ZTE nubia Air vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a superior display, the Sony Xperia 1 VII is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 1475 nit display offer a noticeable advantage. However, the ZTE nubia Air provides exceptional battery endurance and a more affordable price point, making it a compelling alternative for budget-conscious users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Air | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 05 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September 16 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 76.6 x 6.7 mm (6.46 x 3.02 x 0.26 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2720 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~440 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, 4500 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T8300 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP2 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Features | LED flash | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium Black, Titanium Desert | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | Z2468N | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class B |
| Free fall | Class D (46 falls) | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | Class B | Class D |
ZTE nubia Air
- Exceptional battery endurance (49h)
- High charge cycle count (1000)
- More affordable price point
- Less powerful processor (Unisoc T8300)
- Limited charging options (33W wired only)
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Superior performance (Snapdragon 8 Elite)
- Brighter, higher-quality display (1475 nits)
- Faster charging (30W wired, 15W wireless)
- Shorter battery endurance (43.5h)
- Higher price
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 1475 nits, compared to an unstated value for the nubia Air. This makes the Xperia 1 VII far more usable in direct sunlight. While the nubia Air’s panel technology isn’t specified, the Xperia 1 VII likely utilizes an OLED panel, offering superior contrast and color accuracy. The absence of LTPO information for either device makes it difficult to assess variable refresh rate capabilities, but the Xperia 1 VII’s focus on media consumption suggests a high-quality panel is prioritized.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the nubia Air, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s Xperia line is known for its camera prowess. The Xperia 1 VII likely features a sophisticated image processing pipeline and advanced features like real-time tracking and eye autofocus. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and apertures on the nubia Air makes it difficult to assess its camera capabilities, but it’s unlikely to match the Xperia 1 VII’s image quality, especially in low-light conditions. We can assume the Xperia 1 VII will have superior video recording capabilities.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz, is in a different league than the ZTE nubia Air’s Unisoc T8300. The Snapdragon 8 Elite, built on a 3nm process, delivers significantly higher CPU and GPU performance, and improved thermal efficiency. The nubia Air’s octa-core CPU (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and applications compared to the Xperia 1 VII. The Xperia 1 VII’s likely use of LPDDR5x RAM further enhances its performance advantage.
Battery Life
The ZTE nubia Air claims a remarkable 49-hour endurance, supported by 1000 charge cycles, suggesting a focus on long-term battery health. The Sony Xperia 1 VII offers 43.5 hours of endurance and a higher 1400 charge cycles. However, the Xperia 1 VII’s active use score of 15:32h provides a more realistic measure of real-world performance. While the nubia Air’s endurance is impressive, the Xperia 1 VII compensates with faster charging – 30W wired with PD3.0, PPS, and 50% charge in 30 minutes, plus 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the nubia Air’s 33W wired charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Air if you need exceptional battery life, prioritize value for money, and don't require the absolute fastest processing speeds. It's ideal for users who consume a lot of media or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prefer a premium, high-performance experience with a stunning display, fast charging, and are willing to pay a premium for top-tier specifications. This phone is geared towards power users, content creators, and mobile gamers.