Apple iPhone Air (256GB) vs ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G)
Side by side comparison between Apple iPhone Air vs ZTE Nubia Z5S phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.5"
OLED
OLED
1260x2736
48
MP
MP
18mp
12GB
RAM
RAM
Hexa-core
3149
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
5"
IGZO
IGZO
1080x1920
13
MP
MP
5mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
2300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Apple iPhone Air (256GB)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
30 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 19 Common items in both devices |
| Only digital zoom |
| PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras / Autofocus |
| 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| Accelerometer |
| Ambient light sensor |
| +12 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Model | iPhone Air (256GB) | Nubia Z5S (3G) |
| Other model names | iPhone 17 Air (A3260, A3517, A3518) | ZTE Nubia Z5S 3G, ZTE Z5S Nubia NX503A |
| Country or region available |  (Global, International) | feature not registered |
| Brand | Apple | ZTE |
| Release date | 9/19/2025, Announced: 9/9/2025 | 1/1/2014 |
| Depth | 5.6 millimeters (0.22 inches) | 7.6 millimeters (0.3 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.7 x 156.2 millimeters (2.94 x 6.15 in) | 68.8 x 137.7 millimeters (2.71 x 5.42 in) |
| Weight | 165 grams (5.78 ounces) | 126 grams (4.41 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Titanium frame, glass front and back Back: Ceramic Shield | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Display type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | TFT-IGZO |
| Screen size | 6.5" inches | 5" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~88.8% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~72.7% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1260x2736 pixels (19.5:9) | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 463 PPI | 441 PPI |
| Colors | 1 billion | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Ceramic Shield 2 | Gorilla Glass |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | 1000nits[typ], 3000nits[peak] Dolby Vision/HDR10 Always-On Display Oleophobic coating screen True-tone Wide color gamut | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| System version | iOS 26 | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean |
| Firmware update | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Apple A19 Pro (3nm) | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8274 (28nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core, 2 processors: 2x 4.26GHz P-Core (Dual-core) 4x 2.2GHz E-Core (Quad-core) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2.2GHz Krait 400 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | A19 Pro GPU (5-core) | Qualcomm Adreno 330 |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 2000993 (v10) Geekbench: 9682 (v6.5) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| RAM memory | 12GB LPDDR5X | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 256GB (230GB available) NVMe (SSD) | 16GB (12GB available) eMMC 4.5 |
| External storage | Not supported | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM Standby - Call active on one sim card | Not supported |
| SIM card | e-SIM (Eletronic) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 5000/1024 Mbps | 42/5.76 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | 2G, 3G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | CDMA 800, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat20 VoLTE A3517 (International): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 53, 66) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3260 (USA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): LTE (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 53, 66, 71) TD-LTE (34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | A3517 (International): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3260 (USA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) A3518 (Canada, Mexico, EMEA): SA/NSA/Sub6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79) | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A, SA/NSA, Sub6, mmWave | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+ |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 48 megapixels | 13 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 8000x6000 pixels | 4128x3096 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.6 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm (lens) | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/1.56" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | PDAF: phase detection autofocus on both cameras | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization on both cameras | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | 4K@24/25/30/60fps 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps Dolby Vision (60fps) 10-bit HDR | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 18 megapixels 0.3MP SL 3D | 5 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 5184x3456 pixels | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.9 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio 3D | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, XviD, MKV | MP4, H.264, H.263 |
| Audio formats | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| USB | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Audio output | Type-C reversible connector | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 + A2DP/LE | 4.0 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be [wifi7/6E/6] (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) + MIMO WiFi hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC | A-GPS, GeoTagging |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | feature not registered |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Barometer Compass Face unlock 3D Gyroscope Proximity sensor UWB (Ultra Wideband) | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3149 mAh | 2300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 30W Wired fast charging 4.5W Reverse charging by cable USB Power Delivery 2.0 | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | 25W Qi2 wireless charging | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue • Apple Intelligence • Apple Pay • Face ID • MagSafe | • Colors: White, Black • Java framework |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| iPhone Air (256GB) | ZTE Nubia Z5S (3G) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |