The mobile gaming landscape is evolving, with tablets offering increasingly powerful experiences. We pit the Xiaomi Black Shark Pad 6, a more affordable option, against the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro, a flagship boasting cutting-edge specs, to determine which device delivers the best gaming experience for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing raw power and rapid charging, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and 135W charging significantly outperform the Black Shark Pad 6’s Unisoc Tiger T616 and 18W charging, justifying the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE - cellular model only | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 29 | 2022, February 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, December | Available. Released 2022, February 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 265.8 x 168.3 x 7.9 mm (10.46 x 6.63 x 0.31 in) | 166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (cellular model only) | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 523 g (1.15 lb) | 235 g (8.29 oz) |
| | - | Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan
Aviation aluminum middle frame |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1920 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~206 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) |
| Size | 11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~78.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 12, Redmagic 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display |
| Triple | - | 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 | 1080p@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS - cellular model only | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | 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, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 135W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 15 min (China)
65W wired, PD3.0 (Global) |
| Type | 8800 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green | Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova |
| Models | - | NX709J |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 800 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 64h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-22.6 LUFS (Excellent)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 1056511(v9)
GeekBench: 3845 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Black Shark Pad 6
- More affordable price point
- Potentially lighter and more portable
- Suitable for casual gaming
- Significantly weaker processor
- Slow 18W charging
- Likely lower display quality
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performance
- Ultra-fast 135W/65W charging
- Longer battery endurance (64h rating)
- Higher price
- Potentially more heat generation
- Larger and heavier build
Display Comparison
The Red Magic 7 Pro, while lacking specific display specs in the provided data, benefits from ZTE’s history of high-refresh-rate, color-accurate displays, likely featuring an AMOLED panel with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio. The Black Shark Pad 6’s display specifications are absent, but given its price point, it likely utilizes an IPS LCD panel. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s superior GPU will push higher frame rates, making a higher refresh rate display on the Red Magic 7 Pro more impactful. The absence of PWM frequency data for either device makes it difficult to assess flicker-related eye strain, but the Red Magic 7 Pro’s focus on gaming suggests optimization for visual clarity.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are minimal for both devices. The Red Magic 7 Pro’s inclusion of 'Photo / Video' capabilities suggests a more comprehensive camera system, but without sensor size or megapixel counts, it’s difficult to assess image quality. The Black Shark Pad 6’s camera is not detailed. Given the gaming focus of both devices, camera quality is likely a secondary consideration, but the Red Magic 7 Pro’s flagship status suggests a more refined camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Unisoc Tiger T616 in the Black Shark Pad 6 versus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Red Magic 7 Pro. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, built on a 4nm process, offers a substantial performance advantage over the 12nm Unisoc chip. Its Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.00 GHz, coupled with Cortex-A710 performance cores, will deliver significantly faster processing speeds and smoother gameplay. The Red Magic 7 Pro’s likely LPDDR5X RAM further enhances performance, while the Black Shark Pad 6’s RAM specification is unknown. This translates to faster loading times, higher sustained frame rates, and better multitasking capabilities for the Red Magic 7 Pro.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 7 Pro boasts a significant advantage in charging speed with its 135W wired charging (China) or 65W (Global), capable of a full charge in just 15 minutes (China). The Black Shark Pad 6’s 18W charging is considerably slower. While battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the Red Magic 7 Pro’s 64-hour endurance rating suggests a larger battery or highly optimized power management. The faster charging of the Red Magic 7 Pro is crucial for gamers who need to quickly get back into the action.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark Pad 6 if you need a budget-friendly gaming tablet for casual gaming and media consumption, and aren't demanding the absolute highest frame rates. Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro if you prioritize uncompromising performance, ultra-fast charging, and a longer-lasting gaming experience, and are willing to invest in a premium device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Unisoc Tiger T616 in the Black Shark Pad 6 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Unisoc Tiger T616 is a mid-range chipset and will likely struggle to run graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact at high settings. Expect lower frame rates and potentially noticeable lag, requiring significant graphical compromises.
❓ How effective is the 135W charging on the Red Magic 7 Pro in real-world use, and does it generate excessive heat?
The 135W charging is incredibly fast, delivering a full charge in approximately 15 minutes (China version). While fast charging can generate some heat, the Red Magic 7 Pro incorporates advanced thermal management systems to mitigate this, preventing overheating and maintaining charging efficiency.
❓ Does the Red Magic 7 Pro support external displays for a larger gaming experience?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, ZTE Red Magic devices generally support display output via USB-C, allowing connection to external monitors for a larger gaming screen. Check the device's specifications for supported resolutions and refresh rates.
❓ Is the Black Shark Pad 6 a viable option for emulating older gaming consoles?
The Black Shark Pad 6's Unisoc Tiger T616 may be sufficient for emulating older consoles like the SNES or Game Boy Advance, but more demanding emulators like those for the PlayStation 2 or GameCube may experience performance issues.
