ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s vs Asus ROG Phone II: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The Red Magic 3s and ROG Phone II were titans of the gaming phone world. Both packed powerful Snapdragon 855+ processors and focused on delivering an immersive gaming experience. But which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Asus ROG Phone II edges out the Red Magic 3s thanks to its superior display brightness, faster charging, and reverse wireless charging. While both offer incredible performance, the ROG Phone II's overall package is more refined for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s	Asus ROG Phone II ZS660KL

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 850 / 900 / 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, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 (Cat20 Ultimate edition) 1200/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / HSPA / 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, September	2019, July 22. Released 2019, September
Status	Available. Released 2019, September	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), 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)	171 x 77.6 x 9.5 mm (6.73 x 3.06 x 0.37 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	215 g (7.58 oz)	240 g (8.47 oz)
	RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan	RGB light panel (on the back)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size	6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 90Hz	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 640 (700 MHz)	Adreno 640 (700 MHz)
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 2.0	Android 9.0 (Pie), ROG UI

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.0	UFS 3.0

Main Camera
Dual	-	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm (ultrawide)
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF	5 MP
Video	8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps)

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	Panorama, HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	24MP, f/2.2, 0.9µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	-	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
	32-bit/384kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	No	FM radio
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, accessory connector	USB Type-C 3.1, accessory connector, 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/ad, 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	30W wired 10W reverse wired, QC4
Stand-by	-	Up to 150 h (3G)
Talk time	-	Up to 5 h (3G)
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Mecha Silver, Cyber Shade, Eclipse Black	Matte Black, Glossy Black
Models	NX629J_V1S	ASUS_I001D, I001DA, I001DE, I001DC, I001DB, I001D, I001DD
Price	About 820 EUR	About 1070 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB	-
Battery life	Endurance rating 115h	Endurance rating 114h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 69dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 84dB	-19.5 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance	AnTuTu: 358748 (v7), 495229 (v8) GeekBench: 11310 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 398935 (v7), 483239 (v8) GeekBench: 10923 (v4.4) GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s

Excellent performance
Dedicated gaming mode
Aggressive cooling system
Competitive price

Slower charging
Lower display brightness
Less refined software
Camera not a standout

Asus ROG Phone II ZS660KL

Brighter display
Faster charging (30W)
Reverse wireless charging
More robust accessory ecosystem
Slightly larger battery

Higher price
Slightly less aggressive design
Software can be bloated

Display Comparison

Both phones boast impressive displays with infinite contrast ratios. However, the ROG Phone II shines with a measured 626 nits of peak brightness, making it significantly easier to see in direct sunlight. The Red Magic 3s, while excellent, lacks this brightness advantage. Both feature high refresh rates for smooth gameplay.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable on both phones, offering decent photo and video capabilities. Neither phone excels in this area compared to flagship devices focused on photography, but they are adequate for quick snaps and social media sharing. Low-light performance is acceptable but not exceptional.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset, ensuring blistering performance in games and demanding applications. The ROG Phone II has a slightly lower clock speed on its smaller Kryo cores (1.78 GHz vs 1.8 GHz), but this difference is negligible in real-world usage. Cooling systems are robust on both, preventing throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

Both phones offer exceptional battery life, with endurance ratings of 115h and 114h respectively. The ROG Phone II's larger 6000mAh battery gives it a slight edge in longevity. The ROG Phone II also supports 30W fast charging, significantly faster than the Red Magic 3s' 18W charging. The ROG Phone II also features 10W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s is ideal for budget-conscious gamers who prioritize raw performance and a dedicated gaming mode. The Asus ROG Phone II is for gamers willing to spend a bit more for a brighter screen, faster charging, and additional features like reverse wireless charging and a more robust ecosystem of accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better cooling?

Both phones have excellent cooling systems, but the Red Magic 3s is often praised for its particularly aggressive cooling solution, including a shoulder button cooling fan.

❓ Are the displays similar in quality?

While both have excellent color accuracy and refresh rates, the ROG Phone II's significantly higher brightness makes it the better choice for outdoor use.