ZTE nubia Z30 Pro vs. Z50 Ultra: A Clash of Flagship Titans

ZTE's nubia series has consistently delivered impressive specs and features at competitive prices. Today, we're pitting two of their flagship phones, the nubia Z30 Pro and the nubia Z50 Ultra, against each other to determine which offers the best overall experience. Both boast powerful processors, but significant differences exist in their features and capabilities.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The nubia Z50 Ultra is the clear winner, offering a superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a more advanced camera system (including a periscope lens), and a refined design. While the Z30 Pro's 120W charging is faster, the Z50 Ultra's overall package is more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Z30 Pro	ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	LTE
5G bands	1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2021, May 20	2023, March 07
Status	Available. Released 2021, May 25	Available. Released 2023, March 14

Body
Dimensions	161.8 x 73 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 2.87 x 0.33 in)	163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	198 g (6.98 oz)	228 g (8.04 oz)

Display
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 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	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 740
OS	Android 11, nubia UI 9	Android 13, MyOS 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 4.0

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	64 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/1.9, 35mm (standard), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 123mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 64 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm	-
Single	16 MP	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Triple	-	64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.3, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.X, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX	5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1+L2+L5), GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	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, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	120W wired, 100% in 15 min	80W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Li-Po 4200 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Silver, Black, Black/Gold	Black, Silver, Starry Sky
Models	NX667J	NX712J
Price	About 640 EUR	About 540 EUR

ZTE nubia Z30 Pro

Incredibly fast 120W charging
Powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
Competitive price

Older chipset compared to Z50 Ultra
Less advanced camera system
90Hz display refresh rate

ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Versatile camera system with periscope lens
Brighter and higher resolution display
Modern design

Slower charging speed (80W)
Higher price point

Display Comparison

The nubia Z50 Ultra features a 6.8-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Z30 Pro has a 6.67-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Z50 Ultra's display is brighter and offers a higher resolution, resulting in a sharper and more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

The nubia Z50 Ultra boasts a triple-camera system with a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens. The Z30 Pro features a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens. The Z50 Ultra's periscope lens allows for greater optical zoom capabilities, resulting in more detailed and versatile photos. Both phones capture excellent images in good lighting conditions, but the Z50 Ultra's camera system is more advanced overall.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Z50 Ultra provides a significant performance boost over the Snapdragon 888 in the Z30 Pro. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the Z50 Ultra. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the Z50 Ultra excels in demanding scenarios.

Battery Life

The nubia Z30 Pro's 120W wired charging is incredibly fast, fully charging the phone in just 15 minutes. The nubia Z50 Ultra offers 80W wired charging, which is still relatively fast but takes longer to fully charge the device. Both phones have a similar battery capacity (around 4200-4500mAh), offering all-day battery life with moderate usage.

Buying Guide

The nubia Z30 Pro is a good choice for users prioritizing incredibly fast charging and a slightly more affordable price point. The nubia Z50 Ultra is ideal for those seeking top-tier performance, a versatile camera system, and a more modern design, even if it means paying a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the nubia Z50 Ultra worth the extra cost compared to the Z30 Pro?

If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a modern display, the Z50 Ultra is worth the investment. However, if fast charging is your top priority and you're on a tighter budget, the Z30 Pro remains a solid option.

❓ What software do these phones run?

Both phones run on Android, likely with ZTE's custom UI on top. Specific Android versions may vary depending on updates.