MWC

ZTE bets on Gen Z gaming culture to drive global smartphone growth

16 March 2026
1 minute
At Mobile World Congress, ZTE's nubia outlined how it is targeting younger users in emerging markets with a gaming-first smartphone strategy.

Bai Keke, VP of ZTE, explained how the brand is positioning gaming as a cultural entry point to connect with Gen Z audiences, helping the nubia Neo series deliver 300% revenue growth in 2025 across markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America. By combining esports heritage, accessible “champion-level” gaming hardware like the nubia Neo 5 GT, and AI-powered features including a gaming copilot, the company is aiming to differentiate in a crowded handset market while building a global ecosystem around youth gaming culture.

ITW Asia 2026

02 December 2026

ITW Asia brings together the whole connectivity and digital infrastructure industry to get business done. Join 1700+ leaders from carriers, MNOs, cloud solution providers, hyperscalers, content service providers, data centres, satellite operators, investors, regulatory authorities and more, to define the future of connectivity in Asia.