ZTE nubia Z40 Pro vs. Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Performance and Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge and superior thermal management, crucial for sustained gaming. While the nubia Z40 Pro offers competitive specs, the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s gaming-centric features and optimized software give it the win.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Z40 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 - Version A |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Version A |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2024/210 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA 800 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 - Version B | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 25 | 2022, July 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 02 | Available. Released 2022, July 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.9 x 72.9 x 8.4 mm (6.37 x 2.87 x 0.33 in) | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 239 g (8.43 oz) |
| - | IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storage | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide) | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | Yes | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 12 MP, 28mm (wide) |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired; 15W magnetic wireless (gravity version) 80W wired (regular version) | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5000 mAh (regular version)· Li-Po 4600 mAh (gravity version) | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Interstellar Black, Star Black, Silver | Storm White |
| Models | NX701J | AI2201_D |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 800 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 973756 (v8), 1103188 (v9) GeekBench: 3980 (v5.1) GFXBench: 79fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Z40 Pro
- Potentially better camera system (based on brand history)
- More understated design
- Multiple charging options (66W/80W wired, 15W wireless)
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Less optimized for gaming
- Limited information on display specifications
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
- Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Faster 65W charging with PD3.0/QC5
- Gaming-centric features and software
- Bulky, gamer-focused design
- Potentially less emphasis on camera quality
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices feature 4nm chipsets, but the ROG Phone 6 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 829 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight. While both likely employ high refresh rate panels (spec not provided for nubia Z40 Pro), the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks. The lack of specific display specs for the nubia Z40 Pro makes a direct comparison challenging, but the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s measured brightness gives it a clear advantage.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s gaming focus, its camera system is likely optimized for quick snapshots and streaming, while the nubia Z40 Pro, positioned as a flagship, may prioritize image quality and versatility. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, it’s difficult to definitively assess camera performance. However, the nubia brand has a history of strong camera performance, suggesting a potential edge in image quality.
Performance
The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant upgrade over the ZTE nubia Z40 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The 8+ Gen 1 features a higher peak CPU clock speed (3.19 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) and improved efficiency. This translates to better sustained performance under load, minimizing thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. Both utilize an octa-core configuration with the same Cortex-X2, A710, and A510 cores, but the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s architecture delivers a tangible performance boost. The ROG Phone 6 Pro’s superior thermal design, a hallmark of the ROG series, further enhances its performance advantage.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s 65W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC5 support offers a faster charging experience (100% in 42 minutes) compared to the nubia Z40 Pro’s 66W (regular version) or 80W (gravity version). The ROG Phone 6 Pro also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent in the nubia Z40 Pro. While both offer comparable endurance, the ROG Phone 6 Pro’s faster charging and reverse charging capabilities provide added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Z40 Pro if you need a versatile flagship with a focus on photography and a more understated design. It’s ideal for users who want a premium experience without the overtly ‘gamer’ aesthetic. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro if you prioritize raw gaming performance, extended battery life during intense sessions, and are willing to embrace a bolder, feature-rich design tailored for mobile esports.