Nubia Z60S Pro Review: Not to be Overlooked

At a look

Skilled’s Ranking

Professionals

• Great efficiency
• Nice digital camera for the value
• Lightning-fast charging
• All-day battery life

Cons

• Some software program points
• No water or mud resistance

Our Verdict

When you’re in search of a killer digital camera telephone, the images chops of the Nubia Z60S can’t be understated at this worth level. It’s a wonderfully balanced ({and professional}) smartphone that may do all of it, with only some software program points protecting it from greatness.

With its imposing digital camera array and tempting shortcut slider, the one massive query in opposition to Nubia’s mid-ranger is whether or not or not the 2022 chipset can energy its ambitions.

And after utilizing it as my predominant telephone for an prolonged time period, I’ve loads of ideas on the way it compares to key rivals round this worth level.

Design & Construct

• Giant and satisfyingly weighty
• No water or mud resistance score
• Programmable change for launching apps

At 220g, the Nubia Z60S Professional is a weighty machine – a side you’ll sooner attribute to its monumental plate-like digital camera system than its total construct. And that’s honest: it’s moderately massive.

Clean metallic edges additionally contribute to the heft, however its delicately textured plastic again balances the load whereas aiding in sturdiness by avoiding the anxiety-inducing impact of glass. What it doesn’t do is assist your grip – regardless of choosing plastic moderately than glass, that is nonetheless a slippery telephone.

On the correct facet is the machine’s complete cluster of buttons and switches. You’ll discover a textured copper-coloured energy button for bringing the machine (and Google Assistant) to life, the same old quantity rocker and, extra apparently, a programmable toggle change.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Its default use as a digital camera quick-start change proved invaluable in my testing as a shutterbug, however you’re free to have it hearth up your electronic mail app, music, and even your favorite on-the-go recreation should you’d favor.

The underside hides a central USB-C charging port, with the dual-SIM tray flanking the left, and a six-piece speaker grill on the correct. There’s no signal of a second speaker array on the alternative brief fringe of the machine for balanced sound, although.

There’s a tiny hole-punch selfie digital camera and snappy optical under-screen fingerprint sensor the place you’d count on them. The machine comes with a skinny display screen protector pre-installed, with a tough plastic case within the field able to snap on for an additional layer of safety.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Curiously, the case solely covers the brief sides of the machine, protecting the perimeters fully open to the weather. There’s a SIM card ejection software in there,  in addition to its highly effective charger and matching cable. Outdoors of some plastic inserts, it’s comparatively inexperienced packaging that you may simply recycle.

Display screen & Audio system

• Seamless edge-to-edge AMOLED show
• Clean 120Hz refresh fee
• So-so audio system

The big 6.78-inch, 1260 x 2800 AMOLED show is flush, vibrant, and ultrawide, situations that make it nice for watching cinematic content material on the go. As an LCD panel, you gained’t get the power effectivity advantages of an OLED’s individually lit pixels, but it surely’s hardly a difficulty with its beneficiant battery. Until you want an always-on alarm clock, that’s.

120Hz refresh fee help isn’t shocking on this worth bracket, however nonetheless nothing you must take with no consideration. In contrast to finances gadgets sporting comparable display screen tech, you possibly can relaxation straightforward figuring out the chip inside is able to delivering that easy scrolling potential. Nevertheless, it’s not LTPO, so can’t robotically go beneath 60Hz to save lots of battery life.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

A theoretical peak of 1,200 nits brightness additionally means the Z60S Professional stays simply seen in direct summer season daylight, with reflections saved to a minimal. Watching some YouTube out on the decking isn’t any downside, whereas studying on the seashore with Reader Mode enabled makes it straightforward on the eyes.

Sadly, a single downward-firing speaker, even whereas backed up with one other underneath the display screen by the earpiece, doesn’t fairly spherical out the expertise. At common volumes, vocals lack heat and music and films are bereft of any actual punch within the low finish.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

That’s to not say it’s a washout – content material remains to be largely satisfying – however there’s room for enchancment. It may possibly get loud sufficient to rise above busier eventualities like packed metropolis streets with out distorting too closely, but it surely’s a harsher sound that isn’t too pleasing to the ears in shut areas. Whereas it’s not the proper automotive cinema package deal, top-quality headphones can bridge the hole.

Specs & Efficiency

• Identical chip as earlier technology
• Nonetheless stellar velocity
• 12GB of reminiscence as normal in most area

A Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC powers the Nubia Z60S Professional. It’s a 4nm chip that was launched again in 2022 and was even the mind of final yr’s Z50S Professional. Nevertheless, there was no want for an improve – it’s nonetheless a powerhouse of a processor.

Whereas it might’ve been good to see the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, choosing final yr’s chip makes it doable to incorporate its improved digital camera system and display screen with out ballooning the value.

What we see in testing is the Nubia Z60S Professional powering via typical checks like Geekbench 6 and the GFXBench Automobile Chase, which check CPU and GPU efficiency respectively.

General system stability is rock-solid, with residence display screen swiping remaining easy and apps firing directly. Faucets are satisfyingly responsive and correct, which must also impress avid gamers.

It doesn’t fairly shut the hole in opposition to 8 Gen 3-equipped gadgets like Nubia’s personal Redmagic 9S Professional, however they’re gadgets particularly constructed with gaming in thoughts. 

Even nonetheless, video games will nonetheless boot with Nubia’s ‘Vitality Dice’ gaming overlay, providing you with entry to recordings, system statistics and reminiscence help, plus slide-over apps for guides, streams, and electronic mail.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

The Nubia Z60S can sort out graphically intensive titles reminiscent of Honkai Star Rail and Diablo Immortal at rock-solid body charges at excessive resolutions. At the moment’s open-world adventures like Wuthering Waves and Genshin Affect additionally play very effectively.

Backing up the Snapdragon chipset is an quantity of reminiscence that will depend on your chosen storage quantity. Our 256GB mannequin is paired with 12GB of reminiscence, however UK buyers can rating 16GB by pushing for the 512GB or 1TB variations.

Both choice sports activities snappy UFS 4.0 storage, with very marginal enhancements to be anticipated on the 16GB mannequin by way of environment friendly multi-tasking and heavy workloads.

You possibly can choose to make use of surplus space for storing as slower system reminiscence, which might alleviate some considerations, but it surely’s not really useful if longevity is a priority. It’s one thing to contemplate should you see your self as a heavy (or mild) consumer, however what’s on supply can range by area.  

Nubia Z60S Professional benchmarks

Cameras

• Wonderful 50Mp predominant sensor
• Picture processing can take time
• Nice zoom capabilities in most eventualities

The digital camera is the crowning achievement of the Nubia Z60S Professional. Taking on a 3rd of the rear chassis and obstructing its skill to put flat, the 50Mp predominant sensor is flanked by three others of various specs, pushing the flash into the highest nook.

With the 4 lenses, you’re capable of change between 13, 24, 35, 50, and 80mm focal lengths, punching in or pulling out to get the view you’re after. Issues begin to resemble hazy CCTV footage should you try to push it (round 170mm), but it surely’s par for the course with digital zoom.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Switching between the sensors isn’t as easy because the mainstream manufacturers on the market. Quite than overlay a preview of one other lens inside the viewfinder (as is the case on the iPhone, for instance), you’ll see a delay and blurring as you turn from one to the following, nearly as should you’re on the opticians.

And even with that highly effective Snapdragon chipset, there’s sometimes a pause after taking fundamental pictures as they course of, save, and post-process – no matter lighting situations. It’ll determine these scenes robotically, however you’ll have to dive into the settings to tweak issues like watermarks, focus monitoring, and your most well-liked default lens.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

That’s all on the default setting sometimes related to point-and-shoot images. For transferring topics like giddy kids, out of doors motion, or clingy pets, the Avenue preset tends to resolve the issue. It’s only a disgrace you possibly can’t set this to be the default, given the velocity you’re capable of convey up the digital camera app with the {hardware} slider.

Zoom capabilities are additionally excellent. You’re capable of get legible snaps of topics on the different finish of the road or up within the sky, and the ultrawide potential is nice for capturing the second alongside sweeping vistas or squeezing in a number of folks in a good area or crowded spot.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Select the correct preset, and the ensuing pictures are completely chic. Colors are life-like (though possibly on the nice and cozy facet for some) and brimming with element, whereas night time time pictures retain good element and keep away from trying over-processed.

When you get far too into utilizing portrait mode to snapshots of your pets, you’ll welcome the way it finds each minuscule fringe of their naturally fuzzy little outlines, leading to a powerful and pure bokeh.

See extra digital camera samples within the gallery beneath:

Battery Life & Charging

• Extremely-fast charging
• Giant 5000mAh cell
• Standby time wants work

The Nubia Z60S Professional comes with a speedy 80W charger and a suitably thick, versatile, and removable purple USB-C cable for charging and speedy information switch. 

Plugged in from empty, you possibly can count on 63% cost of the 5000mAh battery in half-hour. And that’s on the default 45W output. Hop into the battery settings to let the telephone warmth up a little bit extra to allow full 80W charging from the identical plug.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Whereas lively and working at an pointless 120fps the notoriously battery-hungry location recreation, Pokemon Go, solely sipped 2% of that large battery in 10 minutes. Merely put, working on fumes needn’t be a priority.

When you occur to get battery nervousness at lunchtime, a number of battery-saving efforts will help see you thru a few days of cautious use. Plug it in and also you’ll barely get via your morning bathe earlier than it’s juiced up and able to go. Wi-fi charging, nonetheless, is lacking.

Sadly, standby time is a little bit disappointing – the Z60S Professional usually misplaced a number of per cent with out getting used. Not low sufficient to be an issue, however noticeable subsequent to different handsets in its worth vary. You’ll wish to plug in throughout your morning bathe simply to be secure.

Software program & Apps

• Customized Nubia MyOS software program over Android 14
• Recent, distinctive tweaks
• Three years of system updates

The Z60S Professional runs Nubia’s personal MyOS 14 pores and skin over Android 14, but it surely’s higher than you would possibly count on.

App bloat is saved to a shocking, however not minimal, diploma on the Nubia Z60S Professional. It comes geared up with the same old full suite of Google apps anticipated from an Android machine, together with YouTube Music and Google TV. Then once more, even these shouldn’t be taken with no consideration. Articles by way of Google Uncover are only a swipe away, too.

As for Nubia-exclusive takes on traditional or important apps, they’re restricted to 4 that seem on the house display screen by default.

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Josh Brown / Foundry

Contacts, Messages, a proprietary browser (with sponsored bookmarks), and the digital camera app are all positioned there. Fortunately, Chrome is inside that Google folder, so that you’re just one drag and drop away from a cushty residence display screen and near-stock expertise.

Swipe left and you’ll spot a shortcut to a journey reserving app on the second residence display screen at launch, however that’s about it.

Powered by Android 14, the MyOS 14 pores and skin on prime is clear and modern. The flush show provides it a type of toy-like printed look that’s nonetheless spectacular to assume again on. There’s some alternative use of English scattered across the Settings display screen and in apps like Digicam that would actually be worded higher, however nothing too egregious total.

When it comes to software program help, Nubia solely commits to as much as three years of system updates. It’s not clear what number of main variations of Android it’ll get, or how lengthy you’ll have to attend for Android 15 to reach.

In comparison with many different mid-range telephones, it is a little disappointing.

Value & Availability

Within the UK, the Nubia Z60S Professional begins at £499 when shopping for outright. That will get you the mannequin with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage reviewed right here, however there are additionally 16/512GB (£599) and 16GB/1TB (£699) variations.

It’s that can be purchased straight from the Nubia UK web site and by way of Amazon. However nowhere is providing the telephone on contract, so that you’ll need to get it outright and pair with a SIM-only deal. See the highest choices beneath:

Nevertheless, the telephone isn’t accessible within the US in any capability.

That UK worth places it up there with the very best mid-range telephones you should purchase, however competitors is powerful. Particularly, the Poco F6 Professional (from £499.90) is a good different, whereas the Nubia Redmagic 9S Professional (from £579) delivers higher efficiency for less than barely extra money.

Must you purchase the Nubia Z60S Professional?

Nubia Z60S presents a compelling worth proposition that’s massive on each display screen and efficiency, with a battery able to backing up its brawn. However its mighty spectacular (and large) digital camera stays its point of interest. 

It’s superbly balanced should you’re after an all-rounder, however there are sufficient niggles to imply you is perhaps higher off with a similarly-priced different, particularly if software program help is a prime precedence. In isolation, although, it’s a really spectacular telephone.

Specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset  
• 12/16GB LPDDR5X RAM  
• 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 storage  
• 6.78-inch, 1260 x 2800 AMOLED show, 120Hz 
• 50Mp, f/1.6 predominant digital camera with OIS  
• 8Mp, f/2.4 telephoto digital camera  
• 50Mp, f/2.4 ultrawide digital camera 
• 16Mp, f/2.5 selfie digital camera 
• 5100mAh battery  
• 80W wired charging  
• 5G  
• Twin stereo audio system  
• Wi-Fi 6E  
• Bluetooth 5.3 
• NFC  
• Nubia MyOS over Android 14  
• 163.6 x 76 x 8.7mm  
• 220g