ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro vs Lenovo Legion 2 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the hardcore gamer prioritizing absolute performance and the fastest charging speeds, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro is the winner. Its 120W charging and slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ chipset give it an edge. However, the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro offers a more refined overall package with its dual charging ports and potentially better sustained performance due to its cooling system.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro | 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - 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 / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2021, April 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Available. Released 2021, April 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 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 | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 259 g (9.14 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB Light | 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 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 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 4.5 | Android 11, Legion OS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 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) | - |
| 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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 | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | 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/6e, 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, heart rate | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International) | 90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port) |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China model | Li-Po 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent, White | Titanium White, Ultimate Black |
| Models | - | L70081 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 880 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 (China)
- Slightly faster Snapdragon 888+ processor
- Excellent battery endurance (97h rating)
- Charging speed reduced to 66W internationally
- Cooling system potentially less effective than Legion 2 Pro
Lenovo Legion 2 Pro
- Advanced cooling system for sustained performance
- Dual USB-C ports for simultaneous charging and gaming
- Potentially better thermal management
- Slower charging speed (90W/65W)
- Standard Snapdragon 888 processor
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays designed for immersive gaming, but key differences exist. While both utilize high refresh rate panels, the context data lacks specific refresh rate details. The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a strong OLED panel. The Legion 2 Pro, while not specifying contrast, is known for its high brightness and color accuracy. The absence of LTPO information means we can't assess variable refresh rate efficiency. Bezels are likely minimal on both, given their gaming focus, but the Legion 2 Pro's front-facing cameras are positioned to minimize screen obstruction.
Camera Comparison
Neither phone prioritizes camera performance, focusing instead on gaming. The context data doesn't provide sufficient detail for a meaningful camera comparison. Both likely feature capable main sensors, but image processing will likely lean towards a more vibrant, gaming-centric aesthetic. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely irrelevant, offering minimal benefit over the main sensor. We can assume both will offer acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance is unlikely to be a strength.
Performance
The core of both phones is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the Red Magic 6s Pro edges ahead with the Snapdragon 888+ 5G clocked at 3.0 GHz versus the Legion 2 Pro’s standard Snapdragon 888 at 2.84 GHz. This represents a modest CPU clock speed increase. Both utilize the same CPU core configuration (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55). The Red Magic 6s Pro’s advantage is likely more noticeable in single-threaded tasks. Both devices likely employ LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed isn't specified. Crucially, the Legion 2 Pro is renowned for its advanced cooling system, including an internal fan, which should allow it to sustain peak performance for longer periods, mitigating thermal throttling – a common issue with the Snapdragon 888. The Red Magic 6s Pro also features active cooling, but the Legion 2 Pro’s implementation is generally considered more effective.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts a 97-hour endurance rating, suggesting excellent battery life. Its 120W wired charging (in China) is a standout feature, promising a full charge in just 17 minutes. However, international models are limited to 66W, taking 65 minutes. The Legion 2 Pro offers 90W charging (via dual USB-C ports) reaching 50% in 12 minutes and 100% in 30 minutes, or 65W via a single port. While the Red Magic 6s Pro has faster peak charging, the Legion 2 Pro’s dual-port setup allows for simultaneous charging and gaming, a unique advantage. The actual battery capacity isn't specified for either device, but the Red Magic's endurance rating suggests a larger capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro if you need the absolute fastest charging available and prioritize peak CPU performance for short, intense gaming sessions. You'll benefit from the 120W charging, getting you back into the game quicker. Buy the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro if you prefer a more balanced experience with potentially better sustained performance under load, dual charging options for extended play, and a more robust cooling solution that minimizes throttling during long gaming marathons.