Technologies

These Phones Have Gamer-Chic Looks, Touch Triggers and Cost Less Than the iPhone 17E

ZTE’s Nubia Neo 5 series of gaming phones has everything a die-hard mobile gamer could want: A big battery, fans and capacitive buttons for gaming.

ZTE has a trio of new phones that will make gamers happy, which it revealed at MWC 2026. The Nubia Neo 5 series takes some of the coolest features from the premium RedMagic 11 Pro (launched back in November) and packs them into budget phones — though they won’t be coming to the US any time soon.

Gaming phones are aimed at people who want the best performance, graphics and battery life from their handheld. These phones, aimed at mobile gamers, have always been niche devices, but many, like the RedMagic series and ASUS’ ROG devices, have been pricey, high-end handsets with elite features. ZTE’s Neo 5 phones are an attempt to introduce some of those cool perks at low enough costs to undercut or rival devices like the iPhone 17E or Google Pixel 10A. And as the RAM shortage could cause phone prices to rise this year (as we’ve already seen with the Galaxy S26 phones), consumers might look for cheaper options like the Neo 5 series.

The cream of ZTE’s budget crop is the Neo 5 GT. Priced at 450 euros (roughly $430), it inherits most of the RedMagic 11 Pro’s features. The most prominent is an internal cooling fan that, combined with the Neo 5 series’ heat-absorbing layer, cools the phone’s internals by 4 degrees Celsius, ZTE estimates. Fan ports are visible on either side of the phone near the volume and lock buttons, so it’s safe to say the phone should be kept away from dust and water (ZTE hasn’t released IP ratings for the Neo 5 GT).

The GT has a «gamer chic» look with LED lights. It has a 6,120-mAh battery and 80-watt charging and a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate; features more common in handsets twice the price. The phone also packs capacitive touch shoulder buttons with latency below 5.5 milliseconds.

The Nubia Neo 5 is the baseline model, which will retail for about 300 euros (roughly $350), with capacitive shoulder buttons and a cooling layer that ZTE estimates reduces internal temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius.

The step-up Neo 5 Max lives up to its name. For about 350 euros (roughly $415), it has a 7.5-inch display — nearly as big as the 8-inch inner screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — and a battery with over 7,000 mAh.

With features that make them competitive with pricier phones, such as the Google Pixel 10A, the Neo 5 phones will appeal to anyone, especially mobile gamers. The Neo 5 and Neo 5 GT are expected to start selling in Europe in April, then later in parts of Latin America. The Neo 5 Max will reach the same regions around July, ZTE said. It’s unclear if or when they’ll be sold in the US.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im