The Nubia Z70 Ultra has made a last-minute appearance at the end of 2024, aiming to shake up the high-end Android smartphone market before 2025. Equipped with cutting-edge hardware, including the latest Snapdragon chip, an innovative adjustable-aperture camera, and an exceptionally large battery, the Z70 Ultra is designed to be a formidable contender. However, its software experience remains rough, and the camera performance doesn't always live up to expectations. Despite these shortcomings, the Z70 Ultra offers significant improvements over its predecessor, the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version, released just four months earlier. Yet, with several promising flagship models expected in early 2025, the Z70 Ultra's dominance may be short-lived.

Unveiling the Nubia Z70 Ultra: An In-depth Look

In the waning days of 2024, Nubia introduced the Z70 Ultra, a device that combines powerful hardware with unique features like a variable-aperture main camera and an enormous 6,150 mAh battery. The phone boasts a 6.85-inch OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering a visual experience that stands out among its peers. Available in three RAM configurations—12GB, 16GB, and an impressive 24GB—the Z70 Ultra caters to users who demand top-tier performance. Storage options range from 256GB to a massive 1TB, ensuring ample space for all your files and applications.

The design of the Z70 Ultra is strikingly bold, with sharp edges and a prominent rectangular camera module on the back. While some may find it unconventional, this design emphasizes the phone's advanced camera capabilities. The device comes in black, yellow, and blue color options, with the latter featuring an artistic touch inspired by Van Gogh's "Starry Night." Additional physical buttons, such as a slider shortcut key and a dedicated camera button, add a layer of functionality reminiscent of iPhone designs but with a more tactile feel.

The Z70 Ultra's camera system is one of its standout features. It includes a 50MP main camera with an adjustable aperture ranging from f/1.59 to f/4.0, allowing for greater control over depth of field. This feature, accessible via Pro mode, provides photographers with unprecedented flexibility. However, the default camera experience can be hit-or-miss, sometimes lacking the refinement seen in competing models. Night mode and ultrawide shots show promise, but they occasionally fall short in detail and color accuracy.

Performance-wise, the Z70 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, delivering exceptional multi-core performance and graphics rendering. Benchmark tests reveal competitive scores, though the ROG Phone 9 Pro in X Mode slightly edges it out. The phone also supports 80W wired charging, which can recharge the massive battery from 0% to 100% in just over an hour. Despite its large capacity, the battery performs well in real-world usage, draining only 16% during a 3-hour YouTube video session.

Running on Android 15 with Nebula AIOS, the software experience leaves room for improvement. Translation issues and awkward user interface elements detract from the overall experience. However, the operating system promises three major updates, ensuring a reasonable lifespan for the device.

From a value perspective, the Nubia Z70 Ultra is hard to beat. Starting at $729 for the base model, it offers more RAM and storage than many competitors while maintaining a competitive price point. For those willing to overlook its software quirks, the Z70 Ultra represents a compelling option in the current market.

As a journalist, I find the Nubia Z70 Ultra to be a fascinating case study. It demonstrates that prioritizing hardware can lead to impressive specifications and performance, but it also highlights the importance of a polished software experience. The Z70 Ultra serves as a reminder that even with cutting-edge technology, user satisfaction hinges on seamless integration across all aspects of a device. While it may not remain at the top for long, it sets a new benchmark for value in the flagship segment, encouraging other manufacturers to rethink their offerings.