Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition: Ultimate Performance and AI Upgrades

We often say that good design needs to be inherited, and this concept is equally applicable to mobile phone products. After the launch of the Nubia Z60 Ultra, the first to feature the third-generation Snapdragon 8 processor last year, Nubia subsequently introduced the Z60 Ultra Photographer Edition and the newly released Z60 Ultra Leading Edition. At first glance, these two products may not seem different from the Z60 Ultra, but their modifications lie within. For example, the Photographer Edition includes AI features, and this Leading Edition has upgrades in imaging and processors.

Nubia has upgraded certain internal aspects while maintaining the Z60 Ultra’s distinctive square body and true full-screen features. This not only retains the family-style design of this generation but also meets some new demands from users switching phones. Today, we will explore what new experiences the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition brings.

Unique Appearance, Timeless True Full Screen

Through two generations of iterations, Nubia has gradually found its design language. The combination of squares and circles, arranged in layers, gives the back a very rich sense of layering. In an era where centrally located circular lens modules are becoming increasingly common, Nubia has won the favor of many male users with its highly industrial geometric design and square shape. Believe me, this is not a derogatory term—"black and straight" also captivates men when it appears on phones.

The front features an iconic true full screen, with no holes or obstructions, still worthy of the title of the most beautiful front screen in the phone industry in 2024. This 6.8-inch screen uses sixth-generation under-display camera technology, achieving a pixel density of 400 PPI, and is equipped with a UDC Ultra independent display chip, allowing each pixel to be driven and displayed independently. The display is detailed and transparent. Even in strong light, the top camera area is almost imperceptible. It’s a completely whole screen, presenting the videos you want to watch and the games you want to play with the fullest effect.

The specific parameters of this screen are comparable to mainstream flagships, with a 1.5K resolution ensuring smooth font edges, and a peak brightness of 1500 nits making the screen bright and visible outdoors. What’s amazing is that it also supports a 1200Hz instantaneous peak sampling rate. While I thought Nubia was still focusing on the display effect of the true full screen, they had already provided gaming-level touch feedback to this screen. Combined with 2160Hz ultra-high-frequency PWM dimming, it can protect your eyes even with long-term use. It seems Nubia really wants everyone to use this full screen to play games.

Stronger Performance, AI-Enhanced Usability

Smooth gaming naturally relies on strong performance. If the power efficiency ratio of this year’s third-generation Snapdragon 8 met expectations, then the 8 Gen3 Leading Edition, as a mid-term upgrade, is definitely a "performance monster." The Snapdragon 8 Gen3 Leading Edition inherits the architectural design of the Snapdragon 8 Gen3, with a CPU layout of 1+5+2, including one super-large core, five large cores, and two small cores. The super-large core CPU frequency is raised to 3.4GHz, making it Qualcomm's most powerful mobile chip ever.

With the frequency boost, it operates with less pressure in high-load scenarios like large-scale games. Additionally, the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition is equipped with UFS4.0+LPDDR5X memory, making application loading speeds faster. Our tests show that in a 26-degree Celsius room, the Z60 Ultra Leading Edition scores 2.2 million points, far exceeding ordinary 8 Gen3 models.

For gaming, we tested it with "Genshin Impact." In a half-hour test in the Fontaine region, the Z60 Ultra Leading Edition maintained an average frame rate of 59.3 FPS, with an average frame stability index of 1.1. Besides the smooth gaming experience, the Z60 Ultra Leading Edition offers many practical tools in the game space plugin library, such as AI Super Scene Quality, which can enhance "Genshin Impact" to a high definition of 1116P, a favorite for graphics enthusiasts.

The performance improvements brought by the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 Leading Edition are not limited to performance but also extend to AI. It supports terminal-side operation of models with 10 billion parameters, enabling tasks like image generation to be completed in less than a second. To fully utilize this processor’s generative capabilities, Nubia has introduced an intelligent assistant based on the Nebula AI large model, which can not only achieve generative writing but also support natural conversation, helping with work arrangements, travel planning, and more. For those needing to travel abroad, I highly recommend the AI real-time bidirectional translation function, which automatically translates during calls, making communication easier without language barriers.

Comprehensive Imaging with High-End Optics

The Z60 Ultra Leading Edition has also been upgraded in imaging. Although it still features three native focal lengths of 18mm, 35mm, and 85mm, the main camera lens has been upgraded from the previous Sony IMX800 to the IMX906, with a sensor size of 1/1.56 inches and an F/1.59 large aperture. Even in low-light scenes without triggering night mode, it can still accurately suppress highlights without ghosting, and focus precisely.

My favorite for everyday use is the 64MP periscope telephoto lens. The 85mm focal length is not only the golden focal length for portrait close-ups but also allows more flexible composition when shooting objects. This telephoto lens has excellent macro capabilities, capturing ultra-clear photos with fine details even in indoor low-light conditions, thanks largely to the AI Super-Resolution technology brought by the Nebula large model.

AI’s impact on imaging goes beyond this. With the AI Super Resolution algorithm, the Z60 Ultra Leading Edition not only produces clearer images from its three main cameras but also improves the under-display imaging, offering a somewhat retro CCD feel with noticeable skin smoothing. This year’s popular AI removal function is also available in the photo album, supporting both selection and smearing forms. The speed and effect of removal are comparable to the top tier. As for other imaging features, the Z60 Ultra Leading Edition retains most of them, which we won’t go into detail here.

In summary, the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition is a highly sincere "mid-term upgrade," further unlocking performance based on the annual flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen3 Leading Edition. It also offers a more intelligent AI experience and a main camera with better optical quality, adding value without increasing the price, making it a new mid-year flagship choice.