iQOO Neo9 Pro vs. ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon Power

The iQOO Neo9 Pro and ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The iQOO focuses on delivering top-tier performance at a competitive price, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The nubia Z60 Ultra, however, jumps to the cutting edge with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, aiming for ultimate power and extended battery life. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is the superior choice. While the iQOO Neo9 Pro’s 120W charging is incredibly appealing, the nubia Z60 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 provides a significant performance uplift and demonstrably longer battery life (14:04h active use) making it the more well-rounded flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, February 222024, July 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, February 22Available. Released 2024, August 12
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), plastic frameGlass front, aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions163.5 x 75.7 x 8.0 mm or 8.3 mm164 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g or 196 g (6.70 oz)246 g (8.68 oz)
Display
ProtectionSchott Xensation Up-
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, 1500 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSAndroid 14, Funtouch 14Android 14, MyOS 14 (International), MyOS 14.5 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Triple-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
Video8K@30fps, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1"12 MP, under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (closed type)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDSGPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 11 min Reverse wired80W wired, PD3.0, QC4
TypeLi-Po 5160 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsFiery Red, Conqueror BlackBlack, Silver
ModelsI2304-
Price-About 730 EUR

vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
  • Potentially more affordable price point

  • Shorter battery life compared to the nubia Z60 Ultra
  • Older generation processor

ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for peak performance
  • Exceptional battery life (14:04h active use)
  • PD3.0 and QC4 fast charging support

  • Slower charging speed than the iQOO Neo9 Pro (80W)
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

Display specifications are absent from the provided data, but given the flagship positioning of both devices, we can assume high-quality panels. The nubia Z60 Ultra, historically, has prioritized screen technology, often featuring high refresh rates and color accuracy. The iQOO Neo series typically focuses on a balance of performance and display quality. Without specific data, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but nubia’s track record suggests a potential edge in display fidelity.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are missing, but both phones likely feature multi-camera systems. However, the absence of sensor size information prevents a meaningful comparison. Given the nubia brand’s focus on photography, it’s reasonable to expect a more sophisticated camera system with potentially larger sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. The iQOO Neo series typically prioritizes overall value, so its camera system might be slightly less advanced.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) represents a substantial leap over the iQOO Neo9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Gen 3 features a new Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.4 GHz, compared to the Gen 2’s 3.2 GHz Cortex-X3. Furthermore, the Gen 3 utilizes a revised CPU architecture with 3x Cortex-A720 cores and 2x Cortex-A720 cores, offering improved efficiency and performance compared to the Gen 2’s A715/A710 configuration. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher sustained frame rates in demanding games. The nubia Z60 Ultra will demonstrably outperform the iQOO Neo9 Pro in CPU-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The nubia Z60 Ultra’s 14:04h active use score is a significant advantage. While the iQOO Neo9 Pro boasts incredibly fast 120W wired charging (50% in 11 minutes), the nubia Z60 Ultra’s superior battery life mitigates the need for frequent charging. The nubia Z60 Ultra’s 80W charging with PD3.0 and QC4 is still respectable, but slower than the iQOO. However, the longer runtime provided by the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and potentially larger battery capacity (unspecified) makes the nubia Z60 Ultra the winner in overall battery endurance.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro if you prioritize incredibly fast charging and are looking for a high-performance phone at a potentially lower price point. You’ll benefit from the 120W wired charging, getting you back to 50% in just 11 minutes. Buy the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Leading if you demand the absolute latest processing power and longest battery life. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and its 14:04h active use score make it ideal for power users and gamers who need sustained performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the nubia Z60 Ultra get noticeably warmer than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the iQOO Neo9 Pro during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is more powerful, Qualcomm has focused on improving thermal efficiency with this generation. However, the increased performance *can* lead to higher temperatures under sustained load. The nubia Z60 Ultra likely has a more robust cooling system to mitigate this, but some warmth is expected during prolonged gaming. The iQOO Neo9 Pro, with its older chipset, will likely run cooler, but at the cost of performance.
❓ Is the 80W charging on the nubia Z60 Ultra a significant drawback compared to the iQOO Neo9 Pro's 120W charging?
While 120W is faster, 80W is still a very respectable charging speed. The nubia Z60 Ultra’s significantly longer battery life (14:04h) means you won’t need to charge as frequently. The convenience of faster charging is offset by the extended runtime offered by the nubia Z60 Ultra.
❓ Will the iQOO Neo9 Pro's 120W charging degrade the battery health faster than the nubia Z60 Ultra's 80W charging?
Generally, faster charging *can* contribute to slightly faster battery degradation over the long term due to increased heat generation. However, modern smartphones employ sophisticated charging management systems to minimize this effect. The difference in degradation rate between 80W and 120W is likely to be minimal with both devices.