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Take long-exposure photos with the Nubia Z9 Max (hands-on)

ZTE subsidiary Nubia demoed its Z9 Max smartphone, a sleek high-end handset that can take long-exposure photos with its 16-megapixel camera.

Lynn La Senior Editor / Reviews - Phones
Lynn La covers mobile reviews and news. She previously wrote for The Sacramento Bee, Macworld and The Global Post.
Lynn La
2 min read

BARCELONA -- At MWC 2015, Nubia, a subsidiary of Chinese-based mobile manufacturer ZTE, quietly showcased its newest high-end handset, the Z9 Max.

Packed with photo editing features, the device has several tools for its 16-megapixel rear-camera. In addition to meters for adjusting white balance, ISO levels and exposure, it has many shooting modes that take advantage of the camera's long-exposure feature.

Different settings include super night, light painting (where users can drag a light sources to create whimsical light effects) and star track. Star track requires users to set their Z9 Max on a tripod for 6 to 8 hours in order to capture the movement of stars.

Recording capabilities include shooting in 1,080p HD and 4K video.

With its metal-rimmed edges, unibody design, and curved corners, the handset looks a lot like the Apple iPhone 6 . Its rear back is also made out of glass, which gives it a glossy, premium feel. When I took a look up close, I thought it still appeared elegant and polished, despite the obvious iPhone similarities. However, it felt significantly heavier and denser in the hand.

A closer look at the polished Nubia Z9 Max (pictures)

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The phone will have both black and white variants, and it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with Nubia's 2.8 user interface skinned on top. Its 5.5-inch display looks ultra-sharp, and its insides are powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 810 processor.

Nubia has remained mum about the Z9 Max's specs, but its reps say more information will roll out after its release. Scheduled for the end of March, it will launch in China first and is estimated to cost about $450 (£293 or AU$574, conversion).

Read more of CNET's MWC 2015 coverage.