ZTE Red Magic 6R vs 6s Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown

The ZTE Red Magic series has carved a niche for itself as a powerhouse of gaming smartphones. But with multiple iterations, choosing the right one can be tricky. We're pitting the Red Magic 6R against the Red Magic 6s Pro to determine which offers the best gaming experience and value.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 6s Pro is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster charging speed, a slightly improved chipset, and longer battery life. While the 6R is a capable device, the 6s Pro's upgrades make it the superior choice for serious mobile gamers, justifying its higher price.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, May 272021, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 02Available. Released 2021, September 27
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm (6.42 x 2.96 x 0.31 in)169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)215 g (7.58 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (400Hz touch-sensing)Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB Light
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 770 nits (peak)AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.0Android 11, Redmagic 4.5
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 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)-
Single16 MP, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
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)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate
Battery
Charging55W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (China) 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (International)120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model
Misc
ColorsBlack, Mercury Silver, Light BlueEclipse Black, Transparent, White
ModelsNX666J-
PriceAbout 500 EURAbout 600 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 76h Endurance rating 97h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.9 LUFS (Good) -21.4 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance AnTuTu: 708156 (v8) | 823354 (v9) GeekBench: 3486 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 758329 (v8), 870708 (v9) GeekBench: 14612 (v4.4), 3664 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R

  • More affordable
  • Solid Snapdragon 888 performance
  • Large, high-refresh-rate display
  • Good cooling system

  • Slower charging
  • Shorter battery life
  • Camera not exceptional

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 888+ performance
  • Blazing-fast charging (120W)
  • Longer battery life
  • Improved color calibration (potentially)

  • More expensive
  • Similar camera performance to 6R

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate, delivering a smooth and responsive gaming experience. The contrast ratio is listed as 'infinite' which is a nominal value, indicating excellent contrast. While both are excellent, the 6s Pro's slightly improved color calibration might offer a marginally better visual experience.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable between the two. Both feature a triple-camera setup, likely with a primary sensor around 64MP. Image quality is decent for a gaming phone, but not a primary strength. The 6s Pro might have slightly improved image processing due to software optimizations, but the difference is unlikely to be substantial.

Performance

The Red Magic 6s Pro holds a distinct advantage here. While both utilize the Snapdragon 888, the 6s Pro features the 'Plus' variant, offering a slight CPU clock speed boost (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the X1 core). This translates to marginally better performance in demanding games and multitasking scenarios. Both phones have ample RAM (typically 8GB or 12GB) and storage, ensuring smooth operation.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 6s Pro shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 97h significantly surpasses the 6R's 76h. Coupled with its vastly superior charging speeds (120W vs 55W/66W), the 6s Pro offers significantly longer gaming sessions and much faster recharge times.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6R is ideal for budget-conscious gamers who still want a powerful Snapdragon 888 and a large display. The Red Magic 6s Pro is for those who demand the absolute best performance, lightning-fast charging, and extended battery life, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 888+ in the 6s Pro a significant upgrade?
Yes, the 888+ offers a slight performance boost over the standard 888, particularly in CPU-intensive tasks. While not a massive leap, it contributes to a smoother overall experience.
❓ Are the cameras on these phones good for everyday photography?
Both phones offer decent camera performance, but they are primarily designed for gaming. Don't expect flagship-level camera quality. They are suitable for casual snapshots.