ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra vs. vivo iQOO 12 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and sustained performance, the ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its 12:59h active use score and Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset provide a noticeable advantage in longevity. However, the iQOO 12 Pro’s 120W charging is a compelling feature for those who value speed above all else.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra | vivo iQOO 12 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 39, 40, 41, 38, 42, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 21 | 2023, November 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, November 25 | Available. Released 2023, November 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 3.04 x 0.34 in) | 164.6 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Longxi glass (gen 2) | - |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 15, Nebula AIOS | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 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 PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, ulti-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 | 120W wired 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 6150 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, Starry Night, Orange | Black, Red, White (BMW M branding) |
| Models | NX733J, NX736J | V2329A |
| Price | £ 499.00 | About 650 EUR |
ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra
- Exceptional battery life (12:59h active use)
- Snapdragon 8 Elite offers sustained performance
- High peak display brightness (1382 nits)
- 80W charging is slower than iQOO 12 Pro
- Lacks wireless charging
vivo iQOO 12 Pro
- Ultra-fast 120W wired charging
- 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
- Potentially shorter battery life compared to nubia Z70 Ultra
- Thermal management may be a concern under sustained load
Display Comparison
The nubia Z70 Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 1382 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the iQOO 12 Pro’s display specifications aren’t provided, vivo typically employs high-quality AMOLED panels. The nubia’s brightness advantage is significant, and the absence of LTPO information for the iQOO 12 Pro suggests it may not dynamically adjust refresh rates as efficiently, potentially impacting battery consumption. Users who spend significant time outdoors will benefit from the Z70 Ultra’s superior brightness.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications for either device, a direct comparison is limited. However, the market positioning suggests both will feature high-resolution main sensors. The focus should be on image processing algorithms and low-light performance. The iQOO series often emphasizes vibrant, saturated colors, while nubia tends towards a more natural look. The absence of information regarding OIS and aperture sizes makes a definitive judgment impossible, but the larger sensor (if present) will always be a benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the nubia Z70 Ultra utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a unique octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. The iQOO 12 Pro employs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) with a more conventional core layout. While the Gen 3 is newer, the 3nm process of the 8 Elite *should* offer better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling under sustained load. The Oryon cores in the Z70 Ultra are designed for peak performance, potentially giving it an edge in CPU-intensive tasks. However, the Gen 3’s advancements in AI processing and GPU architecture could benefit gamers and users of AI-powered applications.
Battery Life
The nubia Z70 Ultra’s active use battery score of 12:59h is a standout feature, indicating excellent power efficiency. The iQOO 12 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging: 120W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless, compared to the nubia’s 80W wired charging. This means the iQOO 12 Pro can replenish its battery much quicker, but the nubia Z70 Ultra will likely last longer on a single charge. The iQOO 12 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities are also a significant advantage for users who prefer cable-free charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra if you need exceptional battery life for demanding tasks like video editing or extended gaming sessions, and value a chipset designed for sustained peak performance. Buy the vivo iQOO 12 Pro if you prioritize the fastest possible charging speeds, and appreciate the latest generation Snapdragon processor for future-proofing and potentially better software optimization down the line.