Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro and ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro are two titans in the gaming smartphone arena. Both pack powerful processors, high refresh rate displays, and aggressive designs aimed at hardcore mobile gamers. But which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive in and find out.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 7 Pro boasts significantly faster charging and a newer chipset, offering a performance edge. However, the ROG Phone 5s Pro’s exceptional battery life and mature software ecosystem make it a compelling alternative. Ultimately, the Red Magic 7 Pro wins for raw power, while the ROG Phone 5s Pro excels in longevity.

PHONES
Phone Names	Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro	ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL	HSPA, LTE-A, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China

Launch
Announced	2021, August 16	2022, February 17
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 24	Available. Released 2022, February 28

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)	166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight	238 g (8.40 oz)	235 g (8.29 oz)
	Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back)	Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size	6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 730
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI	Android 12, Redmagic 5.0

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 18GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Triple	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)	64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	Panorama, HDR	HDR
Single	24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	-
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive	5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector	USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired	135W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (Global)
Type	Li-Po 6000 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Matte White	Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova
Models	ZS676KS	NX709J
Price	About 2000 EUR	About 800 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 110h	Endurance rating 64h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-24.0 LUFS (Very good)	-22.6 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance	AnTuTu: 743021 (v8), 844901 (v9) GeekBench: 14278 (v4.4), 3672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 1056511(v9) GeekBench: 3845 (v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro

Exceptional battery life
Refined software experience
Robust accessory ecosystem
Bright display
Fast charging (65W)

Older chipset compared to Red Magic 7 Pro
Camera performance is average
Design can be polarizing

ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro

Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
Blazing-fast 135W charging (Global 65W)
High 165Hz refresh rate display
Effective cooling system
Slightly better camera

Shorter battery life
Software can be less polished
Gaming-focused design isn't for everyone
Potential software update delays

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (144Hz on the ROG Phone 5s Pro, 165Hz on the Red Magic 7 Pro). The Red Magic 7 Pro advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio, which is a nominal value, but the display is generally excellent. The ROG Phone 5s Pro's measured 840 nits brightness is impressive, ensuring good visibility even in direct sunlight. While both are great, the Red Magic 7 Pro's slightly higher refresh rate gives it a marginal edge in smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a weaker point for both devices, as they prioritize gaming over photography. The Red Magic 7 Pro's camera setup is generally considered slightly better, offering more detail and dynamic range in well-lit conditions. However, neither phone excels in low-light photography. Both offer decent video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Red Magic 7 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers a noticeable performance boost over the ROG Phone 5s Pro’s Snapdragon 888+. While both handle demanding games with ease, the 8 Gen 1 provides smoother frame rates and quicker load times in the most graphically intensive titles. The Red Magic 7 Pro's cooling system also appears to be more effective at sustained performance.

Battery Life

This is where the ROG Phone 5s Pro truly shines. Its 110h endurance rating is significantly higher than the Red Magic 7 Pro’s 64h. While the Red Magic 7 Pro’s 135W charging is revolutionary (15 minutes to 100% in China), the ROG Phone 5s Pro’s 65W charging is still very fast. The ROG Phone 5s Pro’s superior battery life means you can game for longer without needing to plug in.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro is ideal for gamers who prioritize battery life, a refined software experience, and a robust ecosystem of accessories. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro is perfect for those who demand the absolute fastest charging speeds and the latest processor technology, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 7 Pro worth the extra cost?

If you prioritize raw performance and incredibly fast charging, then yes. However, if battery life and a more refined software experience are more important, the ROG Phone 5s Pro is a strong contender.

❓ Which phone has better cooling?

The Red Magic 7 Pro generally has a more effective cooling system, allowing it to maintain peak performance for longer periods during intense gaming sessions.