1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 75.6 × 8.9 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.8 mm | S21 Ultra is slightly taller, but both are comparable in size. S21 Ultra might feel slightly less wide in hand due to slightly narrower build |
| Weight | 227g | 246g | S21 Ultra is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and less tiring in hand. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.8" | Identical screen size; no difference in viewing area. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1116x2480 | S21 Ultra's higher resolution results in a much sharper image, with finer details and clearer text, better for reading and media consumption. |
| PPI | 515 | 400 | S21 Ultra's higher pixel density leads to crisper visuals, reducing pixel visibility. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and fluid animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1500 nits | Both offer excellent visibility even under direct sunlight, making them usable even in challenging outdoor situations. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - International | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Z60 Ultra's newer chipset offers much faster processing speed, better efficiency, and superior performance in demanding tasks like gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,000 | 2,017,588 | Z60 Ultra demonstrates significantly higher performance, translating to much quicker app launches and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 - International | Adreno 750 | Z60 Ultra's GPU is significantly more powerful, handling graphics-intensive games and apps with greater ease and better overall gaming experience. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 108MP, f/1.8, 1/1.33" sensor, 0.80 µm pixel size | 54MP, f/1.6, 1/1.49" sensor, 1.00 µm pixel size | S21 Ultra has higher resolution, but Z60 Ultra has a wider aperture and larger pixels, enabling better low-light capture; S21 Ultra might have slightly more detail in very well-lit scenarios, Z60 Ultra does better in low-light |
| Telephoto + Portrait | 10.8MP, f/2.4, 1/2.65" sensor, 1.22 µm pixel size | N/A | S21 Ultra offers a dedicated telephoto lens for portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.2, 1/2.65" sensor, 0.70 µm pixel size | 12MP, f/2.0, 1/2.4" sensor, (pixel size not specified) | S21 Ultra has higher resolution for more detailed selfies, while Z60 Ultra has larger sensor and wider aperture for better low-light performance; The S21 Ultra should allow for more cropping ability. |
| Telephoto Lens | 10.8MP, f/4.9, 1/2.65" sensor, 1.22 µm pixel size | 64MP, f/3.3, 1/2" sensor, 0.70 µm pixel size | Z60 Ultra has significantly higher resolution and wider aperture, enabling better zoom shots; The S21 Ultra has an extra telephoto but it has lower resolution and aperture |
| Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55" sensor, 1.00 µm pixel size | Z60 Ultra offers a dedicated ultra-wide-angle lens for wider shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor, 1.40 µm pixel size | N/A | S21 Ultra features a dedicated lens for macro photography and additional wide angle functionality. |
| Video | Up to 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, multiple modes | Up to 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps, multiple modes | Both offer excellent video capabilities, with similar high-resolution modes; Z60 Ultra offers a higher 4K fps. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 6000mAh | Z60 Ultra offers potentially much longer battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging. |
| Charging | 25W | 80W | Z60 Ultra charges much faster, reducing waiting time and getting the phone back to full charge quicker. |
| Features | Reverse, Wireless (15W), Reverse Wireless (9W), No Charger in-box | Non-removable | S21 Ultra offers convenience of wireless charging, reverse charging, and reverse wireless charging while the Z60 Ultra does not, but S21 Ultra has no in-box charger. |
Other
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11, Up to Android 15 | Android 14 | Z60 Ultra starts with a newer OS version but its future updates are unclear, while the S21 Ultra can be updated to Android 15 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | Z60 Ultra supports newer WiFi standard offering faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded networks |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Z60 Ultra has newer Bluetooth version |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5), GPS (L1+L2+L5), QZSS (L1+L2+L5) | Z60 Ultra provides enhanced location accuracy with more satellite systems. |
| Internal Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB | Z60 Ultra offers a larger storage option; S21 Ultra offers an entry level storage. |
| RAM | 12 GB, 16 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB, 16 GB, 24 GB | Z60 Ultra offers an option for more RAM, allowing for better multitasking and performance. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | S21 Ultra has a better overall audio experience with wider variety of tech and noise cancellation; Z60 Ultra offers better mics. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | S21 Ultra has a superior, more robust screen protection. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Environmental: Barometer | Biometric: Fingerprint, Proximity, Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity, RGB | S21 Ultra provides Barometer sensor, useful for weather tracking; Z60 Ultra has Gravity and RGB sensors, useful for gaming or specific applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Advantages:
- Sharper Display: Significantly higher resolution and pixel density, resulting in crisper images and better viewing experience.
- More Flexible Camera System: Features a telephoto + portrait, wide angle + macro camera, laser AF and phase detection autofocus
- Wireless Charging: Offers wireless and reverse wireless charging for convenient power management.
- Superior Screen Protection: Uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, providing better resistance against scratches and drops.
- Better Audio Quality: Features Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio with noise cancellation microphone for superior sound.
- Barometer sensor: For weather tracking,
- Mature OS: Can be updated to Android 15, providing a more mature user experience and access to the latest android features.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides significantly higher performance and better gaming capabilities than the S21 Ultra's Exynos 2100.
- Larger Battery: 6000mAh battery provides potentially longer battery life, better for users who want to go a whole day without needing to charge.
- Faster Charging: 80W fast charging drastically reduces charging times.
- Improved Camera: Better low-light standard and selfie camera and telephoto zoom lens.
- Wi-Fi 7: Faster internet speed, lower latency.
- More RAM and Storage: Offers configurations with higher RAM and storage, suitable for heavy multitasking and large media libraries.
- Newer OS: Ships with Android 14 providing a newer user experience.
- Enhanced Location Accuracy: With more satellite system support
- Gravity and RGB sensor: Useful for gaming
Trade-offs:
- S21 Ultra: Sacrifices raw performance and battery life for a sharper display, better audio, and more flexible camera system and wireless charging.
- Z60 Ultra: Loses out on a higher resolution display, superior screen protection, wireless charging and noise cancellation, but gains superior performance, longer battery, and enhanced camera capabilities.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is ideal for:
- Media consumers: Users who prioritize a sharp display for watching videos, browsing photos, and reading text.
- Photography enthusiasts: Users who value versatility in their camera system with multiple lenses, including a dedicated telephoto, macro lens and laser AF.
- Users valuing audio experience: Users who prefer high quality audio with spatial enhancements and noise cancellation.
- Power Users: Users who require advanced features such as wireless charging and can live with slightly less raw performance and battery.
Specific Use Cases for S21 Ultra:
- Watching high-resolution videos
- Taking detailed zoom photos
- Video calls, where excellent audio is beneficial
- Working on office documents on-the-go.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is ideal for:
- Gamers: Users who want top-tier performance for gaming and other demanding applications.
- Heavy users: Users who need a long-lasting battery to get them through the day.
- Users valuing camera: Users who prefer better low-light images and zoom.
- Tech enthusiasts: Users that would like the latest Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and OS technology.
Specific Use Cases for Z60 Ultra:
- Playing graphically intensive games
- Long days of travel without access to a charger
- Photography in low light conditions
- Heavy multi-tasking.
Price-to-value ratio:
The ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra generally offers better value for performance-focused users as it provides the latest generation of chipset and has more RAM and storage options. The S21 Ultra is still valuable for users who prioritize display quality, mature OS, more flexible camera system, and wireless charging features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is top-tier performance and gaming capabilities to me?
- Do I prioritize a sharper display or longer battery life?
- Do I need wireless charging and more flexible camera setup with more lenses or the enhanced low-light camera of the Nubia?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: "The Power User": If you heavily use your phone for demanding apps, gaming, and require the longest possible battery life, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is the better option.
- Scenario 2: "The Media Lover": If you prioritize a sharp, high-resolution display for media consumption, and want a device with better audio experience and a versatile camera system then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the preferred choice.
- Scenario 3: "The Balanced User": If you need a balance between performance, a good display, decent battery life, with more mature software and wireless charging then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the more suitable option although it will lack the raw power of the ZTE phone.
My Choice
If I had to choose, I would select the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra. Although I appreciate the sharper display and wireless charging of the S21 Ultra, the superior performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the much longer battery life, faster charging and newer generation of technology provided by the Z60 Ultra are more important to me. The enhanced low-light and telephoto lens is a plus in comparison to the S21. I value battery life and performance over the small visual bump in sharpness offered by the S21 Ultra. For my use case, which involves a mix of gaming, media consumption, and productivity tasks, the Z60 Ultra's overall package is a better fit even though it lacks the mature OS and versatile camera system of the S21.
