ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S vs. Realme X50 Pro Player: A Gamer's Dilemma?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S is the clear winner. Its gaming-centric design and features, despite a slightly slower charging speed, provide a superior experience. However, the Realme X50 Pro Player is a strong contender for users prioritizing rapid charging and a more versatile camera system.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S | Realme X50 Pro Player |
| 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) / 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, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28 | 2020, May 25. Released 2020, June 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 01 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Unspecified), glass back (Unspecified), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 159 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm (6.26 x 2.92 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 209 g (7.37 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (300Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 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, Realme UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| 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@30/60/240/960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06", 1.0µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with dual speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz 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, GLONASS, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 |
| 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) | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 35 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | 4200 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Pulse | Light Speed Silver, Phantom Black |
| Models | - | RMX2072 |
| Price | About 540 EUR | About 350 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 83h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -22.6 LUFS (Excellent) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 557056 (v8) GeekBench: 13400 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S
- Dedicated gaming features (likely shoulder triggers)
- Potentially superior thermal management for sustained gaming
- Longer endurance rating (83h)
- Less detailed camera specifications
- Slower charging speed (55W vs 65W)
Realme X50 Pro Player
- Faster 65W charging with PD support
- Likely more versatile camera system
- More balanced flagship experience
- Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load
- May lack dedicated gaming features
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) chipset, meaning raw processing power is comparable. However, display details are limited in the provided data. Given the Red Magic's gaming focus, it likely prioritizes a high refresh rate panel for smoother visuals, while the X50 Pro Player may lean towards color accuracy for media consumption. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio specification for the Red Magic is a nominal value and doesn't provide concrete information. The absence of specific brightness nits or panel technology (like AMOLED or IPS) makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Red Magic's gaming focus suggests a panel optimized for responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are broadly stated as 'Photo / Video' for the Red Magic 5S, indicating a less emphasized camera system compared to the X50 Pro Player. Realme typically focuses on camera capabilities in its flagship models. While specific sensor sizes and apertures are unknown, the X50 Pro Player likely features a more sophisticated camera setup with features like OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and potentially a wider range of shooting modes. The lack of detail on the Red Magic 5S suggests a more basic camera experience geared towards casual use.
Performance
The identical Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and CPU configuration (Octa-core with 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) guarantee similar peak performance. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Red Magic 5S, being a gaming phone, likely incorporates a more robust cooling system – potentially a vapor chamber or active fan – to sustain peak performance for longer durations. The X50 Pro Player, while capable, may experience more thermal throttling under sustained load. RAM speed (LPDDR5x) is not specified, but is a critical factor in sustained performance.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 5S boasts an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting good battery life, but this is a relative metric. The X50 Pro Player compensates for potentially lower battery capacity with significantly faster charging: 65W wired with PD, achieving 100% in 35 minutes. The Red Magic 5S's 55W charging, while still fast (100% in 40 minutes, advertised), is slower. This difference is crucial for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. The X50 Pro Player's PD support also adds versatility, allowing it to charge with a wider range of chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S if you need uncompromising gaming performance, active cooling, and dedicated gaming features like shoulder buttons. You'll benefit from a phone designed specifically for extended gaming sessions. Buy the Realme X50 Pro Player if you prefer a faster-charging device with a more balanced feature set, including a potentially more versatile camera experience, and don't require the specialized gaming hardware.