ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro is the clear winner. Its superior cooling and faster charging capabilities outweigh the OnePlus 9 Pro’s camera advantages. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro remains a compelling choice for users prioritizing a well-rounded flagship experience with a top-tier camera system.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro | OnePlus 9 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| 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 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, 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 | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 5 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5 (International) | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Moon Silver | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | NX669J-P | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 960 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro
- Extremely fast charging (120W/66W)
- Superior cooling for sustained gaming
- Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother gameplay
- Potentially less refined camera system
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Balanced flagship experience with refined software
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower charging speeds compared to Red Magic 6 Pro
- Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, meaning core processing power is equivalent. However, the Red Magic 6 Pro prioritizes a fully immersive gaming experience, likely featuring a higher refresh rate panel (though not specified in the data) and minimal bezels. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, suggesting excellent outdoor visibility. While the data doesn't specify panel technology for the Red Magic 6 Pro, OnePlus's use of LTPO technology in the 9 Pro allows for variable refresh rates, optimizing battery life by dynamically adjusting the refresh rate based on content. This is a benefit for general use, but less critical for dedicated gamers who often lock to the highest refresh rate.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro distinguishes itself with a focus on camera capabilities, though specific sensor details are absent from the provided data. The 'Photo / Video' designation suggests a comprehensive camera system with advanced features. The Red Magic 6 Pro, while likely including a capable camera, prioritizes gaming features and may offer a less sophisticated camera experience. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s Hasselblad partnership (not in the data, but a known feature) likely results in more accurate color science and improved image processing. The absence of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the OnePlus 9 Pro is positioned as a camera-centric flagship.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 888 5G, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Red Magic 6 Pro is specifically engineered for sustained performance under heavy load, likely incorporating a more aggressive cooling solution (fan, vapor chamber) than the OnePlus 9 Pro. This allows the Red Magic 6 Pro to maintain peak clock speeds for longer durations during gaming sessions, minimizing throttling. While the OnePlus 9 Pro offers excellent performance, it may experience more thermal throttling during extended gaming. The data doesn't specify RAM configurations, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
Both devices exhibit comparable endurance ratings at 86h, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity (not specified). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Red Magic 6 Pro offers a staggering 120W wired charging (China) or 66W (International), capable of reaching 50% charge in just 5 minutes (China). The OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging takes 29 minutes for a full charge. Furthermore, the OnePlus 9 Pro adds 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, offering greater versatility. While the Red Magic 6 Pro’s charging speed is significantly faster, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s wireless charging options provide convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, require the fastest possible charging speeds, and appreciate a design geared towards immersive gameplay. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you value a versatile camera system, a refined software experience, and a more balanced feature set for everyday use, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming power.