ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 5s: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The battle for mobile gaming supremacy is fierce! Both the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro and the Asus ROG Phone 5s are designed to deliver top-tier performance and immersive experiences. But which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts significantly faster charging and impressive battery life, while the ROG Phone 5s offers a more refined software experience and potentially better camera capabilities. For pure charging speed and endurance, the Red Magic wins, but the ROG Phone 5s provides a more well-rounded package.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro Asus ROG Phone 5s
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - Version 1
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 1
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4
Launch
Announced2021, September 062021, August 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)238 g (8.40 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB LightRGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.99 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 4.5Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
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)64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jack-Yes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 32-bit/384kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, compass, heart rateFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China modelLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhitePhantom Black, Storm White
Models-ZS676KS
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 1030 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 97h -
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -21.4 LUFS (Excellent) -
Performance AnTuTu: 758329 (v8), 870708 (v9) GeekBench: 14612 (v4.4), 3664 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Exceptional battery life
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • High refresh rate display

  • Camera performance not as strong as ROG Phone 5s
  • Software experience can be less polished
  • Design may be too aggressive for some

Asus ROG Phone 5s

  • Versatile camera system
  • Refined ROG UI software
  • Good thermal management
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Slower charging speed (65W)
  • Battery life not as impressive as Red Magic 6s Pro
  • Price can be higher

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.81-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, ensuring incredibly smooth visuals. The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts a contrast ratio of 'Infinite' (nominal), suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors. The ROG Phone 5s, while not explicitly stating a contrast ratio, also delivers a stunning visual experience with excellent color accuracy and brightness. The ROG Phone 5s often has more customizable display options.

Camera Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 5s generally has a more versatile camera system. While the Red Magic 6s Pro's camera is capable, the ROG Phone 5s typically offers better image quality, especially in low light, and more shooting modes. The ROG Phone 5s typically has a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens. The Red Magic 6s Pro has a 64MP main, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, guaranteeing flagship-level performance. While the CPU clock speeds differ slightly (Red Magic 6s Pro's X1 core is marginally faster), real-world gaming performance is likely very similar. The ROG Phone 5s often has better thermal management, preventing throttling during extended gaming sessions. Software optimization also plays a role, with Asus's ROG UI offering gaming-specific features.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 6s Pro takes a commanding lead in battery life and charging speed. Its 120W wired charging is incredibly fast, fully charging the phone in just 17 minutes (in China). Even with the slower 66W international charging, it's still significantly faster than the ROG Phone 5s. The Red Magic 6s Pro also boasts an impressive endurance rating of 97 hours, suggesting exceptional battery longevity.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers prioritizing charging speed, battery life, and raw performance. The Asus ROG Phone 5s is a better choice for gamers who value a polished software experience, a more versatile camera system, and features like reverse charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Both phones can handle Genshin Impact well, but the ROG Phone 5s's better thermal management might prevent throttling during extended play sessions.
❓ Is the Red Magic 6s Pro's software easy to use?
The Red Magic 6s Pro's software is functional but lacks the polish of the ROG Phone 5s's ROG UI. It prioritizes gaming features over a streamlined user experience.