ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s vs Xiaomi Black Shark 3S: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The mobile gaming scene is booming, and dedicated gaming phones are rising to meet the demand. Today, we pit two titans against each other: the ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s and the Xiaomi Black Shark 3S. Both offer powerful specs and gaming-centric features, but which one truly delivers the best experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Black Shark 3S takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging, more modern Snapdragon 865 chipset, and overall refined design. While the Red Magic 3s boasts impressive battery life, the Black Shark 3S's performance and charging speed give it a clear edge for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s	Xiaomi Black Shark 3S

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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	-	41, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / 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	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2019, September	2020, July 31. Released 2020, August 04
Status	Available. Released 2019, September	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in)	168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm (6.64 x 3.04 x 0.41 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	215 g (7.58 oz)	222 g (7.83 oz)
	RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	-
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 90Hz	AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPU	Adreno 640 (700 MHz)	Adreno 650
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 2.0	Android 10

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB 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), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.3, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens
Video	8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@1920fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 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
	32-bit/384kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
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/6, 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, 100% in 38 min 18W magnetic wireless
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 4729 mAh

Misc
Colors	Mecha Silver, Cyber Shade, Eclipse Black	Sky Cloud Black, Crystal Blue
Models	NX629J_V1S	-
Price	About 820 EUR	About 600 EUR

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

ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s

Excellent battery life
Competitive price
Dedicated gaming features (shoulder triggers)
Good cooling system

Older chipset (Snapdragon 855+)
Slower charging
Camera performance could be better

Xiaomi Black Shark 3S

Powerful Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
Blazing-fast 65W charging
Premium design and build quality
High refresh rate display

Higher price
Battery life not as exceptional as Red Magic 3s
Gaming triggers less refined than Red Magic 3s

Display Comparison

Both phones feature AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (144Hz on the Black Shark 3S, 120Hz on the Red Magic 3s), offering smooth visuals. The Black Shark 3S's display is generally considered slightly brighter and more color-accurate. The Red Magic 3s has a 'contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)' which is a marketing term and doesn't translate to a tangible benefit.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a secondary consideration for most gaming phones. The Black Shark 3S generally offers better image quality, particularly in low light, thanks to its more advanced camera hardware. Both phones offer decent video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Xiaomi Black Shark 3S's Snapdragon 865 5G chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Red Magic 3s' Snapdragon 855+. This translates to faster app loading, smoother gameplay, and better multitasking. Both phones have ample RAM (8GB/12GB), ensuring a responsive experience.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 3s shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 115 hours. However, the Black Shark 3S's 65W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing it to fully charge in just 38 minutes – a significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s is ideal for gamers prioritizing long battery life and a more budget-friendly price point. The Xiaomi Black Shark 3S is for those who demand top-tier performance, blazing-fast charging, and a more premium feel, even if it comes at a higher cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better cooling?

Both phones have dedicated cooling systems, but the Red Magic 3s is generally considered to have a slightly more effective cooling solution due to its larger vapor chamber.

❓ Are the gaming triggers easy to use?

The Red Magic 3s' shoulder triggers are more customizable and generally considered easier to use. The Black Shark 3S's triggers are pop-up and can feel less precise.