Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
Both phones offer exceptional gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a brighter display and potentially better software support, while the Red Magic 8 Pro offers faster charging and a more aggressive cooling system. It's a close call, but the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate edges ahead for its display and ecosystem.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate | 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 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, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 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 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, April 13 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, May | 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) |
| Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 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+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 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 SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 4.0 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, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 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 | 5.3, 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), DisplayPort 1.4; 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/7, 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 | - | NX729J |
| Price | About 780 EUR | $ 659.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 131h | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
- Brighter Display (1095 nits)
- Refined Software Experience
- Strong Gaming Ecosystem
- Competitive Charging Speed (42 min)
- Cooling system may not be as aggressive as Red Magic 8 Pro
- Potentially higher price
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Faster Charging (Advertised 35 min)
- Aggressive Cooling System (Fan)
- Potentially more budget-friendly
- Lower Display Brightness
- Software may be less polished
- International charging speed slower (43 min)
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays with excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite). However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate takes the lead with a measured peak brightness of 1095 nits, significantly brighter than the Red Magic 8 Pro. This makes the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate a better choice for outdoor gaming or viewing content in bright sunlight. Both offer high refresh rates (likely 165Hz) for smooth visuals.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are limited in the provided specs. Both phones likely offer competent camera systems, but neither is expected to be a photography powerhouse. Expect standard features like multiple lenses and various shooting modes. Real-world camera performance will require further testing.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, both phones deliver flagship-level performance. While the chipset is identical, cooling solutions differ. The Red Magic 8 Pro is known for its advanced cooling system, including a built-in fan, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance during extended gaming sessions. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also has robust cooling, but the Red Magic's fan gives it a slight edge in sustained performance under heavy load. Software optimization will also play a role.
Battery Life
Both phones boast an impressive endurance rating of 131h, suggesting excellent battery life. The Red Magic 8 Pro has a slight advantage in charging speed, with advertised 80W wired charging (in China) and 65W (international), compared to the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's 65W charging. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate's 42-minute charging time is still very competitive.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is ideal for gamers who prioritize a vibrant, high-brightness display, a refined software experience, and a strong ecosystem of accessories. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is a great choice for those seeking the absolute fastest charging speeds, a more aggressive cooling solution, and a slightly more budget-friendly price point.