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

The ZTE Red Magic series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the Red Magic 7 and 7S Pro are no exception. But with incremental upgrades, which one truly offers the best experience for mobile gamers? We'll break down the key differences to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 7S Pro is the clear winner, boasting the superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, significantly faster charging (in China), and likely improved thermal management. While the Red Magic 7 remains a capable device, the 7S Pro’s enhancements make it the better choice for serious gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China
Launch
Announced2022, February 172022, July 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 21Available. Released 2022, July 15
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions170.6 x 78.3 x 9.5 mm (6.72 x 3.08 x 0.37 in)166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)235 g (8.29 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle framePressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Redmagic 5.0Android 12, Redmagic 5.5
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 18GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, (wide), under display
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, f/2.4, (macro)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)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, (wide), under display
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 17 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International)135W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International)
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsObsidian, Pulsar, SupernovaObsidian, Supernova, Mercury, Yellow
ModelsNX679JNX709S
PriceAbout 630 EURAbout 780 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 89h -
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -22.7 LUFS (Excellent) -24.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1056488 (v9) GeekBench: 3855(v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

ZTE nubia Red Magic 7

  • Excellent battery life
  • High refresh rate display
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Aggressive gaming design
  • Competitive price

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can throttle under sustained load
  • Slower charging speeds (international version)
  • Camera performance is average

ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro

  • Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
  • Blazing-fast charging (China version)
  • Improved thermal management
  • High refresh rate display
  • Aggressive gaming design

  • Higher price
  • Camera performance is average
  • International version has slower charging

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, offering incredibly smooth visuals. The 7S Pro *likely* has slightly improved color accuracy and brightness due to the newer panel technology, but the difference is subtle. Both offer excellent viewing angles and vibrant colors, making them ideal for gaming and media consumption. The contrast ratio is essentially infinite on both, a standard for AMOLED displays.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are sparse in the provided specs. Both phones likely feature a triple-lens rear camera system, with a primary sensor, ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. The 7S Pro *may* have slightly improved image processing due to the newer chipset, but overall, camera performance is unlikely to be a major differentiator between the two. Video recording capabilities are likely similar.

Performance

This is where the 7S Pro shines. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a significant upgrade over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, offering improved CPU and GPU performance, as well as better power efficiency. Expect smoother gameplay, faster load times, and less thermal throttling on the 7S Pro, especially during extended gaming sessions. The 7 still performs well, but the 7S Pro is noticeably faster.

Battery Life

The Red Magic 7 boasts an impressive 89h endurance rating, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the 7S Pro’s 135W charging (in China) is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast charging times. While the international version of the 7S Pro has a slower 65W charge, it's still faster than the Red Magic 7. Both phones have a large battery capacity, ensuring all-day usage.

Buying Guide

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 is a great option for gamers on a tighter budget who still want a powerful device with a high refresh rate display and solid performance. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance, fastest charging, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the 7S Pro worth the upgrade?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a noticeable performance boost over the 8 Gen 1, especially for demanding games and sustained usage. It also improves power efficiency.
❓ What is the difference in charging speeds between the China and international versions of the 7S Pro?
The China version of the 7S Pro supports 135W charging, while the international version is limited to 65W charging.