Asus ROG Phone 6D vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The gaming phone market is fierce, and two contenders are vying for the top spot: the Asus ROG Phone 6D and the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro. Both offer impressive specs and features designed for mobile gamers, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 8 Pro takes the crown thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, superior display, and faster charging. While the ROG Phone 6D is a solid performer, the Red Magic 8 Pro’s raw power and features make it the better choice for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 6D ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 - A version1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A version1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/210 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - B versionCDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, September 192022, December 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 11Available. Released 2022, December 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions173 x 77 x 10.4 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)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 IPX4 water resistant Illuminated RGB logo (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 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)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12Android 13, Redmagic OS 6
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storageUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (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)
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single12 MP, 28mm (wide)16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYes-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0 10W reverse wired80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsSpace GrayBlack, Transparent
ModelsAI2203, AI2203_DNX729J
PriceAbout 690 EUR$ 659.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus ROG Phone 6D

  • Strong brand reputation
  • Balanced performance
  • Good display
  • 65W fast charging
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Dimensity 9000+ chipset lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Charging speed not as fast as Red Magic 8 Pro
  • Camera performance not a standout

ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for top-tier performance
  • Superior display with high contrast
  • Faster charging speeds (80W)
  • Excellent battery life
  • Aggressive gaming design

  • Less established brand outside of China
  • Design may be too aggressive for some
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

The Red Magic 8 Pro boasts a superior display with a potentially infinite contrast ratio (nominal), offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While the ROG Phone 6D has a great display, the Red Magic 8 Pro’s panel is noticeably more immersive. Both have high refresh rates (165Hz on Red Magic, 165Hz on ROG), ensuring smooth gameplay.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally not a primary focus for gaming phones, but the Red Magic 8 Pro likely holds an advantage here. While specific camera details are missing, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 typically offers better image processing capabilities. The ROG Phone 6D's camera is competent but not exceptional.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Red Magic 8 Pro significantly outperforms the Dimensity 9000+ in the ROG Phone 6D. Expect faster load times, smoother frame rates in demanding games, and better overall responsiveness. The Red Magic 8 Pro’s cooling system also appears to be more effective, preventing throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

Both phones offer large batteries and fast charging. The Red Magic 8 Pro’s advertised charging times (35-43 minutes) are faster than the ROG Phone 6D’s (unspecified, but likely longer). The Red Magic 8 Pro also claims an impressive endurance rating of 131h, suggesting excellent battery life.

Buying Guide

The Asus ROG Phone 6D is ideal for gamers who prioritize a balanced experience with a strong brand reputation and a slightly more understated design. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is for hardcore gamers who demand the absolute best performance, a vibrant display, and don't mind a more aggressive aesthetic.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the ROG Phone 6D still a good gaming phone?
Yes, the ROG Phone 6D is a capable gaming phone, but the Red Magic 8 Pro offers a significant performance upgrade.
❓ Which phone has better cooling?
Based on initial reports, the Red Magic 8 Pro appears to have a more effective cooling system, minimizing throttling during extended gaming.
❓ Are the displays on both phones similar?
While both have high refresh rates, the Red Magic 8 Pro's display is generally considered superior due to its potentially infinite contrast ratio and vibrant colors.