The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 and Xiaomi Poco F3 GT both target the mobile gaming market, but approach it with different philosophies. The Red Magic 6 prioritizes raw cooling and sustained performance with the Snapdragon 888, while the Poco F3 GT leverages the Dimensity 1200 and a focus on value. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right weapon for your gaming arsenal.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated gamers prioritizing sustained performance under heavy load, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 is the superior choice. Its advanced cooling and Snapdragon 888 chipset offer a slight edge, despite the Poco F3 GT’s competitive charging speed and value proposition. However, the Poco F3 GT is a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers.
| 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 850 / 900 / 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, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, July 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 161.9 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.37 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan | Physical pop-up gaming triggers
IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 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 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| 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-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, Redmagic 4.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (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) | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| 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
Tuned by JBL |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min (advertised) | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5065 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Aurora | Predator Black, Gunmetal Silver |
| Models | NX669J | MZB09C6IN, M2104K10I |
| Price | $ 890.00 | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) |
| 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
- Superior sustained performance due to Snapdragon 888 and advanced cooling.
- Potentially longer battery life based on endurance rating.
- Faster advertised charging speed (38 minutes).
- Camera specifications are unknown and likely not a priority.
- May be more expensive than the Poco F3 GT.
Xiaomi Poco F3 GT
- Competitive performance with the Dimensity 1200.
- Fast 67W charging.
- Likely more affordable price point.
- Potentially more susceptible to thermal throttling under sustained load.
- Endurance rating is unknown, suggesting potentially shorter battery life.
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications in the provided data, but given their target market, we can infer high refresh rates. The Red Magic 6’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a strong OLED panel, likely optimized for vibrant colors and deep blacks crucial for immersive gaming. The Poco F3 GT, historically, has utilized AMOLED displays. Without specific nit brightness figures, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the Red Magic 6’s gaming focus suggests potential for a higher peak brightness and more aggressive color calibration for competitive advantage.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for the Red Magic 6, offering no specifics. The Poco F3 GT’s camera specs are also absent. Given the gaming focus of both devices, camera quality is likely a secondary consideration. We can expect competent, but not class-leading, camera systems. Without sensor size or aperture information, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both phones will offer adequate performance for social media sharing and casual photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) in the Red Magic 6 versus the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (6nm) in the Poco F3 GT. While the Dimensity 1200 boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz), the Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core and 5nm fabrication process offer a potential advantage in sustained performance and efficiency. The 6nm process of the Dimensity 1200 is more efficient than older nodes, but the 5nm Snapdragon 888 is still likely to generate less heat under prolonged stress. This is critical for gaming, where throttling can significantly impact frame rates. The Red Magic 6’s cooling system is a key differentiator, designed to maximize the Snapdragon 888’s potential.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 6 boasts an endurance rating of 88 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Poco F3 GT’s battery capacity is unknown, its 67W charging (matching the Red Magic 6’s 66W) allows for a full charge in 42 minutes, slightly slower than the Red Magic 6’s advertised 38 minutes. However, the Red Magic 6’s superior endurance rating suggests a larger battery capacity or more efficient power management, offsetting the slightly slower charging time. The inclusion of PD3.0 and QC4 on the Red Magic 6 and PD3.0/QC3 on the Poco F3 GT provides compatibility with a wider range of chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended play sessions without throttling, and are willing to invest in a device specifically engineered for mobile esports. Buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 GT if you prefer a more balanced device with fast charging, a competitive chipset, and a lower price point, making it ideal for casual gamers and those seeking excellent value.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 888 in the Red Magic 6 overheat during extended PUBG sessions?
The Red Magic 6 is specifically designed to mitigate Snapdragon 888 throttling. Its advanced cooling system, including a fan and vapor chamber, actively dissipates heat, allowing for sustained peak performance during demanding games like PUBG. While some throttling is inevitable, the Red Magic 6 should experience less than the Poco F3 GT.
❓ Does the Poco F3 GT support high frame rates (90fps or higher) in popular games?
The Poco F3 GT’s Dimensity 1200 chipset is capable of supporting high frame rates in many games, but performance will vary depending on the game’s optimization. While it can likely achieve 60fps in most titles, consistently hitting 90fps or higher may require reduced graphics settings. The Red Magic 6, with its Snapdragon 888, has a slight advantage in maintaining higher frame rates.
❓ What type of charging protocol does each phone support, and can I use my existing charger?
Both phones support Power Delivery (PD) 3.0. The Red Magic 6 also supports Quick Charge (QC) 4.0, while the Poco F3 GT supports QC 3.0. This means you can likely use a PD charger you already own, but to achieve the fastest charging speeds, using a 66W/67W charger with the appropriate protocol is recommended.
