The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the ZTE nubia Z50 and the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro. Both offer impressive specs at attractive price points, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco F5 Pro edges out the nubia Z50 thanks to its faster wireless charging, brighter display, and slightly more versatile charging options. However, the nubia Z50 boasts the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering a performance advantage in demanding tasks. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 19 | 2023, May 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 26 | Available. Released 2023, May |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back or eco leather back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 72.9 x 8.5 mm or 8.7 mm | 162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197 g or 199 g (6.95 oz) | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits | AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 13, MyOS 13 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 4.0
UFS 3.1 (128GB only) | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | Ring-LED flash (4 LEDs), panorama, HDR | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K, 4K | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min
30W wireless, 50% in 32 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Mint, Rabit red | Black, White |
| Models | NX711J | 23013PC75G |
| Price | About 400 EUR | $ 449.99 / € 241.85 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 99h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.2 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 1057977 (v9)
GeekBench: 4001 (v5.1), 4009 (v6)
GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Z50
- Newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Clean and minimal software
- Excellent performance for gaming
- Fast 80W wired charging
- Lower peak brightness display
- No wireless charging
- Camera performance slightly behind Poco F5 Pro
Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro
- Brighter 1059 nits display
- Fast 67W wired and 30W wireless charging
- Versatile camera system
- Excellent battery life (99h endurance rating)
- Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
- Software can be cluttered with bloatware
- Performance slightly behind nubia Z50 in demanding tasks
Display Comparison
The Poco F5 Pro takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1059 nits, significantly brighter than the nubia Z50. While the nubia Z50's display is excellent, the Poco F5 Pro's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. Both offer vibrant colors and smooth refresh rates, but the Poco's brightness is a noticeable advantage.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a close call. Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Poco F5 Pro's camera setup is generally considered more versatile. While detailed camera comparisons require extensive testing, initial impressions suggest the Poco F5 Pro might offer slightly better image processing and low-light performance. Both phones are capable of recording high-quality video.
Performance
The nubia Z50 holds a clear advantage in performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. This newer generation chip offers improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the Poco F5 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Expect smoother gameplay and faster app loading times on the nubia Z50, especially in graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
The Poco F5 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 99 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the nubia Z50's battery life is also good, the Poco F5 Pro likely has a slight edge. The Poco F5 Pro also offers significantly faster wireless charging (30W) compared to the nubia Z50's 80W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Z50 is ideal for gamers and power users who prioritize raw performance and a clean software experience. The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is a great choice for those seeking a vibrant display, fast charging (especially wireless), and a well-rounded feature set at a competitive price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The ZTE nubia Z50 is generally better for gaming due to its newer and more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
❓ Does the Poco F5 Pro support wireless charging?
Yes, the Poco F5 Pro supports 30W wireless charging, a feature absent in the nubia Z50.
❓ Which phone has a better camera?
The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is considered to have a slightly more versatile camera system, although both phones are capable of taking good photos.
❓ Which phone offers better value for money?
The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro generally offers better value for money due to its combination of features, performance, and price.
