ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s vs Realme X2 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Charging
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing long play sessions, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s is the clear winner, thanks to its superior 115-hour endurance rating. However, the Realme X2 Pro appeals to users who value convenience and a quick power-up with its 50W charging, completing a full charge in just 35 minutes.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s | Realme X2 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 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - China |
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EMEA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September | 2019, October 15. Released 2019, October |
| Status | Available. Released 2019, September | Discontinued |
| 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) | 161 x 75.7 x 8.7 mm (6.34 x 2.98 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.5 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (peak) |
| 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 & 4x1.8 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), upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | 64GB UFS 2.1, 128/256GB UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with Dolby Atmos stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio (incl. speakers) | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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 | 50W wired, 100% in 35 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mecha Silver, Cyber Shade, Eclipse Black | Lunar White, Neptune Blue, Red Master Edition, Gray Master Edition |
| Models | NX629J_V1S | RMX1931 |
| Price | About 820 EUR | About 440 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -92.4dB | Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -92.5dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 115h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 69dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 84dB | Voice 82dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 91dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 358748 (v7), 495229 (v8) GeekBench: 11310 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 396827 (v7), 467653 (v8) GeekBench: 10373 (v4.4) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s
- Exceptional 115-hour battery endurance
- Optimized for sustained gaming performance
- Likely superior thermal management for gaming
- Slower 18W charging
- Potentially less refined camera system
Realme X2 Pro
- Blazing-fast 50W charging (0-100% in 35 min)
- Likely more versatile camera system
- More balanced overall smartphone experience
- Shorter 94-hour battery endurance
- Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
Display Comparison
Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting both utilize AMOLED panels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the Red Magic 3s' gaming focus, it likely prioritizes a high refresh rate (though not specified) for smoother visuals, while the X2 Pro may lean towards color accuracy for media consumption. The lack of detailed specs makes a definitive display comparison difficult, but the Red Magic's target audience suggests a gaming-centric display tuning.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or features like OIS. Given the Red Magic 3s' gaming focus, the camera is likely a secondary consideration, potentially featuring a more basic setup. The X2 Pro, positioned as a more mainstream flagship, likely boasts a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing. Without concrete specs, it's reasonable to assume the X2 Pro will deliver superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions.
Performance
Both the Red Magic 3s and X2 Pro are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) chipset, featuring an identical octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485). This means raw processing power will be comparable. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Red Magic 3s, designed for gaming, likely incorporates a more robust cooling system (fan, vapor chamber) to prevent throttling during prolonged high-performance tasks. The X2 Pro, while capable, may experience more thermal throttling under sustained load. RAM specifications are not provided, but the X2 Pro's positioning suggests it may offer more RAM options.
Battery Life
The most significant difference lies in battery performance and charging. The Red Magic 3s boasts an impressive 115-hour endurance rating, indicating exceptional battery life, likely achieved through a larger battery capacity and software optimizations. The X2 Pro, with a 94-hour endurance rating, falls short in longevity. However, it compensates with its 50W wired charging, capable of a full charge in just 35 minutes. This drastically reduces downtime compared to the Red Magic 3s' 18W QC4 charging. The trade-off is clear: the Red Magic 3s offers longer usage between charges, while the X2 Pro prioritizes rapid replenishment.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s if you need a phone specifically engineered for extended gaming sessions, prioritizing battery life and sustained performance over camera versatility. Buy the Realme X2 Pro if you prefer a more balanced smartphone experience with a focus on rapid charging, allowing you to quickly top up your battery and get back to daily tasks without being tethered to a charger for long periods.