ZTE nubia Z40S Pro vs. vivo iQOO 9 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon Flagships

The ZTE nubia Z40S Pro and vivo iQOO 9 Pro represent compelling options in the high-end Android space, both aiming to deliver flagship performance without the absolute top-tier price tag. The nubia Z40S Pro, with its newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, directly challenges the iQOO 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, creating a fascinating battle of silicon and features. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the ZTE nubia Z40S Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers superior thermal efficiency and slightly better CPU performance, translating to sustained performance in demanding tasks. While the iQOO 9 Pro boasts faster wired charging and a comparable battery endurance rating, the nubia’s overall package provides a more refined experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Z40S Pro	vivo iQOO 9 Pro

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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2022, July 20	2022, January 05
Status	Available. Released 2022, July 26	Available. Released 2022, January 12

Body
Build	Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back	Glass front (Panda Glass), aluminum frame, glass back or aramid fiber back
Dimensions	161.3 x 74 x 8.1 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)	164.8 x 75.2 x 8.8 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	205 g (7.23 oz)	204 g or 210 g (7.20 oz)
	-	Splash and dust resistant

Display
Protection	-	Panda Glass
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits	LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 730
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MyOS 13	Android 12, Funtouch 12 (International), OriginOS Ocean (China)

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1 (V6)

Main Camera
Features	Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED lash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm
Triple	64 MP, f/1.6, 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), AF	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 60mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.3, 15mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
Video	8K, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm
Video	Yes	1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with dual speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	80W wired (regular version) 120W wired; 15W magnetic wireless (120W version)	120W wired, 50% in 8 min, 100% in 20 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless
Type	Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5000 mAh (regular version)· Li-Po 4600 mAh (120W version)	4700 mAh

Misc
Colors	Interstellar Black, Star Black, Silver	Legend (White w/ BMW M branding), Dark Cruise, Orange
Models	NX702J	V2172A, I2022
Price	About 490 EUR	About 630 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 97h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 862324 (v8), 997948 (v9) GeekBench: 3708 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Z40S Pro

More efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
Potentially better sustained performance
Available with 120W charging (certain models)

Charging speed varies by model (80W vs 120W)
Limited display specifications available

vivo iQOO 9 Pro

Ultra-fast 120W wired charging
50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless
Confirmed 1000 nits peak brightness

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is less thermally efficient
Potential for more throttling under heavy load

Display Comparison

Both devices offer high-quality displays, but specific details are limited. The iQOO 9 Pro is confirmed to reach 1000 nits of peak brightness, suggesting excellent outdoor visibility. While the nubia Z40S Pro’s display specs are not provided, nubia typically employs AMOLED panels with vibrant colors. The iQOO 9 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio is a marketing term, common to AMOLED technology. Without refresh rate or resolution details for the nubia, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the iQOO 9 Pro’s confirmed brightness gives it a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both will offer versatile camera systems, but the lack of specifics prevents a clear assessment. We can infer that both will likely include a primary wide-angle lens, ultrawide, and potentially a telephoto lens, but the quality will depend on the hardware not provided.

Performance

The nubia Z40S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a clear advantage over the iQOO 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The ‘+’ variant features a higher peak CPU clock speed (3.19 GHz vs 3.00 GHz) and improved thermal characteristics. Both CPUs share the same core configuration – 1x Cortex-X2, 3x Cortex-A710, and 4x Cortex-A510 – but the 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency gains mean less throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. While both likely utilize LPDDR5x RAM, the nubia’s chipset provides a performance uplift.

Battery Life

The iQOO 9 Pro’s charging capabilities are a standout feature, offering 120W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in 8 minutes and 100% in 20 minutes. It also supports 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging. The nubia Z40S Pro comes in two variants: 80W wired (standard) and 120W wired with 15W magnetic wireless. Both phones share an endurance rating of 97 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity (not specified). The iQOO 9 Pro’s faster charging speeds are a significant convenience factor.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z40S Pro if you prioritize sustained performance during gaming or intensive applications, and value the efficiency gains of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Buy the vivo iQOO 9 Pro if you absolutely need the fastest possible wired charging speeds (120W vs 80W/120W) and appreciate the convenience of 50W wireless charging, and are willing to potentially manage slightly more thermal throttling under heavy load.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the iQOO 9 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. While the iQOO 9 Pro likely incorporates cooling solutions, it's probable that users will experience some degree of thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming sessions, potentially leading to reduced frame rates over time. The nubia Z40S Pro, with its 8+ Gen 1, should mitigate this issue.

❓ What type of wireless charging does the nubia Z40S Pro's 15W magnetic wireless charging offer compared to the iQOO 9 Pro's 50W wireless charging?

The nubia Z40S Pro utilizes magnetic wireless charging, which typically requires a specific magnetic attachment for optimal alignment and charging speed. While convenient, 15W is significantly slower than the iQOO 9 Pro’s 50W wireless charging. The iQOO 9 Pro offers a more conventional wireless charging experience with a much faster charging rate.

❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications a major concern when choosing between these two phones?

Yes, it is. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing algorithms, it's difficult to assess the camera performance accurately. Both phones likely offer a versatile camera setup, but the quality of photos and videos will depend heavily on these undisclosed specifications. Relying on sample images and reviews is crucial.