ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Power and AI

The ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship smartphone space. The nubia Z70 Ultra aggressively targets performance enthusiasts with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the Pixel 8 Pro doubles down on Google’s AI capabilities and computational photography. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and extended battery life, the ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and nearly 13-hour active use score provide a noticeable edge. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior camera system and AI features make it the better choice for photography and Google ecosystem integration.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra 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, 25, 26, 28, 34, 39, 40, 41, 38, 42, 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 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 / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 212023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 25Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 3.04 x 0.34 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
ProtectionLongxi glass (gen 2)Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 15, Nebula AIOSAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.6-4.0, 35mm (standard), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.5, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, multi-directional PDAF (15cm - ∞), OIS, 2.7x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, multi-directional PDAF50 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@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display10.5 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
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, 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 wired, PD3.0, QC430W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6150 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gold, Starry Night, OrangeObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsNX733J, NX736JGC3VE, G1MNW
Price£ 499.00€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Faster 80W wired charging
  • Longer battery life (12:59h active use)

  • Camera details are limited
  • Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system and computational photography
  • AI-powered features and Google ecosystem integration
  • Brighter display (1600 nits)

  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired)
  • Shorter battery life (11:14h active use)

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a brighter display at 1600 nits compared to the nubia Z70 Ultra’s 1382 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. While both support PD3.0, the Pixel 8 Pro’s display technology likely incorporates more advanced color calibration and potentially a higher PWM dimming rate, though this isn’t specified. The nubia Z70 Ultra’s display, while slightly dimmer, is still excellent and benefits from the raw processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite to render content smoothly. Bezels are comparable, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s curved display may offer a more immersive experience for some users.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro is heavily marketed around its camera capabilities, and while specific sensor details aren’t provided in the context data, Google’s computational photography prowess is a major draw. The Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing algorithms are renowned for their dynamic range and detail. The nubia Z70 Ultra’s camera system is less detailed in the provided data, but it’s reasonable to assume it focuses on hardware specifications. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from Google’s advanced video stabilization and editing features. The absence of detailed camera specs for the nubia Z70 Ultra makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s established reputation gives it a clear advantage.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), an octa-core processor with a unique core configuration (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M). This contrasts with the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm) nona-core CPU (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process node provides a significant advantage in power efficiency and thermal management, potentially leading to sustained performance during intensive tasks. While the Tensor G3 excels in AI-specific workloads, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is likely to outperform it in raw CPU and GPU benchmarks. The nubia Z70 Ultra’s LPDDR5x RAM further contributes to its performance edge.

Battery Life

The nubia Z70 Ultra achieves an impressive 12:59h active use score, exceeding the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. While the Pixel 8 Pro offers 30W wired charging, 23W wireless, and reverse wireless charging, the nubia Z70 Ultra’s 80W wired charging is significantly faster. The Pixel 8 Pro’s 50% charge in 30 minutes is competitive, but the nubia Z70 Ultra will likely achieve a full charge much quicker. The Pixel 8 Pro’s older 90h endurance rating is less relevant than the nubia’s measured active use time. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency contributes to the nubia’s longer battery life despite a potentially smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, and value long-lasting battery life. You’ll benefit from the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s processing power and the 80W fast charging. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a seamless AI-powered experience, exceptional camera capabilities, and a polished software experience with guaranteed updates. The Pixel 8 Pro excels in computational photography and offers unique features like Magic Eraser and Best Take.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the nubia Z70 Ultra get noticeably hotter than the Tensor G3 during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Elite is a powerful chip, its 3nm process node is designed for improved thermal efficiency. The nubia Z70 Ultra likely manages heat better than the Pixel 8 Pro under sustained load, minimizing throttling and maintaining consistent performance during long gaming sessions. However, both phones will experience some heat generation.
❓ How does the Pixel 8 Pro’s AI features impact everyday use beyond the camera?
The Tensor G3’s AI capabilities extend beyond photography to features like live translation, improved voice assistant responsiveness, and enhanced call screening. These features aim to streamline everyday tasks and provide a more intelligent user experience, differentiating the Pixel 8 Pro from competitors.
❓ Is the 80W charging on the nubia Z70 Ultra compatible with all USB-PD chargers?
The nubia Z70 Ultra supports PD3.0, meaning it *should* be compatible with many USB-PD chargers. However, to achieve the full 80W charging speed, you'll need a charger specifically rated for that wattage and supporting the PD3.0 protocol. Using a lower-wattage charger will still charge the phone, but at a slower rate.