Going against the current, you can also find a pearl – that's an old Viking maxim, which I didn't just make up.
If someone is already spending thousands of zlotys on a new phone, their considerations usually start with Samsung and iPhone. And that's where they end. Somewhere in the second league of interest are OnePlus, Xiaomi, or Google Pixels, but few reach deeper, and why would they? After all, the market leaders have a hundred and eighty versions of their flagships – a wide choice – and smartphones nowadays don't differ much from each other anyway.
However, sometimes such an approach can be disastrous! Nubia Z60 Ultra. Does that ring a bell? Probably not for most, because although it's not an unknown brand globally, you're unlikely to find it in Polish electronics stores. And that's a shame, because the new device from the Chinese manufacturer took me completely by surprise, and in my opinion, it's a great, albeit hip and relatively cheap, choice for Vikings going against the current, and my favorite photo smartphone.
3500 PLN for a phone with the most powerful processor in the Android world, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of fast storage, a huge battery, fast charging, and outstanding cameras? It sounds too good to be true!
Battle-hardened Vikings are sensitive to ambushes. So am I, which is why before writing this review, I searched for flaws for a very long time, but as if to spite me, the Nubia turned out to be as watertight as a proper drakkar – meaning, not at all.
How are the cameras? Well, there are three on the back – a regular one, an ultra-wide, and a telephoto lens with a little over three times zoom. The thing is, even the regular one is a bit unusual, as they used the equivalent of a 35mm focal length, instead of the usual around 24mm found in smartphones.
In translation from Polish to Viking: the photos have a very similar character to those taken with large digital cameras, not smartphones. The Nubia might see a bit narrower than its competitors, but it sees more beautifully – with gorgeous natural background blur and incredible image plasticity. I fell madly in love with these photos, and the Z60 Ultra became my go-to smartphone for photographing my newborn son. The iPhone has become a bit distasteful to me in this regard.
The wide-angle and telephoto lenses have autofocus and optical stabilization, and the colors are consistent with the main lens, meaning they might not be entirely natural, but they have an artistic flair that reminds me of the Aria Alexa film cameras costing hundreds of thousands of zlotys. It's magic! In terms of video, the phone falls behind the iPhone, but it's not shameful either.
The only shame is showing someone a selfie from the Nubia. You see, the manufacturer decided to hide the camera under the display so that it's completely invisible. And I respect that; I love screens unmarred by anything. The thing is, this technology isn't well-developed yet, so the front camera is good for video calls at best. Every selfie looks like a YouTube video playing at the lowest possible quality, but hey! A true photographer doesn't take selfies, right?
When I look at the 6.8-inch 120 Hz OLED panel, my anger at the Chinese passes, and I put down my axe. It looks wonderful! The entire smartphone, with its red-rimmed lenses and unusual, cut-off shape, commands respect and stands out from other flagships. Or rather, it makes others blend in against it. It does weigh a bit, but a strong man won't feel it.
Did anything disappoint me here? Well, not really, it's just that in a few aspects, the Nubia lags behind those Samsung S24s or Apple smartphones, because somewhere the costs had to be cut. The quality of the screen and stereo speakers isn't as high, although I'd say it's within the normal range for 3500 PLN. The software has a few untranslated elements in Polish, and there's no reason to expect 5 or 6 years of updates, but again – a compromise had to be made somewhere. Of the features, I only miss the support for eSIM (especially now that we have it at Mobile Vikings) and wireless charging. But the latter is less of a regret with charging from 0 to full in 50 minutes for a day and a half of use with the charger included in the box.
Not so long ago, I myself wouldn't have trusted Nubia. Now I recommend it with all my heart. Perhaps not for everyone, because it's not as typical or balanced a smartphone as most high-end models. But for hipster Vikings in love with photography, it'll be perfect!
Nubia Z60 Ultra
Price: from 3499 PLN
"The best photo smartphone you don't know"
Appearance
Even if you don't like it, you won't tell him to his face! The unusual cut-off shape and the substantial camera module, marked with a red circle, command respect. It weighs as much as a substantial reindeer, but that only emphasizes its class. In my opinion – beautiful.
4.5/5
Multimedia
The display and stereo speakers aren't at the same high level as the most expensive phones on the market that the Nubia competes with. On the other hand, it costs considerably less, and a large 120 Hz AMOLED is nothing to be ashamed of.
4/5
Camera
I like taking photos with this phone the most! Due to the focal lengths used, but also simply good lenses. The Nubia takes the most "camera-like" photos of all smartphones – with natural depth, space, and interesting colors. The ultra-wide angle and 3.3x zoom have optical stabilization and autofocus. Wonderful!
4.5/5
Battery and Charging
100%-0%: a day and a half
0%-100%: 50 minutes
The battery is the largest in almost the entire flagship range, and it comes with an 80W charger. It could only be more beautiful with a free pizza to go with it 🙂 And with wireless charging, but at this speed of regular charging, it's hardly missed.
4.5/5
Performance
The most powerful Qualcomm processor overheats a bit and affects long-term gaming performance, but hey! It's the most powerful Qualcomm processor! Even the mightiest Viking gets tired sometimes. On a daily basis, the Nubia works perfectly – worthy of its price, and even better.
4.5/5
Gems/Wow Factor
Waterproof certification, five points to the hipster ranking because few people know the brand, and a screen unmarred by a camera. They hid it under the display! Unfortunately, it takes terrible photos because the technology isn't perfected yet, but a true photographer won't take selfies anyway!
4/5
Summary
It doesn't have as good software and won't receive as many updates as some Samsung, but at this price, for Vikings who go against the current – it's sensational!
