vivo S16 Pro vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market is brimming with options, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Today, we pit the stylish vivo S16 Pro against the gaming powerhouse, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which device deserves your attention.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 6s Pro is the clear winner for gamers and power users, boasting a superior chipset, blazing-fast charging, and exceptional battery life. The vivo S16 Pro shines with its sleek design, potentially better camera capabilities (though details are limited), and a more balanced overall experience for everyday use.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo S16 Pro ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, December 222021, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 30Available. Released 2021, September 27
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164.1 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.29 in)169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight182 g (6.42 oz)215 g (7.58 oz)
 -Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB Light
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 8200 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G610 MC6Adreno 660
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 11, Redmagic 4.5
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, (unconfirmed stereo speakers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 19 min120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)
Type4600 mAhLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model
Misc
ColorsBlack, MintEclipse Black, Transparent, White
ModelsV2245A-
PriceAbout 400 EURAbout 600 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 97h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -21.4 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance- AnTuTu: 758329 (v8), 870708 (v9) GeekBench: 14612 (v4.4), 3664 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo S16 Pro

  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Potentially excellent selfie camera
  • Fast 66W charging
  • Balanced smartphone experience

  • Less powerful chipset than Red Magic
  • Battery life likely shorter
  • Camera details currently limited
  • May lack gaming-specific features

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro

  • Exceptional performance (Snapdragon 888+)
  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Outstanding battery life
  • Gaming-focused features (cooling system, shoulder triggers)

  • Less emphasis on camera quality
  • Design may be less appealing to some
  • International charging speed slower (66W)
  • Larger and heavier than the S16 Pro

Display Comparison

The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts a 'nominal infinite' contrast ratio display, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors, likely with a high refresh rate optimized for gaming. The vivo S16 Pro's display is expected to be good, but details on refresh rate and contrast are currently unavailable. The Red Magic's display is likely the superior choice for visual immersion.

Camera Comparison

Camera details for the vivo S16 Pro are currently limited, but it's expected to focus on selfie capabilities and portrait photography. The Red Magic 6s Pro's camera is generally considered decent but not its primary strength, prioritizing performance over photography. A full camera comparison will require more detailed testing of the S16 Pro.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888+ in the Red Magic 6s Pro offers a significant performance advantage over the Dimensity 8200. While the Dimensity 8200 is a capable chip, the 888+ is designed for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. Expect smoother gameplay and faster app loading times on the Red Magic.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 6s Pro dominates in battery life and charging. Its 120W wired charging is incredibly fast (17 minutes to 100% in China), and its endurance rating of 97 hours is exceptional. The vivo S16 Pro's 66W charging is still fast, but significantly slower, and its battery life is likely to be less impressive.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the vivo S16 Pro? Users prioritizing aesthetics, a potentially strong camera system (details pending), and a more mainstream smartphone experience. Who should buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro? Gamers, performance enthusiasts, and those who demand the absolute fastest charging speeds and longest battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 6s Pro good for everyday use?
Yes, the Red Magic 6s Pro is capable of handling everyday tasks, but its focus is on gaming. The larger size and gaming-centric design might not appeal to everyone for casual use.
❓ How does the vivo S16 Pro's camera compare to other phones in its price range?
Camera details are still emerging for the vivo S16 Pro. Initial expectations suggest a focus on selfie quality, but a full comparison will require detailed testing and reviews.