ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s vs Apple iPhone 11: A Detailed Showdown

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s caters to hardcore gamers with its powerful specs and cooling system, while the Apple iPhone 11 remains a popular choice for its iOS ecosystem and reliable performance. Let's break down which phone is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 6s delivers unmatched gaming performance and a higher refresh rate display. However, the iPhone 11 boasts a polished iOS experience, a strong camera system, and excellent longevity. For gamers, the Red Magic 6s wins; for those prioritizing ecosystem and ease of use, the iPhone 11 is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s Apple iPhone 11
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2221
5G bands SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat16 1024/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2111, A2223
Launch
Announced2021, September 062019, September 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2019, September 20
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (5.94 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)194 g (6.84 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB LightIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassScratch-resistant glass
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)828 x 1792 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~79.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 660Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.5iOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 3.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual-12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/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)-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jack-No
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rateFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, QC5Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Po 5050 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3110 mAh, non-removable (11.91 Wh)
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, TransparentBlack, Green, Yellow, Purple, Red, White
Models-A2221, A2111, A2223, iPhone12,1
PriceAbout 500 EUR$ 167.50 / C$ 228.68 / £ 175.00 / € 193.32
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 4GB RAM-$ 359.95
256GB 4GB RAM-$ 469.99
64GB 4GB RAM-$ 292.79
RENEWED-£ 214.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -80.8dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 94h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: 1505:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker- Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 76dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 419453 (v7) GeekBench: 13882 (v4.4) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s

  • Exceptional gaming performance
  • High 144Hz refresh rate display
  • Aggressive cooling system
  • Fast charging (30W)
  • Competitive price

  • Camera performance not as strong as iPhone 11
  • Software support may be less extensive than iOS
  • Design may not appeal to everyone

Apple iPhone 11

  • Excellent camera system
  • Polished iOS ecosystem
  • Strong software support and longevity
  • Good battery life
  • Premium build quality

  • 60Hz display feels dated
  • Performance not as high as Red Magic 6s
  • Charging speed is slower
  • Price can be higher depending on storage

Display Comparison

The Red Magic 6s features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering incredibly smooth visuals ideal for gaming. The iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 1505:1 contrast ratio. While the iPhone 11's display is vibrant, the Red Magic 6s' higher refresh rate provides a noticeable advantage in fast-paced games.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 11's camera system is renowned for its image quality and ease of use, offering excellent photos and videos. The Red Magic 6s typically features a capable camera setup, but it often prioritizes gaming features over camera prowess. The iPhone 11 generally wins in camera quality and video recording.

Performance

The Red Magic 6s is powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, a flagship processor known for its raw power. The iPhone 11 utilizes the A13 Bionic chip, still a capable performer. While the A13 is efficient, the Snapdragon 888+ generally offers superior performance in demanding tasks and gaming, especially with its advanced cooling.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive battery life. The iPhone 11 boasts an endurance rating of 94 hours, a testament to its power efficiency. The Red Magic 6s, while not explicitly stating an endurance rating, typically provides all-day battery life with moderate usage, but heavy gaming will drain it faster. The iPhone 11 has a slight edge in overall battery longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s if you're a mobile gamer seeking top-tier performance, a high refresh rate display, and aggressive cooling. Buy the Apple iPhone 11 if you prefer the iOS ecosystem, a reliable camera, and a phone known for its longevity and software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 6s good for everyday use?
Yes, the Red Magic 6s is capable for everyday tasks, but its focus is on gaming. The software experience might not be as refined as iOS.
❓ How does the iPhone 11's camera compare to newer phones?
While not the latest, the iPhone 11's camera still delivers excellent image quality and is competitive with many newer phones, especially in good lighting conditions.