ZTE nubia Z80 Ultra vs. OnePlus 12R: A Head-to-Head Battle of Snapdragon Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and display brightness, the ZTE nubia Z80 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and significantly brighter display justify the price premium. However, the OnePlus 12R provides excellent value with its fast 100W charging and solid Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance, making it ideal for budget-conscious buyers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Z80 Ultra | OnePlus 12R |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 22 | 2024, January 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 22 | Available. Released 2024, February 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.5 x 77.2 x 8.6 mm (6.48 x 3.04 x 0.34 in) | 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, HDR10, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 16, Nebula AIOS 2 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, DSG HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, 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/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), 1/1.55", PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10‑bit video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless / 5.4 (China) | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| 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, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (International) 90W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (China) 80W wireless | 100W wired, 100% in 26 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7200 mAh | Li-Ion 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Starry Night Blue, Luo Tian Yi Red | Iron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune |
| Models | NX741J | CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611 |
| Price | About 650 EUR | € 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia Z80 Ultra
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Significantly brighter display for outdoor use
- Longer battery life in active use scenarios
- 80W wireless charging support
- Potentially higher price point
- Charging speed slightly slower than OnePlus 12R (wired)
OnePlus 12R
- Faster 100W wired charging
- Excellent value for the performance offered
- Reliable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
- Well-established brand reputation
- Lower peak display brightness
- Shorter battery life compared to nubia Z80 Ultra
Display Comparison
The nubia Z80 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1723 nits, compared to the OnePlus 12R’s 1181 nits. This difference is crucial for outdoor visibility, giving the nubia a clear advantage in sunny conditions. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels, the nubia’s peak brightness suggests a more advanced panel technology. The OnePlus 12R’s display is still very good, but the Z80 Ultra offers a superior viewing experience, particularly for HDR content.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are missing, the chipset difference hints at superior image processing capabilities within the nubia Z80 Ultra. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s ISP is more advanced than the Gen 2’s, potentially leading to better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality. Without knowing sensor sizes, it’s difficult to make a definitive statement, but the Z80 Ultra’s processing power gives it an edge. We can assume both phones will offer capable camera systems, but the nubia likely has the potential for more refined results.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the nubia Z80 Ultra features the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), while the OnePlus 12R uses the SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The 3nm process of the 8 Elite Gen 5 promises improved power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 4nm Gen 2. The Z80 Ultra’s CPU configuration – 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M – suggests a focus on sustained performance, while the 12R’s Cortex-X3 based CPU is optimized for peak performance. This translates to the Z80 Ultra potentially handling demanding tasks and extended gaming sessions with less throttling.
Battery Life
The nubia Z80 Ultra achieves an impressive 20:13h of active use, significantly outperforming the OnePlus 12R’s 14:32h. This suggests better power management despite the more powerful chipset. The OnePlus 12R compensates with its 100W wired charging, reaching 100% in just 26 minutes, while the nubia Z80 Ultra offers 80W (International) or 90W (China) wired charging, and a unique 80W wireless charging option. The 12R’s faster wired charging is a convenience factor, but the nubia’s longer battery life reduces the need to charge as frequently.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Z80 Ultra if you demand the absolute latest in mobile processing power, need a display that cuts through glare, and appreciate the convenience of 80W wireless charging. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize a balanced experience with fast wired charging, reliable performance for gaming and everyday tasks, and a more accessible price point. The 12R is the smart choice for those who don't need bleeding-edge specs.