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| The Nubia Z80 Ultra in its two global launch colours. |
BARCELONA — The tech world is descending upon the Fira de Barcelona next week for MWC 2026, and while giants like Honor are preparing to unveil their global flagships, Nubia is positioning itself as a brand with not just one headline act, but potentially two.
Scheduled to run from March 2 to March 6, MWC 2026 will see Nubia putting its recently launched flagship, the Z80 Ultra, on center stage. However, tucked within the company's latest announcements is a cryptic promise: an "unexpected surprise" is waiting for those who pay attention .
The Headliner: Nubia Z80 Ultra
For those unfamiliar with Nubia's current portfolio, the Z80 Ultra is a spec-heavy contender in the 2026 smartphone arena. Released internationally this past November, the device is a photographer's dream, built around a 35 mm primary camera—a focal length renowned in the photography world for its natural perspective that closely mimics the human eye .
Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, positioning it as a direct rival to heavyweights like the upcoming OnePlus 15 . But raw power is only half the story. Nubia has packed a massive 7,200 mAh battery into the chassis, ensuring that even power users can get through the longest days [cite：8].
The front of the device is equally impressive, featuring a 6.85-inch AMOLED display with a buttery-smooth 144 Hz refresh rate. Perhaps the most striking feature is the display's purity; it utilizes advanced under-panel camera (UPC) technology to hide the 16 MP front-facing camera completely, resulting in a true full-screen experience devoid of punch-holes or notches .
The "Unexpected Surprise" and the AI New Species
While the Z80 Ultra is a known quantity, Nubia is clearly banking on mystery to generate buzz in Barcelona. The company released a statement that has sent the rumor mill into overdrive:
"Nubia Z80 Ultra is the headline at MWC—but it's not the only thing happening. If you register as a user on the nubia international store now, you'll receive an unexpected surprise in March. The details haven't been revealed yet, and that's the point: it's not about chasing rumors—it's about securing your place before the announcement lands. Not a hard sell. A simple invitation: join early, stay informed, and be ready when the surprise arrives."
So, what could this surprise be? Speculation is rife that it might be a global coming-out party for devices that have remained regional. Currently, Nubia sells the Flip3 clamshell and the Nubia Fold (a book-style foldable) in Japan . Launching these devices globally would be a logical, and welcome, expansion of their foldable lineup.
However, more recent rumors point toward something far more innovative: an "AI new species." Nubia has officially teased a device that it claims could "redefine the mobile phone," and it is expected to be a centerpiece of their MWC showcase .
Industry insiders and tech commentators are buzzing with the theory that this "new species" is the second-generation "Doubao" phone, a device born from the deep integration of Nubia's hardware and ByteDance's AI assistants .
This speculation is grounded in recent history. In December 2025, Nubia and ByteDance launched a pilot device, the nubia M153 (Doubao Phone) . That device was revolutionary because it integrated the Doubao AI assistant directly into the system's底层 (bottom layer), allowing users to perform complex cross-app tasks—like ordering food or posting on social media—simply by using voice commands .
While that initial engineering sample sold out fast despite its $3,499 price tag, it came with restrictions on finance and gaming apps due to security and privacy concerns. Nubia President Ni Fei hinted that solving these challenges and pushing the boundaries of AI hardware is exactly where the industry is heading .
"The mobile phone market hasn't seen disruptive innovation for a long time," Ni Fei has stated previously. In the era of AI, he argues that "openness is the only way out for the industry," comparing Nubia's partnership with ByteDance to Apple's integration of ChatGPT and Samsung's collaboration with Gemini .
Looking Ahead to Barcelona
Whether the "surprise" is the global launch of the Nubia Fold, the reveal of the next-generation Doubao AI phone, or something else entirely, one thing is clear: Nubia is intent on making a splash at MWC 2026.
For those who want to ensure they are among the first to know, the company is directing users to its official store. You can register as a user on the ** [Nubia international store here]** to secure your place and be ready for the March announcement.
In the meantime, the battle for flagship supremacy continues. If you're comparing specs, the Z80 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset puts it in direct competition with devices like the OnePlus 15 (view current pricing on [Amazon] ） , making the premium segment more competitive than ever.
We'll be on the ground in Barcelona to bring you the latest as soon as the announcements are made. Stay tuned.