ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 7S Pro takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster charging (especially in the Chinese variant), the more powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, and generally better cooling. While the Black Shark 5 Pro boasts impressive battery life, the Red Magic's overall performance and charging speed give it the edge for serious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S 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, July 11 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 15 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, 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 (520Hz 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 (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 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 SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Redmagic 5.5 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB 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, (wide), 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, (wide), 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, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International) | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Supernova, Mercury, Yellow | Black, White |
| Models | NX709S | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 780 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
- Significantly faster charging (135W/65W)
- More powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
- Advanced cooling system
- High refresh rate display
- Camera performance is average
- Design can be polarizing
- International variant has slower charging
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (83h endurance)
- Understated design
- Fast 120W charging
- High refresh rate display
- Slightly less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
- Camera performance is average
- Contrast ratio claim is nominal
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (120Hz+). The Black Shark 5 Pro's contrast ratio is technically 'infinite' (nominal), but the Red Magic 7S Pro likely offers slightly better color accuracy and potentially a brighter peak brightness, though measured brightness for the Black Shark is 682 nits. Gaming visuals are excellent on both.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is generally secondary in gaming phones. Both offer decent photo and video capabilities, but neither excels in this area. Expect standard smartphone camera features and performance. Detailed camera comparisons would require more in-depth testing.
Performance
The Red Magic 7S Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is a clear winner here. It offers a noticeable performance boost over the Black Shark 5 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, resulting in smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and better multitasking. Both phones have ample RAM and storage for demanding games.
Battery Life
The Black Shark 5 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 83 hours. The Red Magic 7S Pro, while still offering good battery life, doesn't quite match the Black Shark's longevity. However, the Red Magic 7S Pro's 135W charging (China variant) or 65W (International) blows the Black Shark's 120W charging out of the water, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 7S Pro is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who prioritize raw performance, blazing-fast charging, and advanced cooling systems. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is a great choice for gamers who value long battery life and a more understated design, but still want a powerful gaming experience.