ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: A Deep Dive Comparison

The ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra arrives as a compelling alternative to established flagships, boasting a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. We pit it against the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, a more mainstream offering with Samsung’s Exynos 2400e, to determine which device provides the best blend of performance, features, and value for discerning Android users.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and fast charging, the ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers superior processing power, while 80W charging significantly outpaces the S24 FE’s 25W. However, the S24 FE’s exceptional battery endurance and wider availability make it a strong contender for those valuing longevity and ecosystem integration.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
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, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, April 282024, September 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, April 28Available. Released 2024, October 03
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aluminum frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 3.04 x 0.34 in)162 x 77.3 x 8 mm (6.38 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM
Weight228 g (8.04 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 7i or Longxi glass (gen 2)Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, Mohs level 5
Resolution1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~385 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)10-core (1x3.1 GHz + 2x2.9 GHz + 3x2.6 GHz + 4x1.95 GHz)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Exynos 2400e (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Xclipse 940
OSAndroid 15, Nebula AIOS 1.5Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.7, 35mm (standard), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, 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/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 75mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
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
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoUnspecified
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
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, dual-band or tri-band (market/region dependent), Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, QC425W wired, PD, QC2, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6600 mAh4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsAntique Brown, Classic BlackBlue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, Yellow
ModelsNX737JSM-S721B, SM-S721B/DS, SM-S721U1, SM-S721U, SM-S721W, SM-S7210, SM-S721N
Price£ 629.00 / € 729.00$ 249.74 / C$ 498.99 / £ 335.00 / € 387.00 / ₹ 34,180
SAR-0.94 W/kg (head)     0.71 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.86 W/kg (head)     1.29 W/kg (body)
EU LABEL
Battery-42:00h endurance, 2000 cycles
Energy-Class B
Free fall-Class A (270 falls)
Repairability-Class C

ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Significantly faster 80W wired charging
  • Potentially better thermal management due to 3nm process

  • Slightly lower battery endurance in active use tests
  • Limited availability compared to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

  • Exceptional battery endurance and longevity (2000 cycles)
  • Wider availability and Samsung ecosystem integration
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Exynos 2400e may exhibit thermal throttling under heavy load

Display Comparison

Both devices feature excellent displays, with the nubia Z70S Ultra achieving a measured peak brightness of 1395 nits and the S24 FE reaching 1372 nits. This near-parity ensures excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ AMOLED panels, the nubia’s focus on peak brightness suggests a potential advantage for HDR content. The S24 FE benefits from Samsung’s established display calibration expertise, potentially offering more accurate color reproduction out of the box, though this requires independent testing. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, and neither manufacturer specifies refresh rate details, but both are expected to offer adaptive refresh rates for smoother scrolling.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are missing, but the nubia Z70S Ultra is positioned as a photography-focused device. While the S24 FE likely features a versatile camera system, the nubia’s potential for a larger main sensor (based on marketing) and advanced image processing algorithms could give it an edge in low-light performance and dynamic range. The S24 FE’s image processing is known for its vibrant, saturated colors, while the nubia may lean towards a more natural look. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the S24 FE is largely inconsequential, offering limited practical benefit compared to a dedicated telephoto lens.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The nubia Z70S Ultra’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (SM8750-AB), built on a 3nm process, features an octa-core configuration with a unique split: 2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores. This architecture prioritizes both peak performance and efficiency. The S24 FE, conversely, utilizes Samsung’s Exynos 2400e, a 4nm chip with a 10-core arrangement (1x3.1 GHz + 2x2.9 GHz + 3x2.6 GHz + 4x1.95 GHz). While the core count is higher, the larger process node and more complex configuration may lead to increased thermal throttling under sustained load. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm fabrication should provide a significant advantage in power efficiency, translating to cooler operation and sustained performance during intensive gaming sessions. The nubia's LPDDR5x RAM is also expected to contribute to faster data transfer speeds.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE boasts an impressive 42:00h endurance and a claimed 2000 charge cycles, indicating exceptional long-term battery health. However, active use testing reveals a score of 11:48h. The nubia Z70S Ultra, while offering a respectable 12:52h of active use, falls slightly behind in endurance. The key differentiator is charging speed: the nubia supports 80W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4, while the S24 FE is limited to 25W with PD and QC2. This translates to significantly faster top-ups for the nubia, potentially mitigating its slightly lower endurance. The S24 FE also offers 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the nubia.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra if you need uncompromising performance for gaming and demanding tasks, and value incredibly fast charging speeds. You'll benefit from the latest Snapdragon technology and a focus on raw power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE if you prefer a more balanced experience with exceptional battery life, a refined software experience, and the convenience of Samsung’s ecosystem, even if it means sacrificing some peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2400e in the S24 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2400e, built on a 4nm process, is susceptible to thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. While Samsung’s software optimizations mitigate this, users engaging in extended gaming sessions may experience performance drops. The nubia Z70S Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, with its 3nm fabrication, is expected to maintain cooler temperatures and more consistent performance.
❓ How significant is the charging speed difference between 80W and 25W in real-world use?
The 80W charging on the nubia Z70S Ultra is a game-changer. While the S24 FE claims 50% charge in 30 minutes, the nubia will likely achieve a full charge in a similar timeframe. This drastically reduces downtime and is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the nubia Z70S Ultra a major drawback?
For users heavily reliant on wireless charging, the absence of this feature on the nubia Z70S Ultra is a notable omission. However, the significantly faster wired charging speeds may offset this inconvenience for many, as topping up via cable is considerably quicker.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect from ZTE compared to Samsung?
Samsung is renowned for its robust software support, typically offering 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches. ZTE’s software support track record is less consistent. While the nubia Z70S Ultra will likely receive updates, they may not be as frequent or long-lasting as those offered by Samsung.