ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 7 Pro edges out the Black Shark 5 Pro thanks to its significantly faster charging and potentially better cooling. While both offer flagship performance, the Red Magic's 135W charging (in China) is a game-changer, and its reputation for cooling is strong. The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts excellent battery life, but falls slightly behind in charging speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 17 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 28 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 235 g (8.29 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Redmagic 5.0 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 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 | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 135W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (Global) | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova | Black, White |
| Models | NX709J | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 800 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 64h | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -22.6 LUFS (Excellent) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1056511(v9) GeekBench: 3845 (v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro
- Blazing-fast charging (135W China version)
- Potentially superior cooling system
- High refresh rate display
- Aggressive gaming design
- Camera details are limited
- Battery life slightly lower than Black Shark 5 Pro
- Global version has slower charging (65W)
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Excellent battery life (83h endurance)
- High refresh rate display
- Good performance
- More traditional smartphone design
- Charging speed not as fast as Red Magic 7 Pro
- Cooling may not be as effective under sustained load
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays with a nominal infinite contrast ratio, indicating excellent blacks and vibrant colors. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro's measured 682 nits max brightness gives it an advantage in outdoor visibility. The Red Magic 7 Pro's display is excellent, but lacks the measured brightness data. Both offer high refresh rates (likely 120Hz or higher) for smooth gameplay.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse in the provided specs. Both are listed as 'Photo / Video'. Based on general knowledge, the Black Shark 5 Pro likely has a slightly more versatile camera system, potentially with a wider range of lenses. The Red Magic 7 Pro prioritizes gaming, so its camera may be more basic. A deeper dive into camera reviews would be needed for a definitive comparison.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, ensuring top-tier performance. The CPU and chipset are identical. The key differentiator here will be thermal management. The Red Magic series is known for its advanced cooling systems, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance during extended gaming sessions. The Black Shark 5 Pro's cooling is also good, but likely not as aggressive as the Red Magic.
Battery Life
The Black Shark 5 Pro takes the lead in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 83 hours, significantly higher than the Red Magic 7 Pro's 64 hours. However, the Red Magic 7 Pro's 135W (China) or 65W (Global) charging is a massive advantage, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups. The Black Shark 5 Pro's 120W charging is still fast, but not as impressive.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who prioritize charging speed and cooling performance above all else. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is a great choice for gamers who value long battery life and a more traditional smartphone experience alongside gaming capabilities.