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+ boasts incredibly fast 165W charging and a potentially superior cooling system. However, the ROG Phone 7 offers a brighter display and a more established ecosystem. Ultimately, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ wins for charging speed, while the ROG Phone 7 provides a more refined overall experience.
| 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 | LTE |
| 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 | 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, 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) |
| 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 | 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+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 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 | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 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, 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, 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 | Phantom Black, Storm White | Black, Transparent |
| Models | AI2205_C | - |
| Price | € 744.85 | About 700 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 131h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.0 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1333597 (v9) GeekBench: 5098 (v5.5), 5617 (v6) GFXBench: 108fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Asus ROG Phone 7
- Brighter Display (1051 nits)
- Established ROG Ecosystem
- Excellent Battery Life (14:51h active use)
- 65W Fast Charging
- Reverse Wired Charging
- Charging speed slower than Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Camera performance less emphasized
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Incredibly Fast 165W Charging (14 min)
- Aggressive Cooling System (potential for sustained performance)
- Potentially Superior Video Recording
- Under-Display Front Camera
- Less Established Software Ecosystem
- Display brightness potentially lower than ROG Phone 7
- Camera quality potentially inconsistent
Display Comparison
Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates. However, the ROG Phone 7 takes the lead with a measured peak brightness of 1051 nits, offering significantly better visibility in bright sunlight. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ likely has excellent color accuracy, but specific measurements are needed for a definitive comparison. Both offer excellent contrast ratios.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a key differentiator. While both phones offer capable camera systems, the ROG Phone 7 has a more established reputation for image quality. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ likely focuses more on video recording capabilities, potentially with advanced features like 8K recording. Detailed camera samples and comparisons are needed to determine a clear winner.
Performance
Under the hood, both devices share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and CPU configuration. Real-world performance should be very similar, with slight variations depending on thermal management. The Red Magic 8 Pro+'s aggressive cooling system (likely featuring a vapor chamber and multiple heat pipes) *could* allow it to sustain peak performance for longer periods, but this needs further testing.
Battery Life
The ROG Phone 7 demonstrates impressive battery life with an active use score of 14:51h and an endurance rating of 131h. The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s battery capacity is likely comparable, but its 165W charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in around 14 minutes (advertised). This is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
The Asus ROG Phone 7 is ideal for gamers who prioritize a vibrant display, a robust software ecosystem, and a proven track record. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is perfect for those who demand the absolute fastest charging speeds and are willing to trade some polish for raw power and aggressive cooling.