ZTE nubia Z50 vs Google Pixel 7 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The ZTE nubia Z50 and Google Pixel 7 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the Android flagship space. The nubia Z50 prioritizes raw performance with the latest Snapdragon silicon and rapid charging, while the Pixel 7 Pro focuses on computational photography and a refined software experience powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and fast charging, the ZTE nubia Z50 is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 7 Pro excels in camera versatility and software features, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z50 Google Pixel 7 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GE2AE
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC
Launch
Announced2022, December 192022, October 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 26Available. Released 2022, October 13
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 72.9 x 8.5 mm or 8.7 mm162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight197 g or 199 g (6.95 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nitsLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 13, MyOS 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 4.0 UFS 3.1 (128GB only)UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesRing-LED flash (4 LEDs), panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, (wide)10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF
Video8K, 4K4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, (wide)10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging80W wired23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Mint, Rabit redObsidian, Snow, Hazel
ModelsNX711JGP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4J
PriceAbout 400 EUR€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 83h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Z50

  • Significantly faster charging (80W)
  • More powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Potentially better thermal management

  • Battery capacity unknown
  • Software support may be less consistent than Google

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Exceptional camera with AI-powered features
  • Clean and intuitive software experience
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower charging speed (23W)
  • Less powerful processor (Tensor G2)

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1090 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the nubia Z50’s display specs are not provided, nubia typically focuses on high refresh rates and color accuracy. The Pixel 7 Pro’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a true OLED panel, delivering deep blacks. Without nubia Z50 display specs, it’s difficult to assess panel technology, but the Pixel 7 Pro’s display is a known quantity and a strong performer.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having strong photo and video capabilities. However, the Pixel 7 Pro’s strength lies in its computational photography, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms. Without specific sensor details for the nubia Z50, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. The Pixel 7 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The nubia Z50 may offer more manual control options, appealing to experienced photographers, but the Pixel 7 Pro’s ease of use and consistent results are a major advantage.

Performance

The nubia Z50’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) chipset represents a significant leap in performance over the Pixel 7 Pro’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, offers substantially higher single-core performance than the Pixel’s Cortex-X1 cores at 2.85 GHz. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also provides better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Pixel 7 Pro’s Tensor G2 prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, but falls behind in raw CPU and GPU power.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the nubia Z50). However, the nubia Z50’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, significantly faster than the Pixel 7 Pro’s 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Pixel 7 Pro also offers 23W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the nubia Z50. The nubia Z50’s faster charging mitigates any potential battery capacity disadvantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z50 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, require the fastest possible charging speeds, and value a more customizable Android experience. Buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro if you prefer a superior camera system with advanced AI features, a clean and intuitive software experience, and long-term software support from Google.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the nubia Z50 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process is designed for improved thermal efficiency. While some heat is inevitable during demanding tasks, the nubia Z50 is likely to experience less throttling than devices with less efficient chipsets. Nubia’s cooling solutions will also play a role in maintaining optimal performance.
❓ How does the Pixel 7 Pro’s Tensor G2 handle AI tasks compared to other chips?
The Tensor G2 is specifically designed for on-device AI and machine learning. This translates to faster and more accurate features like voice recognition, image processing, and live translation. While other chips can perform these tasks, the Tensor G2 is optimized for them, offering a smoother and more responsive experience.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the nubia Z50 a significant drawback?
For users who frequently utilize wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the nubia Z50 is a notable omission. However, the significantly faster 80W wired charging may compensate for this, allowing for quick top-ups when needed.
❓ What kind of software updates can nubia Z50 users expect?
ZTE/nubia’s software update track record is less consistent than Google’s. Pixel 7 Pro users are guaranteed several years of OS and security updates. Nubia Z50 users should expect updates, but the frequency and duration of support may be shorter.