ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 vs Asus ROG Phone 5s: A Deep Dive for Mobile Gamers
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888+ offers a substantial performance leap over the Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855, coupled with significantly faster 65W charging. While the Red Magic 3 remains a budget-friendly option, the ROG Phone 5s delivers a more refined and powerful gaming experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 | Asus ROG Phone 5s |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 1 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - NA | 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, May | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | NX629J | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -96.0dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 112h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 86dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 387726 (v7) GeekBench: 11345 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3
- Significantly lower price point
- Potentially longer battery life (based on endurance rating)
- Dedicated gaming features for its time
- Outdated Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Slow 18W charging
- Likely inferior display quality
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Powerful Snapdragon 888+ 5G chipset
- Ultra-fast 65W charging
- Superior gaming performance and thermal management
- Higher price tag
- Potentially shorter battery life on a single charge (offset by fast charging)
- Larger size and weight
Display Comparison
While both phones target gamers, details on the Red Magic 3’s display are limited. The ROG Phone 5s benefits from a more modern panel manufacturing process, likely offering improved color accuracy and brightness. The Red Magic 3’s display, while adequate for its time, will likely exhibit lower peak brightness and potentially less efficient power consumption. The ROG Phone 5s’s higher refresh rate (assumed, based on ROG Phone lineage) would provide smoother visuals in supported games.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance isn’t a primary focus for gaming phones, but the ROG Phone 5s likely offers a more refined experience. Details on the Red Magic 3’s camera are sparse, but it’s reasonable to assume it lacks the advanced image processing capabilities of the 5s. The ROG Phone 5s, benefiting from a newer ISP, will likely deliver better dynamic range and low-light performance. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the ROG Phone 5s, if present, would further enhance image and video quality.
Performance
The Asus ROG Phone 5s’s Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm) represents a significant architectural upgrade over the Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 888+ features the Cortex-X1 prime core, offering a substantial single-core performance boost, and a more efficient Adreno 660 GPU. This translates to higher frame rates and smoother gameplay in demanding titles. The 5nm process node also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855, while still capable, will struggle to match the 5s’s sustained performance.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 3 boasts an endurance rating of 112 hours, suggesting a large battery capacity. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s compensates for potentially smaller capacity with its significantly faster 65W charging. The 5s can reach 70% charge in just 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, a massive advantage over the Red Magic 3’s 18W charging. This means less downtime and more gaming. While the Red Magic 3 may offer longer overall battery life on a single charge, the ROG Phone 5s’s rapid charging mitigates this difference for most users.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 if you prioritize extreme value and are willing to compromise on performance and charging speed. It’s ideal for casual gamers or those on a very tight budget. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you demand top-tier performance, rapid charging, and a feature-rich gaming experience, even at a higher price point. This is the phone for competitive gamers and power users.