ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G is the clear winner, offering a focused experience with faster charging and a longer endurance rating. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro provides a more versatile package with a refined software experience and broader appeal for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G | OnePlus 8 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, 20, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12 | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 19 | Available. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera) |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP, (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (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 |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | 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 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min (advertised) | 30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Hot Rod Red, Black, Mars Red, Cyber Neon, Transparent | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | NX659J | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | $ 890.00 | About 310 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 428.39 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 853.51 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 486.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h | Endurance rating 103h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -22.6 LUFS (Excellent) | -23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 557056 (v8) GeekBench: 13370 (v4.4), 3387 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G
- Faster 55W wired charging
- Longer endurance rating (83h)
- Optimized for sustained gaming performance
- Likely less refined camera system
- Potentially less polished software experience
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Superior battery life (103h)
- More versatile camera system
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower wired charging (30W)
- May throttle under prolonged gaming
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Red Magic 5G's display is geared towards gaming, likely prioritizing refresh rate and response time, though specific details are missing. The OnePlus 8 Pro, while also boasting a high-quality panel, focuses on color accuracy and overall visual fidelity. The lack of specific brightness nits for either device makes a direct comparison difficult, but OnePlus historically delivers excellent calibration.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the OnePlus 8 Pro is expected to have a more sophisticated camera system. The Red Magic 5G prioritizes gaming, and its camera is likely a secondary consideration. The OnePlus 8 Pro, with its history of strong camera performance, likely features larger sensors, more advanced image processing algorithms, and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS) – features not explicitly mentioned for the Red Magic 5G. The absence of sensor details for the Red Magic 5G suggests it won't compete directly with the OnePlus 8 Pro in image quality.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), utilizing the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power will be largely comparable for most tasks. The Red Magic 5G, however, is designed with a more aggressive cooling system to sustain peak performance for longer gaming sessions, potentially mitigating thermal throttling. While both use LPDDR5 RAM, the Red Magic 5G's thermal design is the key differentiator for sustained performance.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a superior endurance rating of 103 hours compared to the Red Magic 5G's 83 hours, indicating longer battery life under typical usage. However, the Red Magic 5G compensates with significantly faster charging – 55W wired, achieving 56% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes. The OnePlus 8 Pro offers 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), plus 3W reverse wireless charging, providing more versatility but slower wired charging speeds. The Red Magic 5G prioritizes quick top-ups, while the OnePlus 8 Pro focuses on overall longevity and charging flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, rapid charging, and don't mind a more niche software experience. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a balanced feature set, a polished user interface, and a more capable camera system for diverse photography needs.