Xiaomi Black Shark 4 vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro: Which Gaming Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888+ chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, especially in demanding titles, and the slightly better battery endurance offsets the similar charging speeds. However, the Black Shark 4 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 4 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International, China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | 1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 23 | 2021, September 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 30 | Available. Released 2021, September 27 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.4 x 9.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.39 in) | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| Physical pop-up gaming triggers | Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB Light | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Joy UI 12.5 | Android 11, Redmagic 4.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF | 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) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 17 min | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mirror Black, Pale Grey, Black, Blue, Silver | Eclipse Black, Transparent, White |
| Models | SHARK PRS-H0, SHARK PRS-A0, SHARK KSR-A0 | - |
| Price | About 930 EUR | About 600 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | Endurance rating 97h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.4 LUFS (Good) | -21.4 LUFS (Excellent) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 617456 (v8) GeekBench: 3448 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 758329 (v8), 870708 (v9) GeekBench: 14612 (v4.4), 3664 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 4
- More affordable price point
- Excellent 120W fast charging
- Good overall performance for the price
- Snapdragon 870 is less powerful than the 888+
- Camera likely a secondary focus
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro
- Superior Snapdragon 888+ performance
- Slightly better battery endurance
- Faster charging (China version)
- Higher price tag
- International version has slower 66W charging
Display Comparison
Both the Black Shark 4 and Red Magic 6s Pro feature displays with infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, typical of AMOLED panels. However, the Black Shark 4 boasts a measured peak brightness of 694 nits. While the Red Magic 6s Pro’s peak brightness isn’t specified, the Black Shark 4’s figure suggests excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. Both phones likely employ high refresh rate panels, though the exact refresh rate isn’t provided, crucial for smooth gaming. The lack of LTPO technology in either device means refresh rate scaling isn’t as efficient as on newer flagships, potentially impacting battery life during variable refresh rate usage.
Camera Comparison
Both devices list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, indicating a standard camera setup. However, without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a meaningful comparison. Given the gaming focus, camera quality is likely a secondary consideration for both manufacturers. It’s reasonable to assume both phones offer adequate cameras for casual photography, but neither is likely to compete with dedicated camera flagships. The absence of details suggests neither phone prioritizes camera innovation.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Red Magic 6s Pro’s Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm) offers a significant architectural advantage over the Black Shark 4’s Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm). The 888+ features the Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, providing a substantial boost in single-core performance compared to the Kryo 585 in the 870. While both utilize an octa-core configuration, the 888+’s more efficient 5nm process translates to better thermal management and sustained performance under heavy load. The Red Magic 6s Pro is therefore better suited for graphically intensive games and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones feature 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in 17 minutes (China version of Red Magic 6s Pro). The international version of the Red Magic 6s Pro drops to 66W, taking 65 minutes for a full charge. Despite the Black Shark 4 having an endurance rating of 96h and the Red Magic 6s Pro at 97h, the faster charging on the Chinese Red Magic 6s Pro version provides a quicker top-up when needed. The slight endurance advantage of the Red Magic 6s Pro suggests marginally better power efficiency, likely due to the more advanced 5nm chipset.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 4 if you prioritize value and a balanced experience. It’s ideal for gamers who enjoy a wide range of titles and don’t necessarily need the absolute highest frame rates. Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro if you demand maximum performance and are willing to pay a premium. This phone is geared towards competitive gamers and those who want to push their games to the limit, especially if you get the Chinese version with faster charging.