ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Photography
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Sony Xperia 1 III offers a more balanced and refined experience. While the Red Magic 6 Pro excels in gaming, its compromises in camera quality and everyday usability make it a niche device. The Xperia 1 III’s superior camera system and broader feature set justify its price for most.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 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) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| 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, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 5 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5 (International) | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless 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 | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NX669J-P | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 960 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro
- Extremely fast 120W/66W charging
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained gaming
- Likely high refresh rate display for smooth gameplay
- Compromised camera quality
- Potentially less refined software experience
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Professional-grade camera system
- High-quality 4K OLED display
- More balanced and refined smartphone experience
- Slower 30W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices feature the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, but their displays differ significantly. The Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, offering excellent clarity and color accuracy. While the Red Magic 6 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, its focus on gaming suggests a high refresh rate (likely 165Hz) is prioritized over absolute resolution. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) provides deeper blacks, crucial for content creation. The Red Magic 6 Pro likely prioritizes responsiveness for gaming, potentially at the expense of color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 1 III clearly prioritizes camera capabilities, offering a full-fledged photo/video experience. While specific sensor details are missing, Sony’s history suggests a focus on large sensors and advanced image processing. The Red Magic 6 Pro, conversely, appears to treat the camera as a secondary feature. The context data doesn’t provide details on its camera system, implying it’s not a key selling point. The Xperia 1 III’s emphasis on professional-grade photography and videography, including features like manual controls and advanced video recording options, sets it apart. The absence of details regarding the Red Magic 6 Pro’s camera suggests it won’t compete in this area.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). However, the Red Magic 6 Pro’s design is centered around maximizing sustained performance. It incorporates an advanced cooling system (details not provided in context) to combat thermal throttling, a common issue with the Snapdragon 888 under prolonged load. The Xperia 1 III, while also equipped with the same chipset, lacks the aggressive cooling solutions of the Red Magic 6 Pro, potentially leading to more noticeable performance dips during extended gaming sessions. Both likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Red Magic 6 Pro’s configuration is optimized for low latency.
Battery Life
Both devices have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing charging approaches. The Red Magic 6 Pro offers significantly faster charging – 120W wired (China) or 66W (International) – capable of reaching 50% charge in just 5 minutes (China). The Xperia 1 III’s 30W wired charging takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. The Red Magic 6 Pro’s faster charging is a significant advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery, while the Xperia 1 III also offers wireless and reverse wireless charging for added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro if you are a dedicated mobile gamer who prioritizes sustained performance, fast charging, and a high refresh rate display above all else. You’re willing to accept compromises in camera quality and software polish for a superior gaming experience. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a photography and videography enthusiast who wants a flagship phone with a professional-grade camera system, a high-quality display, and a more traditional smartphone experience.