1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 11 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-01 | 2023-12-29 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is significantly newer, potentially benefiting from newer technology and software updates. |
| Dimensions | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.1 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.8 mm | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is slightly wider and thicker, which may impact one-handed use and pocketability. |
| Weight | 196g | 246g | Xiaomi Mi 11 is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and less tiring to carry. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.81" | 6.8" | Negligible difference in screen size, both offer large viewing areas. |
| Resolution | 1440x3200 | 1116x2480 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a noticeably sharper display with significantly more pixels, resulting in crisper text and images. |
| PPI | 515 | 400 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a much higher pixel density, meaning a more detailed and refined viewing experience. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both provide vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratios. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1500 nits | 1500 nits | Both are equally bright, offering excellent outdoor visibility even in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra features a newer and significantly more powerful chipset, resulting in faster performance, improved efficiency, and better gaming capabilities. |
| AnTuTu Score | 806,139 | 2,017,588 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra offers significantly higher performance, meaning much faster app loading, better multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has a newer and more powerful GPU, ensuring smoother graphics in games and demanding applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4600mAh | 6000mAh | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra offers significantly longer battery life, likely lasting a full day even with heavy usage. |
| Charging | 55W Fast Charging | 80W Fast Charging | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra charges faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse charging, 50W wireless, 10W rev. | Non-removable | Xiaomi Mi 11 offers convenient wireless charging, reverse charging, and faster wireless charging speeds; ZTE Nubia does not. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 108MP (f/1.85, 1/1.33") | 54MP (f/1.6, 1/1.49") | Xiaomi Mi 11 has higher resolution, but ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has a wider aperture and larger pixels for better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP (f/2.3, 1/3.4") | 12MP (f/2.0, 1/2.4") | Xiaomi Mi 11 has higher resolution but ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has a wider aperture for better low light selfie performance. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 64MP (f/3.3, 1/2") | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, offering better versatility in photography. Xiaomi Mi 11 lacks a telephoto lens. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP (f/2.3, 1/3.06") | 50MP (f/1.8, 1/1.55") | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has significantly higher resolution and a wider aperture for better wide-angle shots. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP (f/2.0, 1/5") | None | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra lacks a macro lens. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps | Both record high-resolution videos, offering similar overall video quality; specific capabilities differ slightly in slow motion frame rates and supported modes. |
| DXOMark Selfie | 112 (overall) | Not Tested | Xiaomi Mi 11 has a tested selfie camera with a score of 112. |
| Camera Features | OIS, Laser AF, Ultra stable video, etc. | OIS, Optical Zoom, Under display camera, etc. | Both offer a comprehensive feature set for photography and video; Xiaomi Mi 11 has Ultra Stable Video mode; ZTE nubia Z60 has a dedicated optical zoom. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradeable to 14) | Android 14 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra ships with a newer version of Android, offering the latest features and security enhancements. Xiaomi Mi 11 can be upgraded to Android 14. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, offering faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and improved network performance. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.4 | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra has newer Bluetooth technology. |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, etc. | A-GPS, GLONASS, etc. | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra supports more satellite systems for potentially better location accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra offers much larger storage options, catering to users with extensive media libraries. |
| RAM | 8/12 GB | 8/12/16/24 GB | ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra offers higher RAM options, benefiting heavy multitasking and demanding games. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, 2 microphones | DTS/DTS X, 3 microphones | ZTE Nubia offers a better microphone and enhanced surround sound; the Xiaomi Mi 11 has Hi-Res Audio. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer standard fingerprint security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Gorilla Glass 5 | Xiaomi Mi 11 has superior screen protection, making it more resistant to scratches and cracks. |
| Sensors | Heart Rate, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Proximity, Gravity, RGB | Xiaomi Mi 11 has additional sensors suitable for advanced features, ZTE Nubia has a gravity sensor and RGB sensor; the presence of a heart rate sensor on Xiaomi Mi 11 is notable. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 11 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: Significantly lighter (50g difference), which improves handling and long-term comfort.
- Higher Display Resolution and PPI: Noticeably sharper display for better visual clarity.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides superior scratch and shatter resistance.
- Wireless Charging and Reverse Wireless Charging: Offers convenience of wireless charging and reverse charging.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Offers close-up shooting capabilities for detailed macro photography
- Heart Rate Sensor: Offers a unique biometric feature not found on the Nubia.
- Tested Selfie Camera: Has a verified DXOMark selfie camera score.
- Ultra Stable Video Mode: Offers enhanced video stabilization.
- Laser AF: Enhances autofocus capabilities.
- AF Assist Beam: Provides assistance for autofocus in low-light scenarios.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Advantages:
- Newer Chipset & Higher AnTuTu Score: Offers significantly superior performance with a newer and more powerful chipset.
- Larger Battery: Provides much longer battery life, lasting through a full day of heavy use.
- Faster Charging: Charges faster, reducing downtime.
- Telephoto Lens: Adds a dedicated telephoto lens for versatile photography.
- Superior Wide-Angle Camera: Better wide-angle shots due to higher resolution, larger sensor and wider aperture.
- Newer Operating System: Ships with Android 14 for the latest features and security.
- Newer WiFi and Bluetooth: Supports faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- More Internal Storage Options: Offers much larger storage capacities for media-heavy users.
- More RAM Options: Offers higher RAM configurations.
- Optical Zoom: Provides the ability to zoom without loss of quality.
- Under Display Camera: Offers a cleaner, notchless display design.
- Laser Autofocus (LAF): Faster and more accurate autofocus.
- DTS/DTS X: Offers enhanced audio features.
- 3 Microphones: Better voice pickup in video recording and calls.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi Mi 11: Trades some performance and battery capacity for a lighter build, a sharper display, a macro lens, wireless charging, and better screen protection.
- ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra: Trades some display sharpness, a lighter form factor, and wireless charging, a heart rate sensor, for superior performance, better battery life, a telephoto lens, and more modern connectivity features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 11 Ideal Users:
- Users who value a lighter and more portable phone: Those who prioritize comfort and ease of handling.
- Users who prioritize screen clarity: Those who need a sharp display for detailed content viewing and reading.
- Users who want convenience of wireless charging: Those who prefer to charge wirelessly.
- Users who want a Macro camera those who use a Macro lens for close up photos.
- Users who want a heart rate sensor: Those who might use a heart rate sensor for health purposes.
- Users who frequently consume media: The sharp display, and Hi-Res Audio are great for media consumption.
- Users who enjoy high quality video recording: Features like Ultra stable video and Laser AF make the camera a compelling choice for video recording.
Use Cases:
- Daily commuting: Easy to carry and comfortable for extended usage.
- Casual gaming: Good enough performance for most casual games.
- Reading and media consumption: The high-resolution display makes it excellent for reading and viewing media.
- Travel photography: Good for capturing images in good lighting conditions.
ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra Ideal Users:
- Power users who prioritize performance: Gamers, video editors, and other users who need the best possible processing power.
- Users who need excellent battery life: Those who need a phone that can last through a full day of heavy usage.
- Photographers: Those who want the flexibility of a telephoto lens and better wide angle camera.
- Users who prefer a newer operating system: Those who need the latest features and security updates.
- Users who want top-notch connectivity: Those who benefit from the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth technologies.
- Users who require extensive storage: Those with large media collections or lots of apps/files.
- Users who prefer a notchless display design: Those who desire a clean, unobstructed display.
Use Cases:
- Heavy gaming: The superior chipset and GPU provide a much better gaming experience.
- Long-day usage: The larger battery ensures the phone lasts through heavy usage.
- Professional photography: The telephoto lens offers better zoom capabilities.
- Video Editing and Creation: The fast processor and RAM make it great for video editing.
- Users who want modern connectivity The new Bluetooth and WiFi are future-proof.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance and battery life? If these are top priorities, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is the better choice.
- How important is display sharpness and weight? If a sharper screen and lighter build are essential, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is more suitable.
- What kind of photography and videography do you prefer? The ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra offers more versatility due to the telephoto and better wide-angle lens, while the Xiaomi Mi 11 provides dedicated macro lens and unique video features like Ultra Stable video mode.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Casual User: If you prioritize a light weight, sharp screen, and wireless charging, and can trade off some performance, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a solid option, assuming the price is favorable.
- For the Power User: If you need top-tier performance, longer battery life, and more versatile camera options, and are comfortable with a slightly heavier phone, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is the better choice.
- For the Photographer: If versatile photography and a telephoto lens are essential, the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is superior; however, if you need macro photos, the Mi 11 is the only choice.
- For the Media Lover: If you prioritize a sharp screen and high quality audio, the Xiaomi Mi 11 would be preferred, but the ZTE nubia offers a slight edge in audio features with its DTS/DTS X and 3 mics.
- For the Gamer: The ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra offers superior performance and larger RAM options making it the better option for gaming.
What I Would Choose and Why
I would choose the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra.
Here's my rationale:
- Performance: As a power user, the significantly improved performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the higher RAM options on the ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra are critical for my needs. I often multitask, edit media, and play demanding games, so the extra processing power is essential.
- Battery Life: The 6000mAh battery is a significant upgrade, and it is very important to me to have a phone that lasts all day without needing a recharge. The 80W fast charging is another welcome feature.
- Camera Versatility: While I do appreciate the macro lens on the Xiaomi Mi 11, the addition of the telephoto lens and better wide angle lens on the ZTE Nubia makes it more appealing to me as a photographer. The optical zoom is more important for my type of photography.
- Software and Connectivity: The Android 14 and support for the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards ensure the phone is future-proof, providing access to newer features and technologies.
- Storage: I need the extra storage space to store large files, so the 1TB storage option is a great feature.
- Tradeoffs: While I value the slightly sharper display and lighter weight of the Xiaomi Mi 11, the improvements in performance, battery, and camera on the ZTE Nubia outweigh these considerations. I am willing to trade off the wireless charging and macro lens for the superior features it offers.
The ZTE nubia Z60 Ultra is the more well rounded package, and its performance, battery life, and future-proofing are more valuable to me than the benefits offered by the Xiaomi Mi 11.
