nubia Z80 Ultra: display refinements and major camera upgrades teased

The upcoming nubia Z80 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the more daring flagships of the year, with details about its display and camera system already sparking conversations online. Following teasers by the company’s Vice President on Weibo and additional leaks from Digital Chat Station, it seems clear that nubia is doubling down on its unconventional design philosophy, especially when it comes to its approach to front-facing cameras and full-screen experiences.

As with its predecessors, the Z80 Ultra is expected to arrive with a truly uninterrupted full-screen OLED display, free from the typical punch-hole or notch.

Instead, the under-display selfie camera technology returns, and insiders suggest engineers have refined it further to improve image clarity while keeping the panel flawless. The screen will also maintain a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate and 380Hz touch sampling rate, a specification that places it firmly among the most responsive displays on the market. Some enthusiasts, however, are disappointed that nubia hasn’t confirmed LTPO support, which could help balance battery efficiency with those high refresh speeds.

The rear camera system is also seeing noteworthy changes. The primary 35mm focal length sensor remains, but this time the ultrawide lens takes center stage, reportedly sporting a larger sensor paired with advanced lens correction algorithms. This upgrade seems to be a direct response to feedback on last year’s Z70 Ultra, which some fans felt was a downgrade compared to earlier models. Bringing back the 17mm ultrawide perspective alongside the 35mm main camera could revive some of the photographic versatility that once made nubia flagships stand out.

Enthusiasts are also debating whether nubia should have followed Xiaomi’s recent example of placing a small secondary display on the back of the phone near the main cameras. Such a feature would allow the superior rear lenses to double as selfie shooters, potentially solving the quality gap left by under-display cameras. Still, others argue that nubia’s insistence on pushing under-display technology makes its devices unique in a sea of lookalike flagships.

Software and long-term support remain question marks. Some long-time users are still waiting for clarity on whether devices like the Z70 Ultra will receive upgrades to Nebula AIOS 2. Others worry about nubia’s patchy track record with global releases and update policies, especially in markets like the EU where regulations require more frequent security patches. These concerns echo through fan discussions, with many saying that stellar hardware must be backed by equally reliable software to truly compete with mainstream giants.

For loyalists, however, the Z80 Ultra represents another chance for nubia to reclaim its place in the flagship spotlight. The brand’s boldness with design and imaging systems has long earned it a cult following, and if the leaks hold true, the Z80 Ultra could strike the balance between innovation and practicality that the Z70 Ultra struggled to maintain. Given that the Z70 Ultra launched in November last year, many expect the Z80 Ultra to be unveiled in the weeks ahead, keeping enthusiasts on edge for its official debut.