ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra vs Xiaomi 14T Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and sustained performance, the ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, emerges as the winner. However, the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s significantly faster 120W charging and wireless charging capabilities make it a strong contender for those valuing convenience and rapid power-ups.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra | Xiaomi 14T 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 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, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, April 28 | 2024, September 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, April 28 | Available. Released 2024, September 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Panda X) |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 77.1 x 8.6 mm (6.47 x 3.04 x 0.34 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i or Longxi glass (gen 2) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 4000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Immortalis-G720 MC12 |
| OS | Android 15, Nebula AIOS 1.5 | Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Leica lens, Ultra HDR, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 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 PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 60mm (telephoto), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF, 2.6x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, 10-bit Rec. 2020, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.44", 0.64µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+ |
| 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, LHDC |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS (G1+G5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS |
| 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/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 45 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 6600 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Antique Brown, Classic Black | Titan Gray, Titan Blue, Titan Black |
| Models | NX737J | 2407FPN8EG |
| Price | £ 629.00 / € 729.00 | $ 550.00 / £ 498.00 / € 539.99 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra
- Superior CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Potentially better thermal management due to 3nm process
- Slower charging speeds (80W wired, no wireless)
- Less mainstream brand recognition
Xiaomi 14T Pro
- Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
- Convenient 50W wireless charging
- Wider brand recognition and accessory availability
- Slightly lower peak display brightness
- Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra boasts a display capable of reaching 1395 nits of peak brightness, exceeding the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s 1228 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both devices likely employ AMOLED panels, the nubia’s higher peak brightness provides a noticeable advantage for HDR content consumption. We lack panel technology details (LTPO, PWM frequency) but the brightness difference is a clear win for the nubia. Bezels are assumed to be similar given both phones target a premium aesthetic.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset’s ISP capabilities play a crucial role. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite typically offers advanced image processing features. The Xiaomi 14T Pro’s Dimensity 9300+ also has a powerful ISP, but the nubia’s processor may have an edge in computational photography. We can assume both phones will offer excellent image quality, but the nubia’s processor might provide more sophisticated algorithms for noise reduction and dynamic range. The presence of OIS on the main sensors (assumed) will be critical for stable video recording.
Performance
The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) with a unique octa-core configuration featuring Oryon V2 Phoenix cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz). This architecture is designed for sustained high performance. Conversely, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ (4nm) with a different core arrangement (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4, 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720). The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite should offer better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Oryon cores are also known for their strong single-core performance, which benefits responsiveness in everyday tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones deliver impressive battery life, with the ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra achieving 12:52h of active use and the Xiaomi 14T Pro at 12:32h. The difference is minimal. However, the Xiaomi 14T Pro significantly pulls ahead in charging speed. Its 120W wired charging can fully charge the device in just 19 minutes, a substantial improvement over the nubia’s 80W charging. Furthermore, the Xiaomi 14T Pro adds 50W wireless charging, completing a full charge in 45 minutes – a feature absent on the nubia Z70S Ultra. This makes the Xiaomi 14T Pro the clear winner for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Z70S Ultra if you demand the highest possible CPU and GPU performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value a slightly brighter display. Buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro if you prioritize incredibly fast charging speeds – both wired and wireless – and appreciate a more mainstream software experience, potentially with wider accessory availability.