The ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro both launched with the Snapdragon 865, but cater to vastly different audiences. The Red Magic 5G aggressively targets mobile gamers with a focus on cooling and display responsiveness, while the Mi 10 Pro aims for a premium, all-around flagship experience with a strong emphasis on camera capabilities and versatile charging options. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device reigns supreme for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G is the clear winner. Its gaming-centric design and features outweigh the Mi 10 Pro’s broader capabilities. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro offers a more balanced experience with a superior camera system and more flexible charging, making it the better choice for general users.
| 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 |
| 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12 | 2020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, March 19 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| 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, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom
20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| 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 2.0, 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, compass, barometer |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min (advertised) | 50W wired, PD3.0
30W wireless
5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Hot Rod Red, Black, Mars Red, Cyber Neon, Transparent | Alpine White, Solstice Grey |
| Models | NX659J | M2001J1G |
| Price | $ 890.00 | About 930 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h |
Endurance rating 101h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-22.6 LUFS (Excellent) |
-25.2 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 557056 (v8)
GeekBench: 13370 (v4.4), 3387 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 595246 (v8)
GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G
- Superior cooling system for sustained gaming
- Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals
- Faster wired charging (55W)
- Shorter battery life (83h endurance)
- Inferior camera system
- Less versatile charging options
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
- Longer battery life (101h endurance)
- Superior camera system with OIS
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
- Slower wired charging (50W)
- Less gaming-focused features
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 858 nits, significantly exceeding what's likely available on the Red Magic 5G, making it more usable in direct sunlight. While both utilize the Snapdragon 865, the Red Magic 5G’s display is optimized for gaming with a higher refresh rate (likely 144Hz, based on market positioning) compared to the Mi 10 Pro’s standard 120Hz, resulting in smoother visuals during fast-paced gameplay. The Red Magic 5G’s focus on gaming likely prioritizes response time over color accuracy, a trade-off the Mi 10 Pro doesn’t make.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro clearly excels in the camera department. While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Mi 10 Pro’s sensor array is expected to be significantly more advanced, featuring a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Red Magic 5G prioritizes gaming features over camera quality, likely resulting in a less refined photographic experience. The Mi 10 Pro’s inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) further enhances image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, a feature likely absent on the Red Magic 5G.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), utilizing the same Octa-core CPU configuration. Therefore, raw processing power is comparable. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Red Magic 5G incorporates an active cooling system – a fan – to maintain sustained performance during extended gaming sessions, mitigating thermal throttling. The Mi 10 Pro relies on passive cooling, which may lead to performance dips under prolonged heavy load. While both use LPDDR5 RAM, the Red Magic 5G’s cooling solution allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer, translating to a more consistent gaming experience.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 101 hours, exceeding the Red Magic 5G’s 83-hour rating. This suggests better overall battery efficiency, despite the Red Magic 5G’s 55W wired charging being slightly faster than the Mi 10 Pro’s 50W wired charging. The Mi 10 Pro also offers the convenience of 30W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Red Magic 5G. While the Red Magic 5G can reach 56% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes, the Mi 10 Pro’s broader charging ecosystem provides greater flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5G if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, a high refresh rate display, and don't mind a more niche aesthetic. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you value a versatile camera system, faster wireless charging, and a more polished, mainstream smartphone experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Red Magic 5G's fan create significant noise during gaming?
While the fan is audible, it's generally reported to be less intrusive than expected, especially when wearing headphones. The cooling benefits outweigh the minor noise for serious gamers.
❓ Is the Mi 10 Pro's camera capable of recording 8K video?
Yes, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro supports 8K video recording at 24fps, offering a significant advantage for videographers and content creators.
❓ How does the Red Magic 5G handle prolonged use outside of gaming?
While optimized for gaming, the Red Magic 5G functions as a standard smartphone. However, its battery life is shorter than the Mi 10 Pro, and its camera performance is less impressive.
❓ Does the Mi 10 Pro support expandable storage via microSD card?
No, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro does not offer microSD card support. Users are limited to the internal storage options available at the time of purchase.
