ZTE nubia Z50S Pro vs Huawei P60 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The ZTE nubia Z50S Pro and Huawei P60 Pro represent compelling options in the flagship Android space, but cater to slightly different priorities. The nubia Z50S Pro focuses on raw performance with the newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2, while the P60 Pro emphasizes camera versatility and wireless charging convenience, despite utilizing the older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in demanding tasks, and its active use battery life of 12:29h is impressive. While the P60 Pro offers wireless charging and a slightly brighter display, the nubia’s superior processing power and potentially lower price make it the more compelling option.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z50S Pro Huawei P60 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2023, July 202023, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, July 27Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frame-
Dimensions163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)161 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.34 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight228 g (8.04 oz)200 g (7.05 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Kunlun Glass
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~452 ppi density)1220 x 2700 pixels (~444 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.7 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740 (719 MHz)Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, MyOS 13, no planned android upgradesHarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS
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, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple-48 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 25mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.1, 90mm (telephoto), PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p, gyro-EIS, 10-bit4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid
Selfie camera
Features-Panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps, HDR Vivid
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -BDS Satellite Message
Battery
Charging80W wired88W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAhLi-Po 4815 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Khaki, Silver/WhiteBlack, Green, Violet, Rococo Pearl
ModelsNX713JMNA-AL00, MNA-LX9
PriceAbout 800 EUR€ 738.50
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 96h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1030473 (v9) GeekBench: 4422 (v6) GFXBench: 65fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Z50S Pro

  • More powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 chipset
  • Potentially better thermal management due to newer process node
  • Faster processing speeds for gaming and demanding apps

  • Lower peak display brightness compared to P60 Pro
  • Limited display specifications available

Huawei P60 Pro

  • Higher peak display brightness for better outdoor visibility
  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities
  • Reputation for strong camera image processing

  • Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset with 4G connectivity limitation
  • Potentially lower performance in demanding tasks
  • Endurance rating is less informative than active use testing

Display Comparison

Both devices feature high-quality displays, but the Huawei P60 Pro edges out the nubia Z50S Pro in peak brightness, achieving 1135 nits compared to the nubia’s 1029 nits. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight. However, the lack of detailed display specifications like refresh rate and panel type for the nubia Z50S Pro makes a complete assessment difficult. The P60 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a strong OLED panel, while the nubia’s display performance relies heavily on its calibration and color accuracy, which are currently unknown.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are marketed as camera-centric, but detailed sensor information is missing. Both support photo and video recording, but without specifics on megapixel counts, sensor sizes, or aperture values, a direct comparison is challenging. The P60 Pro’s reputation for strong image processing and color science suggests a focus on producing visually appealing images, while the nubia Z50S Pro’s camera performance remains largely unknown. The absence of details on optical image stabilization (OIS) on either device further complicates the assessment. We can assume both will offer a range of shooting modes, but the quality will depend heavily on the underlying hardware and software algorithms.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Z50S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4nm) represents a significant upgrade over the Huawei P60 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4nm). The Gen 2 features a newer CPU architecture – Cortex-X3 vs Cortex-X2 – and improved efficiency. The nubia’s CPU configuration (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) offers a performance boost over the P60 Pro’s (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510). Crucially, the P60 Pro is limited to 4G connectivity, a significant drawback for users requiring fast mobile data speeds. The nubia Z50S Pro will benefit from faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance.

Battery Life

The Huawei P60 Pro boasts an ‘Endurance rating’ of 96 hours, a metric that requires further context. The nubia Z50S Pro, however, provides a concrete ‘active use’ score of 12:29h. While the P60 Pro offers both 88W wired and 50W wireless charging, along with reverse wireless charging, the nubia Z50S Pro’s 80W wired charging is still very competitive. The P60 Pro’s wireless charging is a clear advantage for convenience, but the nubia’s potentially more efficient chipset could offset the slightly slower wired charging speed in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and future-proofing with a more powerful processor. It’s ideal for users who frequently edit videos, play graphically intensive games, or simply want the fastest possible Android experience. Buy the Huawei P60 Pro if you value camera versatility, wireless charging, and a slightly brighter display, and are willing to accept the limitations of the older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset and potential software restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Huawei P60 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a capable chipset, it is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2. The P60 Pro’s thermal management will be crucial; prolonged gaming at maximum settings could lead to noticeable throttling, reducing sustained performance. The nubia Z50S Pro, with its newer chipset, is expected to handle heat more efficiently.
❓ How does the lack of 5G connectivity on the Huawei P60 Pro impact its usability in 2023 and beyond?
The P60 Pro’s limitation to 4G is a significant drawback. As 5G networks become more widespread and data-intensive applications become more common, users will experience slower download and upload speeds, potentially hindering tasks like streaming, video conferencing, and cloud gaming. This limitation significantly impacts the phone’s future-proofing.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Huawei P60 Pro significantly faster than competing wireless charging solutions?
50W wireless charging is relatively fast, but not necessarily groundbreaking. While it offers convenience, it’s still slower than the 88W wired charging on the P60 Pro and the 80W wired charging on the nubia Z50S Pro. The convenience factor is the primary benefit, rather than a substantial speed advantage.