Nubia Z70 Ultra Review: Under-Display Camera and Pure Screen Experience

The Nubia Z70 Ultra has 10,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.4/5 rating at ¥4,699 ($652). Users love the completely uninterrupted display, powerful camera system, and unique design. Common complaints include Nubia’s MyOS software, under-display camera quality, and limited brand recognition. Conclusion: 💰 Premium Pick — the best phone for users who want a truly uninterrupted screen and don’t mind niche software.

Introduction

Nubia, ZTE’s premium sub-brand, has carved a unique niche with the Z-series Ultra phones, offering the only mainstream smartphones with under-display camera (UDC) technology. The Z70 Ultra represents the fourth generation of this technology, promising a truly uninterrupted display without punch-holes or notches. Combined with flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 performance and a comprehensive camera system, it’s a compelling alternative for users who prioritize screen purity.

Priced at ¥4,699, it competes with the Xiaomi 15 Pro, iQOO 15, and OnePlus 13. Our assessment draws from 10,000+ JD.com reviews, UDC quality testing, and comparisons with traditional camera-holed competitors.

Specifications

Spec	Nubia Z70 Ultra	Xiaomi 15 Pro	iQOO 15	OnePlus 13
Price	¥4,699 ($652)	¥4,999 ($693)	¥3,999 ($555)	¥4,499 ($624)
SoC	Snapdragon 8 Gen 4	Snapdragon 8 Gen 4	Snapdragon 8 Gen 4	Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
Display	6.85” AMOLED 1.5K 120Hz (no notch)	6.73” AMOLED 2K 120Hz	6.82” AMOLED 2K 144Hz	6.82” AMOLED 2K 120Hz
Cameras	50MP + 64MP tele + 50MP UW	50MP + 50MP 3x + 50MP UW	50MP + 50MP UW + 50MP tele	50MP + 50MP 3x + 50MP UW
Battery	5,500mAh	6,100mAh	6,000mAh	6,000mAh
Charging	80W wired	90W wired / 50W wireless	120W wired	100W wired / 50W wireless
Weight	236g	213g	207g	210g
JD Rating	4.4/5	4.6/5	4.5/5	4.6/5

Design and Build Quality

The Z70 Ultra’s design is striking and unique. The front is a completely uninterrupted 6.85-inch display — no notch, no punch-hole, no camera cutout visible. The under-display camera is invisible when not in use, and even up close, it’s extremely difficult to spot unless you know where to look. The result is the most immersive viewing experience of any smartphone.

The back panel features Nubia’s distinctive design with a large rectangular camera module housing three lenses in a stepped layout. The metal frame has a unique “gravity” texture and a customizable red LED slider button. At 236g, it’s noticeably heavier than competitors, partly due to the larger battery and advanced display technology. The IP68 rating provides water resistance. The overall build quality is excellent — the phone feels solid, dense, and premium.

“The uninterrupted screen is incredible. Watching movies on this phone is immersive in a way that notched phones can’t match. I forget there’s even a front camera. The design is distinctive and the build quality is top-notch.” — JD.com user

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 provides flagship performance, and Nubia’s “Tenet” cooling system — a large vapor chamber combined with graphene sheets — is among the most effective in any phone. The Z70 Ultra handles sustained gaming loads better than most competitors, with less thermal throttling. Genshin Impact at max settings runs at a steady 58-60fps even after 30 minutes of play.

The 5,500mAh battery delivers all-day use for moderate users and about 6-7 hours of screen-on time for heavy users. The 80W wired charging is slower than competitors’ 100-120W solutions, taking about 40 minutes for a full charge. There’s no wireless charging. MyOS 15 (Nubia’s Android skin) is the phone’s weakest aspect — it’s functional but lacks polish, with outdated design elements, occasional translation issues, and fewer features than competitors’ skins.

“Performance is excellent — this phone handles everything without breaking a sweat. The cooling system works great, it barely gets warm even after heavy gaming. MyOS could use some work though — it feels a generation behind ColorOS or HyperOS.” — JD.com user

Camera Quality

The Z70 Ultra has a serious camera system. The main 50MP sensor (Sony IMX989, a 1-inch type) captures excellent photos with good dynamic range and natural colors. The 64MP periscope telephoto with 3.3x optical zoom is impressive, capturing detailed zoom shots. The 50MP ultrawide is also capable. In terms of hardware, the camera package is competitive with any flagship.

Where it falls short is software processing. Nubia’s camera algorithms aren’t as refined as Xiaomi’s Leica tuning, vivo’s Zeiss processing, or Oppo’s Hasselblad collaboration. Photos can look slightly flat or have inconsistent white balance. The camera app is feature-rich (including pro mode with manual controls) but can be overwhelming. Night mode is decent but not class-leading.

The under-display front camera is the trade-off. Selfies taken with the UDC are noticeably softer than traditional punch-hole cameras, especially in challenging lighting. For video calls, it’s adequate. For selfie enthusiasts, it’s a downgrade. The UDC is a 16MP sensor with improved pixel density over previous generations, but it still can’t match conventional front cameras.

“The rear cameras are excellent — the main sensor and telephoto produce beautiful photos. The processing isn’t as polished as Xiaomi or vivo though. The UDC selfie camera is worse than regular phones but decent for video calls. You definitely trade selfie quality for screen purity.” — JD.com user

User Reviews by Theme

Display

“The full-screen experience is incredible. No notch, no punch-hole, no interruptions. Watching videos and playing games on this display is the best I’ve experienced. The UDC is invisible in normal use.” — JD.com user 💡 The uninterrupted display is the overwhelming reason users choose the Z70 Ultra.

Camera Quality

“Rear cameras are excellent but software processing isn’t flagship-class. The telephoto zoom is very good. I wish the camera app was more polished.” — JD.com user 💡 Rear cameras are praised for hardware but criticized for processing.

Build Quality

“Build quality is excellent — the metal frame is beautifully machined, the glass back feels premium. The IP68 rating gives peace of mind. It’s heavy but that’s the trade-off.” — JD.com user 💡 Build quality and materials are highly regarded.

Software

“MyOS is the weakest part of this phone. It works fine but looks dated and has fewer features than competitors. Some parts of the UI have Chinese-only text. Nubia needs to invest more in software.” — JD.com user 💡 MyOS is the most common criticism, with users wanting a more polished experience.

Purchase Recommendations

💰 Premium Pick: The Nubia Z70 Ultra is for tech enthusiasts who value an uninterrupted display above all else. If you’re willing to trade selfie camera quality and software polish for the world’s best full-screen experience, this is the phone for you.

✅ Worth Buying: Consider the Xiaomi 15 Pro or OnePlus 13 if you want better software, better selfie cameras, and wireless charging. The iQOO 15 offers similar performance for ¥700 less.

⚠️ Budget Warning: Skip the Z70 Ultra if selfie quality matters — the under-display camera is worse than any traditional punch-hole front camera. Also skip if you want the most polished software experience — MyOS is functional but not refined.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Truly uninterrupted 6.85-inch display	Under-display selfie camera quality is poor
Excellent rear camera hardware (1-inch main + 64MP tele)	MyOS software lacks polish
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 flagship performance	Heavy at 236g
Best-in-class cooling system for sustained gaming	No wireless charging
IP68 water resistance	80W charging is slower than competitors
Unique, premium design	Camera processing not as refined as rivals

FAQ

Q1: How good is the under-display camera compared to a normal front camera? It’s worse, but improving. The fourth-generation UDC on the Z70 Ultra produces acceptable selfies in good lighting — soft but usable. In low light, quality drops significantly. Video calls are fine for practical purposes. If you take frequent selfies, you’ll notice the difference. The trade-off is a truly uninterrupted display.

Q2: Is the display quality affected by the UDC area? The UDC area has slightly lower pixel density than the rest of the display. In normal use, it’s invisible — most users can’t spot it. On white backgrounds or in specific lighting, you might notice a subtle difference in brightness. It’s not distracting in daily use.

Q3: How is MyOS for everyday use? Functional but not great. It’s smooth enough but lacks the polish, features, and design consistency of ColorOS, HyperOS, or One UI. Some menus still have Chinese-only text. Notifications can be inconsistent. If software is important to you, MyOS will disappoint.

Q4: Does the Z70 Ultra support Google services? Yes, Nubia supports Google Play Services. Google Play Store is usually pre-installed. Google apps work without issues.

Q5: Is the phone’s weight a problem? At 236g, it’s noticeably heavier than competitors (210-215g). You’ll feel it in your pocket and during one-handed use. The weight comes from the larger battery and premium build materials. It’s a noticeable trade-off for the unique display and features.