Nubia's Z9 Smartphone Features A 5.2-Inch Display Without Side Bezels

Smartphones like Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge are pushing the boundaries of the touchscreen as close as possible to the side edges of the phone to give it a more seamless feel to the entire experience. However, other companies like Nubia are catching up, as evidenced by the appearance of the new Nubia Z9, a high-end smartphone from the Chinese-based company.

The Z9 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop and uses a Snapdragon 810 Processor. It has a 16 megapixel camera with optical image stabilization technology, and a 2900 mAh rechargeable battery. The base model features 3 GB of memory and 32 GB of storage. The screen itself measures at 5.2 inches with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. However, it's unique in that it features no side bezels for the display.

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The unique display also serves an interactive purpose. Nubia has something that it calls Frame interactive Technology (FiT), which allows users to use their fingers on the edge of the display to access certain features of the phone. For example, you can activate the camera by turning the phone on its side and putting four fingers on one edge of the screen. Another one is easily switching between apps by swiping up on the edge of the screen, or using the same swiping motion to zoom out on a map. There's a lot of potential in using the edge of the screen as the main control as opposed to the rest of the display, so it's up to Nubia and app developers to make programs that not only work with regular smartphone touchscreens, but also take advantage of new controls like FiT.

The Nubia Z9 is expected to come to the U.S. in Q3 2015 in two color options: black and gold. Users will also be able to purchase three models. The Classic version will cost $564, featuring 3 GB of memory and 32 GB of storage. For $645 you can get the Elite model, which has 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage. The high-end Z9 is called the Exclusive, and it features the same memory and storage capacities as the Elite model, but it also includes fingerprint sensor technology. The addition of the fingerprint feature will set you back a whopping $725.

There's no word yet on which carriers will add the Nubia Z9 to its list, but that should become more apparent as it gets closer to the release window. Nevertheless, the Nubia Z9 looks very stylish and sleek with its display. The smartphone has become more of a fashion accessory in the last few years, and the new Nubia Z9 will certainly have the attention of a few customers.

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