Asus ROG Phone 6 vs. ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing a balanced experience and established software support, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+ emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift, and the 165W charging is a game-changer, minimizing downtime. However, the ROG Phone 6 remains a strong contender for those deeply invested in the Asus ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 6 | ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Version A, Version C | 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, 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, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Version C | - | |
| 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 | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 239 g (8.43 oz) | 230 g (8.11 oz) |
| IPX4 water resistant Illuminated RGB logo (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | - | |
| 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 | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storage | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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 (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 | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 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 |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black, Transparent |
| Models | AI2201_C, AI2201_F, AI2201-1A030EU, AI2201_A, AI2201-1A029EU | - |
| Price | C$ 1,599.00 / € 805.42 | About 700 EUR |
Asus ROG Phone 6
- Established gaming ecosystem and software support
- Extensive accessory compatibility
- Refined and polished user experience
- Slower charging speed (65W)
- Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- Potentially better thermal management due to 4nm process
- Potentially less refined software experience
- Aggressive gamer-centric design may not appeal to everyone
Display Comparison
While both phones likely feature high refresh rate AMOLED displays (data not provided), the core difference lies in the underlying chipsets impacting sustained performance. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the RedMagic 8 Pro+ benefits from a more efficient 4nm process, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The ROG Phone 6’s 65W charging, while respectable, pales in comparison to the RedMagic 8 Pro+'s 165W charging, significantly reducing recharge times.
Camera Comparison
Given the primary focus on gaming, camera performance isn't a defining factor. However, the RedMagic 8 Pro+ likely features a more modern sensor setup, potentially offering better low-light performance and dynamic range. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive statement, but the newer chipset’s image signal processor (ISP) in the RedMagic 8 Pro+ should provide improved image processing capabilities. We can assume both phones will include a standard suite of camera features, but neither is likely to compete with flagship camera phones.
Performance
The nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+ boasts the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU with a peak clock speed of 3.2 GHz on the Cortex-X3 prime core. This represents a significant architectural upgrade over the Asus ROG Phone 6’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) and its 3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 core. The newer Cortex-X3 and A715 cores in the 8 Gen 2 offer improved single-core and multi-core performance, respectively. The RedMagic 8 Pro+’s chipset also benefits from advancements in the Adreno GPU, translating to higher frame rates and more detailed graphics in demanding games. The ROG Phone 6’s LPDDR5X RAM is likely matched by the RedMagic 8 Pro+, but the chipset advantage gives the latter the edge.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 8 Pro+’s 165W wired charging is a standout feature, promising a full charge in just 14 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime between gaming sessions. The Asus ROG Phone 6’s 65W charging, while still fast, takes approximately 42 minutes to reach 100%. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the RedMagic 8 Pro+ effectively mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery, offering more usable uptime for gamers.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6 if you need a phone with a more polished software experience, extensive accessory support, and a well-established community. It’s ideal for users who value a complete gaming ecosystem and don’t mind slightly slower charging. Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro+ if you prioritize raw performance, the fastest possible charging speeds, and are comfortable with a more aggressive, gamer-centric UI. This phone is for those who demand the absolute best in mobile gaming power.