ZTE Red Magic 7 vs Red Magic 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro is the clear winner, boasting a significantly improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, vastly superior battery life, and refined design. While the Red Magic 7 remains a capable device, the 8 Pro's advancements make it the superior choice for serious mobile gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 | 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 800 / 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, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 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 | 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 |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 17 | 2022, December 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 21 | Available. Released 2022, December 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 170.6 x 78.3 x 9.5 mm (6.72 x 3.08 x 0.37 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 | 215 g (7.58 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 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | 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, 256GB 18GB RAM, 512GB 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 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/2.0, 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 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 | 120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 17 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International) | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Pulsar, Supernova | Black, Transparent |
| Models | NX679J | NX729J |
| Price | About 630 EUR | $ 659.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 89h | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | 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) | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7
- Fast 120W Charging (China)
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- High Refresh Rate Display
- Aggressive Gaming Design
- Older Chipset
- Shorter Battery Life
- Camera Details Unclear
- International Charging Slower
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Exceptional Battery Life
- Improved Performance
- Refined Design
- Potentially Better Camera
- Slower Charging (International)
- Higher Price
- Camera Details Unclear
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a high refresh rate display (120Hz) and a nominal infinite contrast ratio. However, the Red Magic 8 Pro likely has improved color accuracy and brightness due to the newer display technology. The 8 Pro also potentially has a higher resolution, though this isn't explicitly stated in the provided specs. The 7's display is still excellent for gaming, but the 8 Pro offers a noticeable upgrade.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are sparse in the provided specs. Both are listed as 'Photo / Video'. However, given the generational leap in chipsets, the Red Magic 8 Pro likely has a superior image signal processor (ISP) leading to better image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. Expect improvements in low-light performance as well.
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 Red Magic 7. Expect smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and improved multitasking on the 8 Pro. The Cortex-X3 core in the 8 Pro's CPU is a significant upgrade, and the overall architecture is more efficient.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro's endurance rating of 131h significantly surpasses the Red Magic 7's 89h. This translates to considerably longer gaming sessions and overall battery life. While the Red Magic 7's 120W charging is incredibly fast (especially in China), the 8 Pro's charging speeds are still respectable, albeit slightly slower.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 is a good option for budget-conscious gamers who still want a powerful device with a high refresh rate display and fast charging. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is ideal for gamers who demand the absolute best performance, longest battery life, and cutting-edge features, and are willing to pay a premium.