ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and value, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 888+ chipset and gaming-centric features offer a superior experience for demanding titles. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III excels for content creators and those valuing a premium, all-around multimedia package.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (450Hz touch-sensing) Sliding trigger on the back Built-in cooling fan RGB Light | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 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) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC5 | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | - | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 888+
- Likely features active cooling for sustained performance
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Camera likely not as advanced as the Xperia 1 III
- Missing wireless charging capabilities
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Professional-grade camera system for photo and video
- High-brightness cinematic display with excellent contrast
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slightly less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 888 vs 888+)
- Higher price point compared to the Red Magic 6s
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.1-inch display capable of reaching 620 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Red Magic 6s’ display specs aren’t provided, its focus on gaming suggests a high refresh rate panel, likely prioritizing responsiveness over absolute peak brightness. The Xperia 1 III’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a high-quality OLED panel, crucial for deep blacks and vibrant colors, a feature likely present in the Red Magic 6s as well, though color accuracy specifics are missing for the latter. The Xperia 1 III’s aspect ratio is also geared towards content consumption, offering a wider viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 1 III is positioned as a photography and videography powerhouse, though specific sensor details are absent in the provided data. Its ‘Photo / Video’ designation suggests a comprehensive feature set, likely including 4K video recording at various frame rates and advanced image processing algorithms. The Red Magic 6s, while likely equipped with a capable camera, prioritizes other features. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to directly compare image quality, but the Xperia 1 III’s marketing and brand positioning strongly suggest a more sophisticated camera experience. The absence of details on the Red Magic 6s camera suggests it’s not a primary selling point.
Performance
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but with a key distinction: the Red Magic 6s features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G, clocked slightly higher at 3.0 GHz versus the Xperia 1 III’s 2.84 GHz Snapdragon 888. While the core architecture (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55) is identical, the 888+ offers incremental improvements in CPU and GPU performance. The Red Magic 6s’ design prioritizes thermal management, likely allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer durations during intense gaming sessions. Both devices benefit from the 5nm fabrication process, but the Red Magic 6s’ active cooling solution gives it an edge in sustained performance.
Battery Life
Both phones share a 30W wired charging capability, with the Xperia 1 III claiming a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Xperia 1 III also offers wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent from the provided data for the Red Magic 6s. Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The Xperia 1 III’s wireless charging adds convenience, while the Red Magic 6s’ focus on gaming may necessitate more frequent charging due to higher power consumption.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6s if you need uncompromising gaming performance, active cooling, and a high refresh rate display for competitive mobile gaming. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a versatile camera system with professional video features, a high-brightness cinematic display, and a more refined, premium build quality for everyday use and content creation.