ZTE launches new special edition gaming smartphone with a built-in cooling fan

Earlier this year, ZTE showcased the Neo 5 GT smartphone at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. Now, the Chinese gaming smartphone manufacturer has launched the new Neo 5 GT Special Edition globally. The main difference between the Neo 5 GT standard model and the Neo 5 GT Special Edition is the AquaCore dual-active cooling system that combines liquid cooling and air cooling in a dual-active thermal architecture. In contrast, the standard model relies more on a standard thermal architecture and a built-in fan. 

The company is said to use AI server-grade coolant for the liquid cooling system. Under the hood, the device is powered by a 4 nm-based MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB of internal storage. Software-wise, it runs Android 16-based MyOS 16 out of the box, and the company promises five years of software updates for the smartphone. However, the brand hasn’t clarified exactly how many years of major Android OS upgrades the device will receive.

The rest of the specifications remain the same as the standard model. The gaming smartphone has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display that outputs at 1.5K (2720 x 1224 pixel) resolution with a 144 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. As for lenses, you get a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 50 MP primary camera and a 2 MP unknown sensor just to fill the gap. There’s a 16 MP snapper at the front for selfies and video chats. 

Furthermore, it packs a 6,210 mAh battery with support for 80 W wired charging (Anker 100 W 3-port GaN charger curr. at $59.99 on Amazon). Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging support. Other features include an RGB fan, AI Copilot Demi 2.0, dedicated 550 Hz Neo triggers 5.0, dual stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra, and an in-display fingerprint sensor. 

Available in surge black and glacial silver, the Nubia Neo 5 GT Special Edition is said to roll out globally this July, starting in Southeast Asia. However, there’s no word on its pricing and availability at the time of writing.