
Nubia Z70 Ultra review - The hottest option among affordable flagship phones
Hot, hotter, Z70 Ultra.
Just a few months after launching Z60 series flagships, Nubia presents its new flagship phone, the Z70 Ultra, which has more to offer than just an upgrade to Qualcomm's current top-of-the-line SoC. Among other things, the battery and IP certification have been improved. However, some problems known from the predecessor remain.Daniel Schmidt, 👁 Daniel Schmidt, ✓ Sebastian Weber (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Verdict - Good, affordable, but with weaknesses
The Nubia Z70 Ultra is a good overall package, with its 35 mm main camera being a rather appealing and unique selling point. The camera setup tends to produce good photos. Thanks to the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the smartphone's performance is excellent, even if AI benchmark results are somewhat underwhelming.
A powerful battery and a stutter-free display free of any distracting notches or punch-holes are two more reasons why we are coming away impressed. However, the downside of having said display is that the under-display front camera falls short of expectations. Those who can overlook that will get fast wireless modules, an IR blaster, and fast charging at up to 80 watts among other benefits.
In our testing, the Z70 Ultra proved to be a very hot phone - literally. The phone's case can get quite hot. While this is rarely, if ever, an issue during everyday use, the smartphone can become noticeably warm during gaming sessions. Nubia's non-existent update policy is a real annoyance, to name another drawback.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
In Germany, the Z70 Ultra is available for purchase directly from Nubia or through Amazon.
Possible alternatives compared
Image | Model / Review | Price | Weight | Drive | Display |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nubia Z70 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: 1. $9.99 NOUKAJU Screen Protector for... 2. $11.99 NOUKAJU Screen Protector for... 3. $10.99 MOOISVS [2 Pack for ZTE nubi... List Price: 869€ | 228 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.85" 2688x1216 431 PPI AMOLED | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 830 ⎘ 24 GB Memory, 1024 GB | Amazon: 1. $10.99 QWFORQW [2+2 Pack for Asus R... 2. $1,179.99 Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Unlo... 3. $13.99 Guizzcg 2 Pack Screen Protec... List Price: 1499€ | 227 g | 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.78" 2400x1080 388 PPI AMOLED | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro Google Tensor G4 ⎘ ARM Mali-G715 MP7 ⎘ 16 GB Memory, 128 GB | Amazon: 1. $984.60 Google Pixel 9 Pro - Unlocke... 2. $1,779.00 Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold - Un... 3. $678.75 Google Pixel 9 - Unlocked An... | 199 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.30" 2856x1280 495 PPI OLED | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ Samsung Exynos 2400 ⎘ Samsung Xclipse 940 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | Amazon: $849.12 List Price: 1149€ | 196 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.70" 3120x1440 513 PPI AMOLED | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ⎘ Qualcomm Adreno 750 ⎘ 12 GB Memory, 256 GB | Amazon: 1. $12.99 Vaxson 2-Pack Film Protector... 2. $12.98 Puccy 2 Pack Back Protector ... 3. $12.99 Vaxson 2-Pack Back Protector... List Price: 779€ | 246 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 6.80" 2480x1116 400 PPI AMOLED |
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Good, affordable, but with weaknesses
- Specifications of the Nubia Z70 Ultra
- Case - Improved IP certification for the Nubia Z70 Ultra
- Features - USB 3.2 and IR blaster
- Software - Android 15 with just one update promised
- Communication and GNSS - Tri-band GNSS for the Nubia Z70 Ultra
- Phone functions and voice quality
- Cameras - Variable aperture and physical shutter release button
- Accessories and warranty - Nubia Z70 Ultra comes with a power adapter
- Input devices - Optical fingerprint sensor
- Display - Bright AMOLED with up to 144 Hz
- Performance - The Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Games
- Emissions – The Nubia can get rather hot
- Battery life - Nubia relies on silicon-carbon technology
- Notebookcheck overall rating
The Nubia Z70 Ultra is the successor to the Z60 Ultra and the Z60 Ultra Leading Version. It's been just a few months and yet, the Z70 Ultra comes packed with new features. In addition to the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, you get improved IP certification, a dedicated camera button and a larger battery utilizing silicon-carbon technology.
Unfortunately, the Z70 Ultra is guilty of the same sins that we discovered when reviewing its predecessor. That being said, it's a relatively affordable phone with prices in Germany starting from 749 euros. These can go up to 969 euros depending on the memory/storage and color variant.
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Memory/storage | Black color case | Yellow color case | Starry night color case |
---|---|---|---|
12/256 GB | 749 euros | 749 euros | - |
16/512 GB | 849 euros | 849 euros | 869 euros |
24/1,024 GB | 969 euros | - | - |
Specifications of the Nubia Z70 Ultra
Case - Improved IP certification for the Nubia Z70 Ultra
The case of the Nubia Z70 Ultra is slightly more rounded compared to the predecessor. The prominent camera bump on the back is still there. Despite this, the smartphone doesn't feel too top-heavy and sits comfortably in the hand. The sliding switch has been moved to the left-hand edge, while a dedicated camera button can now be found on the right edge. Although a bit spongy, the button has a soft pressure point and is easy to use.
We like the build quality of the Z70 Ultra. It takes a bit more force than expected to produce a crackling sound when attempting to twist the phone. The gaps on the front are even, although there are slight misalignments on the back.
This phone isn't just IP68 certified, which makes it waterproof and dustproof. IP69 certification is present as well, offering protection against high-pressure liquid streams.
The Z70 Ultra comes in black, yellow, and starry night colorways. The last option applies to the sample unit. The yellow option isn't very bright; rather, it's a blend of eggshell yellow and light beige.
Features - USB 3.2 and IR blaster
The features on offer aren't much different to what the predecessor phone had. Among other things, a faster USB port specification is now used, which achieved high transfer rates of over 1 GB/s in our file copy test. It also supports wired image output, but is sadly limited to simply mirroring the content displayed on the phone's screen.
An infrared transmitter is also integrated, which enables one to remote control ACUs, televisions and other compatible products.
Software - Android 15 with just one update promised
The Nubia Z70 Ultra runs Google Android 15, featuring its own Nebula AI OS user interface.
This sounds promising, but few AI functions are actually implemented. These include live translation during calls and intelligent optimization of wireless signals.
Nubia has a very basic Android update policy. For this phone, there will be only one Android version update. Nubia promises to keep releasing security patches for three years. However, past experience shows that updates are rolled out sporadically. At the time of testing, the last patch was from October 1, 2024, making it relatively up-to-date.
Sustainability
The outer packaging is fully wrapped in film upon delivery, and there is also plenty of plastics inside the box.
Nubia does not provide any information regarding the use of recycled materials or the recyclability of the product. Additionally, there is no sustainability report or data about the smartphone's CO2 footprint.
The Z70 Ultra is not user-repairable, as Nubia does not provide instructions or offer spare parts for purchase.
Communication and GNSS - Tri-band GNSS for the Nubia Z70 Ultra
With Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and 5G, the Nubia Z70 Ultra supports the latest communication standards. While the range of the bands available looks good to us, the smartphone isn't really designed for global use.
In the iPerf test with our reference router Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Z70 Ultra achieved high and stable transfer rates.
Networking | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Average Wi-Fi 7 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Average of class Smartphone | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
Phone functions and voice quality
The Nubia Z70 Ultra can accommodate two nano SIM cards, but does not support eSIM. Functions such as VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls are supported.
The voice quality is good when the smartphone is held close to the ear, though loud ambient noise can affect speech quality and intelligibility. In speakerphone mode, the user's voice sounds tinny, but overall, the quality is still acceptable.
Cameras - Variable aperture and physical shutter release button
The front camera of the Nubia Z70 Ultra got a resolution bump, and quality is slightly better here as compared to its predecessor phone, but still falls short of expectations. Additionally, it only records videos in Full HD at 30 frame per second.
The real star of the show is the triple camera on the back, which got plenty of improvements. For instance, the main lens now includes a variable aperture. While the lens is still based on a 35mm format, it can also be switched to 24mm in the settings. The images it takes tend to look good but in string lighting conditions, there are lots of overexposed areas. Otherwise, the lens impresses with a high level of detail and dynamic range.
The ultra-wide-angle lens got a new sensor, too. This snapper now also handles macro photography. The periscope zoom is specified to work at 70mm, but in the camera app, 85mm are actually offered, as confirmed by EXIF data. Good results can be achieved at up to 140mm. The maximum zoom level is listed as 50x (1,750mm).
Videos can be recorded in 8K (30 FPS), 4K (30, 60, 120 FPS), Full HD (30, 60 FPS), and 720p (30 FPS). However, video stabilization is only available at up to 4K60. Both the main and telephoto lenses feature optical image stabilization (OIS), which produces a noticeable rattling sound when the smartphone is shaken.
There is also a camera button on the right-hand edge of the phone, which serves as a start/stop button when filming and not only functions as a shutter release for photography, but also has a pressure point for autofocus.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
HauptkameraHauptkameraUltraweitwinkel5-facher ZoomLow-Light

Accessories and warranty - Nubia Z70 Ultra comes with a power adapter
The Z70 Ultra comes with a modular charger (80 watts), a USB-C cable, a matt silicone protective cover and a SIM tool.
While Nubia offers various optional accessories, protection cases are only available from third-party providers. The manufacturer only provides a 12-month warranty in Germany, which is different from the dealer warranty.
Input devices - Optical fingerprint sensor
The capacitive touchscreen of the Nubia Z70 Ultra works reliably and processes inputs quickly. An optical fingerprint sensor is embedded in the display, reliably recognizing fingerprints and quickly unlocking the smartphone. Facial recognition is also available via the front camera, but it often struggles to identify the user, particularly in low-light conditions, and is not really secure.
The sliding switch can be used to launch the camera app or perform some other action. This can be tweaked in the settings menu. The same goes for the dedicated camera button.
The linear vibration motor provides crisp haptic feedback, but can be a bit loud.
Display - Bright AMOLED with up to 144 Hz
The 6.9-inch AMOLED display on the Nubia Z70 Ultra boasts a high resolution and, for the first time, supports a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz. However, since it is not an LTPO panel, the refresh rate can only be reduced to a minimum of 60 Hz.
Nubia has improved the brightness. We measured 1,331 cd/m² at the center of the screen when displaying a pure white image with the ambient light sensor activated. If the white area is reduced in size (APL18), the brightness increases to 1,753 cd/m². 1,840 cd/m² are available when playing HDR videos.
As our measurements reveal, the OLED panel flickers at a constant 60 Hz with a stable enough amplitude curve (but we would still like it to be a tad flatter). High-frequency PWM dimming is also on board, which is supposed to work at up to 2,160 Hz. We even measured a little more at minimum brightness. While the flickering measured is unlikely to cause health issues, sensitive individuals should still think twice before ordering this phone.
|
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 1331 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.9
ΔE Greyscale 1.6 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
99.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.29
Nubia Z70 Ultra AMOLED, 2688x1216, 6.9" | Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.8" | Google Pixel 9 Pro OLED, 2856x1280, 6.3" | Samsung Galaxy S24+ AMOLED, 3120x1440, 6.7" | Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version AMOLED, 2480x1116, 6.8" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | 7% | 27% | -58% | -31% | |
Brightness middle | 1331 | 1682 26% | 2083 56% | 1358 2% | 1003 -25% |
Brightness | 1342 | 1685 26% | 2016 50% | 1358 1% | 997 -26% |
Brightness Distribution | 92 | 97 5% | 84 -9% | 92 0% | 97 5% |
Black Level * | |||||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.2 | 1.1 8% | 0.7 42% | 3 -150% | 1.4 -17% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 1.8 | 2.1 -17% | 2 -11% | 4.4 -144% | 3.1 -72% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.6 | 1.7 -6% | 1.1 31% | 2.5 -56% | 2.4 -50% |
Gamma | 2.29 96% | 2.27 97% | 2.22 99% | 1.98 111% | 2.22 99% |
CCT | 6321 103% | 6581 99% | 6560 99% | 6656 98% | 6119 106% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 60 Hz Amplitude: 27.02 % Secondary Frequency: 2222 Hz | ||
The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8627 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
Measurements with fixed zoom level and different brightness settings (The amplitude curve at minimum brightness appears flat, but this is due to scaling. The info box displays an enlarged version of the amplitude at minimum brightness for better clarity.)
The panel delivers good colors. Saturation is not out of control here which is amazing.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
1.47 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.7075 ms rise | |
↘ 0.7585 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 6 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
1.03 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.5125 ms rise | |
↘ 0.5215 ms fall | ||
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 2 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.7 ms). |
The Nubia phone offers sufficient brightness for outdoor use as long as the ambient light sensor is active. When adjusting the brightness manually, the maximum is limited to 611 cd/m².
Its viewing angle stability is good. Brightness drops slightly at flat viewing angles, but there is no color degradation.
Performance - The Snapdragon 8 Elite
The heart of the Nubia Z70 Ultra is a Snapdragon 8 Elite which is paired with 12, 16 or 24 GB of LPDDR5x memory, depending on the configuration.
The performance offered by the Z70 Ultra is very high, but it's likely that the full potential of the SoC will never be fully utilized due to thermal limitations, as evidenced by comparisons with the ROG Phone 9 Pro. Additionally, the Z70 Ultra's AI benchmark scores do not meet expectations.
UL Procyon AI Inference for Android - Overall Score NNAPI | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Average of class Smartphone (1267 - 81594, n=147, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (8865 - 22767, n=8) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
The integrated Adreno 830 GPU is in charge of graphics processing. This is where the Nubia Z70 Ultra truly excels, delivering excellent results.
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | 3840x2160 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Solar Bay Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Solar Bay Unlimited Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Unlimited Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Steel Nomad Light Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ |
GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra |
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
GFXBench / 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro |
Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Chrome 131) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (89.7 - 289, n=10) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Chrome 121) | |
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=166, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) |
Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (342 - 419, n=5) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Chrome 121) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=148, last 2 years) |
Speedometer 3.0 - Score | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (15.3 - 34, n=9) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
Average of class Smartphone (1.03 - 34, n=76, last 2 years) |
WebXPRT 4 - Overall | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (125 - 255, n=8) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Chrome 121) | |
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 271, n=156, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (37943 - 94399, n=9) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Chrome 121) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=208, last 2 years) | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version (Chrome 129) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=164, last 2 years) | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro (Chrome 131.0.6778.81) | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Chrome 121) | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro (Chrome 131) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (422 - 685, n=9) | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra (Edge 131) |
* ... smaller is better
Nubia Z70 Ultra | Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | Google Pixel 9 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | Average 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | 5% | -65% | -44% | 5% | -13% | -48% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 4107.66 | 4026.96 -2% | 1717.9 -58% | 2450.9 -40% | 3995.95 -3% | 3674 ? -11% | 1902 ? -54% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 3145.55 | 3773.6 20% | 253.53 -92% | 1523.87 -52% | 3065.04 -3% | 3085 ? -2% | 1522 ? -52% |
Random Read 4KB | 437.83 | 441.13 1% | 218.41 -50% | 387.42 -12% | 483.2 10% | 383 ? -13% | 277 ? -37% |
Random Write 4KB | 633.68 | 637.2 1% | 261.55 -59% | 176.19 -72% | 729.58 15% | 472 ? -26% | 316 ? -50% |
Games
Emissions – The Nubia can get rather hot
Temperature
Much like it was with the Z60 Ultra Leading Version, the Z70 Ultra becomes uncomfortable to the touch under sustained load, with temperatures rising above 63°C in some areas which is way too high. While this is unlikely to occur in everyday use, stress tests like the Burnout benchmark do cause temperatures to spike, causing the software to intervene and stop the app that's stressing the components. Additionally, condensation forms under the lens of the main camera due to the high temperature. This thankfully disappears once the smartphone cools down.
As expected, the SoC throttles under sustained load. Thankfully, the clock speed and performance drops are not all that severe.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 63.7 °C / 147 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 50.6 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.6 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Steel Nomad Stress Test
3DMark | |
Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Solar Bay Stress Test Stability | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version | |
Samsung Galaxy S24+ | |
Steel Nomad Light Stress Test Stability | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z70 Ultra | |
Google Pixel 9 Pro | |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version |
Speakers
The two speakers of the Nubia Z70 Ultra provide solid sound, but it can be a bit thin and distorted slightly at full volume.
Wired headphones can only be connected via USB-C. For wireless headphones, there is a solid set of Bluetooth codecs on offer.
Nubia Z70 Ultra audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 32% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 60% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.6% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 23% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 72% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Nubia relies on silicon-carbon technology
Power consumption
The numbers we recorded are within the expected range. The phone is a bit more power-hungry at maximum display brightness than we would like.
Wireless charging is not supported, but the Z70 Ultra does offer fast charging at up to 80 watts. A full battery charge takes just 47 minutes with the included power adapter, reaching 50% in 18 minutes and 80% in 33 minutes. This raises concerns about long-term battery health and how battery-friendly the fast charging process is.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nubia Z70 Ultra 6150 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro 5800 mAh | Google Pixel 9 Pro 4700 mAh | Samsung Galaxy S24+ 4900 mAh | Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version 6000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | 1% | 24% | 38% | 20% | 16% | 21% | |
Idle Minimum * | 0.8 | 0.99 -24% | 0.59 26% | 0.43 46% | 0.7 12% | 0.789 ? 1% | 0.879 ? -10% |
Idle Average * | 2.06 | 1.08 48% | 1.1 47% | 0.84 59% | 1.55 25% | 1.336 ? 35% | 1.456 ? 29% |
Idle Maximum * | 2.1 | 1.14 46% | 1.2 43% | 0.95 55% | 1.61 23% | 1.417 ? 33% | 1.601 ? 24% |
Load Average * | 8.01 | 12.97 -62% | 7.15 11% | 6.76 16% | 9.54 ? -19% | 6.71 ? 16% | |
Load Maximum * | 18.7 | 19.21 -3% | 20.37 -9% | 16.42 12% | 12.7 ? 32% | 10.1 ? 46% |
* ... smaller is better