Nubia Z20 vs Samsung Galaxy S10+: A Deep Dive into Battery, Performance, and Value
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing battery life and sustained performance, the ZTE nubia Z20 emerges as the winner. Its 100-hour endurance rating, coupled with the Snapdragon 855+ and 27W fast charging, provides a significant advantage over the Galaxy S10+'s 91-hour rating and 15W charging. However, the S10+ offers a more polished software experience and wireless charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Z20 | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EU/Asia | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - NA | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, August. Released 2019, August | 2019, February 20 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 158.6 x 75.3 x 9 mm (6.24 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.42 inches, 101.2 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10, 600 nits (typ) | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| Always-on display Secondary display (on the back): AMOLED, 5.1 inches, 720 x 1520 pixels, 330 nits (typ) | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Nubia UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, second soft flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, AF | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@1920fps | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm, depth sensor |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
| Triple | Uses main cameras | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@1920fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Dual fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 27W wired, PD2.0 | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Twilight Blue, Diamond Black | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue |
| Models | NX627J | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 199.00 / C$ 879.99 / £ 999.00 / € 299.00 / ₹ 39,940 |
| SAR | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -94.3dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 91h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.514 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 71dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 74dB | -24.7 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 371150 (v7), 355478 (v8) GeekBench: 10101 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 333736 (v7), 399901 (v8) GeekBench: 10387 (v4.4), 2190 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Z20
- Superior battery endurance (100h rating)
- Faster 27W wired charging with PD2.0
- Potentially better sustained performance with Snapdragon 855+
- Lacks wireless charging
- Limited camera information available
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Higher peak display brightness for outdoor visibility
- More refined software experience
- Lower battery endurance (91h rating)
- Slower 15W wired charging
- Potential for thermal throttling with Exynos variant
Display Comparison
Both the nubia Z20 and Galaxy S10+ boast 'Infinite' contrast ratios, a common marketing term for OLED panels. However, the Z20 achieves a measured peak brightness of 615 nits, while the S10+ reaches 4.514 nits in sunlight. This suggests the S10+ offers superior visibility in bright outdoor conditions. While both utilize OLED technology, the S10+’s higher peak brightness provides a noticeable advantage for outdoor use. The lack of refresh rate information for the Z20 means we can't compare smoothness, but the S10+’s panel is known for its color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Z20. The S10+ is known for its versatile camera system, though details on specific sensor sizes and apertures are not provided in the context data. Without specifics on the Z20’s camera hardware, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The S10+’s reputation for image processing and overall camera quality gives it an edge, assuming similar shooting conditions. The absence of details on the Z20’s camera prevents a thorough analysis.
Performance
The nubia Z20 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7nm), utilizing an octa-core CPU configuration with a prime core clocked at 2.96 GHz. The Galaxy S10+, depending on the region, comes with either the Exynos 9820 (8nm) or the Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The Snapdragon 855+ in the Z20 offers a slight performance edge over the standard 855, and potentially over the Exynos 9820, particularly in sustained workloads due to its improved thermal characteristics. The Exynos 9820, while capable, is known to throttle more aggressively under prolonged stress. The Z20’s architecture benefits users who engage in extended gaming sessions or demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The nubia Z20 boasts an endurance rating of 100 hours, significantly exceeding the Galaxy S10+'s 91 hours. This translates to longer usage between charges. The Z20 also supports 27W wired charging with PD2.0, enabling faster charging speeds compared to the S10+'s 15W wired charging. The S10+ adds the convenience of 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Z20. For users prioritizing rapid replenishment, the Z20’s faster wired charging is a clear advantage, while the S10+ offers wireless charging flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Z20 if you need exceptional battery life, prioritize sustained gaming performance, and appreciate faster wired charging. This phone is ideal for power users and those frequently away from a charger. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you prefer a more refined software experience, value wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities, and prioritize a well-established ecosystem with broader accessory support.