ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Black Shark 5 Pro edges out the Red Magic 6 Pro thanks to its slightly newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and impressive 120W charging. However, the Red Magic 6 Pro’s aggressive cooling and potentially better software optimization make it a strong contender for serious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, Redmagic 4.0 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| 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, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| 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 | 16 MP, (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) | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz 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, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 5 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5 (International) | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Moon Silver | Black, White |
| Models | NX669J-P | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 960 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro
- Aggressive cooling system
- Potentially better software optimization for gaming
- Fast charging (China version)
- Competitive price
- International charging speed slower
- Camera performance not exceptional
- Design can be polarizing
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Slightly newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Faster 120W charging
- More refined design
- Good camera performance
- Sustained performance can be affected by heat
- Price slightly higher than Red Magic 6 Pro
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (120Hz+). The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured 682 nits max brightness, which is slightly higher than the Red Magic 6 Pro's reported brightness. The Black Shark 5 Pro also advertises an 'infinite' contrast ratio, though this is a nominal value. Color accuracy and overall viewing experience are excellent on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally not a primary focus for gaming phones. Both devices offer decent camera setups, but don't expect flagship-level photography. The Black Shark 5 Pro's camera is generally considered slightly better, offering more natural colors and better dynamic range. Both phones record video at up to 8K resolution.
Performance
The Black Shark 5 Pro utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a newer generation chipset built on a 4nm process, offering a slight performance advantage over the Red Magic 6 Pro's Snapdragon 888 (5nm). Both phones handle demanding games with ease, but the Black Shark 5 Pro may exhibit slightly better sustained performance under heavy load. Cooling solutions are crucial here, and both phones feature advanced systems, though the Red Magic 6 Pro is known for its particularly aggressive cooling.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 83 hours. The Black Shark 5 Pro's 120W charging is significantly faster than the international version of the Red Magic 6 Pro's 66W charging, allowing for a full charge in just 15 minutes. The Chinese version of the Red Magic 6 Pro boasts a blistering 120W charging speed.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro is ideal for gamers prioritizing raw performance and aggressive cooling, especially those in regions where the faster 120W charging is available. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is a great choice for those seeking a more refined design, a slightly newer chipset, and a faster charging experience.