There are a couple of new flagship smartphones running on Snapdragon 835 processor these days. This includes the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Xiaomi Mi 6, HTC U11 and the Galaxy S8 for the US market. If you’re looking for that extra edge, ZTE’s sub-brand Nubia has a new flagship smartphone that stands out as an interesting alternative.
Meet the Nubia Z17. It’s the first Snapdragon 835 powered device to come with 8GB of RAM and it’s also the first to incorporate Qualcomm’s latest QuickCharge 4+.
The Nubia Z17 features a 5.5″ Full HD display and it runs on Qualcomm’s top of the line Snapdragon 835 processor mated to 8GB of RAM and has 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. This is the second smartphone to feature 8GB of RAM after the ZenFone AR.
For imaging, the Z17 features a dual-camera system with a 23MP + 12MP combo that has a 1.4 micron pixel size and f/1.8 aperture. It boasts a 0.03-second ultra-fast focusing speed and comes with a hybrid 2X zoom feature.
The body of the Z17 is said to be 98% metal and it’s also listed as the first outdoor waterproof Nubia phone but there’s no mention of its IP rating. The device also comes with a machine learning feature that will optimise the device according to your usage for a better experience.
Keeping the device powered is a 3,200mAh battery which is rated to last up to 2.4 days with its NeoPower 3.0 power saving system. It comes with a NeoCharge Quick Charging feature which can do 50% charge in 20 minutes. This charging technology is based on Quick Charge 4+.
According to Qualcomm, the latest Quick Charge 4+ offers the same benefits as Quick Charge 4 and it comes with better thermal management, faster charging and better safety features. It comes with Dual Charge, that comes with a second power management IC which helps to lower thermal dissipation while reducing charge times. In summary, a Quick Charge 4+ compatible device can offer up to 15% faster charging or 30% better efficiency compared to Quick Charge 4. Quick Charge 4 promises 50% charge in just 15 minutes for a device with a 2,750mAh battery.
In China, the Nubia Z17 with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is going for 3,999CNY which is about RM2,512. It will be available in 5 colours – Aurora Blue, Black Gold, Obsidian Black, Solar Gold and Flame Red.
