ZTE Red Magic 7 Pro vs Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Showdown

The ZTE Red Magic series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the 7 Pro and 8 Pro are no exception. But with a year separating them, which one offers the better experience? 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 improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, dramatically better battery life, and refined design. While the 7 Pro still offers solid performance, the 8 Pro's advancements make it the superior choice for serious mobile gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro	ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 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, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE-A, 5G	HSPA, LTE-A, 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	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2022, February 17	2022, December 26
Status	Available. Released 2022, February 28	Available. Released 2022, December 28

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame	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)	164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight	235 g (8.29 oz)	228 g (8.04 oz)
	Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame	Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)	1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits	AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 740
OS	Android 12, Redmagic 5.0	Android 13, Redmagic OS 6

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	UFS 4.0

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, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
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)	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)
Video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display	16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Video	1080p@30/60fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	32-bit/384kHz audio	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector	USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort
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/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	135W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (Global)	80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova	Black, Transparent
Models	NX709J	NX729J
Price	About 800 EUR	$ 659.00

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 64h	Endurance rating 131h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-22.6 LUFS (Excellent)	-24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 1056511(v9) GeekBench: 3845 (v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro

Faster 135W Charging (China Version)
Lower Price
High Refresh Rate Display
Robust Cooling System

Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Chipset
Shorter Battery Life
Less Refined Design

ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro

Significantly Improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chipset
Exceptional Battery Life
Refined Design
Improved Performance

Slower Charging (International Version)
Higher Price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring incredibly smooth visuals and responsive gameplay. The contrast ratio is listed as 'Infinite' (nominal) for both, indicating excellent black levels and vibrant colors. While both are excellent, the 8 Pro's display likely benefits from slight improvements in color accuracy and brightness due to the newer panel technology.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are sparse in the provided specs. However, based on general knowledge, the Red Magic 8 Pro likely features improved image processing and potentially a slightly upgraded sensor setup compared to the 7 Pro. Both prioritize gaming performance over camera quality, so don't expect flagship-level photography.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Red Magic 8 Pro provides a substantial performance boost over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the 7 Pro. Expect noticeably faster load times, smoother frame rates in demanding games, and improved multitasking capabilities. The 8 Pro's CPU and GPU architecture are more efficient, contributing to better thermal management as well.

Battery Life

This is where the 8 Pro truly shines. The 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 131 hours, a massive improvement over the 7 Pro's 64 hours. While charging speeds are faster on the 7 Pro (China version), the 8 Pro's larger battery capacity and more efficient chipset result in significantly longer battery life overall.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro is a good option for budget-conscious gamers who still want a powerful device with a high refresh rate display and robust cooling. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is ideal for gamers who demand the absolute best performance, longest battery life, and latest features, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 8 Pro worth the upgrade from the 7 Pro?

If you prioritize performance and battery life, absolutely. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and significantly improved battery make it a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're on a tight budget and the 7 Pro meets your needs, it's still a capable gaming phone.

❓ What are the cooling systems like on each phone?

Both phones feature advanced cooling systems with vapor chambers and multiple layers of heat dissipation. The 8 Pro likely benefits from improvements in thermal design due to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.