nubia, the ZTE sub-brand known for its focus on under-display cameras and photography specs, is prepping the global launch of the nubia Z70S Ultra.
Following its debut in China alongside the nubia Pad Pro tablet, the new flagship smartphone is scheduled for an international unveiling on May 13. This “S” variant chiefly signifies upgrades to the battery capacity and main camera sensor compared to the non-S model that we at Revü Philippines saw at MWC 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
The primary draw nubia is pushing is the upgraded camera system. The company is highlighting the Z70S Ultra’s fifth-generation 35mm custom optics, which supposedly offer increased brightness. This is paired with a new, larger 1/1.3-inch, 50-megapixel main sensor co-developed with OmniVision, which the company calls the “Light and Shadow Master 990.” This main shooter features optical image stabilization. Alongside it sits a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens and a 50-megapixel ultrawide that also handles macro duties. True to nubia’s form, the selfie camera remains hidden beneath the display — a 16-megapixel unit enabling that uninterrupted screen experience.
Speaking of the screen, it’s a 6.85-inch 1.5K resolution AMOLED panel with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and a claimed peak HDR brightness of 2,000 nits. nubia continues its push for notch-less, hole-punch-less designs using its latest under-display camera technology, now in its seventh generation according to the company, protected by what it calls second-gen LongXi Durable Glass (though some regional variants might use other glass types like Corning Gorilla Glass 7i). The device’s design leans into a classic camera aesthetic, featuring a red accent ring around the camera module and a micro-etched faux leather finish on the back glass.
Under the hood, the nubia Z70S Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 5G processor, coupled with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. While Chinese configurations go up to a wild 24GB/1TB option, global variants remain to be confirmed. Perhaps one of the most significant bumps is the battery — nubia has crammed in a massive 6,600mAh silicon-carbon anode battery, supported by 80-watt wired charging. The smartphone also boasts an IP69 rating for robust dust and water resistance.
The brand has also included a customizable slide switch key for quick access to functions like the camera or game mode. An unusual feature highlighted is support for offline, long-distance real-time voice communication, seemingly targeting situations without network connectivity, although details on how this works are scarce.
While the nubia Z70S Ultra gets its global spotlight on May 13, the nubia Pad Pro tablet is expected to follow sometime later. International pricing and specific regional availability for the Z70S Ultra will likely be revealed during the launch event. For reference, here are the handset’s prices in China:
- 12GB + 256GB: ¥4,599 (roughly P35,317 or $630)
- 16GB + 512GB: ¥4,999 (P38,398 or $685)
- 16GB + 1TB: ¥5,599 (P43,014 or $768)
- 24GB + 1TB: ¥6,299 (P48,3392 or $863)
nubia Z70S Ultra specs
- 6.85-inch AMOLED flat display, 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, up to 2,000 nits peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
- 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 5G chipset
- Adreno 830 GPU
- 12GB/16GB/24GB RAM
- 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 storage
- Triple 50-megapixel main, 64-megapixel periscope telephoto, 50-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
- 16-megapixel under-display front camera
- Under-display fingerprint reader
- 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery with 80-watt fast wired charging
- IP68/69 rating
- Nebula AIOS based on Android 15
- Color options: Black, Orange
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