ZTE Red Magic 6s Pro vs Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The ZTE Red Magic series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the 6s Pro and 8 Pro are prime examples. But with a generation gap between them, which one offers the best experience for mobile gamers? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 8 Pro is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a larger battery, and improved endurance. While the 6s Pro still offers impressive performance and blazing-fast charging, the 8 Pro’s advancements make it the superior choice for serious gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 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, 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, September 062022, December 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2022, December 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)228 g (8.04 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB LightPressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 740
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.5Android 13, Redmagic OS 6
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
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)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-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)80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable - International modelLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable - China modelLi-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhiteBlack, Transparent
Models-NX729J
PriceAbout 600 EUR$ 659.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 97h Endurance rating 131h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -21.4 LUFS (Excellent) -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 758329 (v8), 870708 (v9) GeekBench: 14612 (v4.4), 3664 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging (China version)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • Excellent cooling system
  • High refresh rate display

  • No dedicated camera system
  • Older chipset compared to the 8 Pro
  • Battery life not as impressive as the 8 Pro

ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Significantly improved battery life
  • Dedicated camera system
  • Enhanced display quality
  • Advanced cooling system

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the 6s Pro (China version)
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a high refresh rate display (likely 120Hz or 165Hz, based on typical Red Magic specs) with a nominal infinite contrast ratio. The 8 Pro likely has a slightly brighter panel and potentially improved color accuracy due to the newer generation display technology. The 6s Pro's display is still excellent, but the 8 Pro offers a noticeable upgrade in visual fidelity.

Camera Comparison

The Red Magic 8 Pro introduces a dedicated camera system, a feature absent in the 6s Pro. While gaming phones often prioritize performance over camera quality, the 8 Pro's camera is expected to offer a noticeable improvement in image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Details on the specific camera hardware are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Red Magic 8 Pro is a substantial leap over the Snapdragon 888+ in the 6s Pro. Expect significantly faster processing speeds, smoother gameplay, and better thermal management on the 8 Pro. The 8 Pro's CPU architecture is also more efficient, contributing to better battery life. The 6s Pro remains capable, but the 8 Pro is in a different league.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 8 Pro boasts a significantly larger battery and improved power efficiency thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This translates to a much longer battery life, as evidenced by the endurance rating. The 6s Pro's 120W charging is incredibly fast (especially in China), but the 8 Pro's larger battery means it will still likely last longer overall.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Pro is a great option for budget-conscious gamers who still want a powerful device with fast charging. The Red Magic 8 Pro is ideal for those who demand the absolute best performance, longest battery life, and a more refined overall experience, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 8 Pro worth the upgrade from the 6s Pro?
If you prioritize performance, battery life, and camera capabilities, then yes, the upgrade is worthwhile. However, if you're on a tighter budget and satisfied with the 6s Pro's performance, it's still a capable gaming phone.
❓ What is the difference in charging speeds between the China and International versions of the Red Magic 8 Pro?
The China version of the Red Magic 8 Pro boasts an 80W wired charging speed, while the International version is slightly slower at 65W. Both are still relatively fast, but the China version offers a quicker charging experience.