Asus ROG Phone 7 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 7 with faster charging and potentially better cooling solutions. However, the ROG Phone 7 boasts a brighter display and a more refined software experience, making it a close contest. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 7 | 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) |
| IP54 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 256GB 12GB RAM, 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+B2a+B2c), 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 | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black, Transparent |
| Models | AI2205_C | NX729J |
| Price | € 744.85 | $ 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 | -26.0 LUFS (Very good) | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1333597 (v9) GeekBench: 5098 (v5.5), 5617 (v6) GFXBench: 108fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 7
- Brighter Display (1051 nits)
- Refined Software Experience
- Strong Accessory Ecosystem
- Generally better camera quality
- Slower Charging (65W)
- Cooling system may not be as aggressive as Red Magic
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Faster Charging (80W/65W)
- Potentially better cooling system (fan)
- Aggressive Gaming Design
- Less refined software
- Camera performance not as strong
- International charging speed slower than advertised
Display Comparison
Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent color accuracy. However, the ROG Phone 7 takes the lead with a measured peak brightness of 1051 nits, offering superior visibility in bright sunlight. Both have infinite contrast ratios, providing deep blacks and vibrant colors. The ROG Phone 7's display is slightly more impressive overall.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a more significant differentiator. While both offer capable camera systems, the ROG Phone 7 generally receives better reviews for its image processing and overall camera quality. The Red Magic 8 Pro's camera is decent but not a primary strength. Expect better detail and more natural colors from the ROG Phone 7.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, both phones offer flagship-level performance. Real-world gaming performance is expected to be very similar, with minimal differences in frame rates. The Red Magic 8 Pro's cooling system, often featuring a built-in fan, *may* provide a slight edge in sustained performance during extended gaming sessions, though this needs further testing.
Battery Life
Both phones have an endurance rating of 131h, suggesting comparable battery life in standby. The ROG Phone 7 demonstrates active use lasting 14:51h. The Red Magic 8 Pro shines in charging speed, with advertised 80W (China) / 65W (International) wired charging, significantly faster than the ROG Phone 7's 65W charging. This means quicker top-ups between gaming sessions.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 7 is ideal for gamers who prioritize a vibrant display, a polished software experience, and a strong ecosystem of accessories. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is a better choice for those seeking the absolute fastest charging speeds and aggressive cooling, even if it means sacrificing some refinement.