to its hard plastic body with a very smooth finish.

Unique Mecha Design

While it doesn't feel premium, it's actually a win for gamers because long gaming sessions won’t leave your arms or hands feeling strained.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G comes with a 6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes both content browsing and gaming look extra smooth. With support for 1080p on YouTube and 1080p playback on TikTok, you're getting crisp, vibrant visuals that are more than enough for daily streaming and casual viewing.

1080p video quality on YouTube and TikTok

The display is spacious and immersive, giving you plenty of room for controls, visuals, and action. This can be very useful in games such as Genshin Impact, where combat and UI elements can easily crowd the screen.

Spacious screen real estate for gaming

Unfortunately, the phone does not come with a headphone jack, but it does support DTS:X Ultra stereo speakers, so you get a surround-sound feeling while gaming, even without a headset. If you're the type who enjoys playing their games with a headset on, we suggest getting one with a Type-C input or getting a Type-C connector.

The phone's bottom part includes the SIM tray, Type-C output, and speakers

Going back to the phone's design, we also get a responsive light strip at the back that responds to audio and notifications, adding a nice touch of flair, especially during gaming. For some gamers, it can be distracting at times, especially when you need to lock in. If that gamer is you, then you can easily turn off the feature in the Settings.

Cool light strip at the back that responds to audio

Our favorite feature has to be the dual shoulder triggers. These are responsive, and they feel console-like, giving you an edge during gameplay.

The dual shoulder triggers give off a console-like experience during gameplay

Performance

The phone runs on a 6nm UNISOC T820 chip, with 12GB RAM (+12GB virtual RAM) and 256GB of storage.

Speedy and reliable for the price

To back up our experience, we ran benchmark tests using both AnTuTu and Geekbench 6. On AnTuTu, the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G scored 533,072, with a breakdown that reflects its focus on balanced performance over raw power. In Geekbench 6, it scored 869 (single-core) and 2382 (multi-core) on the CPU test, and 2643 on the GPU OpenCL benchmark.

While the numbers may not compete with flagship phones, they align with our real-world experience—smooth gameplay, minimal heating, and solid performance on graphics-heavy titles like Genshin Impact.

This phone may not dominate benchmark charts, but it definitely punches above its weight in everyday use.

Performance-wise, it was surprisingly solid across several games:

Genshin Impact Performance

Genshin Impact on the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G

• Settings: Highest graphics, Motion Blur OFF, Balanced CPU mode (default). 
• Performance: Smooth gameplay even during combat, minimal lag
• Battery: About 4 hours of potential playtime
• Thermals: Slight warming after 25 minutes of gameplay, however, manageable.

This is impressive, especially since even other more expensive mid-range phones often need to dial down to medium settings just to play Genshin smoothly.

Call of Duty: Mobile Performance

Call of Duty: Mobile on the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G

• Settings: Medium Graphics, High Frame Rate
• Performance: Smooth experience with no lag or stutters
• Battery: About 4 hours of potential playtime
• Thermals: No noticeable heating during the first hour of gameplay
• Other notes: Gyroscope aiming works well; no noticeable heating

Mobile Legends: Performance

Mobile Legends on the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G

• Settings: Ultra graphics, Frame Rate at 120 FPS
• Performance: Zero lags
• Battery: About 4 hours of potential playtime
• Thermals: No noticeable heating during the first hour of gameplay

Pokémon GO: Performance

Pokémon GO on the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G

• Settings: Native Refresh Rate ON, Enhanced Graphics ON
• Performance: Consistently smooth, even during a 1-hour session
• Battery: About 4 hours of potential playtime
• Thermals: No noticeable heating during the first hour of gameplay

Despite being a more casual game, Pokémon GO can be demanding on GPS, battery, and graphics. The Neo 3 GT 5G’s large battery, efficient chipset, and stable refresh rate make it a great match for long walks, AR catching, and gym battles, without your phone overheating or dying quickly.

Pleased with its gaming performance for the price

The phone also features a vapor chamber cooling system, a 6,000mAh battery, and 80W fast charging, with support for bypass charging, which can be very helpful during longer playing hours. Bypass charging also helps in maintaining the battery health of your device.

Cameras

nubia Neo 3 GT 5G camera design

Lastly, the camera module fits right in with the phone’s bold gaming look—it has a futuristic design with sharp lines and metallic blue accents that complete the "gamer aesthetic." Despite the flashy exterior, it still comes with a 50MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 16MP selfie cam. So, how do the actual photos turn out? Let's take a look.

Camera Samples

Although the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G is positioned primarily for gaming, it can also be a reliable casual camera phone for everyday use. We brought it around the streets of Taipei, ranging from sunny parks to night markets, and used it in different lighting conditions.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's main camera left no details behind, including the shot of Taipei 101 in the background

In bright daylight, the 50MP main camera captures crisp and vivid photos with natural-looking colors. Meanwhile, selfies taken under the sun show softer details, slightly muted colors, but still look clean and ready to post.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's main camera, shot outdoors during daylight

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's selfie camera, shot outdoors during daylight

In a well-lit indoor setting, the main cam produces vibrant and decently detailed shots, though expect a slight drop in sharpness.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's main camera, shot in a well-lit indoor setting

Nighttime shots remain bright and colorful with a slight softness on the details using the main camera, though image softness is more noticeable on the selfie cam.

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's main camera, shot outdoors during nighttime

The nubia Neo 3 GT 5G's selfie camera, shot outdoors during nighttime

And of course, just like the other nubia models that we have reviewed, we couldn't help but appreciate the built-in AI Magic Eraser. 

The AI Magic Eraser: Goodbye, photobombers!

It may not be the cleanest AI eraser out there, but it worked decently, allowing us to remove photobombers in busy tourist spots easily.

Pros - Great gaming performance for its price, 120Hz screen and shoulder triggers are a gamer’s dream, lightweight build is ideal for long play sessions, solid battery efficiency for extended gameplay, stereo speakers for immersive sound, reliable camera performance for casual use, smooth 1080p video playback

Cons - Back panel is plastic, not that premium, no headphone jack, slight heat buildup in heavier titles like Genshin Impact

nubia Neo 3 GT 5G Specs

Display: 6.8-inch OLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 2392 x 1080 resolution resolution at 386 ppi

CPU: 2.2GHz 6nm UNISOC T9100 octa-core processor 

GPU: Mali-G57 MC4

RAM: 12GB

ROM: 256GB

Back Camera: 50MP f/1.8 w/ PDAF + 2MP f/2.4 depth + LED flash

Selfie Camera: 16MP

Battery: 6,000mAh w/ 80W Fast Charging, Bypass Charging

OS: Android 15

Connectivity: WiFi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE, Bluetooth, OTG, NFC, GPS, dual SIM

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic

Others: In-Display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers, DTS:X Ultra, 2x shoulder triggers, z-axis linear motor, 4,083mm² Multi-Layer Heat Dissipation System, USB-C, Colors: Electro Yellow, Interstellar Gray

Price: PHP 12,999

Verdict

Overall, at PHP 12,999, the nubia Neo 3 GT 5G could be considered a steal.

It looks good, plays great, and has the battery to keep up. Whether you’re a casual or a competitive gamer looking for a phone that performs well without hitting high prices, this one checks a lot of boxes.

It’s rare to find a device that delivers smooth gameplay, long battery life, and cool features like the responsive light strip and shoulder triggers—all without breaking the bank.

So far, we’re genuinely impressed.

Build/Design - 4

Multimedia Experience - 4.5

Cameras - 4

Performance - 4.25

Average - 4.2/5