Sony Xperia 1 VII vs ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra
Verdict
Sony Xperia 1 VII and ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra tie on the OH Rank at a score of 72. Sony Xperia 1 VII wins on Main Camera and SD Memory; ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra wins on Performance and Battery. ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra is 3.2mm wider than Sony Xperia 1 VII. ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra is the more recent release, from Oct 2025.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
72
72
Sony Xperia 1 VII
74mm (2.91in) · Jun 2025 · Rank #75
9+10+8+12+14+3+3+5+5+3 = 72
FLY* TOP Software* TOP Memory Expansion* TOP Camera
EDITORIAL: Sony seems unsure about the direction of it's mobile business. This year's Xperia announcement didn't introduce Xperia 10 VII- their midrange phone. Xperia 5 V from 2023 was the last compact flagship Sony put out and now they seem to have slimmed their model range from 3 to just 1. The 1 VII is still a great phone. It's hardware is unique and more functional then any other flagship phone. Great grip and a bright screen, forward facing stereo speakers, hi quality headphone jack, SDmemory - this phone offers so much value. The battery life is still a great affair, cameras are as good as ever (tho selfie lacks AF) and software is simple, elegant and bloatware-free.
PROs
excellent build and grip, relatively narrow (easier to use one hand) body, headphone/microphone jack, tool-less SD card slot for quick memory expansion, dedicated two-step camera button, fast SnapDragon 8 Elite chip with UFS4.0 performance, >30hr endurance from a 5000mAh battery, >1500nits bright LTPO OLED screen, IP68 protection, great photos from the 48MP OIS main + 12MP OIS continuous optical zoom + 48MP ultrawide (all 3 have PDAF), a tried and true Sony skin Android with 4 years of OS updates, limited Android 17 desktop replacement functionality
CONs
expensive, lack of innovation, heavy throttling under load, 90min slow charging 5000mAh Lithium battery, sub400ppi non-HDR10+ screen, no-AF selfie, mediocre videos
ZTE Nubia Z80 Ultra
77.2mm (3.04in) · Oct 2025 · Rank #78
13+14+11+12+12+3+4+0+3+0 = 72
* TOP Battery Endurance* TOP Gaming
EDITORIAL: Just 6 months after it's predecessor, Z80 Ultra brings better hardware and software making this a very good value camera-phone option. With lots of physical controls, new version of OS and more tweaking of the solid (it not imperfect) camera setup. The beautiful 144Hz notch-less screen has minimal bezels and ultrasonic fingerprint sensor but no LTPO or HDR10+ tech yet. Just like it's predecessor, Z80 Ultra is a great gaming phone too.
PROs
unique and quite likable design, great in-hamd feel for a big phone, good SD 8 Elite Gen 5 with UFS 4.1 performance, excellent >42hr endurance from a 7200mAh Si-C battery with sub-60min 90W charging (80W wireless) and good battery longevity protection options, >1700nits bright >430ppi 144Hz AMOLED screen. IP69 protection, some great shots from a 50MP 35mm OIS PDAF main + 64MP 70mm OIS PDAF periscope telephoto + 50MP 18mm PDAF ultrawide back camera setup, very good video recording, fast USB-C 3.2 port with OTG, additional camera kit
CONs
230g heavy, gets hot, mediocre selfie imaging, no SDmemory slot, short OS update promise, no video out or desktop replacement functionality
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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