ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with a superior camera and faster charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the clear winner. However, gamers seeking maximum endurance and a dedicated gaming experience on a budget will find the Red Magic 3 a compelling option, despite its age.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 | OnePlus 9 Pro |
| 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 |
| 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, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / 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 | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, May | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 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 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | NX629J | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -96.0dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 112h | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 86dB | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 387726 (v7) GeekBench: 11345 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3
- Exceptional battery life (112h endurance)
- Dedicated gaming focus and potential active cooling
- Lower price point (due to age)
- Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Slower 18W charging
- Likely inferior camera performance
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Faster Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
- Significantly faster 65W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Superior camera system and image quality
- Shorter battery life (86h endurance)
- Higher price point
- Potential for throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 859 nits measured, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Red Magic 3. While the Red Magic 3 likely has a respectable panel, the 9 Pro’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s display technology is also likely more advanced, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rates, contributing to improved power efficiency. The Red Magic 3’s display is geared towards gaming, but lacks the refinement of the OnePlus 9 Pro’s panel.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the OnePlus 9 Pro is expected to deliver a far superior imaging experience. While specific sensor details are missing, OnePlus flagships are known for their advanced camera systems, likely featuring larger sensors, optical image stabilization (OIS), and sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Red Magic 3, prioritizing gaming, likely features a more basic camera setup. The absence of details regarding the Red Magic 3’s camera suggests it wasn’t a primary focus during its development.
Performance
The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the Red Magic 3’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 5nm process node allows for higher transistor density and reduced heat generation, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions. The 9 Pro’s CPU, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core, offers faster single-core performance, while both phones share a similar core count configuration. However, the Red Magic 3’s active cooling system, though not detailed in the provided data, was a key feature, potentially allowing it to sustain performance for longer periods despite the older chipset.
Battery Life
The nubia Red Magic 3 claims an impressive endurance rating of 112 hours, significantly exceeding the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 86 hours. This difference is likely due to the Red Magic 3’s larger battery capacity (not specified) and its focus on power efficiency for gaming. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro compensates with incredibly fast charging: 65W wired (100% in 29 minutes) and 50W wireless (100% in 43 minutes), alongside 5W reverse wireless charging. The Red Magic 3’s 18W charging is considerably slower, meaning topping up the battery will take significantly longer. The OnePlus 9 Pro trades raw endurance for charging convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 if you need a dedicated gaming phone with exceptional battery life and are willing to compromise on camera quality and software updates. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a versatile flagship with a stunning display, a powerful camera system, and the latest software features, even if it means more frequent charging.