Named the Nubia Z9, there have been rumours of this device for some time. It packs in some very impressive specifications and is offered in three flavours: “Exclusive,” “Elite” or “Classic.”
Classic is the least powerful of the three, not that you’d notice. It has 3GB RAM and 32GB storage while the Elite has a massive 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Exclusive is a variant of the Elite that also adds in a fingerprint sensor. All three are powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 810 chip for blisteringly quick performance.
One of the standout features is the display. The 5.2-inch panel has a 1080p full-HD resolution which is actually behind the 2K displays of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and HTC One M9. The Nubia Z9 makes up for this with the way that its screen is presented though. The phone has virtually no bezels and the display extends right to the very edge of the body.
Combined with a subtle curve across the phone, viewing media content on the Nubia Z9 should be a very impressive experience with videos filling the entire front of the frame.
The frame itself is also a little unique. It has support for an interactive gesture system that can be customised by users. Some ZTE demonstrations, available on GSMArena, show the phone being squeezed to take a screenshot or tapped to activate the camera.
The camera itself is a 16MP unit with an f/2.0 lens. Using the Sony IMX234 sensor that also powers the LG G4, you can be confident that the Nubia Z9 will take some beautiful shots. There is also an 8MP front camera for selfies.
The phone has a 2,900mAh battery that should keep the phone alive through a whole day of usage. With its stunning bezel-less display and enough power to keep up with anything offered by Samsung, HTC, Apple or LG, the ZTE Nubia Z9 looks as though it should become popular. Android Central says that the Classic will retail for 3,499 Yuan (around $564) while the Elite will cost 3,999 Yuan ($644) with the top-end Exclusive costing a hefty 4,499 Yuan ($725)
