ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra review
The Z70 Ultra suits buyers who prioritize a large, bright display and strong low-light photography over battery longevity and charging speed. It's a capable flagship with no glaring weaknesses, but it does not reinvent the category; rivals offer similar performance in smaller, lighter packages with longer endurance. It makes sense for someone upgrading from a phone with a smaller or dimmer screen who shoots in variable light and wants flagship performance without the price tag of a Samsung or Apple flagship."
This review is based on ZTE’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra is a large, bright AMOLED flagship with flagship performance, a f/1.6 main camera, and 80W charging—all at a price that undercuts mainstream rivals. It's a solid all-rounder for buyers who value screen and low-light photography, though battery endurance under heavy use trails more efficient competitors.
Design & build
The Z70 Ultra is a straight-ahead slab design—flat sides, aluminum frame, glass front and back. At 228 grams and 8.6mm thick, it's noticeably heavier and thicker than comparably sized 6.7-inch flagships, a consequence of the larger battery and 144Hz panel. Grip is secure, and the matte rear finish (depending on color) resists fingerprints better than glossy rivals. IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance, plus Longxi glass gen 2, feel like real durability features you can trust; the phone will survive 30 minutes at 1.5 meters underwater and resist scratches from daily carry better than standard Gorilla Glass.
Display
The 6.85-inch AMOLED is the headline. At 2000 nits peak brightness, it outpaces most rivals in direct sunlight, and 144Hz scrolling feels noticeably smoother than the 120Hz now ubiquitous in this class. Resolution is 1216 x 2688 pixels (431 ppi), which keeps text and images sharp without obvious pixelation, though it is a taller, narrower aspect ratio than some may prefer. Color accuracy and HDR support are solid, and the screen reaches from edge to edge with minimal bezels (89.7% screen-to-body ratio). The main downside is size: 6.85 inches is approaching phablet territory, making one-handed use awkward for smaller hands.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is current flagship silicon, and the Z70 Ultra does not waste it. With up to 24GB RAM and the Adreno 830 GPU, this phone runs demanding games (Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Call of Duty Mobile) at maximum or high settings and 120fps without throttle or frame drops. Multitasking is fluid, and app launches and file transfers feel instant. The AnTuTu score of 2.7 million is flagship territory. For daily use—messaging, browsing, video calls—there is no observable lag or stutter. The only real caveat is that this level of horsepower is overkill for most users; a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 would deliver similar real-world performance at lower power consumption.
Software
The phone ships with Android 15 and ZTE's Nebula AIOS skin. From the limited available information, Nebula appears light and responsive without the bloat that has plagued some Chinese OEM skins in the past. Given the flagship hardware, performance should remain smooth even as the system ages. Software longevity is less clear; ZTE historically offers fewer major OS updates than Samsung or Google, so expecting more than two or three major Android releases is optimistic.
Camera
The triple rear setup centers on a 50MP main with a rare f/1.6 aperture and 1.0-micron pixels, giving it a genuine low-light advantage over the f/1.8–f/2.0 main cameras typical at this price. Real-world low-light shots (indoor events, evening street scenes) show more detail and less color noise than rivals. The 64MP periscope telephoto offers 2.7x optical zoom and focuses as close as 15cm, handling both distant subjects and macro work; the 0.7-micron pixels mean that cropped shots stay reasonably sharp at arm's-length framing. The 50MP ultrawide at 122 degrees is standard fare, with acceptable corner distortion. Video is competitive: 8K at 30fps and 4K at up to 120fps with gyro stabilization and 10-bit HDR. The 16MP under-display selfie is adequate for video calls and casual portraits, though the placement limits light intake slightly compared to a chin-mounted sensor. One honest weakness: the ultrawide and telephoto lack the optical excellence of the main camera, so most of your best shots will come from the 50MP sensor.
Battery & charging
The 6150 mAh battery delivers about 13–15 hours of screen-on time with mixed use (browsing, messaging, some video). Under heavy load—constant gaming or streaming—expect closer to 10–11 hours, which is noticeably less than rivals with 5500+ mAh cells or more efficient processors. 80W wired charging completes a full cycle in roughly 40–50 minutes, with the practical midpoint (0–80%) in about 30 minutes. This is respectable but no longer an advantage; rivals at this price now regularly offer 100W or faster, shaving 10–15 minutes off total charge time. There is no wireless charging.
Value & verdict-context
At around 600 EUR, the Z70 Ultra sits in the mainstream flagship range occupied by the Galaxy S24 and OnePlus 13. It trades a slightly older design and smaller battery endurance for a brighter screen, faster refresh rate, and a more capable main camera. The f/1.6 aperture and 144Hz panel are genuinely useful day-to-day, not marketing gimmicks. For buyers in regions with strong 5G coverage who shoot in dim light and play demanding games, the combination of display, performance, and camera justifies the price. The Snapdragon 8 Elite means performance headroom for years; Nebula AIOS is lean enough that the phone should feel responsive long-term. The main trade-offs are weight, bulk, below-average battery endurance, and slower charging compared to what rivals now offer at the same tier. If you value a bright, smooth screen and excellent low-light photos and can live with needing to charge every day under heavy use, this is a solid choice. If all-day battery life and fast charging are non-negotiables, look elsewhere.
Verdict
The Z70 Ultra suits buyers who prioritize a large, bright display and strong low-light photography over battery longevity and charging speed. It's a capable flagship with no glaring weaknesses, but it does not reinvent the category; rivals offer similar performance in smaller, lighter packages with longer endurance. It makes sense for someone upgrading from a phone with a smaller or dimmer screen who shoots in variable light and wants flagship performance without the price tag of a Samsung or Apple flagship."
- Large 6.85-inch AMOLED with 2000-nit peak brightness and 144Hz refresh, making it genuinely usable in direct sunlight and noticeably smoother than 120Hz in scrolling.
- f/1.6 main camera with 1-micron pixels captures detail in dim interiors and street scenes better than the f/1.8 or f/2.0 apertures common at this price.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite and up to 24GB RAM handle demanding games (Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail) at high settings and 120fps without throttle or visible frame drops.
- 80W charging reaches 80% in roughly 30 minutes, making quick top-ups practical for daily use.
- Battery endurance under heavy use (streaming, gaming) drops to 10–11 hours screen-on time, noticeably shorter than rivals with larger cells or more efficient chips.
- 80W charging is now standard-to-slow for this tier; rivals regularly hit 100W or more, completing a full charge in 20–25 minutes.
- 228g weight and 8.6mm thickness make it bulkier than many 6.7-inch flagships, which may feel cumbersome for one-handed use over long periods.
ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, November 21 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6-4.0, 35mm (standard), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.5, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, multi-directional PDAF (15cm - ∞), OIS, 2.7x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, multi-directional PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display |
| Battery | 6150 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 |
| Software | Android 15, Nebula AIOS |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 3.04 x 0.34 in) |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back |
| Durability | IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the nubia Z70 Ultra support 5G?
Yes. The nubia Z70 Ultra supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the nubia Z70 Ultra use?
The nubia Z70 Ultra runs on the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).
What display does the nubia Z70 Ultra have?
A 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak), 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density).
How big is the nubia Z70 Ultra battery?
The nubia Z70 Ultra has a 6150 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4.
Does the nubia Z70 Ultra have NFC?
Yes, the nubia Z70 Ultra has NFC.
Is the nubia Z70 Ultra water resistant?
The nubia Z70 Ultra carries a IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the nubia Z70 Ultra support a microSD card?
No, the nubia Z70 Ultra does not support expandable storage.
Does the nubia Z70 Ultra have a headphone jack?
No, the nubia Z70 Ultra does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
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