We take a look at the new Nubia Z11 from a design perspective, comparing it to Xiaomi's Mi Mix.
The Nubia Z11 from ZTE has the specs to be a flagship, but it costs Rs. 29,999. However, the smartphone is not just about power. It is among the few bezel-less smartphones out there, and can easily be considered one of the best looking smartphones of 2016.
But, we've already seen one bezel-less device this year, and that one impressed us. So, it's worth comparing this to the Xiaomi Mi Mix. Xiaomi claims the Mi Mix has about 91% screen to body ratio, which is the best you can get on a smartphone today. In comparison, the Nubia Z11 has about 75% screen-to-body ratio, which is in the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge territory.
Both phones are meticulously crafted, but there is a huge difference in the material used. The Nubia Z11 is made out of metal and has a matte-ish back, making it less slippery. Whereas, the Mi Mix uses a ceramic enclosure, which is slippery and seems fragile. Also, the Z11 does not attract as many fingerprints as the Mi Mix.
The biggest problem with going bezel-less are the top and bottom bars, which house most of the sensors, earpiece and the front facing camera. Xiaomi has put the front camera on the bottom bezel, while the proximity sensor and earpiece lie behind the display. On the other hand, the Nubia Z11 has both the top and bottom bezels, but looks as beautiful as the Mix. Now, some may argue that the Mix looks better, but we are also taking into account day-to-day use cases.
As far as being edgeless goes, you can still see a really slim bezel along the Mi Mix, while the Nubia's 2.5D curved glass covering, hides the bezel more effectively. It is worth noting that a 100% bezel-less display is not yet possible. Nubia has done a very good job in making the phone narrow, which adds to the ergonomics and makes the phone well suited to single-handed usage.
This bezel less experience makes the screen feel more spacious, especially while shooting images. While taking selfies, the phone basically feels like a mirror.
Overall, we think, the Nubia Z11 has nailed it in terms of design, but at the asking price of 30K, it is going up against the OnePlus 3T.
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Hardik Singh
Light at the top, this odd looking creature lives under the heavy medication of video games. View Full Profile
