The Nubia Z70 Ultra was already a standout device, especially for mobile photography enthusiasts, but six months later, Nubia is back with the Z70S Ultra—a refined version aiming to correct past shortcomings. This is no minor refresh either. We’re talking a bigger battery, tweaked camera hardware, and new thermal challenges packed into a slick body.
From the outside, the Z70S Ultra looks premium and ambitious, especially with the Photographer Edition, which blends nostalgic design cues with high-end features. But does it perform as good as it looks? And more importantly—can it stay cool under pressure?
There’s a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite Edition” under the hood, a glorious 6.85″ AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, and a trio of powerful rear cameras. Still, there are trade-offs—most notably the return of the under-display selfie cam, and a cooling system that just doesn’t keep up.
This review is going to test everything from camera performance to battery endurance and gaming thermals. If you’re eyeing this as a camera-focused flagship or an all-around powerhouse, we’ll break down exactly what works and what holds it back.
Let’s kick off with the design and hardware.
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Design and Build Quality:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra feels every bit the flagship it intends to be. At 228g, it has enough weight to feel solid but stops short of being too bulky. The 8.6mm thickness makes it slim for a phone that houses a massive 6,600mAh battery, and the matte metal frame adds to the overall premium feel. Up front, Gorilla Glass 7i protects the edge-to-edge AMOLED screen with zero bezels or punch-holes in sight—no notch, no interruptions, just screen.
From the back, the Photographer Edition immediately catches your attention. It’s styled like a retro film camera with a large circular camera module that juts out proudly. The design gives it a distinct “camera-first” identity. That camera bump houses the 35mm 50MP main shooter, a 64MP 2.7x periscope lens, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor—all symmetrically aligned for visual balance.
The aluminum alloy frame is finely machined, featuring precision antenna cutouts, microphone holes, and a top IR blaster. Despite no headphone jack, the phone makes up for it with symmetrical stereo speakers and a two-stage hardware shutter button. Press halfway to focus, fully to snap—a rare and welcome feature that mimics pro cameras.
The right edge has the volume rocker and power button, while the left houses the slider for “Street Photography Mode.” It’s textured and tactile, offering instant access to camera presets. There’s also a cooling vent grill and hidden proximity sensors up top.
Every corner of this phone screams intentionality—Nubia wasn’t trying to copy anyone; they built this for a niche crowd: content creators who don’t want to sacrifice premium aesthetics. From the subtle texturing to the firm button feel, it’s a love letter to mobile photographers. That said, the large camera bump can make the phone wobble on flat surfaces and forces you to use a case if you want a flush back.
Display Specs and Biometrics:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra is equipped with a truly stunning 6.85-inch AMOLED panel that puts visual immersion at the center of the experience. It’s the same display used on the Red Magic 10S Pro, which means you’re getting a high-performance screen designed for clarity, speed, and outdoor legibility.
This display supports a 144Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth animations and interactions, and scrolling through apps or swiping through photos is fluid and effortless. It’s adaptive, too, so it’ll scale down to conserve power when not needed. With a resolution of 2480 x 1116 pixels, sharpness isn’t an issue, and the aspect ratio sits comfortably at 20:9—great for gaming, media, and web content alike.
Outdoor performance is exceptional. Peak brightness hits 2,000 nits in direct sunlight, making it more than usable under harsh lighting conditions. HDR10+ support is included, and the contrast is classic AMOLED—deep blacks and punchy colors that really pop. It’s also a flat display, which many users still prefer for usability and glare reduction.
There’s Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, adding confidence in durability without impacting touch sensitivity. And despite the camera-centric focus, there’s no punch-hole here—thanks to the under-display selfie camera. That allows for a completely uninterrupted screen, which looks gorgeous, but as we’ll cover later, it comes with compromises.
Biometric security is handled via an under-display optical fingerprint scanner. It’s well-positioned, responsive, and accurate 9 times out of 10. It’s not ultrasonic, but it performs admirably under most lighting conditions and unlocks the phone quickly.
You also get face unlock, but it uses the under-display camera, and due to the obscured image quality and lack of depth sensing, it’s not the most reliable or secure. We recommend sticking with the fingerprint reader for consistent authentication.
The haptics during unlocking and navigation are tight and clicky, lending to a premium feel. Overall, the Z70S Ultra’s display nails the essentials: brightness, fluidity, color, and protection. While the under-display camera tech makes the screen gorgeous to look at, it also contributes to its biggest biometric weakness: front camera quality.
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Software Updates and Apps:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra ships with the brand’s custom AIO OS 1.5, which is layered over Android 15. Compared to previous iterations, the interface feels cleaner and snappier. It’s a blend of practical tweaks and visual polish that aims to give users more control without overwhelming them with gimmicks.
Navigating through the UI is smooth, and transitions are fluid, thanks in part to the 144Hz display. Nubia includes a few proprietary apps, but they’ve kept bloatware to a minimum. The only non-essential apps pre-installed were a few Google tools and some light utility tools, many of which can be uninstalled. This is a welcome change from Chinese flagships that typically arrive stuffed with unnecessary extras.
AI features are present throughout—photo cleanup tools, automatic scene recognition, and smart memory management are all part of the package. There’s also a dedicated “Street Photography Mode” that pairs nicely with the side switch, launching the camera instantly into a tailored shooting preset.
For streaming lovers, the Z70S Ultra supports Widevine L1, meaning Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other DRM-restricted services can stream in full HD without issues. It also includes full Camera2 API access for third-party camera apps like GCam.
On the update side, Nubia hasn’t been the fastest in the industry. Historically, they offer at least two major Android updates and a couple of years of security patches, though not on a monthly basis. While acceptable, it’s still behind the likes of Samsung and Google.
Still, with Android 15 out of the box, most users will be ahead of the curve. If Nubia tightens their update timeline, this could easily be a software experience that competes with bigger brands.
Performance and Chipsets:
Under the hood, the Nubia Z70S Ultra runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite Edition” chip—an overclocked version of the already beastly flagship SoC. Paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, this phone absolutely flies through everyday tasks.
App launches are near-instant. Swiping between apps, editing photos, streaming 4K videos—everything feels seamless. Even multitasking with split screen and floating windows doesn’t faze it. With that much RAM, the phone barely needs to close background apps.
Storage speeds are lightning-fast thanks to UFS 4.0, and the responsiveness reflects that. The 512GB variant feels more than sufficient for media-heavy users, but if you want to go all out, there’s even a 1TB version with 24GB RAM available.
Thermals during regular use are well-managed, but once you push it with heavy sustained loads, things start to heat up—a preview of what’s to come in the gaming section.
In raw performance, this phone stands tall among flagships. It’s snappy, efficient, and absolutely flagship-class—until it gets too warm.
Gaming Performance and Tests:
At first glance, the Nubia Z70S Ultra seems like a gamer’s dream: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite, 16GB RAM, UFS 4.0 storage, and a 144Hz AMOLED panel. And for the first 15–20 minutes, it truly performs like a top-tier gaming phone.
Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and PUBG all run smoothly at max settings out of the gate. Frame rates hover around 58–60fps in heavy scenes. Touch latency is low, response is crisp, and stereo speakers elevate the experience.
However, the phone’s Achilles’ heel appears during longer sessions. After 25 minutes of intense gameplay, internal temps rise dramatically. Frame rates start to drop—Genshin slips to the low 40s, and thermal throttling becomes noticeable.
The device reaches uncomfortable temps near the camera housing, with the rear frame becoming hot to the touch. 3DMark’s 20-minute stress test couldn’t even complete—thermal shutdown occurred midway.
While casual gamers won’t feel the pinch, hardcore players will. If sustained high-performance gaming is your priority, the Red Magic 10S Pro remains the better choice within the Nubia family.
Battery Life and Charging Speed:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra boasts a 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery—a solid upgrade from its predecessor. In mixed real-world usage with 144Hz enabled, it delivers around 7 to 7.5 hours of screen-on time, which is above average for a flagship.
On video playback and social media scrolling, it sips power efficiently. But under gaming or camera-heavy use, battery drain accelerates, especially due to heat.
Charging is handled by 80W fast charging. In testing, it charged from 19% to full in just under an hour—not class-leading, but still respectable for a battery this size.
Wireless charging is notably absent, and there’s no charger included in the box unless bundled via third-party sellers like AliExpress.
Connectivity:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra is well-equipped when it comes to connectivity, though there are a few omissions depending on your expectations. Starting with cellular, it supports dual 5G SIM cards and offers wide global band coverage, making it a suitable pick for international users.
Call quality is solid, with dual microphones ensuring clear voice pickup. Wi-Fi 7 support is present, giving it top-tier wireless speeds on compatible routers. Bluetooth 5.4 is on board too, ensuring high-bitrate audio streaming and stable connections to peripherals.
There’s also NFC support for contactless payments and quick pairing, as well as a USB-C 3.1 port capable of video output—something rare among non-gaming flagships.
The phone includes an IR blaster for controlling TVs and appliances, a throwback feature that’s still appreciated by many. GPS performance is accurate and fast, supporting dual-band L1+L5 tracking, ideal for mapping and location-based apps.
However, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack—a downside for wired audio fans—and no official IP rating for dust or water resistance, which may disappoint outdoor shooters.
Still, for most users, the Z70S Ultra covers the essential and premium connectivity features in a reliable package.
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Camera Specs and Performance:
Rear Camera Setup
The Nubia Z70S Ultra carries a triple rear camera configuration aimed squarely at photography enthusiasts. At the heart of the setup is a 50MP 35mm main sensor with f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). This sensor is physically larger than the one in the original Z70 Ultra, but it has lost the variable aperture, now locked to a fixed f-stop.
Accompanying the main sensor is a 50MP ultrawide shooter with EIS, and a 64MP periscope telephoto lens that offers 2.7x optical zoom. It also supports hybrid zoom up to 10x, with image quality holding up surprisingly well to around 5x.
There’s a ring LED flash that wraps around the camera module, helping evenly light close-up shots and portraits. The entire setup has a mechanical-camera aesthetic, especially in the Photographer Edition model, giving it a retro yet premium look.
Main Camera Performance
Image quality from the main 35mm camera is strong in daylight. Colors are vibrant, detail capture is sharp, and dynamic range is respectable. The 35mm focal length makes this sensor particularly great for portraits, providing natural depth and flattering subject separation.
Portrait shots benefit from excellent edge detection and a pleasing bokeh effect. HDR does a good job balancing shadows and highlights, though occasionally the software leans into oversharpening.
Low light performance is decent but not best-in-class. With the fixed f/1.7 aperture, it captures adequate detail, but the lack of variable aperture and tuning limits how well it adapts to harsh lighting conditions. Images also tend to show noise in darker areas.
Telephoto Zoom Performance
The 64MP periscope lens delivers good clarity up to about 5x. At 2.7x optical, images retain detail with minimal noise and excellent contrast. Beyond that, hybrid zoom takes over and still manages usable results until around 7–8x before pixelation sets in.
At 10x, you’re pushing it, but the shots remain social-media friendly. OIS helps keep things steady, especially during video capture. For a sub-flagship phone, it’s a capable zoom system.
Ultrawide Performance
The ultrawide 50MP camera is the weak point of the setup. While it captures broad scenes with decent sharpness in the center, edge distortion and aggressive post-processing reduce overall image fidelity. Colors often look cooler than the main sensor, and over-sharpening can be distracting.
In low light, the ultrawide really struggles. There’s more noise, color tinting (especially green), and a lack of detail that makes it feel a generation behind the rest of the camera system.
Video Recording
The Z70S Ultra records 4K at up to 120fps on the main sensor and can shoot 8K at 30fps. 4K footage looks crisp with good dynamic range and accurate color. EIS and OIS work well together to stabilize handheld video without introducing jitter.
However, 8K mode feels more like a spec sheet addition than a useful tool—it’s limited to 30fps and has large file sizes with minimal real-world advantage. Only the main sensor supports these modes; the ultrawide and telephoto are limited to 4K.
Front-Facing Camera (Under Display)
This is where the Z70S Ultra stumbles. The 16MP under-display front camera looks great on paper and visually enhances the display experience with no cutout—but the image quality suffers.
Selfies look soft and hazy, with poor detail and a persistent “milky” overlay from the pixels above the sensor. AI tries to clean things up but introduces unnatural skin smoothing. Video calls and selfie vlogging suffer from the same issue, and there’s no EIS available.
It’s not the phone for selfie lovers. If you rely heavily on front-facing photography or video, you’ll be let down.
Camera App and Features
The camera app is well optimized, offering Pro mode with RAW capture, customizable street photography modes, and quick toggles for switching lenses. The hardware shutter button is a huge plus—it feels natural, offers tactile control, and speeds up the process of taking spontaneous shots.
Street Mode, activated via a slider on the left frame, launches the camera with specific presets optimized for fast candid shots. It’s fun, fast, and thoughtfully integrated.
Price and Availability:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra starts at approximately €830 for the base configuration, which includes 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. For power users, there’s also a high-end variant with a massive 24GB of RAM and 1TB storage, which crosses the €1,000 mark.
As of now, the phone is primarily available via online retailers like AliExpress, where it’s often bundled with optional 80W fast chargers or accessory kits. It’s officially sold in select Asian markets, but international buyers can import it with global ROM support.
There’s no carrier availability in the U.S. or Europe, and warranty services for global units may be limited, so prospective buyers should be cautious.
With flagship specs and camera-focused hardware at a sub-premium price, the Z70S Ultra remains a compelling value—provided you’re okay importing it.
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Conclusion:
The Nubia Z70S Ultra is a phone that dares to be different. From its retro camera-inspired design to its unique 35mm lens and under-display selfie cam, it’s built for a niche crowd—those who care deeply about mobile photography and design purity. And in many ways, it delivers.
Its display is gorgeous and uninterrupted. The camera shutter button is refreshingly tactile. The 35mm main lens offers excellent portrait results, and there’s real value in the zoom camera’s versatility. It’s also powerful, fast, and ships with minimal bloatware on top of Android 15.
But this phone is not without caveats. Thermals are a weak point, and prolonged gaming sessions result in throttling and discomfort. The under-display selfie camera—while cool—undermines front-facing performance. And while the ultrawide lens is decent in daylight, it falters in low light.
If you’re a gamer or a vlogger, this probably isn’t your phone. But if you love the idea of a pocketable photographer’s tool that’s thoughtfully designed, the Z70S Ultra offers a uniquely focused experience at a competitive price.
It’s not perfect—but it’s bold, and sometimes, that’s enough to stand out. Buy Nubia Z70s Ultra now!!
Pros
- Unique 35mm 50MP main camera produces striking portraits with great detail and natural depth.
- Dedicated two-stage shutter button enhances the photography experience and feels great to use.
- Gorgeous 6.85″ AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate and no punch-hole—just pure screen.
- Minimal bloatware and Android 15 out of the box, offering a clean and snappy software experience.
- Strong hardware specs with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite, 16–24GB RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage.
- Great value for the price, delivering flagship-tier features at a sub-premium cost.
Cons
- Poor front-facing camera quality, due to the under-display tech—selfies and video calls suffer.
- Severe thermal throttling during gaming, causing frame drops and high surface temperatures.
- Ultrawide and night mode performance are underwhelming compared to the main sensor.
- Buy Nubia Z70s Ultra now!!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the Nubia Z70S Ultra good for photography?
- Yes, especially for portrait photography. Its 50MP 35mm main lens delivers sharp, natural-looking shots with great subject separation. The dedicated shutter button and quick access “Street Photography Mode” also enhance the shooting experience. However, its ultrawide and night photography capabilities are less impressive.
Does the Nubia Z70S Ultra have a good front camera?
- No, the 16MP under-display selfie camera sacrifices image quality for a full-screen aesthetic. Photos appear soft and processed, and video lacks detail and stabilization. It’s not ideal for vloggers or selfie enthusiasts.
Can the Nubia Z70S Ultra handle gaming?
- The phone performs well in short bursts, running games like Genshin Impact smoothly at high settings. But extended sessions reveal thermal throttling and high surface heat. If sustained gaming is your priority, a Red Magic device is a better fit.
What chipset does the Z70S Ultra use?
- It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite Edition, paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. It’s a flagship-grade SoC, offering fast performance for daily use and multitasking.
Does the Nubia Z70S Ultra support video output over USB-C?
- Yes, the Z70S Ultra supports video output via its USB-C 3.1 port, making it suitable for external displays and content creators needing screen mirroring or desktop modes.
Is the Nubia Z70S Ultra available globally?
- Not officially. It’s primarily sold in China and through AliExpress for international buyers. It supports global bands, but after-sales support may be limited outside its home market.
Two Alternative Recommendations:
1. Vivo X100 Pro
If you want superior image processing, variable aperture, and pro-grade telephoto zoom without the under-display selfie compromise, the Vivo X100 Pro is the premium photography phone to beat—though it costs nearly double.
👉 “Looking for top-tier image quality without compromise? Go with the Vivo X100 Pro.”
2. Red Magic 10S Pro
For gamers who want sustained performance and better thermals, the Red Magic 10S Pro uses the same display but adds better cooling, trigger buttons, and built-in gaming tools.
👉 “Prefer gaming to photography? Grab the Red Magic 10S Pro on Amazon instead.”
