The ZTE nubia X 5G, released with a focus on dual displays and flagship specs, now faces a new competitor in the Sony Xperia 10 VII. This comparison pits an older, more powerful chipset against a newer, more efficient one, focusing on which phone delivers the best overall experience in 2024. The nubia X 5G represents a past era of performance, while the Xperia 10 VII prioritizes longevity and efficiency.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and consistent performance, the Sony Xperia 10 VII is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 offers a surprisingly capable experience, coupled with exceptional battery endurance. While the nubia X 5G boasts a more powerful Snapdragon 855, its age and potential for thermal throttling make it less reliable for sustained tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | NSA/Sub6 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2025, September 12 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2025, September 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | - | 153 x 72 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | - | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR |
| | 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 (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM6475-AB Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 710 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
24 MP, f/1.7, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0" |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | Uses main cameras | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | - |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 32-bit/384kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6e, tri-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Dual fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | Wired, PD, QC |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue Gold, Sea Blue, Black Gold, Deep Gray, Starry Night (512 GB only) | White, Turquoise, Charcoal |
| Models | - | XQ-FE54, XQZ-CBFE, xqfe54eukcl.gc, xqfe54eukcw.gc, xqfe54eukcb.gc |
| Price | - | $ 459.99 / £ 329.00 / € 379.00 |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 48:10h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class D |
ZTE nubia X 5G
- More powerful processor (Snapdragon 855)
- Unique dual-display design
- Potentially lower price due to age
- Older chipset prone to thermal throttling
- Less efficient battery life
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Sony Xperia 10 VII
- Exceptional battery life (48:10h endurance)
- Brighter display (1064 nits)
- More efficient processor (Snapdragon 6 Gen 3)
- Less powerful processor than the nubia X 5G
- May lack some flagship features
- Potentially higher initial price
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 10 VII boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1064 nits, compared to the nubia X 5G’s unspecified brightness. This makes the Xperia 10 VII far more usable outdoors in direct sunlight. While the nubia X 5G’s dual-display setup is unique, the Xperia 10 VII’s single panel benefits from modern display technology, likely offering superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The absence of refresh rate information for the nubia X 5G suggests it lacks the smoother experience of a high-refresh-rate panel, a common feature in modern mid-range phones like the Xperia 10 VII.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for the nubia X 5G, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given its age, it likely lacks the advanced computational photography features found in the Xperia 10 VII. The Xperia 10 VII’s image processing benefits from newer algorithms and potentially a more sophisticated ISP within the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. While neither phone is expected to compete with flagship camera systems, the Xperia 10 VII’s modern chipset likely provides a more refined and consistent camera experience. We can assume the nubia X 5G may rely more heavily on hardware limitations, while the Xperia 10 VII can compensate with software.
Performance
The ZTE nubia X 5G’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) was a flagship processor in its time, featuring an octa-core configuration with a peak clock speed of 2.84 GHz. However, the Sony Xperia 10 VII’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) utilizes a more modern and efficient manufacturing process. While the 855 has a theoretical performance advantage, the 6 Gen 3’s Cortex-A78 cores offer improved efficiency and sustained performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 translates to lower power consumption and reduced thermal throttling, meaning the Xperia 10 VII is likely to maintain consistent performance during extended gaming or video editing sessions, something the older Snapdragon 855 may struggle with.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 10 VII truly shines in battery endurance, achieving a remarkable 48:10h endurance rating and a 12:57h active use score. This is a significant advantage over the nubia X 5G, which is limited to 18W wired charging with QC4. The Xperia 10 VII supports both PD and QC charging, offering greater flexibility. The combination of the efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and a well-optimized software experience allows the Xperia 10 VII to deliver exceptional battery life, potentially lasting two full days on a single charge for moderate users. The nubia X 5G, with its more power-hungry chipset, will likely require more frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia X 5G if you need raw processing power for demanding applications and don't mind potentially shorter battery life. It's suited for users who prioritize occasional bursts of performance over consistent efficiency. Buy the Sony Xperia 10 VII if you prefer all-day battery life, a bright and clear display, and a smooth, reliable experience for everyday tasks. It’s ideal for users who value longevity and efficiency over peak performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 855 in the nubia X 5G struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 855 is capable, it's likely to experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions with graphically intensive titles like Genshin Impact. This will result in frame rate drops and a less consistent gaming experience compared to newer, more efficient chipsets.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the Xperia 10 VII handle multitasking and app switching?
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, with its Cortex-A78 cores, provides a surprisingly smooth multitasking experience. While not as fast as flagship processors, it can handle multiple apps running in the background without significant slowdowns, making it suitable for everyday use.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the nubia X 5G slow compared to modern standards?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 30W or 65W charging found on many modern smartphones. It will take considerably longer to fully charge the nubia X 5G compared to the Xperia 10 VII, which supports faster PD and QC charging standards.
❓ Does the Xperia 10 VII support 5G connectivity?
Yes, the Sony Xperia 10 VII supports 5G connectivity, offering faster download and upload speeds where available. The nubia X 5G also supports 5G, but the efficiency of the newer Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 in the Xperia 10 VII may result in better 5G battery life.
