ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 remains a compelling choice due to its focus on sustained performance and impressive 112-hour endurance rating. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III offers a more refined overall experience with a superior display, faster charging, and a more versatile camera system, making it the better option for the average user.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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) / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| 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 | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, May | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| 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, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NX629J | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -96.0dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 112h | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 86dB | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 387726 (v7) GeekBench: 11345 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3
- Exceptional battery life (112h endurance)
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained gaming
- More affordable price point
- Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Less refined camera system
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 5G chipset
- Brighter and higher-quality display (620 nits)
- Faster charging (30W wired, wireless, reverse wireless)
- Shorter battery life (82h endurance)
- Higher price point
- May experience thermal throttling under extreme load
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a significantly brighter display at 620 nits, crucial for outdoor visibility, while the Red Magic 3’s brightness is not specified. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a high-quality OLED panel, likely offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While the Red Magic 3 likely has a high refresh rate, the Xperia 1 III’s display technology is geared towards content creators and consumers, offering a more accurate and immersive viewing experience. The lack of detailed display specs for the Red Magic 3 suggests it’s a functional, rather than a flagship-level, display.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but their approaches differ. The Xperia 1 III, typical of Sony’s Alpha camera heritage, likely prioritizes image quality and manual controls. While specific sensor details are missing, Sony’s expertise in camera technology suggests a sophisticated imaging system. The Red Magic 3, geared towards gaming, likely features a more basic camera setup focused on convenience rather than professional-grade results. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Red Magic 3 indicates it’s not a primary selling point. The Xperia 1 III’s camera system is designed for enthusiasts and content creators, while the Red Magic 3’s is likely adequate for casual use.
Performance
The Xperia 1 III’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 leading to less thermal throttling during prolonged gaming. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU features the Cortex-X1 prime core, offering a performance advantage over the Kryo 485 cores in the Red Magic 3. While both phones share a similar core count, the architectural improvements in the Snapdragon 888 and its accompanying Adreno GPU provide a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in graphically demanding tasks. The Red Magic 3 relies on aggressive cooling to maintain performance, while the Xperia 1 III benefits from a more efficient chipset.
Battery Life
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 112 hours, significantly exceeding the Sony Xperia 1 III’s 82 hours. This suggests a larger battery capacity and/or more efficient power management. However, the Xperia 1 III compensates with faster charging – 30W wired with PD and 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. The Red Magic 3 is limited to 18W wired charging with QC4. While the Red Magic 3 excels in longevity, the Xperia 1 III offers greater convenience with its faster charging options and wireless capabilities.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 if you absolutely prioritize extended gaming sessions, require maximum performance for the price, and are willing to compromise on camera quality and overall refinement. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you value a premium display, versatile camera capabilities, faster charging, and a more polished, all-around smartphone experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming horsepower.