Asus ROG Phone 9 vs ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing long-term performance and a refined gaming experience, the Asus ROG Phone 9 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite and active use battery life of 16:41h provide a clear advantage. However, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading is a strong contender for users valuing the newest chipset and faster 80W charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 9 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 19 | 2024, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, November 20 | Available. Released 2024, August 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 164 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 246 g (8.68 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 185Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 14, MyOS 14 (International), MyOS 14.5 (China) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, 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/1.8, 18mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 12 MP, under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 46 min 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 |
| Type | 5800 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black, Silver |
| Models | AI2501-12G256G-BK, AI2501-12G256G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-WH, AI2501-16G512G-BK | - |
| Price | £ 799.99 / € 899.90 | About 730 EUR |
Asus ROG Phone 9
- Superior sustained gaming performance due to Snapdragon 8 Elite and Oryon cores.
- Longer battery life in active use (16:41h).
- Brighter display (1958 nits) for outdoor visibility.
- Slower charging speed (65W) compared to the nubia.
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
- Faster 80W wired charging.
- Potentially more versatile camera system (speculation).
- Shorter battery life in active use (14:04h).
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load.
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 9 boasts a display capable of reaching 1958 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading’s display specs aren’t provided, ZTE typically employs high-quality panels. The ROG Phone 9’s focus on display technology likely extends to features like a high refresh rate and low response time, crucial for competitive gaming. The higher brightness of the ROG Phone 9 is a significant advantage for outdoor use and HDR content consumption.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading, a direct comparison is limited. However, nubia phones often prioritize camera capabilities. The ROG Phone 9, while capable, typically focuses less on camera prowess than other flagships. The absence of detailed camera specs for the nubia suggests a potential strength in this area, but without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, it’s difficult to assess. We can assume the nubia will have a more versatile camera system, but the ROG Phone 9 will likely be sufficient for casual photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Asus ROG Phone 9 utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a unique octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained peak performance, crucial for demanding games. The ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading employs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), a newer generation chip with a different core arrangement (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4, etc.). While the Gen 3 offers improvements in AI processing and efficiency, the ROG Phone 9’s Oryon cores and potentially more aggressive cooling solutions may allow it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods during gaming. The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite also contributes to better thermal efficiency.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 9 achieves an impressive 16:41h of active use, demonstrating excellent battery optimization despite its focus on performance. The ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading, with 14:04h, offers respectable battery life but falls short. However, the nubia compensates with significantly faster 80W wired charging, compared to the ROG Phone 9’s 65W. This means the nubia can replenish its battery much quicker, mitigating the difference in overall capacity. The ROG Phone 9 also offers 15W wireless charging and 10W reverse wired charging, features absent in the nubia’s charging specifications.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 9 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and a feature set tailored to mobile esports. Buy the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading if you prefer the latest Snapdragon processor, prioritize rapid charging speeds, and desire a more conventional flagship experience without the overtly 'gamer' aesthetic.