Our Verdict
The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading version is a supercharged version of an already impressive device, boasting powerful performance, a fantastic display, and rapid charging speeds. However, its rectangular design can make it a little uncomfortable to hold, and a significant camera bump doesn’t make it any easier if you flip it on its side.
- Best-in-class display
- Impressive performance
- Rapid charging and solid battery life
- IP68 rated
- Slightly awkward form factor
- Complex camera
Months after its original release, the new Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is here, complete with its overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Think of this phone as the supercharged version of the original, benefitting from boosted performance power and a few software updates. If Nubia’s goal was to offer what we in the industry like to call a ‘flagship killer’, this might be the closest it’s ever come.
At $650 for the base model, the Z60 Ultra Leading Version undercuts flagships from all the big names, including Samsung, OnePlus, and Google Pixel. It’s a statement of intent from this lesser-known brand, as it attempts to emerge as a true contender in the upper echelons of the mid-range bracket. So, how does the Z60 Ultra Leading Version compare to the best Android phones of 2024? Let’s get into it.
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Price and availability
The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is available in four different configurations, which we’ve listed alongside their individual prices in the table below. You can pick one up by visiting the official Nubia site or individual retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
| Configuration | Colors | Price ($) | Price (£) |
| 8GB+256GB | Black | $649 | £649 |
| 12GB+256GB | Black and Silver | $699 | £729 |
| 16GB+512GB | Black and Silver | $779 | £829 |
| 16GB+1TB | Black | $879 | £929 |
In terms of colorways, you can choose between Black or Silver, depending on your preferred configuration. For this review, Nubia sent us the Black 12GB+256GB model.
Specs
Features and software
The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version comes with Nubia’s own MyOS 14 Android 14 skin. On the surface, it looks like a pretty clean and simple operating system, and that’s exactly what it is – at least, for the most part. Before getting into my few grievances, I have to say that the Z60 Ultra Leading Version is very customization-friendly. By holding down on the home screen, you can change your wallpaper and move widgets around freely. There’s also the option to change the function of the slider on the side of the phone, so you can choose whether you want it to open game mode, your camera, or something else entirely. If you’re used to the limitations of something like an iPhone, it’s very freeing.
However, not all the software is great. I often find myself having to angle my thumb in peculiar ways to get the fingerprint recognition unlock to work, even after a couple of attempts at reregistering my biometrics. However, this may well be an issue unique to my clubbed thumb, as when I tried with a single finger, there were no problems. The default browser is also a bit of a mess, like a budget version of Google Chrome, but it’s easy enough to change your default browser.
While the software might be a little clunky in places, one big thing the Z60 Ultra Leading Version has going for it is a lack of bloatware. For those who don’t know, bloatware is the catch-all name for those annoying apps that come pre-installed on the phone. Booking.com and social media apps like Facebook and Instagram are repeat offenders. There’s almost no bloatware on this device, just the suite of actually useful Google apps that come with almost every Android and nothing else.
Design
If you’re looking for a phone that looks like a flagship without spending over $1,000, then the Nubia Z60 Ultra is worth looking at for its gorgeous design alone. If you asked me back in 2014 what I thought smartphones would look like in 2024, it’d probably be something like this. A big-crystal clear display, futuristic-looking buttons and camera lenses, and a sleek black finish. It certainly looks the part.
While the Z60 Ultra’s design is aesthetically pleasing, its ergonomics aren’t to my taste. It’s very square. While the corners are very slightly rounded, they still dig into your palms if you hold the phone by the bottom or top. The camera bump is also pretty significant, making for an uneven grip if you’re holding the phone in landscape mode and top-heavy if you’re holding it portrait with one hand. The fact this phone is already pretty heavy, weighing in at 246g, doesn’t help. For context, that’s over 30g heavier than the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Before moving on, we have to mention that this thing is IP68-rated, which is almost as good as it gets in terms of water and dustproofing. We’d give it top marks in terms of durability if it didn’t use Gorilla Glass 5, a slightly outdated version of the industry standard display material. Still, it’s IP rating is better than other phones at this price point, which is always a win.
Display
The Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s display is gorgeous, and while the device’s rounded corners might make it a little uncomfortable to hold, the benefit is that there’s a lot of screen real estate. Nubia makes the most of all 6.8 inches of this glorious AMOLED screen, with the smallest of bezels bordering the edges. If you’re an avid mobile gamer or you watch most of your content on your smartphone screen, this might be the best option at its price point.
Not only is the AMOLED display bold, but it’s also nice and bright, with a peak brightness of 1,500 nits. We were lucky enough to get some sunshine in the U.K. while I was testing the phone, and I had no issues using it in direct sunlight. Finally, the cherry on top of the display cake is the 120Hz refresh rate, which makes for buttery smooth visuals without the sort of battery drain I’ve seen from other 120Hz displays.
Cameras
Let me be upfront about this: the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s cameras are fantastic. They were pretty impressive on the original version, but thanks to the extra processing power of the overclocked Snapdragon chipset, they now offer truly stunning results, going above and beyond what I’d expect of a phone at this price point.
The triple camera set-up consists of a 50MP main lens, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultrawide lens, all of which come with optical image stabilization. You also have a 12MP selfie shooter on the front, hidden under the display. Admittedly, I’m not much of a snapper, but it’s nice to have plenty of options if I ever need them.
As ever, I’ve used my dog as my muse to snap a few photos on the Z60 Ultra Leading Version. In ideal lighting, the shots are fantastic, with the faintest bokeh effect surrounding the subject – in this instance, my fluffy boy – and plenty of definition and sharpness coming across. While it’s true of most cameras, the 50MP main lens, in particular, massively benefits from a bit of light. In less well-lit snaps, the definition isn’t quite there, and the bokeh effect occasionally merges into my dog’s furry coat.
The ultrawide camera is pretty impressive, too, utilizing some AI magic to offer up to 50x zoom. The image quality of these super-zoomed snaps isn’t quite as remarkable as I’ve seen on some more expensive flagships, like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Honor Magic6 Pro, but those are much pricier devices.
While the cameras on the Z60 Ultra are fantastic, they can be slightly confusing. There are so many modes and options that it feels a little overwhelming at times, especially if you’re not much of a photographer. There’s also a Nubia watermark that pops up on all the photos you take when you first start using the phone, though it’s easy enough to turn this off in the settings.
Performance
The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is called the Leading Version as it uses an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This makes for a bit of a performance beast. It’s almost a gaming phone in disguise, capable of running all the most demanding games, such as Honkai Star Rail and Diablo Immortal at their highest settings without breaking a sweat. Even at 60fps, this thing is more than capable.
In the time I spent putting the Z60 Ultra Leading Version through its paces, the only thing that slightly struggled to keep up was the 4K video playback. This isn’t an issue unique to the Z60 Ultra, and I’ve seen it with almost every phone that tries to go the extra mile by offering 4K recording. However, lots of those phones struggle with just the recording part, so I can’t take too many marks off this device for having just a couple of playback issues.
It’s all well and good offering top-tier performance, but we’ve seen the same from similarly priced phones only to be let down by them getting almost too hot to handle after half an hour of gaming. Fortunately, the Z60 Ultra Leading Version doesn’t fall into this category – at least, not as far as gaming is concerned. It gets a little warm, but it’s never anything too extreme.
Battery
The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version’s 6,000mAh battery is another highlight, providing more than enough charge for a full day of frequent use. If you’re lucky, you might even get two full days, or longer with sporadic use. This is impressive, even for a relatively premium mid-range phone, outlasting more expensive devices such as the OnePlus 12, Samsung Galaxy S24, and Google Pixel 8 Pro.
In terms of charging, I averaged around 85% juice for every 30 minutes plugged in, so you’re looking at a full charge in under 40 minutes if you’re using the 80W plug and cable from the box. While that’s not quite as quick as we’ve seen from the likes of the Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12, it’s still nothing to complain about, beating industry leaders such as the Galaxy S24 and iPhone 15. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging option, which we’d like to see in future models. It’s a relatively premium phone, so this should be a given.
Should you buy the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version?
If you’re looking for a futuristic-looking phone with fantastic performance capabilities and a solid set of cameras, the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is a solid pick. It’s also a great option if you spend a lot of time streaming content on your phone, as not only is the display crystal clear, but the battery life is generous enough to get you through a long-haul flight without pulling out a portable charger.
On the other hand, if you like a compact device or one that puts a comfortable form factor before all else, this phone might not be the one for you. It’s also, for lack of a better term, a little fiddly, with some complex camera software and occasionally unresponsive fingerprint recognition. Even I, someone who messes around with phones for a living, had a bit of a hard time getting my head around it at first.
Alternatives
If our Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version review hasn’t sold you, here are some alternative suggestions to check out.
OnePlus 12
If you can stretch your budget a little further, the OnePlus 12 is a fantastic alternative to the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version. It matches the Nubia in terms of performance but has more approachable camera software and a more comfortable form factor for everyday use. For more details, check out our OnePlus 12 review.
Google Pixel 8a
While the Google Pixel 8a might not be as dazzling a performer as the Z60 Ultra Leading Version, it offers a smoother software experience and a more compact form factor. It’s a much more subtle pick than the Nubia, both in terms of software and design, with Google’s minimalist approach also saving you a solid $150. If you want the full lowdown, see our Google Pixel 8a review.