The smartwatch market presents a stark choice: ecosystem lock-in with premium features, or platform flexibility with a focus on affordability. We pit the ZTE nubia Watch, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2100, against Apple's tightly integrated Apple Watch Series 7, featuring the custom S7 SiP, to determine which offers the best balance of performance, features, and value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch Series 7 remains the superior choice due to its seamless integration, faster charging, and optimized software. However, Android users seeking a functional smartwatch at a significantly lower price point will find the ZTE nubia Watch a compelling alternative.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 39, 40, 41, 66 - USA, LATAM, Canada |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28. Released 2020, August 05 | 2021, September 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, October 15 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Plastic front (display), stainless steel 316L & aluminum alloy frame | Sapphire crystal front, ceramic/sapphire crystal back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 125 x 41.5 x 14.2 mm (4.92 x 1.63 x 0.56 in) | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm (1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 in) |
| SIM | eSIM | eSIM |
| Weight | 98 g (3.46 oz) | 42.3 g (41mm), 51.5 g (45mm) (1.48 oz) |
| | - | IP6X certified
50m water resistant
ECG certified (region dependent SW application; HW available on all models) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Sapphire crystal glass |
| Resolution | 192 x 960 pixels (~244 ppi density) | 484 x 396 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.01 inches | 1.9 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | Retina LTPO OLED, 1000 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7 | Dual-core |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8909W Snapdragon Wear 2100 | Apple S7 |
| GPU | Adreno 304 | PowerVR |
| OS | Proprietary OS | watchOS 8.0, upgradable to watchOS 26.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 32GB 1GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 500 entries | - |
| | eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | Yes | - |
| Video | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML | - |
| Games | Downloadable | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, always-on altimeter, compass, SpO2, VO2max |
| | MP3 player
Photo/video viewer
Voice dial/commands | Natural language commands and dictation (talking mode)
Ultra Wideband (UWB) support |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | Wireless, 0-80% in 45 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 240 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 3h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 420 mAh | Li-Ion 309 mAh (1.19 Wh) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Green | Graphite, Gold, Silver |
| Models | - | A2475, A2476, A2477, A2478, watch6,8, watch6,9 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.10 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.50 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia Watch
- Significantly more affordable price point
- Wear OS compatibility with Android devices
- Potentially longer battery life due to efficient chipset
- Older Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset offers lower performance
- Likely lacks advanced features like ECG and blood oxygen monitoring
- Limited app ecosystem compared to watchOS
Apple Watch Series 7
- Superior performance with the Apple S7 SiP
- Fast charging (0-80% in 45 minutes)
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Higher price point
- Limited compatibility – primarily designed for iPhone users
- Requires Apple ecosystem investment for full functionality
Display Comparison
While specific display details for the nubia Watch are unavailable, the Apple Watch Series 7 boasts a significantly larger and brighter display. The Series 7’s always-on Retina display, coupled with its thinner bezels, provides a more immersive viewing experience. The Apple Watch Series 7 likely utilizes LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, contributing to battery efficiency, a feature not typically found in devices at the nubia Watch’s price point. Color accuracy and peak brightness are expected to be superior on the Apple Watch Series 7.
Camera Comparison
Neither device is primarily marketed for its camera capabilities. The Apple Watch Series 7 lacks a camera entirely, focusing instead on health and fitness tracking. The nubia Watch’s camera specifications are not provided, suggesting it’s a basic feature for potential video calls or remote control functionality. Given the target price point, image quality is unlikely to be a strong suit of the nubia Watch.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset architecture. The Apple Watch Series 7’s Apple S7 is a dual-core system-on-a-chip designed specifically for wearable applications, prioritizing power efficiency and responsiveness within the Apple ecosystem. Conversely, the ZTE nubia Watch utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100, a quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7 processor. While the nubia Watch has more cores, the S7’s architectural advantages and tighter software integration likely result in smoother performance and faster app loading times. The S7’s neural engine also accelerates machine learning tasks, enhancing features like fall detection and activity tracking. The Wear 2100, while capable, is a generation behind and will exhibit noticeable lag in demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Battery life is heavily influenced by usage patterns and software optimization. The Apple Watch Series 7 offers a 0-80% charge in just 45 minutes with its fast charging capabilities, a significant advantage over the nubia Watch, which likely relies on slower, traditional charging methods. While the nubia Watch’s battery capacity is unknown, the Snapdragon Wear 2100 is known for being relatively power-efficient, potentially offsetting a smaller battery size. However, the Apple Watch Series 7’s optimized power management and larger battery likely provide longer real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Watch if you need a Wear OS smartwatch that works seamlessly with Android, prioritize affordability, and don't require the fastest possible performance or extensive app ecosystem. Buy the Apple Watch Series 7 if you prefer a premium experience, are invested in the Apple ecosystem, demand rapid charging, and prioritize health tracking features tightly integrated with iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon Wear 2100 in the ZTE nubia Watch powerful enough for smooth daily use?
The Snapdragon Wear 2100 is a capable processor, but it's several generations old. Expect adequate performance for basic tasks like notifications, fitness tracking, and simple apps. However, demanding applications or complex watch faces may experience lag or slowdowns compared to the Apple Watch Series 7’s S7 chip.
❓ Does the ZTE nubia Watch support contactless payments like Apple Pay?
The ZTE nubia Watch supports NFC for contactless payments via Google Pay, provided it's available in your region and your bank supports the service. This functionality is comparable to Apple Pay on the Apple Watch Series 7, offering a similar level of convenience.
❓ How does the health tracking accuracy of the ZTE nubia Watch compare to the Apple Watch Series 7?
The Apple Watch Series 7 benefits from Apple’s extensive investment in health sensors and algorithms, offering highly accurate heart rate monitoring, ECG readings, and fall detection. The ZTE nubia Watch’s health tracking capabilities are likely less sophisticated, relying on standard sensors and algorithms. While it can track steps, heart rate, and sleep, the accuracy may not be on par with the Apple Watch.
❓ Can I use the ZTE nubia Watch with an iPhone?
No, the ZTE nubia Watch is designed to work primarily with Android smartphones. While basic connectivity might be possible, you will not have access to the full range of features or the companion app on iOS. The Apple Watch Series 7, conversely, requires an iPhone for initial setup and ongoing functionality.
