ZTE nubia X 5G vs. Asus ROG Phone II: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Innovation
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and sustained performance, the Asus ROG Phone II emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 855+ chipset and 30W charging provide a noticeable edge, despite the nubia X's innovative dual-screen design. However, the nubia X offers a unique experience for those seeking something different.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia X 5G | Asus ROG Phone II ZS660KL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46 |
| 5G bands | NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 (Cat20 Ultimate edition) 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2019, July 22. Released 2019, September |
| Status | Cancelled | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 171 x 77.6 x 9.5 mm (6.73 x 3.06 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 240 g (8.47 oz) |
| - | RGB light panel (on the back) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10 |
| Secondary display (on the back): OLED, 5.1 inches, 720 x 1520 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF 24 MP, f/1.7, PDAF | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm (ultrawide) |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 5 MP |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | Uses main cameras | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 24MP, f/2.2, 0.9µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, accessory connector, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Dual fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 30W wired 10W reverse wired, QC4 |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 150 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue Gold, Sea Blue, Black Gold, Deep Gray, Starry Night (512 GB only) | Matte Black, Glossy Black |
| Models | - | ASUS_I001D, I001DA, I001DE, I001DC, I001DB, I001D, I001DD |
| Price | - | About 1070 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -19.5 LUFS (Excellent) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 398935 (v7), 483239 (v8) GeekBench: 10923 (v4.4) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia X 5G
- Unique dual-screen design for multitasking.
- Potentially innovative camera features leveraging the rear display.
- Comparable battery endurance to the ROG Phone II.
- Slower 18W charging.
- Snapdragon 855 chipset is slightly less powerful than the 855+.
- Limited camera specification details.
Asus ROG Phone II ZS660KL
- Faster Snapdragon 855+ chipset for improved performance.
- 30W fast charging for quicker top-ups.
- 10W reverse wired charging for added convenience.
- Traditional smartphone design lacks the innovation of the nubia X.
- May prioritize gaming performance over nuanced camera quality.
- Larger size may be less comfortable for some users.
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone II boasts a measured peak brightness of 626 nits, offering excellent visibility in outdoor conditions. While the nubia X's display specs aren't provided, its dual-screen setup presents a different advantage – increased screen real estate for multitasking. The ROG Phone II’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks, crucial for immersive gaming. The absence of refresh rate data for the nubia X makes a direct comparison difficult, but the ROG Phone II’s focus on gaming suggests a potentially smoother visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. The ROG Phone II’s gaming focus suggests image processing may prioritize speed and clarity over nuanced color accuracy. The nubia X’s dual-screen design could potentially be leveraged for unique camera features, such as using the rear display as a viewfinder for selfies, but this isn’t confirmed. The absence of detailed camera specs makes it difficult to assess the photographic capabilities of either device.
Performance
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, but the ROG Phone II features the slightly enhanced Snapdragon 855+ (7nm). This translates to a marginally higher CPU clock speed (2.96 GHz vs 2.84 GHz) on the ROG Phone II, potentially leading to a small performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. Both phones share the same CPU core configuration (Octa-core), but the ROG Phone II’s chipset is optimized for sustained performance, potentially mitigating thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The lack of RAM specifications for the nubia X makes a direct comparison challenging, but the ROG Phone II’s gaming focus likely includes optimized RAM management.
Battery Life
Both the ZTE nubia X 5G and the Asus ROG Phone II achieve an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the ROG Phone II’s 30W wired charging significantly outperforms the nubia X’s 18W charging, allowing for faster top-ups. The ROG Phone II also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the nubia X, enabling it to charge other devices. While both have similar endurance, the ROG Phone II’s faster charging is a significant convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia X 5G if you value a truly unique smartphone experience and appreciate the versatility of a secondary display for multitasking or content consumption. Buy the Asus ROG Phone II ZS660KL if you are a dedicated mobile gamer who prioritizes raw performance, sustained frame rates, and a feature set tailored to gaming, such as faster charging and potentially better thermal management.