ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Everyday Use
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S is the clear winner, offering superior sustained performance and gaming-centric features. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro provides a more versatile experience with a better camera, wireless charging, and longer overall battery endurance, making it the better choice for the average user.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S | 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) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 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 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28 | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 01 | 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 | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (300Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | 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, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | 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, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP, (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 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 |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| 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 | Silver, Pulse | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | - | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | About 540 EUR | 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: 13400 (v4.4), 3386 (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 5S
- Extremely fast 55W wired charging
- Optimized for sustained gaming performance
- Likely superior thermal management for gaming
- Shorter battery life compared to OnePlus 8 Pro
- Inferior camera system
- Less versatile feature set
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Longer battery life (103h endurance)
- Superior camera quality and features
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Slower wired charging (30W)
- Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
- Higher price point for comparable storage
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Red Magic 5S’s focus on gaming likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time, though specific refresh rate data isn’t provided. The OnePlus 8 Pro, while also boasting a high-quality display, emphasizes color accuracy and overall visual fidelity for a broader range of content. The lack of specific brightness data makes it difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s likely calibration for everyday use gives it a slight edge in general viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the OnePlus 8 Pro is expected to significantly outperform the Red Magic 5S in camera quality. OnePlus historically invests heavily in its camera systems, focusing on sensor size, image processing, and optical image stabilization (OIS). The Red Magic 5S, prioritizing gaming, likely features a more basic camera setup. Without specific sensor details, it’s safe to assume the OnePlus 8 Pro delivers superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions and with dynamic range. The Red Magic 5S camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots, but won’t compete with the OnePlus 8 Pro’s photographic prowess.
Performance
Both the Red Magic 5S and OnePlus 8 Pro are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), utilizing the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power is largely equivalent. The Red Magic 5S, however, is engineered for sustained performance under heavy load. Its design likely incorporates more aggressive cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the OnePlus 8 Pro offers excellent performance, it’s more likely to experience some throttling under prolonged stress. The Red Magic 5S’s focus on gaming gives it a clear advantage in maintaining peak performance over time.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, significantly exceeding the Red Magic 5S’s 83-hour rating. This suggests the OnePlus 8 Pro offers considerably longer battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the Red Magic 5S compensates with incredibly fast 55W wired charging, reaching 56% in just 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), providing more versatility but slower overall wired charging speeds. The Red Magic 5S prioritizes quick top-ups, while the OnePlus 8 Pro focuses on maximizing overall runtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S if you prioritize raw gaming performance, need the fastest possible charging speeds, and are willing to compromise on camera quality and broader feature sets. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a well-rounded experience with a top-tier camera, wireless charging convenience, and longer battery life, even if it means slightly less peak gaming performance.