Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ boasts a significantly faster charging speed and the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering a performance edge. However, the ROG Phone 6 Pro maintains excellent battery life and a vibrant display. Ultimately, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ wins for raw power, while the ROG Phone 6 Pro offers a more balanced package.
| 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 | LTE |
| 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 | 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, 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) | 230 g (8.11 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 | Unspecified |
| 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, 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 | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 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, 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, 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 | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Storm White | Black, Transparent |
| Models | AI2201_D | - |
| Price | About 800 EUR | About 700 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 119h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 973756 (v8), 1103188 (v9) GeekBench: 3980 (v5.1) GFXBench: 79fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
- Excellent battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Mature gaming ecosystem
- Good camera versatility
- Older chipset compared to Red Magic
- Charging speed not as fast as Red Magic
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- Aggressive gaming design
- High refresh rate display
- Camera performance not top-tier
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
- Potential for slightly shorter battery life than ROG Phone
Display Comparison
Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (165Hz on the Red Magic, 165Hz on the ROG Phone 6 Pro). The ROG Phone 6 Pro measures a peak brightness of 829 nits, offering excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. While the Red Magic 8 Pro+ doesn't have a measured brightness figure, it's expected to be competitive. The ROG Phone 6 Pro's contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite,' suggesting exceptional blacks and vibrant colors. Both offer excellent viewing experiences, but the ROG Phone 6 Pro has a slight edge in measured brightness.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a more nuanced area. Both phones offer capable camera systems, but neither excels in this department compared to flagship phones from other brands. The ROG Phone 6 Pro's camera system is generally considered more versatile, with better image processing in various lighting conditions. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ focuses more on gaming features and less on camera quality, though it still produces decent results. Detailed camera comparisons would require more in-depth testing.
Performance
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ holds a clear advantage here, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This chipset offers a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the ROG Phone 6 Pro, especially in demanding games and multitasking. While the ROG Phone 6 Pro is still incredibly powerful, the Red Magic 8 Pro+'s newer architecture and improved efficiency provide a smoother and more responsive experience. Expect better frame rates and less thermal throttling on the Red Magic.
Battery Life
The ROG Phone 6 Pro shines in battery life. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional, suggesting all-day (and then some) usage even with heavy gaming. The Red Magic 8 Pro+'s battery capacity is comparable, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's efficiency and the phone's aggressive power management might slightly impact battery longevity compared to the ROG Phone 6 Pro. However, the Red Magic 8 Pro+'s 165W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro is ideal for gamers who prioritize long battery life, a high-refresh-rate display, and a mature ecosystem of accessories. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is perfect for those who demand the absolute fastest performance and charging speeds, and are comfortable with a more aggressive, gaming-focused aesthetic.