Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro: A Deep Dive for Gamers
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a significant performance uplift and improved thermal efficiency over the Black Shark 5 RS’s Snapdragon 888+, justifying the price difference. However, the Black Shark 5 RS remains a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S 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, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 30 | 2022, July 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 04 | Available. Released 2022, July 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in) | 166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 235 g (8.29 oz) |
| Physical pop-up gaming triggers | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 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 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84/3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Joy UI 12.8 | Android 12, Redmagic 5.5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1/SSD 256GB 8GB RAM - Snapdragon 888 256GB 12GB RAM - Snapdragon 888+ | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, (wide), under display |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, (wide), under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| 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 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min | 135W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Yellow | Obsidian, Supernova, Mercury, Yellow |
| Models | - | NX709S |
| Price | About 470 EUR | About 780 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
- More affordable price point
- Potentially more compact design
- Very fast 120W charging
- Older Snapdragon 888/888+ chipset
- Likely inferior thermal performance
- Limited camera information
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
- Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Improved thermal efficiency for sustained gaming
- Faster charging (135W in China, 65W International)
- Higher price tag
- Potentially larger and heavier design
- Camera details are sparse
Display Comparison
While both phones target gamers, display details are limited in the provided data. However, the Red Magic 7S Pro, typical of the brand, likely features a higher refresh rate panel than the Black Shark 5 RS. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s improved ISP could also translate to better image processing for display output. The Black Shark 5 RS’s size suggests a potentially more pocketable experience, while the Red Magic 7S Pro often prioritizes screen real estate.
Camera Comparison
Camera capabilities are a secondary concern for gaming phones, and the provided data is minimal. The Red Magic 7S Pro simply states 'Photo / Video', suggesting a more standard camera implementation. The Black Shark 5 RS’s camera specs are also absent, implying a focus on core gaming features rather than photographic excellence. Users shouldn't expect flagship-level camera performance from either device.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a substantial upgrade over the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS’s Snapdragon 888/888+ (5nm). The 4nm process node delivers improved power efficiency and thermal performance, meaning the Red Magic 7S Pro will sustain peak performance for longer periods without throttling. The newer Cortex-X2 core in the 8+ Gen 1, clocked at 3.19 GHz, also provides a CPU performance advantage over the 888’s Cortex-X1 at 2.84/3.0 GHz. The Red Magic 7S Pro’s LPDDR5X RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, contributing to smoother multitasking and faster game loading times.
Battery Life
Both phones boast incredibly fast charging speeds. The Black Shark 5 RS achieves a 100% charge in 15 minutes with its 120W wired charging. The Red Magic 7S Pro, in the Chinese market, matches this with 135W charging, claiming 50% in 5 minutes and 100% in 15 minutes. However, international versions of the Red Magic 7S Pro are limited to 65W, significantly impacting charging times. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Red Magic 7S Pro’s more efficient chipset will likely translate to longer real-world battery life despite potentially similar capacities.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS if you prioritize value and a more compact form factor, and are comfortable with slightly older hardware. It’s ideal for mobile gamers who want a capable device without breaking the bank. Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro if you demand the highest possible performance, benefit from superior thermal management for extended gaming sessions, and appreciate the faster 135W charging (in China) or 65W (International).