ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R vs Lenovo Legion 2 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing value and decent battery life, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R is the better choice. While the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro boasts significantly faster charging and potentially better sustained performance due to its cooling, the price premium doesn't justify the gains for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R | Lenovo Legion 2 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 27 | 2021, April 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 02 | Available. Released 2021, April 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm (6.42 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 176 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.93 x 3.09 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 259 g (9.14 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing) | Built-in two cooling fans RGB light panel (on the back) 6 pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers): 4 ultrasonic buttons (top), 2 capacitive sliding buttons (back) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 770 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| 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, Legion OS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) | - |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, (wide) | Motorized pop-up 44 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.65", 1.0µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | Two USB Type-C (2.0 & 3.1), 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (China) 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (International) | 90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port) |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Mercury Silver, Light Blue | Titanium White, Ultimate Black |
| Models | NX666J | L70081 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 880 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 76h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -27.9 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 708156 (v8) | 823354 (v9) GeekBench: 3486 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R
- More affordable price point
- Respectable battery endurance (76h rating)
- Solid Snapdragon 888 performance
- Slower charging speeds (30W/55W)
- Likely less effective thermal management
- Limited camera information
Lenovo Legion 2 Pro
- Ultra-fast 90W charging
- Advanced cooling system for sustained performance
- Dual USB-C ports for versatile charging/gaming
- Higher price tag
- Battery capacity not specified
- Potentially unnecessary features for casual gamers
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, meaning raw processing power is comparable. However, display details are limited for the Red Magic 6R beyond an 'infinite' contrast ratio. The Legion 2 Pro, while also lacking detailed specs in the provided data, typically features high refresh rate AMOLED panels common in the gaming segment. The Red Magic series historically prioritizes high refresh rates, suggesting a similar approach here. The absence of LTPO information for either device means we can't assess dynamic refresh rate capabilities for power saving. Bezels and color accuracy are unknown, but crucial for immersive gaming.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are minimal for both devices, simply listed as 'Photo / Video'. This suggests neither prioritizes photography as a key feature. Given the gaming focus, image quality is likely adequate but not exceptional. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison impossible. We can assume both will offer standard features like HDR and portrait modes, but don't expect flagship-level camera performance.
Performance
The core performance is identical, both powered by the Octa-core Snapdragon 888 5G with the same CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The Legion 2 Pro is known for its advanced cooling solutions, including a built-in fan, which allows it to sustain peak performance for longer durations. The Red Magic 6R likely employs a more conventional cooling system. While both use LPDDR5 RAM (assumed based on the segment), the Legion 2 Pro's cooling advantage translates to less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially providing a smoother experience.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 6R boasts an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 55W wired charging (China) or 30W (International) with PD3.0 and QC4 compatibility. The Legion 2 Pro, however, takes charging to another level with 90W wired charging via dual USB-C ports, capable of reaching 50% in 12 minutes and 100% in 30 minutes. This is a significant advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery. While the Legion 2 Pro's battery capacity isn't specified, the faster charging mitigates concerns about potentially smaller capacity. The Red Magic 6R's slower charging speeds require more downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R if you need a capable gaming phone that doesn't break the bank, offering a solid Snapdragon 888 experience and respectable battery endurance. Buy the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest charging speeds, are willing to pay a premium for potentially superior sustained performance under heavy load, and appreciate features like dual USB-C ports for simultaneous charging and gaming.