vivo iQOO 11 vs. ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison

The vivo iQOO 11 and ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro both pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but cater to different priorities. The iQOO 11 aims for a balanced flagship experience, while the RedMagic 8 Pro is unapologetically geared towards mobile gaming. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone delivers the best value for your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with a brighter display and faster charging, the vivo iQOO 11 is the better choice. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the RedMagic 8 Pro’s optimized cooling and slightly longer battery life more compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 11 ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
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, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China-
Launch
Announced2022, December 082022, December 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 08Available. Released 2022, December 28
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.9 x 77.1 x 8.4 mm or 8.7 mm164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight205 g or 208 g (7.23 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~87.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 3 (China)Android 13, Redmagic OS 6
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB-
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 47mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide)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 (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-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
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 25 min80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min - International
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White (BMW M branding)Black, Transparent
ModelsV2243ANX729J
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 680 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 127h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.3 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 1281665 (v9) GeekBench: 4803 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

vivo iQOO 11

  • Significantly faster 120W charging
  • Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
  • Potentially more versatile camera system

  • Slightly lower battery endurance rating
  • May throttle under sustained heavy load compared to RedMagic

ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro

  • Superior thermal management with built-in fan
  • Slightly longer battery life
  • Optimized for sustained gaming performance

  • Slower charging speeds (especially International version)
  • Dimmer display compared to iQOO 11

Display Comparison

The iQOO 11 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1147 nits compared to the RedMagic 8 Pro’s 821 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize high refresh rate panels, the iQOO 11’s higher peak brightness and potentially better color calibration (though not specified in the data) make it more suitable for media consumption. The RedMagic 8 Pro, however, likely prioritizes refresh rate consistency for gaming, potentially at the expense of peak brightness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is missing. Given the RedMagic 8 Pro’s gaming focus, it’s reasonable to assume the iQOO 11 will offer a more refined and versatile camera experience. The iQOO 11 likely prioritizes image quality and features for general photography, while the RedMagic 8 Pro’s camera is likely tuned for quick snapshots and social media sharing. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the iQOO 11’s brand positioning suggests a stronger emphasis on photography.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) with an identical CPU configuration, ensuring comparable raw processing power. However, the RedMagic 8 Pro’s design, featuring a built-in fan, suggests a more robust thermal management system. This is crucial for maintaining peak performance during extended gaming sessions, mitigating the effects of thermal throttling. While the iQOO 11 likely has adequate cooling, the RedMagic 8 Pro is engineered for sustained high performance. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring fast memory access speeds.

Battery Life

The RedMagic 8 Pro edges out the iQOO 11 in endurance with a rating of 131 hours versus 127 hours. This is likely due to its slightly larger battery capacity (not specified, but implied) and potentially more aggressive power management optimizations for gaming. However, the iQOO 11 compensates with significantly faster charging – 120W wired, achieving 100% in just 25 minutes, compared to the RedMagic 8 Pro’s 80W (China) or 65W (International) which take 35 or 43 minutes respectively. This difference in charging speed is a major convenience factor for iQOO 11 users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 11 if you need a flagship phone with a vibrant display, incredibly fast 120W charging, and a more versatile camera system for everyday use. Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8 Pro if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, a larger battery capacity, and are willing to trade off some camera quality and charging speed for a more focused gaming experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the RedMagic 8 Pro’s fan create significant noise during gaming?
While the RedMagic 8 Pro’s built-in fan is effective at cooling, user reports suggest it can become audible during intense gaming sessions. The noise level is generally considered acceptable for the performance gains, but it’s a factor to consider if you prefer a completely silent experience.
❓ How does the iQOO 11’s 120W charging affect battery health over the long term?
vivo employs battery health management technologies to mitigate the potential impact of fast charging. While faster charging generates more heat, the iQOO 11’s charging system is designed to optimize the charging process and minimize battery degradation over time. However, all batteries degrade with use, and fast charging *may* contribute to a slightly faster rate of degradation compared to slower charging methods.
❓ Can the RedMagic 8 Pro run games at 120fps consistently?
The RedMagic 8 Pro is capable of running many popular games at 120fps, but consistent performance depends on the game’s optimization and graphics settings. The built-in fan and optimized thermal management help maintain high frame rates for longer periods, but demanding titles may require adjusting settings to achieve a stable 120fps.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs on the RedMagic 8 Pro a major drawback?
If you prioritize photography, the limited information about the RedMagic 8 Pro’s camera is a concern. While it can take decent photos, it’s unlikely to compete with flagship phones from brands known for their camera capabilities. The iQOO 11 is the better choice for users who frequently rely on their phone’s camera.