Nubia Air vs Vivo iQOO 16
The Nubia Air (2025) runs on the Unisoc T8300, while the Vivo iQOO 16 (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6; launch prices were $199 and $840. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads — 89/100 vs 51/100 (a 38-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 16 has the bigger battery (8400 mAh vs 5000); the Vivo iQOO 16 is faster in AnTuTu (5,498,720 vs 639,225); the Nubia Air is noticeably lighter (172g vs 223g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nubia Air
Vivo iQOO 16
What makes Nubia Air better?
- Lighter: 172g vs 223g
- Cheaper at launch: $199 vs $840
- Better portability (90/100 vs 42/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO 16 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5498720 vs 639225
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 880
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 2073
- Bigger battery: 8400 vs 5000 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 33W
- Higher refresh rate: 165Hz vs 120Hz
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 47/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 34/100)
- Longer battery life (90/100 vs 46/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 83/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Nubia Air vs the Vivo iQOO 16, the Vivo iQOO 16 scores 38 points higher (89/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (100/100 vs 47/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (78/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (90/100 vs 46/100). Value score: Nubia Air — 64/100, Vivo iQOO 16 — 92/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (100/100 vs 47/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 notably outperforms the Nubia Air (99/100 vs 83/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (78/100 vs 34/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (90/100 vs 46/100). In the "portability" category, the Nubia Air significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (90/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Nubia Air | Vivo iQOO 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Unisoc T8300 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | |
| AnTuTu | 639225 | 5498720 | |
| Geekbench Single | 880 | 4327 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 2073 | 12873 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1224x2720 | 1440x3168 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 165 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 8400 mAh | |
| Charging | 33W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 40W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 20 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 15 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 4500 nits | 6000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68/IP69K | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 164.2×76.6×6.7 mm | 163.8×76.9×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 172 g | 223 g | |
| Launch price | $199 | $840 |
Camera comparison
Nubia Air
- Main: 50MP f/1.6
- Front: 20MP
Vivo iQOO 16
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Nubia Air
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1224x2720
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo iQOO 16
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Battery and charging
Nubia Air
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 33W
- No wireless charging
Vivo iQOO 16
- 8400 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Overall performance score
We compared Nubia Air and Vivo iQOO 16, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 16 leads Nubia Air by 88.4% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $641. Nubia Air was $641 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (100/100 vs 47/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 notably outperforms the Nubia Air (99/100 vs 83/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (78/100 vs 34/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air (90/100 vs 46/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Nubia Air significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (90/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nubia Air or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Nubia Air by 38 points (89/100 vs 51/100).
What is the rating of the Nubia Air and the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Nubia Air has a MobileRank rating of 51/100, the Vivo iQOO 16 — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Nubia Air or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on camera score (78/100 vs 34/100).
Which is more powerful: the Nubia Air or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on performance (100/100 vs 47/100).
Should you choose the Nubia Air over the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.