ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: A Gamer's Deep Dive
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the gamer prioritizing absolute charging speed and a more aggressive cooling solution, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro is the winner. Its 120W charging (in China, 66W internationally) drastically reduces downtime. However, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate offers a more refined software experience and potentially better sustained performance due to its more comprehensive thermal design.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate |
| 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, March 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, June 07 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Redmagic 4.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM | 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, (macro) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6e, 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 | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 5 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5 (International) | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Moon Silver | Matte White |
| Models | NX669J-P | ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC |
| Price | About 960 EUR | About 1300 EUR |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W (China) / 66W (International) charging
- Aggressive active cooling system for sustained performance
- Designed specifically for hardcore mobile gamers
- Software experience may be less refined than Asus
- Potentially louder fan noise during intense gaming
Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate
- More balanced thermal management for sustained performance
- Feature-rich ROG software suite with customization options
- Wider range of accessories and ecosystem support
- Slower charging speed compared to Red Magic 6 Pro
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Snapdragon 888's capabilities to drive high-refresh-rate displays, but details beyond that are limited in the provided data. The focus here is on sustained performance, which is heavily influenced by thermal management. While both likely feature AMOLED panels, the Red Magic 6 Pro's emphasis on cooling suggests a potential advantage in maintaining peak brightness and color accuracy during extended gaming sessions. Bezels are likely comparable, given the focus on maximizing screen real estate in both designs.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance isn't the primary focus of either device, but the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate likely holds an advantage. While the provided data doesn't detail sensor sizes or apertures, Asus typically invests more in camera technology than ZTE. The Red Magic 6 Pro likely features a competent camera setup for casual use, but the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is expected to deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. We can safely assume both phones will have a multi-camera setup, but details are lacking.
Performance
Both the Red Magic 6 Pro and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) with an identical CPU configuration. This means raw processing power is virtually identical. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Red Magic 6 Pro is known for its active cooling fan, designed to aggressively dissipate heat. While the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate also features a robust cooling system, it's generally considered more balanced, prioritizing sustained performance over peak bursts. The use of LPDDR5 RAM is standard for both, but the speed and configuration could vary, impacting multitasking and game loading times.
Battery Life
The charging speed is the most significant difference. The Red Magic 6 Pro boasts 120W wired charging (66W internationally), capable of reaching 50% charge in just 5 minutes (China). The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate offers 65W charging, taking approximately 30 minutes to reach 70% and 52 minutes for a full charge. While the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate includes 10W reverse wired charging, the Red Magic 6 Pro lacks this feature. The actual battery capacity isn't specified, but the faster charging of the Red Magic 6 Pro mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro if you need the fastest possible charging speeds and are willing to trade some software polish for raw performance and aggressive cooling. This phone is ideal for marathon gaming sessions where minimizing downtime is critical. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate if you prefer a more balanced experience with a feature-rich software suite, a wider range of accessories, and a potentially more stable long-term performance profile thanks to its advanced cooling system.