The nubia Z60 Ultra is a flagship phone announced on December 19, 2023. It launched in China and for global markets on the same day. It was one of the first phones sold worldwide with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Its global launch price is $599. In Europe, the 8 GB / 256 GB model started at €679.
Design and display
The phone has a boxy design with an aluminum frame and a matte glass back. It weighs 246 g and measures 8.78 mm thick. It carries an IP68 rating for dust and water, a first for a nubia phone. A customizable slider switch on the right side can open the camera, mute the phone or start recording.
The 6.8-inch AMOLED panel has a 2480 x 1116 resolution, 400 ppi and a 120 Hz refresh rate. nubia rates its peak brightness at 1,500 nits. The selfie camera sits under the display, so the screen has no notch or punch hole. The panel uses 2160 Hz PWM dimming.
The standard colors are Black and Silver. The Starry Night Collector’s Edition with a Van Gogh-inspired back first launched in China. The Photographer Edition in black vegan leather arrived in China in March 2024 and globally in April 2024.
Performance
The phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage. Global models offer 8, 12 or 16 GB of RAM with 256 or 512 GB of storage. In China, nubia also sold 16 GB / 1 TB and 24 GB / 1 TB models. There is no microSD slot.
In July 2024, nubia released a separate Z60 Ultra Leading Version. That model uses a higher-clocked version of the same chip.
Cameras
The rear setup uses three cameras with optical stabilization. The 50 MP main camera has a Sony IMX800 sensor, a 35 mm focal length and an f/1.59 lens. A 50 MP 18 mm ultrawide camera and a 64 MP 85 mm telephoto camera complete the trio. The rear cameras record video at up to 8K at 30 fps.
The 12 MP under-display selfie camera records video at up to 1080p at 30 fps.
Battery and charging
A 6,000 mAh battery powers the phone. It supports 80 W wired charging, and an 80 W charger comes in the box. The phone does not support wireless charging.
Software and updates
The Z60 Ultra shipped with Android 14 and nubia MyOS 14. nubia did not publish a firm promise for OS upgrades or security updates. Other features include stereo speakers, NFC, an IR blaster, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The phone has dual nano-SIM slots but no eSIM.
Should you buy the nubia Z60 Ultra?
The Z60 Ultra suits buyers who want a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phone with a big battery. It also adds IP68 protection. Its full-screen design with an under-display camera is rare among flagships. Photographers who like fixed 35 mm and 85 mm focal lengths may also find it appealing.
Buyers who need wireless charging, eSIM or a long update promise should look elsewhere. The phone is also heavy at 246 g. Its successor, the Z70 Ultra, is the newer option in the same lineup.
