ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S vs Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing rapid charging and a slightly more refined software experience, the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro edges out the Red Magic 5S. Its 65W charging significantly reduces downtime, while both phones offer comparable Snapdragon 865 performance. However, the Red Magic 5S remains a strong contender for those seeking maximum endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 41, 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, March 03. Released 2020, March 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 01 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 177.8 x 83.3 x 10.1 mm (7.00 x 3.28 x 0.40 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 253 g (8.92 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (300Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | Physical pop-up gaming triggers | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~484 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.1 inches, 123.7 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| 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 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.3, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@1920fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (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 | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| 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, 100% in 38 min 18W magnetic wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Pulse | Phantom Black, Armor Gray |
| Models | - | SHARK MBU-A0, SHARK MBU-H0 |
| Price | About 540 EUR | About 940 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
- Exceptional battery endurance (83h rating)
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained performance
- Fast 55W wired charging
- Limited camera information
- No wireless charging
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro
- Faster 65W wired charging
- Convenient 18W magnetic wireless charging
- Potentially more refined software experience
- Battery endurance likely lower than Red Magic 5S
- Thermal performance may be less consistent under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both the Red Magic 5S and Black Shark 3 Pro utilize displays designed for immersive gaming, though specific details beyond contrast ratio (infinite for the Red Magic 5S) are missing. The absence of refresh rate or resolution data makes a direct comparison difficult. However, given the market positioning, both likely feature high refresh rate panels. The Black Shark 3 Pro’s inclusion of 18W magnetic wireless charging suggests a focus on convenience, potentially at the expense of peak display brightness to manage thermal load.
Camera Comparison
Camera capabilities appear to be a secondary consideration for both devices, with the provided data only indicating 'Photo / Video' functionality for the Red Magic 5S. Given the gaming focus, neither phone is expected to compete with flagship camera phones. The absence of sensor size or aperture information prevents a meaningful comparison. Users should expect adequate, but not exceptional, image quality.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), featuring an identical CPU configuration: Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means raw processing power will be nearly indistinguishable between the two. The key differentiator will be thermal management. The Red Magic 5S is known for its aggressive cooling solutions, potentially allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer durations. However, without detailed thermal testing data, it’s impossible to definitively declare a winner. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, ensuring fast memory access for demanding games.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 5S boasts an endurance rating of 83 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 55W wired charging, reaching 56% in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes. The Black Shark 3 Pro, however, offers a faster 65W wired charging solution, achieving a full charge in just 38 minutes, and adds the convenience of 18W magnetic wireless charging. While the Red Magic 5S may have a larger overall battery capacity (unspecified), the Black Shark 3 Pro’s faster charging speeds minimize downtime, a crucial factor for gamers.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 5S if you need extended gaming sessions and prioritize battery endurance above all else. Its 83-hour endurance rating suggests it will last longer between charges. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro if you prefer faster charging speeds and appreciate the convenience of 65W wired charging and 18W magnetic wireless charging, allowing for quicker returns to gameplay.