ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 vs. Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing sustained performance and value, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 is the better choice. Its 88h endurance rating and 66W charging offer a balanced experience. However, the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro’s 120W charging is a game-changer for those who need to top up quickly between matches.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Xiaomi Black Shark 4S 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, 18, 19, 20, 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 | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, October 16 |
| 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) | 163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 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 | Physical pop-up gaming triggers | |
| 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 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 144Hz, 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 (1x3.0 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, Joy UI 12.8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB 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 | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm |
| 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, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (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 | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min (advertised) | 120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Aurora | Black, White |
| Models | NX669J | - |
| Price | $ 890.00 | About 650 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 88h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -21.4 LUFS (Excellent) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 708853 (v8) GeekBench: 3586 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6
- Exceptional battery endurance (88h rating)
- Balanced performance with Snapdragon 888
- Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal design
- Slower charging speed compared to the Black Shark 4S Pro
- Limited camera details suggest a secondary focus
Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (0-100% in 15 minutes)
- Slightly more powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
- Likely improved thermal management with the 888+
- Potentially shorter battery life compared to the Red Magic 6
- Aggressive throttling possible under sustained heavy load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays designed for immersive gaming, but details beyond 'infinite' contrast ratio for the Red Magic 6 are limited. The Black Shark 4S Pro likely benefits from a higher peak brightness, common in Xiaomi’s flagship displays, offering better visibility in bright conditions. While neither spec sheet details refresh rates, both brands historically prioritize high refresh rates for gaming, and the Black Shark 4S Pro’s more recent release suggests a potential advantage in panel technology and responsiveness. Bezels are likely comparable, focusing on maximizing screen real estate.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse for both devices, indicating a secondary focus compared to gaming. Both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, suggesting a standard flagship-level camera setup. The Black Shark 4S Pro, being a newer model, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Black Shark 4S Pro’s more recent release suggests a more refined camera experience, even if not a primary selling point.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipset: the Red Magic 6 utilizes the Snapdragon 888 5G, while the Black Shark 4S Pro boasts the Snapdragon 888+ 5G. The ‘+’ variant features a slightly higher clock speed (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the X1 core), translating to a modest performance uplift in CPU-intensive tasks. Both share the same Cortex-A78 and A55 core configuration. However, the real-world impact is nuanced; the 888+’s improved thermal management is more significant than the raw clock speed difference, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming. Both likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the Black Shark 4S Pro’s superior cooling system could allow it to maintain higher RAM speeds for longer.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 6 boasts an endurance rating of 88 hours, a significant advantage over what’s expected from a phone with a Snapdragon 888. This suggests a large battery capacity and efficient power management. The Black Shark 4S Pro, however, compensates for potentially lower battery capacity with its groundbreaking 120W wired charging. This allows for a 50% charge in just 5 minutes and a full charge in 15 minutes – a massive convenience for gamers. While the Red Magic 6’s 66W charging is respectable, it pales in comparison to the Black Shark 4S Pro’s speed. The trade-off is clear: endurance versus rapid replenishment.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 if you need a phone that can handle marathon gaming sessions without significant throttling, and if battery life is a primary concern. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro if you prioritize the absolute fastest charging speeds and want to minimize downtime between gaming sessions, even if it means potentially more aggressive thermal throttling under sustained load.