Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version review: Where power meets photography

When I first heard about the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version, I expected just another less well-known device trying to make a splash in a competitive Android market. After all, with phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL dominating the conversation, it takes something special to stand out.

But the Z60 Ultra Leading Version has some secret weapons to stand out: it packs some of the most impressive hardware around, paired with AI-driven features designed to elevate the smartphone experience.

On paper, this phone is a beast. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a cutting-edge AI engine capable of 73 trillion operations per second (TOPS), and a massive 6,000mAh battery make it clear that Nubia wants this to be the best-performing Android phone on the market.

The phone also comes in several variants, starting from just £649/$649, which is a fantastic price given what you’re getting – at least, when it comes to hardware.

Design & Build

• Sleek silver marble design
• Large camera bump is a dust magnet
• Back texture feels cheap

The Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s design feels like a continuation of the Nubia’s previous Z60 Ultra release, and that’s where I’m conflicted.

It keeps the same brutalist look with a massive camera bump, which is not only an eyesore but a magnet for dust and debris. It also results in some serious lean when you place it on a table.

Overall, I’m not the biggest fan of the brutalist design, but I will commend Nubia on releasing something that looks different. I found it nearly impossible to fit the phone into any gaming controller without awkwardly adjusting it around that bump, though.

However, Nubia did make an effort to soften the blow with a sleek silver marble effect on some models. It’s a striking look, but once you touch it, the effect diminishes.

The back has a texture that feels cheap (almost linoleum-like) and occasionally makes a subtle squeaking sound when handled, which I found unpleasant. It’s a shame, because I’ve seen Nubia do much better with their Redmagic phones, like the 9S Pro, which sport a glass back that feels genuinely premium.

Despite my issues with the texture and camera bump, I can’t deny that this phone is built like a tank. With IP68 water and dust resistance, it’s ready to tackle the elements.

While I’m not the biggest fan of the brutalist design, I will commend Nubia on releasing something that looks different

Rather than a dedicated camera button on the side, there’s a camera switch – which is very different. I’m a big fan of this implementation, as you can switch it down to launch the camera, and back up again to exit out. The ridged texture is also great to find it without having to take the phone out of your pocket.

Screen & Speakers

• 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
• Great outdoor visibility
• Stereo speakers are functional but don’t deliver rich sound

The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is, without a doubt, one of the Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s standout features.

It’s vibrant, with over 1 billion colours on offer, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps everything smooth. Whether I’m gaming, watching videos, or just scrolling through social media, the screen handles it all beautifully. Even in bright sunlight, the screen’s brightness holds up, making it easy to use outdoors.

The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is, without a doubt, one of the Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s standout features.

The stereo speakers are good, but not great. They’re loud and clear enough for most situations but don’t expect the rich sound you might get from higher-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It’s functional, but not exceptional. You’re better off listening through a pair of solid wireless earbuds, instead.

Specs & Performance

• Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
• AI engine capable of 73 TOPS

Performance is where the Z60 Ultra Leading Version shines. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is an absolute powerhouse, and the addition of an AI engine capable of performing over 73 trillion operations per second means this phone can run the most demanding apps and games without breaking a sweat.

The AI engine is also tied to the phone’s AI Zero power consumption 2.0 feature, which works to extend battery life even under heavy use.

Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version benchmarks

I was impressed with how snappy and responsive everything felt, from multitasking to intensive gaming. Throwing open multiple apps and games at once, this phone doesn’t even begin to sweat.

It lives up to its impressive Geekbench scores of 2225 for single-core and 6976 multi-core, respectively, which are up there with the best Android phones you can buy.

The 16GB of RAM on my review model certainly didn’t hurt, and the large 1TB storage option ensures you’ll never run out of space for apps, media, or those massive 4K video files. Even the base 8+256GB configuration should be enough for most people.

It’s pretty on par with some of the best-performing devices out there, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, OnePlus 12, and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. While the S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12 deliver similar performance in real-world usage, Nubia’s AI tech gives the Z60 Ultra Leading Version an edge in battery optimization.

I was impressed with how snappy and responsive everything felt, from multitasking to intensive gaming.

Cameras

• Triple rear camera system with Sony sensors
• AI-powered post-processing significantly improves photo quality
• 4K video recording at 120fps

The camera array on the Z60 Ultra Leading Version is nothing short of impressive.

The 50Mp Sony 9-series main camera, combined with an 18mm ultra-wide and 85mm telephoto lens of equal megapixel count, delivers some of the best photos I’ve seen from a phone in this price range.

Nubia has also addressed one of the biggest issues I’ve seen others have with the previous Z60 Ultra – the post-processing. This time around, the company has eased off a little.

Thanks to the AI-powered improvements in this model, I noticed far fewer oversaturation and over-sharpening problems in photos taken on this device. Even at high zoom levels, the images were clear and detailed, a huge improvement from the previous model. The 4K video at up to 120fps is stunningly smooth, and with OIS on all lenses, even handheld shots turned out beautifully stable.

The Z60 Ultra Leading Version delivers some of the best photos I’ve seen from a phone in this price range

You’ve got plenty of other modes to pick from as well. Portrait shots come out looking pretty natural and sharp, although you’ll notice a lack of detail when you start to pixel peep. The night mode is just as good as other devices at this price point, albeit slightly let down by some processing issues.

I’ve noticed Nubia’s photos are a little unrealistic with colours, and can get a little grainy.

The telephoto camera on the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version features an 85mm portrait lens, delivering precise and natural portrait shots with impressive background blur. The lens includes optical image stabilization (OIS), which helps maintain clarity even with zoom. The ultrawide camera, an 18mm sensor, captures a wider field of view, perfect for landscape shots and group photos. It retains excellent sharpness and reduced distortion, thanks to Nubia’s advanced image processing.

Nubia’s selfie camera also provides decent quality, and you won’t go amiss using these on your socials. But, I will note that it’s better suited for casual use rather than professional-level photos you might expect from a more expensive smartphone. It’s let down by below avergae low-light performance, but gets slightly redeemed by its focus on natural color tones.

However, the camera still requires patience. If you’re hoping to just point and shoot as you can with a Pixel, Galaxy, or iPhone, you might find yourself disappointed.

The number of settings can be overwhelming, and quick snaps don’t always turn out as expected. But for photographers who love tweaking their settings, this is a dream come true.

Battery Life & Charging

• 6000mAh battery
• 50W wired charging
• No wireless charging

With its 6000mAh battery, I easily got through two full days of heavy use with the Z60 Ultra without needing to charge.

Nubia’s ‘AI Zero’ power consumption tech plays a big role in stretching out that battery life, and the 50W fast charging (with necessary charger included!) gets me back to full power in 1 hour and 8 minutes. It’s not the fastest charging you can find, but still pretty solid.

This is a phone you can rely on for long trips without worrying about carrying a charger. Even when you’re doing pretty intensive tasks, like watching a film on Netflix, you don’t have to worry about the battery draining too quickly. After 30 mins of watching a 4K film, I only burned through 2% of battery, which is barely noticeable.

Unfortunately, this device doesn’t support wireless charging. Since the back panel isn’t actually made from metal, I can only assume this is due to the gigantic camera bump (again). It’s pretty irksome for me, as someone that prefers to avoid cables.

This is a phone you can rely on for long trips without worrying about carrying a charger

Software & Apps

• MyOS 14 offers plenty of customization
• Frustrating pre-installed apps and features
• Only two years of software support

Now, onto the biggest drawback—the software. MyOS 14 (based on Android 14) looks great at first glance, with plenty of customization options and flashy effects. But the more I used it, the more frustrated I became.

There’s an inconsistency in the UI that makes everything feel disjointed, while the pre-installed apps like the default browser are borderline unusable. I also found myself annoyed by small things, like the Nubia branding that gets watermarked on every photo unless you disable it.

MyOS 14 looks great at first glance…but the more I used it, the more frustrated I became

To make matters worse, the Z60 Ultra Leading Version only offers three years of software support (both OS and security updates).

When the similarly-priced Galaxy S24 FE and more affordable Pixel 8a both get you seven years, it’s hard to justify sticking with Nubia in the long run. Even if the hardware is top-notch.

Price & Availability

Starting at just £649/$649, the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is a fantastic deal, especially considering the powerhouse specs.

Even the top-spec model I tested with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage is decent value at £929/$879.

You can buy one from the Nubia website and Amazon in the UK, or Nubia and Amazon in the US.

However, the phone isn’t available to buy on contract, so you’ll need to get it outright and pair it with a SIM deal. Use the widget below to find an option that suits you.

The outright price shows you can get a top-tier phone for much less than a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Google Pixel 9 Pro, but with some caveats. If you can tolerate the software issues and don’t mind tinkering with camera settings, this is one of the best value flagship phones out there.

Should you buy the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version?

There’s no denying that the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is a powerhouse of a smartphone.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, impressive AI camera improvements, and massive 6,000mAh battery make it a top choice for power users. But it’s far from perfect.

The MyOS 14 software feels half-baked, and the design, while striking, has practical flaws. Still, if you’re after raw performance and don’t mind sacrificing some software polish, the Z60 Ultra offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Specs

• Android 14 with MyOS 14
• 6.8-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED 
• Optical in-display fingerprint scanner 
• Face unlock 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset 
• 8/12/16GB RAM 
• 256GB/512GB/1TB non-expandable UFS 4.0 storage 
• 6000mah battery 
• 80W wired charging  
• 50Mp f/1.6 main camera 
• 50Mp f/1.8 ultrawide camera 
• 64Mp f/3.3 3.3x telephoto camera 
• 12Mp under-display front camera 
• Dual stereo speakers 
• USB-C 3.1
• 5G 
• Dual-SIM
• Wi-Fi 7 
• Bluetooth 5.4
• IP68
• 164 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm
• 246g