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ZTE Nubia Z11

Specifications

ZTE Nubia Z11
ZTE Nubia Z11 (Nubia Series)
Processor
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
, LPDDR4
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 401 PPI, Capacitive, IPS, Borderless screen, Corning gorilla glass III, the second generation Pixel Eyes, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
Connections
1 Infrared, Audio Connections: 3.5mm, Card Reader: MicroSD(TF): up to 200GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Electronic compass, G sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, Distance sensors, Hall sensor, USB Type-C 1.0
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1, Dual SIM, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.5 x 151.8 x 72.3 ( = 0.3 x 5.98 x 2.85 in)
Battery
3000 mAh Lithium-Ion, Fast charging battery
Operating System
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Camera
Primary Camera: 16 MPix 6P drive motor lens, F2.0 aperture, Blue glass IR filter, High light transmittance sapphire glass, PDAF, NeoVision 6.0, with flashlight and Auto Forcus
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix Blue glass IR filter, 5P lens, F2.4 aperture, 80 degree wide Angle, Beautify 2.0
Weight
162 g ( = 5.71 oz / 0.36 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
400 Euro

 

Price comparison

Average Score: 81.65% - good
Average of 20 scores (from 38 reviews)
price: 82%, performance: 84%, features: 88%, display: 86% mobility: 79%, workmanship: 89%, ergonomy: 80%, emissions: - %

Reviews for the ZTE Nubia Z11

Nubia Z11 Review: A potential flagship-killer killed by its own software
Source: The Mobile Indian English Archive.org version
To sum up, the Nubia Z11 can be seen as a potential flagship-killer and does give a stiff competition to the OnePlus 3, but its software is the one reason of making it a ‘potential’ and not actual flagship-killer.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/26/2017
90% Nubia Z11 review: Nearly bezel-less and very impressive
Source: Techaeris English Archive.org version
If you’re not in the U.S. and can get LTE support for this phone, this is most certainly an excellent phone for the money. It’s going up against the likes of the One Plus and it can hold its own there.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/23/2017
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 90% display: 90% mobility: 90% workmanship: 95%
Nubia Z11 Mobile review: good in parts
Source: DxOMark English Archive.org version
As with stills, many videos offer accurate target exposures in both bright- and low-light conditions, and autofocus is generally accurate under stable lighting. The apparent lack of video stabilization is an issue, however, making stable movies with even moderate movement a challenge. While shooting video under changing lighting conditions, we also observed slow and inconsistent convergence for exposure and white balance, as well as some autofocus failures.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/18/2017
80% Nubia Z11 review: OnePlus 3T's hottest competition
Source: Gadgets Now English Archive.org version
The Nubia Z11 is a worthy flagship device. Priced at Rs 29,999, the smartphone offers powerful specifications along with a great-looking bezel-less display, which is not present in any of the phones available in the market. Along with this, the company is also working on rolling out Android N update. With these specs and price, the Z11 can give a tough competition to the OnePlus 3T , which also has a starting price of Rs 29,999.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/29/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
81% Nubia Z11 64GB Review
Source: Think Digit English Archive.org version
The Nubia Z11 fails where Nubia phones have traditionally excelled: the camera. However, it's still a really fast smartphone with above average battery life, and what is arguable the best design of 2016. It's a viable alternative to the OnePlus 3T and definitely worth considering.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/28/2016
Rating: Total score: 81%
80% Nubia Z11 review: New flagship killer in town
Source: India Today English Archive.org version
But then, the Z11 has an ace up its sleeve. It's the one and only smartphone in and around its price category to feature a bezel-less display and mind you; it's more than just a gimmick. It's very functional too and oh so very good looking. It has all the ingredients that make a flagship, but comes at half the cost. It won't necessarily kill the OnePlus 3. But, it could be a viable alternative.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/14/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
80% Nubia Z11 review: A worthy challenger for the OnePlus 3
Source: The Indian Express English Archive.org version
At the moment, I think the Nubia Z11 is a good challenger to the OnePlus 3 given its overall performance, camera and specs. However, the struggle for Nubia will be in establishing itself as a brand that India knows and trusts. I suggest this phone for those who love to be a bit ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and likes to take funky photos.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/14/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
60% ZTE Nubia Z11 Review
Source: Digital Trends English Archive.org version
At the moment, if you’re anywhere except Germany, Spain, Italy, or India (where the Nubia is officially sold), the answer is no. Even in the U.K., where our test phone has operated without a problem on a 4G LTE network, it’s not worth importing one. Confusion and concern over connectivity is a prime reason, along with the high price of the device. An Axon 7 or OnePlus 3 is cheaper, and officially sold in both the U.S. and U.K., and we consider them both just as good as the Nubia Z11.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/29/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%
80% Nubia Z11 review: An edge-to-edge screen sensation?
Source: Pocket Lint English Archive.org version
However, it does have some quirky software issues. And let's not forget the OnePlus 3 which, at £45 cheaper, will be the more obvious and available choice for many. For a brand most of Europe isn't familiar with yet the Nubia Z11 does make a strong first impression though. That edge-to-edge screen is its obvious big sell and the hardware is decent. The main downside is less to do with the phone itself and more about just how competitive this mid-price market has become.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/17/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
Nubia Z11 review
Source: GSM Arena English Archive.org version
Just like its predecessor, the Nubia Z11 left us with some mixed feelings. The brand has grown a lot and it shows, but for every few things the handset gets right, there still seem to be the one or two oddities that creep in and smear an otherwise great picture.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/14/2016
90% Nubia Z11 review
Source: Techradar English Archive.org version
The Nubia Z11 is a surprisingly accomplished smartphone, but one which may find it difficult to stand out, especially with a price point which is comfortably higher than the similarly powered and styled OnePlus 3.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/12/2016
Rating: Total score: 90%
80% Nubia Z11 Review
Source: Android Authority English Archive.org version
The Z11 is a solid flagship offering from Nubia with some interesting camera features, great build quality, and a stunning bezel-less display. While it may be a compelling option for some, there are plenty of Android options available at this point in 2016, and it’s arrival in the US may be a little too late.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/11/2016
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% display: 85% mobility: 80% workmanship: 85%
Review: Nubia Z11 Android Smartphone
Source: Android Headlines English Archive.org version
The Nubia Z11 is their current flagship smartphone, and it really does feel like one. Although it’s a bit weird to call this a flagship without a QHD display on board. There’s a lot to like about the Nubia Z11, including its camera and interface. It may not be the perfect phone for everyone, but at its price point, it will definitely stand out. Even though OnePlus does deliver more RAM for just a few bucks more.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/02/2016

Foreign Reviews

Was kann das China-Handy von Cristiano Ronaldo?
Source: Blick German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 03/10/2017
Nubia Z11
Source: Android Mag German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/30/2017
Rating: performance: 80% features: 80% display: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 100%
80% Design Trifft Performance
Source: Android Pit German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/04/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
Nubia Z11
Source: Allround-PC.com German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/27/2016
90% Wie eine Oase in der Smartphone-Wüste
Source: Inside Handy German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/16/2016
Rating: Total score: 90%
Dieses Smartphone fällt aus dem Rahmen
Source: Computerbase German DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/13/2016
88% Nubia Z11, análisis y experiencia de uso en profundidad
Source: Andro Asia Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/24/2017
Rating: Total score: 88% performance: 80% display: 90% mobility: 85%
81% Nubia Z11, análisis: un hardware brillante en la pelea del mejor teléfono calidad/precio
Source: Xataka Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/02/2016
Rating: Total score: 81% performance: 88% display: 80% mobility: 78% workmanship: 90%
80% Nubia Z11, análisis y opinión
Source: Computerhoy Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/20/2016
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 90% display: 80% mobility: 80% workmanship: 90%
Nubia Z11, Análisis Del Smartphone Más Potente De La Firma
Source: Game IT Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Nice design; metal case; fast fingerprint sensor; support NFC.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/14/2017
Nubia Z11. La democratización de la gama alta
Source: Media Trends Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Attractive design; nice display; good cameras; decent hardware; high autonomy.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/17/2016
Probamos el Nubia Z11, el nuevo rival chino de Huawei en España: esto promete
Source: El Confidencial Spanish ES→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Good price; compact size. Negative: Poor cameras.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/10/2016
82% Nubia Z11, lo smartphone con display Edge to Edge | Recensione
Source: Lupo Kkio Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/29/2016
Rating: Total score: 82% display: 85% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 80%
83% Recensione Nubia Z11, senza bordi ma con tanta sostanza
Source: Pianeta Cellulare Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/12/2016
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 90% features: 85% display: 85% mobility: 70% workmanship: 90%
85% Recensione Nubia Z11: tutti i segreti di questo nuovo smartphone
Source: Megapk Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/21/2016
Rating: Total score: 85% features: 90% display: 90% mobility: 75%
84% Recensione Nubia Z11 – Bello E Possibile
Source: Techzilla.it Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/15/2016
Rating: Total score: 84% price: 80% performance: 88% features: 93% display: 87% mobility: 82% workmanship: 90%
86% Nubia Z11: concreto e potente | La nostra recensione
Source: HDblog.it Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/13/2016
Rating: Total score: 86%
Nubia Z11 recensione: senza cornici ai lati a 449 euro
Source: Quotidiano Hardware Upgrade Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Good price; decent performance; high autonomy; fast charge; excellent sound.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/24/2016
Recensione Nubia Z11
Source: Notebook Italia Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; good price; excellent display; support quick charging.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/06/2016
Nubia Z11: La Recensione
Source: Androidiani Italian IT→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; good screen; high performance; decent cameras. Negative: Short battery life.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 09/13/2016
Nubia Z11 : prise en main du haut de gamme borderless et ultra design
Source: Phonandroid French FR→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; nice display; decent cameras; high autonomy.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/01/2017
Test Nubia Z11: świetny, ale o rok spóźniony flagowiec
Source: Antyweb Turkish PL→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; nice display; decent cameras; good autonomy.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/26/2017
Обзор ZTE Nubia Z11: мощнейший флагман с безрамочным экраном
Source: Hi-Tech Mail RU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Impressive display; beautiful design; decent hardware; quality cameras; quick charge. Negative: Relatively high price; sim and microSD are on the same slot; short battery life.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/21/2016
Nubia Z11: nový černý kůň mezi telefony na našem trhu? (recenze)
Source: Svet Androida CZ→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Nice design; low price; decent display; good cameras; fast system; flexible fingerprint sensor. Negative: Weak speakers.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/17/2017
73% Nubia Z11 - smartphone màn hình không viền
Source: Sohoa VN Express VN→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/25/2017
Rating: Total score: 73% price: 80% display: 70% mobility: 70% workmanship: 70%

Comment

Model: The ZTE Nubia Z11 is a high-end smartphone with decent hardware specification. Previously, the ZTE had a loud statement from their Nubia Z9 smartphone which is an effort to push their product series from entry level to mid range products. The ZTE Nubia Z11 is expected to be even better than the predecessor with decent hardware performance and good design. The ZTE Nubia Z11 is packed with an energy-efficient Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 chipset. As for storage, it has 64 GB internal storage with 4 GB RAM, which is quite common only in high-end smartphones in the market. The internal memory can be upgraded via the hybrid microSD card slot.

The ZTE Nubia Z11 features an all metal back instead of a glass back offered by its predecessor, which gives a new look. For color options, it features silver, gray, gold and rose gold, which are the common colors featured by metal build smartphones. Its 5.5 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen supports multi-touch and features a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. Its bezels are one of the thinnest featured on a smartphone. This is made possible by bending the light on the edges to give it that unique bezel free design. The screen size is an improvement from the Nubia Z9’s 5.2-inch display. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 can prevent minor scratches and damages on the screen. It has a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 75.2% and a pixel density of approximately 403 ppi.

The 16 MP f/2.0 camera with PDAF features optical image stabilization and supports 4K video recording at 30 fps. A dual-LED dual-tone flash is available to ensure bright and clear image quality in the dark. The secondary 8 MP f/2.4 camera is ideal for video calling and selfies and also supports 1080p video recording. The ZTE Nubia Z11 has a non-removable Li-ion 3000 mAh battery. Together with the power efficient chipset, the smartphone is capable of delivering up to 19 hours of 3G talk time, 10 hours of web browsing and 9 hours of video playback. It supports Quick Charge 3.0, which allows charging the battery to 83% in 30 minutes.

As for wireless connectivity, it includes Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band support, Bluetooth 4.1 with LE support, GPS and NFC. However, there is no FM radio in this smartphone. Moreover, the Nubia Z11 is one of the few devices that allow to enable or disable the second antenna. With this feature, more battery life can be gained when the maximum connection speed is not required. For input/output port, it has a Type-C 1.0 reversible connector with OTG support. The ZTE Nubia Z11 is a serious contender in the high-end market with a slightly more affordable price tag.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Qualcomm Adreno 530: Integrated graphics card in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 that is clocked at up to 624 MHz. Early 2016 it is a high end graphics card for Android based smartphones and tablets that should be able to coop with very demanding games.

Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.


820 MSM8996: High-end ARM SoC with 4 CPU cores (two fast 2.15 GHz cores in a cluster and two power saving 1.6 GHz cores) and an Adreno 530 GPU. Manufactured in a 14 nm HPM process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.


5.50":

It is a very small display format for smartphones. You should by no means be mis-sighted and you will generally see very little on the screen and only have a small resolution available. In return, the device should be very small and handy.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.


ZTE:

ZTE is short for Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited, which was founded in China in 1985 and is partly state-owned. ZTE's core business is wireless, optical transmission, data transmission equipment, telecommunications software and cell phones, USB sticks, routers and tablets.


81.65%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.


» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

 

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Current Prices
Stefan Hinum (Update: 2016-09-24)