The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s is a powerhouse designed for mobile gaming, while the Apple iPhone 7 remains a surprisingly capable and enduring device. But which one offers the better experience in 2024? This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 6s dominates in performance and display thanks to its Snapdragon 888+ and high refresh rate screen. However, the iPhone 7's iOS ecosystem, software support, and surprisingly long battery life (despite its age) make it a compelling choice for those prioritizing simplicity and longevity.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - A1660, A1778 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - A1660, A1778 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41 - A1660, A1778 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat9 450/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO & TD-SCDMA - A1660 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2016, September 07. Released 2016, September 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in) | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 138 g (4.87 oz) |
| | Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing)
Sliding trigger on the back
Built-in cooling fan
RGB Light | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Ion-strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| | - | 3D Touch display & home button |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Quad-core 2.34 GHz (2x Hurricane + 2x Zephyr) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | Apple A10 Fusion (16 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | PowerVR Series7XT Plus (six-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 11, Redmagic 4.5 | iOS 10.0.1, upgradable to iOS 15.8.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 128GB 2GB RAM, 256GB 2GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | NVMe |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", PDAF, OIS |
| 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Face detection, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 32-bit/384kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC5 | - |
| Talk time | - | Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 1960 mAh, non-removable (7.45 Wh) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent | Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Red |
| Models | - | A1660, A1778, A1779, A1780, A1853, A1866, iPhone9,1, iPhone9,3 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.38 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 61h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1603:1 (nominal), 3.964 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 67dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 75dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 3416 |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s
- Exceptional Performance (Snapdragon 888+)
- High Refresh Rate Display (likely 144Hz)
- Fast Charging (30W)
- Dedicated Gaming Features (cooling system, shoulder triggers)
- Larger Display
- Software Support May Be Limited
- Design May Not Appeal to Everyone
- Camera Performance Details Unavailable
Apple iPhone 7
- Excellent Software Support (iOS)
- Strong Ecosystem Integration
- Surprisingly Long Battery Life
- Compact and Durable Design
- Good Resale Value
- Outdated Processor
- Smaller Display
- Lower Refresh Rate Display
- Limited Storage Options
- No Fast Charging
Display Comparison
The Red Magic 6s boasts a significantly larger and faster display (likely 144Hz refresh rate, though not explicitly stated) offering smoother visuals for gaming. The iPhone 7's display, while having a respectable contrast ratio, is smaller and lacks the high refresh rate, resulting in a less immersive gaming experience. Both achieve a similar sunlight readability score.
Camera Comparison
While both offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Red Magic 6s likely has a more modern and capable camera system with higher resolution sensors and advanced features. The iPhone 7's camera is still decent for everyday photography, but it lacks the computational photography advancements found in newer phones. Specific camera specs are missing for both, making a definitive comparison difficult.
Performance
The Snapdragon 888+ in the Red Magic 6s utterly trounces the A10 Fusion in the iPhone 7. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and the ability to handle demanding games at higher settings on the Red Magic 6s. The iPhone 7, while still usable, will show its age with more intensive tasks.
Battery Life
The iPhone 7's endurance rating of 61h is impressive, especially considering its age and smaller battery capacity. The Red Magic 6s, with its larger battery, should also offer good battery life, but the iPhone 7's efficiency is remarkable. Charging speeds are faster on the Red Magic 6s with 30W wired charging and PD/QC support.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance and a dedicated gaming experience. The Apple iPhone 7 is a great option for users seeking a reliable, easy-to-use smartphone with a strong ecosystem and extended software support, even if it means sacrificing raw power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Red Magic 6s worth it for casual users?
Probably not. Its gaming-focused features and powerful hardware are best suited for dedicated mobile gamers. Casual users might find it overkill.
❓ Will the iPhone 7 still receive software updates?
Apple typically supports iPhones for several years. While it won't receive the absolute latest iOS versions, it will likely continue to get security updates for a while longer.
