ZTE has launched a premium camera smartphone under the Nubia brand, distinguishing itself from other devices in the market. A key highlight is the primary camera module’s unique focal length of 35mm (equivalent), which features a variable aperture that ranges from F/1.59 to F/4. Another standout innovation is the “invisible” front camera, ingeniously placed beneath the display. Furthermore, the Nubia Z70 Ultra is equipped with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, high-speed LPDDR5X memory, and impressively narrow bezels. The device is priced starting at $635.
The Nubia brand is well-known for its unique take on smartphone design, especially in the field of advanced camera capabilities. The flagship Nubia Z70 Ultra exemplifies this commitment to innovation.
The primary module features a sophisticated Sony IMX906 sensor, which has an optical format matrix of 1/1.56 inches and a resolution of 50 MP. It is paired with optics that have a focal length of 35 mm, in contrast to the 24 mm wide-angle typically found in standard smartphones. Additionally, it boasts a variable aperture ranging from F/1.59 to F/4. This technical configuration is also present in the top-rated camera phone by DxOMark, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra.
The main optics of the main module include a glass lens, supplemented by six plastic (more common for smartphones) elements. The manufacturer demonstrated the schematic structure of all three modules of the new Nubia Z70 Ultra smartphone in the following image:
The remaining two modules of the Nubia Z70 Ultra are equipped with high-resolution sensors as well. One features the OmniVision OV50D sensor, which has a 50 MP resolution and an ultra-wide-angle lens with a focal length of 23 mm. This module includes autofocus capabilities and is suitable for macro photography.
Additionally, there is a periscope module that utilizes a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B sensor, which has a 1/2-inch optical format. This module offers a focal length of 85 mm, incorporates optical image stabilization (OIS), and has an aperture of F/2.48.
The manufacturer places significant emphasis on the exceptional photography quality achievable with this new smartphone.
For this reason, the Nubia Z70 Ultra received a two-stage shutter button:
ZTE asserts that this solution is being utilized “for the first time in history,” yet it is important to acknowledge the prior existence of Sony Xperia smartphones. The shutter button on the Nubia Z70 Ultra operates in a specific manner: a half-press initiates focus, while a full press activates the shutter.
Additionally, this could represent a superior technological advancement compared to the touch button found in the iPhone 16 series. However, definitive conclusions can only be drawn following comprehensive testing.
The latest product features a state-of-the-art display. Notably, the same panel is utilized in the world’s most powerful smartphone at the time of this announcement, the Red Magic 10 Pro.
The Nubia Z70 Ultra is equipped with an AMOLED display produced by BOE. A key highlight of this display is its seamless design, which eliminates any cutouts or notches for the front camera. This innovation stems from ZTE’s extensive research and development of under-screen selfie camera technology over the past several years.
The Nubia Z70 Ultra incorporates the seventh generation of this technology, promising enhanced image quality compared to earlier iterations, and features a 16-megapixel resolution. Additionally, this camera module is protected by second-generation Dragon Rhinoceros glass for added durability.
The smartphone display has a diagonal of 6.85 inches. The side frame is only 1.25 mm thick. Thus, the display occupies 95.3% of the front panel area. This is a very high figure for the useful screen area of a smartphone.
The hardware platform of the smartphone is powered by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The Nubia Z70 Ultra has undergone testing in various reputable benchmarks.
In AnTuTu, the device achieved a score of 2.7 million points, with the highest possible score being 3.1 million points. This indicates that the Nubia Z70 Ultra ranks among the most powerful smartphones currently available, based on benchmark evaluations.
Additionally, the Geekbench benchmark database has recorded the performance results of the flagship Nubia Z70 Ultra. It attained a score of 3203 in the single-core test and 10260 in the multi-core test.
The smartphone has a high-capacity battery – 6150 mAh with support for 80 W charging.
The Nubia Z70 Ultra features a robust IP68/69 water resistance rating. It is equipped with stereo speakers and includes a built-in NFC module. Additionally, it has an IR emitter for managing household devices and a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen1 port.
This latest flagship camera phone operates on the Nebula AIOS platform, which offers a range of AI capabilities, including voice control, an intelligent assistant, and AI translation. The device measures 8.6 mm in thickness and weighs 228 grams.
The delivery set is as follows:
The Nubia Z70 Ultra’s entry-level model, featuring 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, is priced at $635, which aligns with the cost of the base model of the Xiaomi 15 smartphone.
For those seeking more advanced options, the Nubia Z70 Ultra offers configurations priced at $690 for 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, and $775 for 16 GB of RAM with 1 TB of storage. Additionally, there is a variant available with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
This new device faces stiff competition in the market. Notably, the Huawei Mate 70 has garnered over 2 million pre-orders. Its primary camera features a 50 MP sensor with a 1/1.3-inch optical format and an adjustable aperture, similar to the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, which currently leads the DxOMark rankings. The telephoto lens is equipped with a 50 MP sensor (albeit smaller at 1/2.5 inches) and supports 3.5x optical zoom, although details about the wide-angle module remain undisclosed.
Another strong contender is the Honor Magic 7 Pro, which boasts a 200 MP sensor in its telephoto camera. This model is enhanced by Image Engine 3.0 algorithms, utilizing AI to refine color, contrast, and overall image quality.
The OnePlus 13 features three 50 MP Sony sensors across its camera modules. The main sensor is the latest generation Sony LYT-808, with an optical format of 1/1.4 inches and a pixel size of 1.12 µm. This larger sensor is expected to deliver superior performance in low-light conditions and likely offers an enhanced dynamic range.