ZTE nubia Air vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: A Deep Dive into Battery, Performance, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and a premium experience, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, stunning display, and blazing-fast charging outweigh the nubia Air’s exceptional battery life. However, if battery anxiety is your primary concern, the nubia Air is a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Air | Xiaomi 13 Pro |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International |
| 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, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 05 | 2022, December 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September 16 | Available. Released 2022, December 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 76.6 x 6.7 mm (6.46 x 3.02 x 0.26 in) | 162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm or 8.7 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 210 g or 229 g (7.41 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2720 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~440 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, 4500 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Unisoc T8300 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP2 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lenses | - |
| Features | LED flash | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50.3 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 1080p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 36 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4820 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Titanium Black, Titanium Desert | Ceramic White, Ceramic Black, Ceramic Flora Green, Mountain Blue |
| Models | Z2468N | 2210132G, 2210132C |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 750 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 115h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1281666 (v9) GeekBench: 5087 (v5.1), 5323 (v6) GFXBench: 64fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class D (46 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
ZTE nubia Air
- Exceptional battery life (49:00h endurance)
- Long battery lifespan (1000 charge cycles)
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Slower charging speed (33W)
- Less powerful processor (Unisoc T8300)
- Limited display details
Xiaomi 13 Pro
- Flagship performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Ultra-fast charging (120W wired, 50W wireless)
- Bright and vibrant display (1253 nits)
- Shorter battery life (10:55h active use)
- Higher price tag
- May require more frequent charging
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1253 nits, compared to the nubia Air’s unspecified brightness. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While the nubia Air’s display specs are missing, the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio and likely LTPO technology (based on Xiaomi’s flagship history) suggest a more dynamic and power-efficient viewing experience. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s display is geared towards media consumption and gaming, while the nubia Air’s display likely prioritizes efficiency.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but details are limited for the nubia Air. The Xiaomi 13 Pro, typical of flagship Xiaomi phones, likely includes a sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing. While sensor sizes and specific lens details are missing, the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s brand reputation suggests a more versatile and higher-quality camera experience. The nubia Air’s camera is likely adequate for everyday use, but won’t compete with the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s expected capabilities.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.2 GHz, alongside Cortex-A715 and A710 performance cores. This architecture, built on a 4nm process, delivers significantly higher CPU and GPU performance than the nubia Air’s Unisoc T8300 (6nm). The nubia Air’s octa-core CPU, while capable, is comprised of less powerful Cortex-A78 and A55 cores. The 4nm node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also offers better thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is the clear choice for demanding users.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the nubia Air shines. Its claimed 49:00h endurance rating dwarfs the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s 10:55h active use score and 115h endurance rating. However, the Xiaomi 13 Pro compensates with incredibly fast charging: 120W wired (0-100% in 19 minutes), 50W wireless (0-100% in 36 minutes), and even 10W reverse wireless charging. The nubia Air’s 33W wired charging is comparatively slow. The nubia Air prioritizes longevity, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro prioritizes quick top-ups. The nubia Air also boasts a claimed 1000 charge cycles, suggesting a longer lifespan for the battery itself.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Air if you need a phone that can reliably last for days on a single charge, and you prioritize longevity over raw processing power. It’s ideal for travelers, minimalists, or those who frequently find themselves away from power outlets. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Pro if you prefer a top-tier flagship experience with cutting-edge performance, a vibrant display, and incredibly fast charging, and are willing to charge your phone more frequently.