ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro vs Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The mobile gaming scene is booming, and these two phones – the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro and the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro – are built to deliver. Both pack powerful Snapdragon 888+ processors and boast impressive features for gamers, but which one truly comes out on top? Let's dive in and find out.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 6s Pro takes the crown for its exceptional 120W charging (in China) and incredible battery life. While the Black Shark 4S Pro offers slightly faster charging speeds, the Red Magic's overall package, including cooling and endurance, makes it the better choice for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro
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) / 1900 / 2100
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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, September 062021, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2021, October 16
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)220 g (7.76 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB LightPhysical pop-up gaming triggers
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass-
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)Super AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 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 4.5Android 11, Joy UI 12.8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm
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, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jack-Yes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 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, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rateFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China modelLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhiteBlack, White
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 650 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

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Aggressive cooling system (fan)
  • Blazing-fast 120W charging (China)
  • High refresh rate display

  • Camera performance is average
  • Design can be polarizing
  • International charging speed is slower

Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro

  • Slightly faster charging speeds
  • More compact design
  • Refined software experience
  • High refresh rate display

  • Battery life is shorter
  • Can experience thermal throttling
  • Camera performance is average

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering smooth visuals. The Red Magic 6s Pro boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term), while the Black Shark 4S Pro has a slightly more accurate color calibration. The Red Magic's display often has a more aggressive color profile geared towards gaming.

Camera Comparison

The Red Magic 6s Pro typically features a 64MP main camera, while the Black Shark 4S Pro has a 108MP main camera. While the megapixel count is higher on the Black Shark, image quality is generally comparable, with both phones offering decent but not exceptional camera performance. Gaming phones rarely prioritize camera quality.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, both phones deliver flagship-level performance. However, the Red Magic 6s Pro's advanced cooling system (including a built-in fan) allows it to sustain peak performance for longer periods without throttling. The Black Shark 4S Pro can experience some thermal throttling under extended heavy loads.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 6s Pro shines here. Its massive battery and efficient power management result in exceptional battery life, easily lasting a full day of heavy gaming. The Black Shark 4S Pro has a smaller battery and, while its charging is faster, it won't last as long on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro is ideal for gamers prioritizing battery life, aggressive cooling, and blazing-fast charging (especially in China). The Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro is a good fit for those who value a more compact design, slightly faster charging, and a more refined software experience, though at the expense of battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Red Magic 6s Pro's fan make a difference?
Yes, the fan significantly improves sustained performance by preventing thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
❓ Is the Black Shark 4S Pro better for everyday use?
Potentially. Its more refined software and compact design might make it more comfortable for general use, but the Red Magic's battery life is a significant advantage.