nubia Z60 Ultra Review: Is it Worth the Hype?
Nubia Z60 Ultra offers powerful performance, a stunning AMOLED display, and a versatile camera system, all with a massive 6000mAh battery.
Nubia brand may not be very familiar in Western markets but it’s been gaining attention with its affordable Red Magic gaming phones. Nubia Z60 Ultra is a bit different. It takes many features from Red Magic 9 Pro and brings them to a regular flagship phone. This results in a large phone with excellent performance, a big battery and a solid camera system, all for under $600 or £700. However, regular smartphone market is very competitive and people expect smooth and balanced phones.
One thing that might turn people away is Nubia Z60 Ultra’s bold and bulky design. It’s big with 6.8-inch AMOLED screen, no bezels and no notch. Front camera is hidden under the display, which keeps the screen clear but leads to bad selfie quality. Phone is also heavier than most because of its large battery and industrial design.
On the bright side, main camera works well for the price. 64MP Sony IMX800 sensor captures good photo and the 3.3x periscope camera is rare at this price. Performance is great thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which handles heavy tasks like gaming with ease. Phone also has good cooling system to prevent overheating.
One of best features is huge 6,000mAh battery which can last up to two days. It charges fast with 80W wired charging but it doesn’t support wireless charging which is bit of a letdown.
Phone’s software, myOS, is functional but not as smooth or polished as competitors like Samsung. It’s also only set to get three years of updates while other brands offer more.
Nubia Z60 Ultra offers great features for the price but could use more refinement to feel like a complete product. With some improvements, future models could be very strong contenders.
Table of Contents
Nubia Z60 Ultra Specification
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| 🧠 RAM | 8GB / 12GB / 16GB (LPDDR5X) |
| 💾 Storage | 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
| 📺 Display | 6.8-inch AMOLED, 2480×1116 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 400 PPI, 100% DCI-P3, 1.07 billion colors |
| 📷 Rear Cameras | 50MP 35mm (Main), 50MP 18mm (Wide-Angle), 64MP 85mm (Telephoto), OIS on all lenses |
| 🤳 Front Camera | 12MP, under-display |
| 🔋 Battery | 6000mAh capacity, fast charging |
| 📏 Dimensions | 163.98mm (H) x 76.35mm (W) x 8.78mm (D), 246g weight |
| 🛠 Operating System | MyOS 14 (based on Android 14) |
| 🌐 Connectivity | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (WiFi 7), Bluetooth 5.4, Dual SIM |
| 📡 Network Support | 5G NSA/SA, 4G LTE, 3G UMTS, 2G GSM, CDMA |
| 🎧 Audio | DTS HD sound, supported formats: MP3, FLAC, AAC, etc. |
| 🔍 Sensors | Fingerprint, G-sensor, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light |
| 🎨 Colors | Black, Silver |
Nubia Z60 Ultra Availability
Nubia Z60 Ultra officially started shipping on December 29, 2023. It comes in three different models, giving buyers options depending on their budget and storage needs. Pricing begins at $599 / £679 / €679 for the base model, which comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. If you need a bit more power, the 12GB RAM / 256GB model is available for $649 / £749 / €749. For those looking for the best version, the top-tier model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage costs $779 / £899 / €899.
If you’re in Australia, there’s no official AU$ price available yet, but based on a direct conversion from USD, the prices would range from approximately AU$910 to AU$1,180. However, Australian buyers will need to purchase the phone through Nubia’s global online store, where prices are listed in US dollars.
At the moment, availability varies slightly depending on where you live. In some markets, like the UK, only the higher-end models are available for purchase on Nubia’s website. This means you can only get the 12GB or 16GB RAM versions. However, in the US, buyers can grab the baseline 8GB RAM model right now at the starting price of $599, making it more accessible in this region.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Pricing Breakdown
Nubia Z60 Ultra comes in three different models, each offering a combination of RAM and storage at various price points. Base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at $599 in the US, £679 in the UK and approximately AU$910 in Australia. Mid-tier model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, is available for $649 in the US, £749 in the UK and around AU$990. Highest-end model, featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, costs $779 in the US, £899 in the UK and about AU$1,180.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Design
Nubia Z60 Ultra has bold and chunky design. It’s heavy, weighing 246g, which is similar to Galaxy Z Fold 5 and heavier than Galaxy S24 Ultra. With thickness of 8.8mm and flat edges, it resembles Nubia’s Red Magic gaming phones.
Phone features a mappable shortcut slider, originally from Red Magic 9 Pro but its binary switch design could be improved. The back of the phone, with its camera module, is a bit controversial. Triple camera setup sits on a raised slab with ultra-wide camera flush, while the wide camera stands out with a red surround. This design aims for a professional look but doesn’t quite succeed.
In contrast, front is more subtle, featuring minimal bezels. It’s also good to note that Z60 Ultra comes with IP68 certification, making it resistant to dust and water, valuable feature at this price point.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Display
Nubia Z60 Ultra features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2480 x 1116 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It has an under-display selfie camera, similar to Red Magic 9 Pro, which allows for a full-screen experience without a camera notch.
The screen reaches a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, which is lower than some flagship phones like Galaxy S24 but still bright enough for daily use. It also includes PWM dimming at 2160Hz, designed to reduce eye strain.
Display uses BOE’s Q9+ luminescent material, providing vibrant colors, especially in the Normal setting. Nubia also offers options to adjust color tones to suit your preferences. Overall, display is impressive, perfect for video and gaming, although the selfie camera quality may not be the best.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Camera
Nubia Z60 Ultra offers a triple camera system that stands out for its price. It includes:
- 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 64MP periscope telephoto lens
- 50MP ultra-wide lens
- A disappointing 12MP under-display selfie camera
Main camera uses 50MP Sony IMX800 sensor, similar to those found in other flagship phones. This setup delivers detailed and vibrant daytime photos, with good color accuracy. In lower light, photos remain sharp thanks to laser autofocus and OIS, along with natural-looking background blur from the wide f/1.6 aperture.
Night shots can be good, but some may turn out blurry if the focus isn’t locked properly. When the conditions are right, the night photos look decent, avoiding the overly bright effect seen in many lower-tier cameras. Overall, the camera system is impressive for its price, although the selfie camera lacks quality.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Performance
Nubia Z60 Ultra features a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and comes with options for 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB of RAM, depending on the market. This powerful combination ensures strong gaming performance, comparable to higher-priced competitors like Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Benchmark tests show excellent performance, allowing demanding games like Genshin Impact and Wreckfest to run smoothly at 60fps with maximum graphics settings. However, during intense gaming sessions, the phone can get hot, especially during a 20-minute stress test. Despite this, it performed well, maintaining good cooling efficiency and scoring 92.7% in the test which is on par with dedicated gaming phones like Asus ROG Phone 8.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Software
Z60 Ultra runs on MyOS 14 over Android 14, which is similar to other custom UIs like Oppo’s ColorOS. It features a toggle-filled notification panel and user-friendly settings but it doesn’t have much bloatware. However, it does include an unwanted default browser that you might want to replace with Chrome.
Game Space UI helps enhance the gaming experience and Nubia promises up to three years of software updates which is less than what some competitors offer.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Battery
Phone packs a huge 6,000mAh battery, capable of lasting up to two days with moderate use. It supports 80W wired charging which can fully charge the battery in about 45 minutes and the charger is included in the box. However, Z60 Ultra lacks wireless charging, which is a downside for some users.
Nubia Z60 Ultra’s performance is impressive, making it a strong contender for gamers and heavy users alike.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Pros and Cons
| ✔️Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Long battery life | ❌ Heavy and ugly |
| ✔️ Great performance | ❌ Bad selfie camera |
| ✔️ Good cameras for the cost | ❌ Unattractive UI |
Conclusion
Nubia Z60 Ultra offers excellent performance, great battery life, and a well-balanced camera system at a competitive price. However, it doesn’t have the extra polish needed to stand out among non-gaming phones.
