Nubia Z70S Ultra review – great for gamers and photographers alike

There are a lot of brands and even more models to choose from when picking a new Android phone. While your mind may travel to the likes of Samsung, Google, and Sony first, newer companies such as Nubia are also producing some fantastic devices. I’ve been spending some quality time with the Nubia Z70S Ultra for about a month now, and I can’t remember the last time a cell phone impressed me this much.

Still, does it deserve a coveted spot on our list of the best Android phones? Better still, is it a contender among the best gaming phones? I aim to answer both of these questions and address whether it’s worth picking up over its competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the iPhone 16. So, let’s get into everything the Nubia Z70S Ultra has to offer and whether it’s worth the price.

Price

For everything you get with the Nubia Z70S Ultra, I have to say that the starting price of $779 / £659 is incrediblevalue, and that happens to be the price of the device I’m reviewing, as I have the Nubia 70S Ultra in Classic Black with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The phone is to be readily available throughout Europe and North America, meaning you don’t need to worry about shipping it in from another continent if you live in the US.

Specs

Here are the Nubia Z70S Ultra specs:

Performance and gaming

The Nubia Z70S comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, so I was expecting it to be good in the gaming department, especially since the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro also features this chipset, and that’s perhaps the best gaming phone money can buy. Furthermore, this phone has at least 12GB of RAM, so when you also add that to the mix, a stellar gaming performance feels like a given. After testing games like Zenless Zone Zero and the Xbox Game Pass games, I can confirm that this is the case. The best mobile games run as smooth as butter on this device, and the crisp screen (more on that in a bit) only adds to the experience.

I lost many hours just lying in bed playing Crime Scene Cleaner with the Nubia Z70S Ultra and my trusty GameSir controller (you can check out my GameSir X5 Lite review to see why this cheap and cheerful gamepad is worth your time). This phone can go the distance, getting just a little warm as the hours roll by, but nothing excessive, certainly not to the point where I’d be able to fry an egg on it, at least. The battery, mixed with staying relatively cool, means that you can get stuck into those longer gaming sessions, something that other phones don’t necessarily allow for.

Thanks to the flagship chipset, it’s not just gaming performance that I get to compliment; the phone’s entire experience benefits from it, allowing me to swipe between screens instantaneously. Plus, be it a game, app, or the internet, everything loads at speed; there’s no need to wait around twiddling your thumbs here.

Features and software

In the box, as is becoming the norm, you don’t get a plug for your charging cable, though at least the cable is in there. To be honest, given how much tech relies on a USB-C charger, you are likely to have an appropriate plug lying around anyway. Beyond a nice red cable, you also get a clear case that clips onto your phone, providing some protection.

As you’ve probably come to expect from Android phones, many of Google’s apps are ready to go when you start up the device, including Calendar, Meet, Gmail, and Maps. However, the Nubia Z70S comes with less bloatware pre-installed than other phones, such as the Poco X7 Pro. For those of you who appreciate AI (sorry to say that’s not me, but it’s hard to like it when it endangers your profession), Google Gemini is ready and waiting for you, as is Nubia’s photography AI suite.

If, like me, you’re a bit clumsy and appreciate knowing your precious phone has some extra protection, it should please you to know that the Nubia Z70S Ultra has both IP68 and IP69 ratings, meaning it’s waterproof, dustproof, and able to withstand high temperatures and water pressure.

Design

I quite like the design of the Nubia Z70S Ultra, with the Classic Black colorway offering a slick finish. It’s easy on the eyes, which is a good thing, considering the case that comes with the phone is see-through. Admittedly, I do have to nitpick at this case, as while including one in the box is great, it offers no protection to the sides of the phone, instead only protecting the back and corners.

Then there’s the camera. As I’ll get into in a bit, the camera offerings of the Nubia Z70S are very impressive, especially for how much cheaper it is than a flagship Samsung, but it protrudes quite significantly, enough that connecting it to my mobile controller is a bit of a pain, as it rests at a slight angle. Granted, my gamepad can still secure the phone, and it’s a small thing, but it’s a complaint nonetheless. However, I do enjoy the retro camera aesthetic Nubia went with.

Luckily, despite being on the bigger size for a phone with its 6.85-inch screen, it isn’t heavy, meaning it doesn’t cause any fatigue to use for extended periods, and, if you’re like me and can’t help but doomscroll for hours on end, this is a real plus.

Display

You know, having a strong chipset and game performance is all well and good, but to get the ultimate experience, you also need a solid display, which the Nubia Z70S has. I certainly prefer it to my iPhone 13, which, admittedly, is in serious need of an upgrade at this point. The Nubia Z70S boasts a 6.85-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, which gives it a very crisp and clean appearance, making games like Genshin Impact look as beautiful as they should, while catching up on my latest murder documentary on Netflix is also great.

Furthermore, there’s only a very slim bezel border surrounding the screen, so you don’t have to worry about a block of black taking up valuable real estate. Instead, the display spans nearly the entire front of the device, which I greatly appreciate when playing games or watching a movie.

Camera

When you think about the best phones for cameras, you naturally head straight for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, as the brand and model have a great reputation for fledgling photographers. While I also think Samsung is the best in this regard, it turns out that Nubia is ready to bring the competition, as evidenced by the stunning pictures I captured on it while at the beach with my in-laws. While my own dogs enjoy a good photo session, there’s something extra special about testing out a camera with a Samoyed running across the beach.

Beyond being a beautiful girl, the Nubia Z70S Ultra’s cameras captured every little detail of Lottie. Granted, the 50MP main camera doesn’t match the 200MP of the Samsung flagship, but it still offers a premium camera experience at a more affordable price, and it’s nice to get these things without breaking the bank. Plus, if we’re doing a fair comparison, the Nubia Z70S Ultra also sports a 64MP periscope telephoto lens, compared to the 50MP one on offer with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The amount of detail you get in these pictures is truly impressive, though it serves as a somewhat grim reminder of how dusty my desk can get. Admittedly, being a nonfan of AI means I’m not too fond of the tools on offer here, but I can’t deny that they may be helpful for photographers.

Battery

I’m not exaggerating when I say that the battery life on the Nubia Z70S is in a league of its own. I’ve genuinely never had a phone that can go so long without needing a charge. With extensive use, including some gaming sessions, the 6,600 mAh battery still lasts at least five days before needing a charge. Then, with more sporadic use, I don’t need to think about charging the phone for a week and a half, if not a bit longer.

For comparison, other Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the RedMagic 10 Air have 5,000 mAh and 6,000 mAh batteries, respectively, showcasing just how impressive the Nubia Z70S Ultra’s 6,600 mAh battery truly is. The gulf between the Nubia phone and its competition looks big on paper, but it’s even more significant in reality, with the Android outlasting its competition by over a day in some instances.

Better still, the 80W wired charging capability means it doesn’t take long to fully charge the phone, clocking it at just under an hour to go from nothing to everything, which, considering how large the battery is, isn’t too shabby. Plus, even if you forget to top up your phone before leaving, 30% is more than enough to see you throughout the day.

Verdict

Overall, I highly recommend the Nubia Z70S Ultra, especially if you’re into a mix of photography and gaming. It’s slow to overheat, has cameras to give the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra a run for its money, and has a battery so large and durable that you don’t have to worry about it running out of juice for days at a time. For its price point, it’s hard to fault this device.

Alternatives

If our Nubia Z70s Ultra review hasn’t sold you on the Android flagship, check out our suggestions for alternatives below.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

If you have the money to spare, you might prefer to go for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, as its camera offerings are a bit better than those of the Nubia Z70S Ultra, while also offering a decent gaming experience. You know you’re getting quality from one of the biggest names in the Android world. The 200MP camera is the big selling point here, along with a slightly bigger screen at 6.9 inches. To get the full lowdown, check out our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review.

Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro

Should you be after the very best gaming experience, despite getting good quality with the Nubia Z70S, I recommend you check out the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Gaming is at the forefront of this phone’s design, just nipping Nubia in the performance department with a staggering 185Hz refresh rate, offering the crispest display you can get. For more on this option, check out our Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro review.