The mobile gaming scene is booming, and dedicated gaming phones are evolving rapidly. Today, we pit two titans against each other: the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS and the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+. Both promise high performance and immersive experiences, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ decisively wins thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, superior display, and blazing-fast 165W charging. While the Black Shark 5 RS offers a competitive price, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ provides a more premium and powerful gaming experience.
| 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 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | SA/NSA |
| 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 | 2022, March 30 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 04 | Available. Released 2022, December 28 |
| 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) | 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 | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 230 g (8.11 oz) |
| | Physical pop-up gaming triggers | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan
Aviation aluminum middle frame |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) |
| | 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 (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888/888+ 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, Joy UI 12.8 | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1/SSD
256GB 8GB RAM - Snapdragon 888
256GB 12GB RAM - Snapdragon 888+ | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, 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) | 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@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, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, 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), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Yellow | Black, Transparent |
| Price | About 470 EUR | About 700 EUR |
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS
- More affordable
- Comfortable ergonomic design
- 144Hz display refresh rate
- Decent performance for the price
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 888/888+)
- Lower display brightness
- Less premium build quality
- Slower charging
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- Under-display camera for immersive gaming
- Premium build quality
- Higher price
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
- Camera performance is not a priority
Display Comparison
The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ boasts a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness exceeding 1500 nits, offering vibrant colors and exceptional visibility even in direct sunlight. The Black Shark 5 RS features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, but its brightness is noticeably lower. The Red Magic's under-display camera also contributes to a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
While neither phone prioritizes camera quality, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ generally produces slightly better images and videos thanks to its more advanced hardware. The Black Shark 5 RS's camera is adequate for casual use but doesn't excel in any particular area. Both offer standard camera configurations.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Red Magic 8 Pro+ provides a substantial performance advantage over the Snapdragon 888/888+ in the Black Shark 5 RS. Expect smoother gameplay, faster load times, and better multitasking on the Red Magic. Both phones offer ample RAM and storage, but the Gen 2's efficiency is a key differentiator.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro+'s 165W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast charging times. The Black Shark 5 RS's 120W charging is still impressive, but it can't match the Red Magic's speed. Both phones have large batteries, providing all-day battery life for moderate usage.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 RS is a good choice for budget-conscious gamers who still want a dedicated gaming phone with decent performance and a comfortable design. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance, display quality, and charging speed, and are willing to pay a premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Black Shark 5 RS worth buying if I'm on a budget?
Yes, the Black Shark 5 RS offers a good balance of features and performance for the price. It's a solid option for budget-conscious gamers.
❓ Does the Red Magic 8 Pro+ get hot during intense gaming?
Like most gaming phones, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ can get warm during extended gaming sessions. However, ZTE has implemented advanced cooling systems to mitigate this issue.
