ZTE nubia Z50S Pro vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The ZTE nubia Z50S Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The nubia prioritizes raw performance and aggressive value, leveraging a slightly older but potent Snapdragon chipset. The Pixel 8 Pro, meanwhile, focuses on computational photography, AI-driven features, and a tightly integrated software experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right phone.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing sustained performance and value, the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 delivers excellent gaming and multitasking, coupled with faster 80W charging. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior display and AI-powered camera features make it a compelling choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z50S Pro Google Pixel 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, July 202023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, July 27Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight228 g (8.04 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~452 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740 (719 MHz)Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 13, MyOS 13, no planned android upgradesAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", PDAF, OIS, optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 125˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, AF-
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple-50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS, 10-bit4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band or tri-band (market/region dependent), Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging80W wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Khaki, Silver/WhiteObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsNX713JGC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

ZTE nubia Z50S Pro

  • Faster 80W wired charging
  • Superior sustained performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2
  • Generally more affordable price

  • Less bright display
  • Less advanced camera software features

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Exceptional camera with AI-powered features
  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower charging speed
  • Less powerful processor for demanding tasks

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1600 nits compared to the nubia Z50S Pro’s 1029 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize high refresh rate panels, the Pixel 8 Pro’s display is likely to offer more accurate color reproduction and potentially wider color gamut coverage, typical of Google’s display calibration. The nubia Z50S Pro’s display, while still excellent, is geared towards efficiency rather than outright visual dominance.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are capable of capturing excellent photos and videos, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 8 Pro leverages Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms, focusing on dynamic range, detail, and accurate color reproduction. While specific sensor details are not provided, the Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing pipeline is a key differentiator. The nubia Z50S Pro, while also offering strong camera capabilities, likely relies more on hardware and less on software trickery. The Pixel 8 Pro’s AI-powered features, such as Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur, provide unique editing capabilities. Without detailed sensor information for the nubia, it’s difficult to make a definitive hardware comparison, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s software advantage is significant.

Performance

The nubia Z50S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4nm) and the Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 (4nm) represent different approaches to mobile processing. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 features a more traditional CPU core configuration – Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) – optimized for sustained peak performance. The Tensor G3, with its Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) architecture, prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks. In benchmarks, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 generally outperforms the Tensor G3 in raw CPU and GPU power, making the nubia Z50S Pro the better choice for demanding games and applications. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 excels in tasks like voice recognition, image processing, and on-device AI features.

Battery Life

The nubia Z50S Pro achieves an impressive 12:29h of active use, slightly exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. However, the Pixel 8 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging – 30W wired (50% in 30 min), 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging. The nubia Z50S Pro’s 80W wired charging is considerably quicker, allowing for a full charge in less time. The Pixel 8 Pro’s additional wireless charging and bypass charging (allowing charging while in use) offer convenience features the nubia lacks. The Pixel 8 Pro’s older 90h endurance rating is less relevant than the measured active use score.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro if you need uncompromising performance for gaming and demanding applications, and value fast charging and a lower price point. You’ll benefit from a phone that consistently delivers high frame rates and handles multitasking with ease. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a best-in-class camera experience with advanced AI features, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and seamless integration with Google services, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power and charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8 Pro get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Tensor G3 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2, particularly during prolonged gaming or demanding tasks. While Google has implemented thermal management solutions, users may experience some throttling and reduced performance over extended periods. The nubia Z50S Pro, with its more efficient Snapdragon chipset, is likely to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the nubia Z50S Pro compare to the 30W charging on the Pixel 8 Pro in real-world use?
The nubia Z50S Pro’s 80W charging is significantly faster. While the Pixel 8 Pro claims 50% charge in 30 minutes, the nubia Z50S Pro can likely achieve a full charge in a similar timeframe. This makes the nubia Z50S Pro ideal for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the Pixel 8 Pro’s Magic Eraser feature worth the trade-off in raw processing power?
For users who frequently edit photos and value the ability to easily remove unwanted objects, Magic Eraser is a compelling feature. However, if your primary focus is gaming or demanding applications, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 in the nubia Z50S Pro offers a more substantial performance benefit.