Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro edges out the ROG Phone 6 Pro thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and slightly better battery life. However, the ROG Phone 6 Pro boasts a more refined software experience and potentially better camera capabilities, making it a strong contender.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro | ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 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) / 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, 43, 48, 66, 71 - Version A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Version A | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2024/210 Mbps, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 - Version B | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 05 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 13 | Available. Released 2022, December 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 | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in) | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 239 g (8.43 oz) | 228 g (8.04 oz) |
| IPX4 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz 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) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 18GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storage | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 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 | 12 MP, 28mm (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, 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 |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| 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 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-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, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Storm White | Black, Transparent |
| Models | AI2201_D | NX729J |
| Price | About 800 EUR | $ 659.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 119h | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 973756 (v8), 1103188 (v9) GeekBench: 3980 (v5.1) GFXBench: 79fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
- Refined Software Experience
- Established Brand Reputation
- Potentially Better Camera
- Excellent Display
- Fast Charging (65W)
- Older Chipset (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
- Slightly Slower Charging (International)
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Newer Chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Longer Battery Life
- Aggressive Cooling System
- Unique Under-Display Camera
- Fast Charging (80W China)
- Less Refined Software
- Camera Performance Not Top-Tier
- Potential Software Bugs
- International Charging Slower
Display Comparison
Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite). The Red Magic 8 Pro likely has a slight edge in brightness, though the ROG Phone 6 Pro's 829 nits is already impressive. Color accuracy is generally good on both, but may require calibration for professional use. The Red Magic 8 Pro's under-display camera is a unique feature, though image quality can be compromised.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a more complex area. While both phones offer capable camera systems, neither excels in the flagship smartphone camera space. The ROG Phone 6 Pro is generally considered to have a slightly more refined camera software and potentially better image processing. The Red Magic 8 Pro's camera is adequate for gaming and casual use, but may struggle in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both.
Performance
The Red Magic 8 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a noticeable performance boost over the ROG Phone 6 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Expect smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and improved multitasking on the Red Magic 8 Pro. Both phones have ample RAM and storage for demanding games, but the Gen 2's efficiency is a key advantage. Cooling systems are aggressive on both, but the Red Magic 8 Pro's active cooling fan may provide a slight edge in sustained performance.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro takes the lead in battery endurance, boasting an endurance rating of 131 hours compared to the ROG Phone 6 Pro's 119 hours. While both offer excellent battery life, the Red Magic 8 Pro's more efficient chipset contributes to its longer runtime. Charging speeds are also competitive, with the Red Magic 8 Pro offering faster advertised charging times (though international versions are slightly slower).
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro is ideal for gamers who prioritize a polished software experience, established brand reputation, and a slightly more versatile camera system. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is perfect for those seeking raw power, aggressive cooling, and the latest Snapdragon technology, even if it means a slightly less refined overall package.