The Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is the company's latest flagship smartphone and the successor to the Nubia Z60 Ultra that we reviewed back in early 2024. The only major change is the switch to an overclocked version of the Snapdragon chipset, which solves the previous model's biggest problem.
Nubia tends to pull its phones from the market as soon as new models are released, so you don't have to worry about which model is best for you. However, while the top-of-the-line Z60 Ultra version is $50 more expensive than its predecessor, we think this is one of the best value upgrades Nubia has rolled out in recent years.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version
The higher-end Nubia Z60 Ultra might not seem like a huge upgrade on the surface, but its overclocked Snapdragon chipset packs AI tools that make it easy to take great photos. It costs $50 more, but the results are worth the price hike.
- Premium feel
- How to get the latest mobile hardware at the most affordable prices
- The camera can take great pictures.
- The software is crude
- The camera is not for beginners
- Poor software support
Price, Availability and Connectivity
The Z60 Ultra leading version comes in four models. The cheapest option is $650 and comes with 8GB RAM and 256G storage. The most expensive option is $880 and comes with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. Oddly enough, the cheapest and most expensive models only come in black. If you want the stylish silver marble effect we showed you in our review, you'll have to opt for the 12+256GB ($699) or 16+512GB model ($779).
I reviewed the phone in central England, a region not known for its connectivity. Still, I had no trouble streaming music, making calls, and receiving timely notifications. US users should note that the higher-end Z60 Ultra does not support all major bands in the US, so your experience may vary.
What makes the Nubia Z60 Ultra stand out:
AI upgrades are really helpful
It's hard to explain what I love about the Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version's design without taking my own words. Z60 Ultra Review. The phone's design is largely unchanged, but I have mixed feelings about it. Though it's eye-catching, the camera bump is still too large, making it a nightmare for snap-in game controllers and a place for dust to collect. That said, the new silver effect is nice and goes a long way to softening the Z60 Ultra's harsh look. The silver marble effect on the Z60 Ultra LV comes with its own caveats (which we'll get to later), but it looks much better than its predecessor.
It'd be a waste of time to repeat everything I said about the Z60 Ultra. Instead, I want to talk about the only major improvement: the higher-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This chipset is equipped with a variety of AI tools that Nubia claims can mitigate an issue I had with the Z60 Ultra's camera: the phone's post-processing algorithms producing blurry, saturated photos.
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The Nubia Z60 Ultra struggles to live up to its impressive hardware
Thankfully, the change is noticeable. Below are photos taken with the Z60 Ultra and Z60 Ultra LV at 1x and 30x respectively. Despite having the same camera, the Z60 Ultra LV produces higher quality results thanks to its post-processing capabilities. This is especially noticeable when zooming in to take a photo. The last photo is a 50x zoom photo from the Z60 Ultra LV, which seems to produce almost the same quality photo as the 30x zoom on the Z60 Ultra.
Post-processing improvements don't stop at the telephoto zoom. Overall, the Z60 Ultra LV produced images that avoided the oversharpening and oversaturation issues that plagued its predecessor. If you're looking for a phone to take on a photography trip, the Z60 Ultra LV is the perfect choice. Not only will it take photos you'll be proud of, but the 6,000mAh battery will last you more than a day. In my testing, I was able to use the phone for two days without charging, even while uploading photos over a data connection.
What I didn't like about the leading version of the Nubia Z60 Ultra
MyOS is still hard to use
If you buy the latest version of the Z60 Ultra, we recommend installing a third-party launcher from the Play Store, all of which are better than the MyOS launcher on the Z60 Ultra LV, which makes a great first impression but quickly becomes a frustrating experience.
Arguably, MyOS14 has more customization options than any other Android software layer. I've been using MyOS on and off since reviewing the Z60 Ultra in January 2024, and the more I use it, the less impressed I am. UI elements are inconsistent, customization options prioritize flashy effects over usability, and the default browser is near-unusable. Other frustrating features include the Nubia-branded watermark applied by default to all photos and inaccurate English translations. None of these points are fatal in themselves, but the result is a mess made even more frustrating by bugs and just two years of software support.
Despite the AI ​​improvements, the Z60 LV still lacks the ease of use you expect from a smartphone camera. If you're patient and take the time to adjust your camera settings between shots, you'll get great photos. But when taking quick snaps, many of my photos just didn't come out as I'd hoped. Beginner photographers might be overwhelmed by the number of camera options the Z60 Ultra LV offers — they're simply not needed for holiday snaps and Instagram selfies.
On the hardware side, the silver marble texture is eye-catching, but that premium feel crumbles when you touch it. It has the same texture as linoleum, and makes a similar squeaky sound when you rub your finger over it. This is subtly unpleasant, and while we recommend a case for any phone that's prone to being dropped, Redmagic's phone is a bit of a pain to deal with. 9S Pro with a smooth glass back. A similar effect would have been a great help here.
Should I buy it?
I'm happy to report that Nubia has fixed the camera issues that plagued the Z60 Ultra, but the phone's frustrating software makes it harder to recommend it than other mid-range Android phones. The Pixel 8, for example, is only $50 more and offers five years more software support for a much easier-to-use OS. Plus, Google's superior post-processing features mean it takes better photos anyway, even if you don't have a telephoto lens.
If you value processing power and high-quality photos over user experience, the Z60 Ultra is a great phone, and it's good value for the price, but don't expect a smooth experience.
Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version
The top-of-the-line Nubia Z60 Ultra version is a clear upgrade from its predecessor, and while the software is still difficult to use, the overclocked Snapdragon chip gives the phone's camera more post-processing power.
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A smartphone with real value