The smartphone landscape is constantly evolving, and two intriguing contenders have emerged: the Huawei Pocket S, a stylish foldable, and the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+, a powerhouse gaming phone. Both offer unique experiences, but which one delivers the best overall package? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ decisively wins on performance and charging speed thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 165W charging. The Pocket S offers a more compact foldable design and potentially better software optimization, but falls short in raw power. Choose based on your priorities: gaming/performance or portability/foldable form factor.
| 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, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, November 02 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, November 11 | Available. Released 2022, December 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 170 x 75.5 x 7.2 mmFolded: 87.3 x 75.5 x 15.2 mm | 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 | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 230 g (8.11 oz) |
| | - | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan
Aviation aluminum middle frame |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 1188 x 2790 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~442 ppi density) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| | Cover display:
OLED, 1.04 inch, 340 x 340 pixels, 328 ppi | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 740 |
| OS | HarmonyOS 3.0 | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 40 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Triple | - | 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 | 4K, 1080p | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 10.7 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Video | 4K, 1080p | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 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 | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), gyro, accelerometer, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired, 52% in 20 min
5W reverse wired | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Pink, Gren, Silver, Gold, Black | Black, Transparent |
| Models | BAL-AL60 | - |
| Price | About 830 EUR | About 700 EUR |
Huawei Pocket S
- Compact foldable design
- Stylish aesthetics
- Potentially optimized software
- Reverse wireless charging
- Less powerful chipset
- Slower charging
- Limited availability in some regions
- Camera details less known
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Exceptional performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- High refresh rate display (165Hz)
- Dedicated gaming features
- High-resolution camera
- Bulky design
- Gaming-focused aesthetics may not appeal to everyone
- Potentially less refined software compared to Huawei
Display Comparison
The Pocket S boasts a foldable OLED display, likely around 6.6 inches unfolded, offering a unique form factor. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ features a large, high-refresh-rate AMOLED display (likely 6.8 inches) optimized for gaming with a 165Hz refresh rate. Color accuracy and brightness are likely superior on the Red Magic, while the Pocket S offers the novelty of a foldable screen.
Camera Comparison
Camera details for the Pocket S are less readily available, but it likely features a triple-camera system with a focus on everyday photography. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ is expected to have a high-resolution main sensor and potentially advanced features for mobile gaming capture. Image quality is likely better on the Red Magic, especially in low light.
Performance
Here, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ dominates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is significantly more powerful than the Snapdragon 778G 4G in the Pocket S. Expect smoother gameplay, faster app loading, and better multitasking on the Red Magic. The Pocket S is still capable, but not in the same league.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s 165W charging is a game-changer, offering incredibly fast charging times. The Pocket S’s 40W charging is respectable but significantly slower. Battery capacity is likely similar, but the Red Magic’s charging speed gives it a major advantage.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Pocket S is ideal for users who prioritize a compact, stylish foldable design and appreciate Huawei's software ecosystem. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is the clear choice for gamers and power users who demand top-tier performance, blazing-fast charging, and a dedicated gaming experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei Pocket S worth the price for a foldable?
It depends on your priorities. If you value portability and a foldable form factor above all else, and are willing to compromise on performance, then yes. Otherwise, consider alternatives.
❓ Can the Red Magic 8 Pro+ handle demanding games?
Absolutely. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and high refresh rate display make it an excellent choice for mobile gaming, even at the highest settings.
