Every time we publish a review of a nubia device it is definitely a gaming phone. This time is different, because we has had the opportunity to test the nubia Z60 Ultra which is their flagship photography device. Unlike competitors that use cameras with 1-inch sensors, the Z60 Ultra uses a 50MP main sensor that is two years old. Even so, for a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship device it is quite interesting and in this article we answer whether it is worth buying a nubia phone?
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
Screen 6.8″ AMOLED, FHD+, 2480x 1116,
120 Hz
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (4nm)
1x 3.3 GHz Cortex-X4
3x 3.2 GHz Cortex-A720
2x 3.0 GHz Cortex-A720
2x 2.3 GHz Cortex-A520
Adreno 750 Graphics Chip
RAM 16 GB LPDDR5X
12 GB Virtual
512 GB UFS 4.0 storage
Primary Camera 50MP IMX800, f/1.59, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP, f/1.8, OIS (Ultra Wide Angle)
64MP, f/3.3, OIS (Telephoto)
12MP Front Camera, under-screen sensor (UDC)
6000mAh battery
80W USB-PD
5G Dual-SIM Sim/Telephony
Stereo Speaker Audio
Snapdragon Sound
WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth WiFi 7, Yes, Bluetooth 5.4
Infrared Yes
Waterproof IP68
Under Screen Fingerprint Scanning System
Black Sale Price
RM3,599 (16/512 GB)
Based on the specifications, the nubia Z60 Ultra is an almost perfect flagship device. It has a full frameless screen, is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, uses a 50MP camera, has IP68 protection and a giant 6000mAh battery that supports fast charging. This device is also trying to become the flagship photography device of 2024 by offering interesting portrait photography features.
The design of this device is similar to the RedMagic 9 Pro which uses a boxy body with each flat side. The button is only on the left side, the design looks minimalistic but the big camera bump is included. A rectangular glass plate is on the top back of the device housing all three sensors and the LED Flash. Each power button and volume button are nice to press and even more interestingly there is a sliding switch included which can be set to launch various applications.
The large size device with the sharp edges of this boxy design is also difficult to handle with one hand. I often have to change the position in my hand to touch the screen like scrolling and so on. Thankfully the finish of the device is not so slippery which reduces the risk of the device falling.
SCREEN
The 6.8-inch AMOLED FHD+ screen on this device looks great. No notch, no forehead and no hole because the use of very thin bezels gives the illusion of a full frame device. This is made possible by the use of a selfie camera under the screen. The screen also supports a 120Hz refresh rate but since it's not the LTPO type, it depends on the software algorithm. Thankfully MyOS 14 is smart in handling the screen of this device smoothly and quickly.
The absence of HDR10+ or Dolby Vision standards is disappointing as the nubia Z60 Ultra relies on the device's built-in AI features. This makes the experience of watching videos on Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video less exciting. The color and brightness are good, but I can feel the difference in the color profile compared to other flagship devices.
BIOMETRIC
The biometric system of this device is very good even though it uses an optical sensor for finger scanning, dirty fingers and in the dark the device has no problem scanning and unlocking quickly. Face scanning using AI is also fast and accurate.
USAGE – MATURE MYOS 14
Whenever I test a ZTE or nubia device I'm sure to be disappointed with MyOS. The MyOS 14 used on the nubia Z60 Ultra is based on Android 14. Although not perfect, it is mature and has many good changes that provide a satisfying user experience. After weeks of using the device, I found MyOS 14 to be very comfortable and packed with useful features. Most importantly, there are no more terms that seem to be translated directly from a foreign language to English.
The following are among the interesting features offered on MyOS 14;
Extended RAM- Adds virtual RAM up to 12GB.
Charge Seperation – Can be used while charging without affecting battery health.
Sliding – A sliding button that can be assigned to various applications and systems.
SyncMind -Productivity features like smart sidebars and floating windows for multi-tasking.
Display Gaussion Blur – Can slightly blur the interface for floating windows.
Tiny Screen – is a feature that controls the under-screen camera hidden under the second OLED panel.
Using the nubia Z60 Ultra as a daily device gives an experience as if using any flagship device with approximately the same specifications. It is fun and feels very comfortable because every use experience does not cause any problems. If you have used a RedMagic device, this nubia Z60 Ultra is a simplified and lighter version.
I'm also excited about nubia not putting any ads on their devices even though the device brands are not the most popular or best selling. My one gripe with this device is the inconsistent update support. nubia only promises regular updates for three years and does not explain how many Android versions and how long security patch updates will be provided.
PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKS
So far all the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices I've used have provided a satisfying user experience even if the benchmark scores aren't the highest. For the benchmark test of this device I will compare it with the iQOO 12 which is the cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 device in Malaysia and the OnePlus 12 which are both powered by the same chip.
Antutu 3D
nubia Z60 Ultra – 1,970,774
OnePlus 12 – 1,579,634
iQOO 12 – 2,075,821
Xiaomi 14 – 1,773,520
Geekbench 6
nubia Z60 Ultra – 2211/6768
OnePlus 12 – 967/5020
iQOO 12 – 2181/6631
Xiaomi 14 – 1741/6313
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
nubia Z60 Ultra – 5173/30.98 FPS
OnePlus 12 – 4632/27.74 FPS
iQOO 12 – 5045/30.22 FPS
Xiaomi 14 – 4499/26.94 FPS
3DMark Solar Bay
nubia Z60 Ultra – 8665/32.95 FPS
OnePlus 12 – 8452/32.14 FPS
iQOO 12 – 8528/32.43FPS
Xiaomi 14 – 7722/29.36 FPS
3DMark Steel Nomad Light
nubia Z60 Ultra – 1724/12.77 FPS
First play on this device is also amazing. Marvel SNAP is fast and smooth, PUBG Mobile also makes me complacent and Asphalt 9 makes me forget to eat. nubia is still trying to give users of this device an experience as if using RedMagic. Although the device heats up slowly, when it starts to heat up it is difficult for me to hold the device and the system also lags. This is probably because there is no corresponding fan on the RedMagic included.
CAMERA
What makes using this device feel far behind compared to other flagship devices this year is the quality of the camera. The 50+50+64 Megapixel camera that is used is not from the latest sensor, the algorithm also seems to be immature and the most heartbreaking is the selfie camera that still has 3GP quality.
Ultra wide angle does not have good focus, but preserves interesting details.
Night zoom also works as a macro.
Dark mode looks good but it's hard to preserve details and stability.
Portrait mode is only good with 2x zoom, even then the subject can't move.
Close proximity to the easiest food to get the best results.
Auto mode in the morning has a high dynamic value.
1x auto mode for many people also has good quality, just colors are a bit sharp.
Selfies are the most unacceptable, imagine this is the quality of a RM3599 phone camera.
VIDEOS
Video recording on the device is not very stable and interesting. Colors are also inconsistent but it has a fast focus system. I still find it strange why video recording on the iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel are still among the best and other devices can't keep up with what these three brands have to offer.
AUDIO
The stereo speakers on the device use the Snapdragon Sound system and also DTS Sound. Balanced sound can be produced but unfortunately the sound level is not very consistent with the level below 50% being very slow and really loud only starting from 70% and above. The audio quality also feels empty, there is no bass and does not provide an immersive experience. However, Hi-Res and lossless audio features are provided by using accessories via the USB-C connection.
BATTERY AND CHARGING
Phew!. The battery of this device is terrible. 6000mAh with 80W charging is the best match and almost perfect. The battery can last around 10 hours SOT for light use and 8 hours SOT for heavy use such as camera, audio and preamp. The charging period is only around 30 minutes and if you want to play while charging there is no problem because there is a Charge Separation feature.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
nubia is also one of the leading device manufacturers that still provides a complete set with every purchase. Here's what's in the box;
1x nubia Z60 Ultra.
1x Transparent plastic protective frame.
1x USB-C to USB-C Cable.
1x GaN USB-C 80W Charger.
1x Guidebook and safety.
CONCLUSION
The nubia Z60 Ultra is ZTE's good attempt at offering an affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship device. It's just that the camera isn't consistent, the screen doesn't support the display standards that other flagship devices offer and the three year old update makes it hard for me to recommend this device to the public. For the 16GB + 512GB variant selling at RM3599 it is very competitive but I would suggest people to skip this device first and wait for the next model hoping it will be better.
PRO
Attractive and bold design.
Beautiful bezel-less screen.
Amazing fast performance.
Very long lasting battery.
Using the camera under the screen.
There is IP68 protection.
The main camera is getting better.
CONS
The screen does not support HDR10+ or Dolby Vision.
The device will heat up after more than 1 hour of initial play.
No wireless charging.
12MP underscreen camera with 3GP quality.
Portrait mode on the main camera has inconsistent quality.