ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro vs. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Photography

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra represent divergent approaches to the flagship smartphone. The Red Magic 6 Pro prioritizes unadulterated gaming performance, while the Mi 11 Ultra aims for a balanced, premium experience with a focus on camera capabilities. Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, but their implementations and surrounding hardware differ significantly, creating distinct user experiences.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a versatile flagship experience, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra emerges as the stronger choice. Its exceptional camera system, coupled with solid battery life and fast charging, offers a more well-rounded package. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the Red Magic 6 Pro’s superior cooling and specialized features invaluable.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, March 042021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 11Available. Released 2021, April 02
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fanIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple64 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)50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jack-No
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 5 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5 (International)67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China modelLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Moon SilverCeramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black)
ModelsNX669J-PM2102K1G, M2102K1C
PriceAbout 960 EURAbout 1500 EUR
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.55 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W (China) / 66W (International) charging
  • Superior cooling system for sustained gaming
  • Gaming-centric features (shoulder triggers, optimized software)

  • Likely inferior camera performance
  • Potentially less refined overall user experience

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system with large sensor
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Versatile charging options (wired, wireless, reverse wireless)

  • Potential for thermal throttling during extended gaming
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays driven by the Snapdragon 888, but their implementations differ. The Mi 11 Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 943 nits, providing excellent visibility in direct sunlight. While the Red Magic 6 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, its focus on gaming suggests a high refresh rate is present, though likely at the expense of peak brightness compared to the Mi 11 Ultra. The Mi 11 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a high-quality AMOLED panel, while the Red Magic 6 Pro likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time for competitive gaming.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra unequivocally dominates in the camera department. While the context data only states 'Photo / Video' for both, the Mi 11 Ultra is renowned for its large 1/1.12” sensor and advanced image processing. The Red Magic 6 Pro, while likely having a capable camera, is not positioned as a photography powerhouse. The Mi 11 Ultra’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and lens apertures (not specified) contribute to superior low-light performance and image quality. The absence of detail regarding the Red Magic 6 Pro’s camera suggests it’s a secondary consideration.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration. However, the Red Magic 6 Pro’s design is explicitly geared towards maximizing sustained performance. Its advanced cooling system – details not provided in the context data, but a key selling point – allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods during demanding gaming sessions. The Mi 11 Ultra, while powerful, may experience more thermal throttling under prolonged load. The Red Magic 6 Pro’s focus on gaming likely includes optimized software and RAM management for lower latency.

Battery Life

Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, their charging approaches differ drastically. The Mi 11 Ultra offers 67W wired, 67W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging, reaching 100% in 36 minutes (wired) and 39 minutes (wireless). The Red Magic 6 Pro, in China, boasts an astonishing 120W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in just 5 minutes, while the international version is limited to 66W. This faster charging speed gives the Red Magic 6 Pro a significant advantage in quickly topping up the battery, even if the overall endurance is similar.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Pro if you demand the highest possible sustained gaming performance, prioritize cooling above all else, and appreciate gaming-centric features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra if you value a top-tier camera system, a bright and vibrant display, and a more polished, all-around flagship experience with excellent fast charging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Red Magic 6 Pro's cooling system actually prevent throttling during long gaming sessions?
The Red Magic 6 Pro's cooling system is a core design element. While specific details aren't provided, nubia heavily markets its advanced cooling solutions, suggesting a significant reduction in thermal throttling compared to standard Snapdragon 888 implementations. This allows for sustained peak performance during extended gaming.
❓ How does the Mi 11 Ultra's camera perform in low-light conditions?
The Mi 11 Ultra is renowned for its exceptional low-light performance, largely due to its large 1/1.12” sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. It captures significantly more light than typical smartphone cameras, resulting in brighter, clearer, and more detailed images in challenging lighting environments.
❓ Is the 67W wireless charging on the Mi 11 Ultra significantly faster than other wireless charging solutions?
Yes, 67W wireless charging is exceptionally fast. It's among the fastest wireless charging speeds available on any smartphone, reaching 100% in approximately 39 minutes, which is considerably quicker than most competitors offering 15W or 25W wireless charging.