Cubot Max 5

R6,000
SKU: 3467
Brand: Cubot
Category: Mobiles
Add to Compare

Available

CPU: Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB
Display: IPS LCD, 144Hz
Camera: 100MP
OS: Android 14

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

7.8

Display 8 / 10
Camera 7 / 10
Performance 8 / 10
Battery 8 / 10

PROS

IPS LCD, 144Hz
5100 mAh battery

CONS

No 3.5mm jack

The Cubot Max 5 positions itself as an absolute disruptor in the budget-to-mid-range market, offering high-end gaming and performance specifications for a starting price of around ZAR 6,000. However, due to its specialized nature, navigating where to actually buy it in South Africa requires looking at specific tech channels.

Distribution & Retail Reality in South Africa

While a price tag of ZAR 6,000 makes it incredibly competitive, Cubot is a niche, specialist brand locally.

Because it targets mobile gamers and performance enthusiasts rather than the mainstream mass market, it is not stocked at mainstream cellular networks, clothing retailers, or value supermarkets like PEP, Ackermans, Mr Price, Foschini, Cellucity, 4U, Chatz, MTN, Hi Online, HiFi Corp, Makro, or Game. Instead, you can reliably find it through major local online marketplaces and specialized tech importers:

Primary Retail Channels: Takealot and Bob Shop.
Specialist Tech Outlets: Specialized independent online mobile distributors and import hubs (like 4Months).

Performance Features: What the Cubot Max 5 Delivers

Instead of looking at a dense specifications table, here is a breakdown of what makes this device a dedicated performance powerhouse for ZAR 6,000:

Massive 144Hz Gaming Screen: It features a massive 6.95-inch FHD+ display with a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate. This matches premium gaming monitors, making scrolling and high-frame-rate mobile gaming incredibly fluid.
Flagship-Adjacent Processing: Powered by the 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor, it provides performance that rivals much more expensive chips, handling heavy 3D games and demanding applications effortlessly.
Massive Memory & Storage: It comes packed with a generous 256GB of internal storage alongside 12GB of physical RAM (which can be virtually extended up to 24GB), ensuring seamless background multi-tasking.
100MP Ultra-Clear Camera: The rear camera setup is led by a high-resolution 100MP main sensor paired with a 5MP macro lens for crisp daylight photography, complemented by a sharp 32MP front selfie camera.
Large Battery & LiquidCool Tech: To sustain heavy workloads and long gaming sessions, it runs on a 5,100mAh battery supporting 33W fast charging, kept stable by built-in liquid cooling technology to prevent overheating.

Full Specifications

General

Brand	Cubot
Model	Cubot Max 5
Announced	03 July, 2024
Released	22 July, 2024
Status	Available
Price	ZAR 6,000

Design

Type Design Type called form factor refers to a mobile phone's size, shape, and style as well as the layout and position of major components of phone. There are three major form factors seen in mobile phones => bar phones, folding phones and sliding phones.	Bar
Dimensions	173.9 x 78.9 x 9.2 mm (6.85 x 3.11 x 0.36 in)
Weight	223 g (7.87 oz)
Colors	Tech Black, Pearl White

Network

2G Network
3G Network
4G Network
5G Network
SIM SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a small card that contains mobile network subscriber's account information. This allows the phone using the card to attach to a mobile network. The SIM card is most commonly associated with GSM and UMTS mobile networks. Moving a SIM card from one phone to another allows a subscriber to switch mobile phones without having to contact their mobile network carrier. SIM cards can also be used by a phone to store limited amounts of data, such as phone numbers and text messages.	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Display

Display Type Display Technology => A number of display technologies and types used in mobile phones => TFT (Thin Film Transistor), IPS (In-Place Switching), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED (an even advanced version of AMOLED), Resistive Touchscreen (Resistive touchscreens contain two layer of conductive material with a very small gap between them which acts as a resistance), Capacitive Touchsceen (Capacitive touchscreen technology consists of a layer of glass coated with a transparent conductor)	IPS LCD, 144Hz
Size	6.95 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution	1080 x 2460 pixels (~387 ppi density)

Media

Audio Playback
Video Playback
FM Radio	Yes
Ring Tones
Loudspeaker

Camera

Main Camera Camera is able to capture photographs and usually videos, The most important characteristics of a camera are the resolution (measured in megapixels), lens focus type (fixed or automatic), higher megapixel cameras are known to capture higher quality photos, but not always a good measurement of the photos quality.	100 MP, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, (macro)
Video	1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera	32 MP, AF
Video	1080p@30fps

Software

Android 14

Hardware

Chipset Chipset is a group of integrated circuits designed to perform one or a more dedicated functions, often with real time computing constraints, Popular smartphones are equipped with more advanced embedded chipsets that can do many different tasks depending on their programming.	Mediatek Dimensity 8200 (4 nm)
CPU CPU (Central Processing Unit) mostly known as processors, CPU processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly. Processors are often described as the brain of computers, smartphones and tablets, Smartphones and tablets rely on processors to carry out their every task, Processors are an incredibly important factor in selecting any type of computing device, including your smartphone.	Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a single-chip processor designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display, This includes things such as lighting effects, object transformations, and 3D motion.	Mali-G610 MC6
RAM (Memory) RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computer systems, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices.	12GB
Internal Storage Internal Storage is a data storage space (flash memory) mostly used in smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices where operating system, apps, music, photos, videos, files and other user data Is stored.	512GB
Card Slot Memory Card Slot is a special slot for inserting a memory card. Memory cards allow you to expand the phone's built-in memory, A memory card (sometimes called a flash memory card or a storage card) is a small storage medium used to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and video, for use on small, portable or remote computing devices such as mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras.	No
Sensors Sensors are electronic components that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input could be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure and location, The output is generally a signal that is converted to use in computing systems, a location sensor, such as a GPS receiver is able to detect current location of your electronic device.	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Connectivity

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a wireless communications technology for exchanging data between mobile phones, headsets, computers and other network devices over short distances without wires, Bluetooth technology was primarily designed to support simple wireless networking of personal consumer devices.	5.3, A2DP, LE
Wi-fi Wi-Fi is a popular wireless networking technology using radio waves to provide high-speed network connections that allows devices to communicate without cords or cables, Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming the preferred mode of internet connectivity all over the world.	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Wi-fi Hotspot
USB	USB Type-C, OTG, DisplayPort
Positioning GPS The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based radio navigation system, GPS permits users to determine their position, velocity and the time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world, In order to locate your position, your device or GPS receiver must have a clear view of the sky.	Unspecified
NFC NFC (Near field communication) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish peer-to-peer radio communications with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity, usually no more than a few inches.

Battery

Battery Type Battery Type => Cell phones run on various kinds of batteries depending on the manufacturer, phone size or shape and features. There are basically four types of cell phone batteries => Lithium Polymer, Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium.	5100 mAh, non-removable
Charging Wireless Charging (Inductive Charging) uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device, which can then use that energy to charge batteries or run the device.	33W wired

Reviews

Be the first to add a Review

Please post a user review only if you have / had this product.
Your Name *
Your Email *
Review Title *
Review Text *
Rate this Product
Display: Screen size, image quality (brightness, colors, contrast, etc), visibility in sun light, angles of view and touchscreen.

6
Camera: Usability of Camera interface, image and video quality in different light conditions and environment.

5
Performance: Is this device perform good while watching videos, playing games, taking snapshots, browsing internet and navigate through other applications?

5
Battery: What about battery life, while calling, listening music, watching videos, playing games and doing other tasks.

6
Average Rating 6 / 10 based on your selection