Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate vs ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate and ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, leveraging the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+, prioritizes gaming features and a robust ecosystem. Conversely, the nubia Z50 Ultra, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, aims for all-around flagship performance with a focus on camera capabilities and raw processing power. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and camera versatility, the ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a noticeable performance edge, and its 80W charging is faster than the ROG Phone's 65W. However, gamers heavily invested in the ROG ecosystem will still find the 6D Ultimate compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 - A versionLTE
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A versionSA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/210 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - B versionCDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2022, September 192023, March 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 07Available. Released 2023, March 14
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame-
Dimensions173 x 77 x 10.4 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight247 g (8.71 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus-
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12Android 13, MyOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storageUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single-16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.3, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.X, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single12 MP, 28mm (wide)16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1+L2+L5), GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0 10W reverse wired80W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace GrayBlack, Silver, Starry Sky
ModelsAI2203, AI2203-3E010EUNX712J
PriceAbout 1100 EURAbout 540 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 103h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.1 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 1107464 (v9) GeekBench: 4575 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate

  • Dedicated gaming features (AirTriggers)
  • Robust ROG ecosystem and accessories
  • Good battery endurance (103h)

  • Older chipset (Dimensity 9000+)
  • Slower charging (65W)
  • Limited camera information

ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Faster 80W charging with QC4/PD3.0
  • Potentially superior camera system

  • Lacks dedicated gaming features
  • May not have the same level of software optimization for gaming
  • ROG ecosystem integration absent

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and panel type (AMOLED is assumed for both) are missing. The nubia Z50 Ultra's potential advantage lies in its likely higher refresh rate, a common feature in Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagships, which would translate to smoother scrolling and gaming. Without specific data, it's difficult to assess color accuracy or HDR support, but both are expected to be competitive within their price brackets.

Camera Comparison

Context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, making a detailed comparison challenging. The ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra is expected to have a more sophisticated camera system, potentially including a high-resolution main sensor (market speculation suggests a 200MP sensor, though unconfirmed). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more advanced, offering improved image processing capabilities, noise reduction, and dynamic range. Without specific aperture and sensor size details for the ROG Phone, it’s safe to assume the nubia Z50 Ultra will deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) boasts a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, offering a significant architectural advantage over the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate’s Dimensity 9000+ (4nm) and its Cortex-X2 core at 3.35 GHz. While the Dimensity 9000+ has a slightly higher clock speed on its prime core, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s newer architecture and improved efficiency translate to better sustained performance and thermal management. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s CPU configuration (1x3.2GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0GHz Cortex-A510) is more balanced than the Dimensity 9000+'s (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510), potentially benefiting multi-threaded workloads. Both utilize 4nm fabrication, but Qualcomm’s process optimization typically yields better results.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate has an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra’s 80W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC4 support) significantly outperforms the ROG Phone’s 65W (with PD3.0) and 10W reverse wired charging. This faster charging speed translates to quicker top-ups, minimizing downtime. While the ROG Phone’s endurance rating suggests comparable battery capacity, the nubia Z50 Ultra’s charging advantage is a key differentiator for users who prioritize convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate if you need a dedicated gaming phone with specialized features like AirTriggers and a focus on sustained performance within the ROG ecosystem. Buy the ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra if you prefer a more versatile flagship experience with a superior processor, faster charging, and a potentially more refined camera system, even if it lacks dedicated gaming accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9000+ in the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Dimensity 9000+ is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the nubia Z50 Ultra benefits from a more efficient 4nm process and improved thermal management. This means the nubia Z50 Ultra is less likely to experience significant performance throttling during extended gaming sessions, maintaining higher frame rates for longer.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the nubia Z50 Ultra compare to the 65W charging on the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate in real-world use?
The nubia Z50 Ultra’s 80W charging can typically charge a full battery from 0% to 100% in around 30-40 minutes, depending on battery capacity. The ROG Phone 6D Ultimate’s 65W charging will likely take closer to 45-60 minutes. This 15-20 minute difference can be significant for users who need a quick top-up before heading out.
❓ Is the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate still a good choice for competitive mobile gaming, even with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 available?
Yes, the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate remains a strong contender for competitive gaming, particularly if you value its AirTriggers and integration with the ROG ecosystem. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the nubia Z50 Ultra offers a performance advantage, potentially leading to higher and more stable frame rates in demanding titles.