The smartphone market is overflowing with options, but finding a great deal can be tough. Today, we're pitting two ZTE devices against each other: the ultra-budget Avid 559 and the gaming-focused nubia Red Magic 3s. Can a budget phone truly compete with a dedicated gaming device?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The nubia Red Magic 3s utterly dominates the ZTE Avid 559 in almost every category. While the Avid 559 offers incredible affordability, the Red Magic 3s delivers flagship-level performance, a stunning display, and a massive battery, making it the clear winner for anyone seeking more than basic functionality.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - NA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, March. Released 2019, March | 2019, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, September |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 147 x 71.9 x 9.4 mm (5.79 x 2.83 x 0.37 in) | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 145 g (5.11 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | RGB light panel (on the back)
Pressure sensitive zones
Built-in cooling fan |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~196 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 5.00, 68.9 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A7 | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 304 | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 2.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 2 MP | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC4 |
| Type | Li-Ion 2200 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Mecha Silver, Cyber Shade, Eclipse Black |
| Models | - | NX629J_V1S |
| Price | About 40 EUR | About 820 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 115h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 84dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 358748 (v7), 495229 (v8)
GeekBench: 11310 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Avid 559
- Extremely Affordable
- Compact Size
- Basic Functionality
- Poor Performance
- Low-Resolution Display
- Limited Camera Capabilities
- Short Battery Life
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s
- Flagship Performance
- Excellent Display (120Hz)
- Long Battery Life
- Gaming-Focused Features
- Fast Charging
- Higher Price
- Larger Size (potentially less pocketable)
Display Comparison
The nubia Red Magic 3s boasts a significantly superior display. Its larger size, higher resolution, and 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely AMOLED) provide a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The Avid 559's display is likely a standard LCD, offering adequate but unremarkable visuals. The Red Magic 3s' 120Hz refresh rate further enhances gaming smoothness.
Camera Comparison
While both phones have cameras, the Red Magic 3s likely offers better image quality due to its more advanced hardware and processing capabilities. The Avid 559's camera is expected to be basic, suitable for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions. Specific camera specs are missing for both, but the chipset difference heavily favors the Red Magic 3s.
Performance
The performance gap is massive. The Snapdragon 855+ in the Red Magic 3s is a flagship-level chipset, capable of handling demanding games and applications with ease. The Avid 559's Snapdragon 210 is a budget processor, struggling with even moderate multitasking. Expect significant lag and slowdowns on the Avid 559.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 3s' endurance rating of 115h is exceptional, indicating a massive battery and efficient power management. The Avid 559's battery capacity is likely smaller, resulting in significantly shorter battery life. Gaming on the Red Magic 3s will be far more enjoyable due to its extended playtime.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Avid 559 is for users on an extremely tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic communication and light tasks. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s is ideal for mobile gamers, power users, and anyone who values performance, a large display, and long battery life, even if it means spending more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the ZTE Avid 559 good for gaming?
No, the Avid 559's processor is not powerful enough for smooth gaming. It's best suited for basic tasks and communication.
❓ What makes the Red Magic 3s a good gaming phone?
The Red Magic 3s features a powerful Snapdragon 855+ processor, a high refresh rate display, a large battery, and dedicated gaming features like shoulder buttons and advanced cooling.
❓ How much more expensive is the Red Magic 3s compared to the Avid 559?
The Red Magic 3s is significantly more expensive, typically costing several times the price of the Avid 559. The exact price difference depends on current market conditions and retailer offers.
