ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ vs Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ boasts significantly faster charging and potentially better cooling, crucial for extended gaming sessions. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate offers a brighter display, potentially better camera capabilities, and a longer-lasting battery, making it a well-rounded choice for gamers and beyond.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ | Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate |
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 26 | 2023, April 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 28 | Available. Released 2023, May |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 239 g (8.43 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 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 SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | - |
| Triple | 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) | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | - | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-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 | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent | Storm White |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 780 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- Potentially superior cooling system for sustained performance
- Gaming-focused design and features
- High refresh rate display
- Camera performance likely not as strong as ROG Phone 7
- Design may be too aggressive for some
- Software support potentially less extensive than Asus
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
- Brighter display (1095 nits)
- Excellent battery life (131h endurance rating)
- Potentially better camera system
- Versatile phone suitable for more than just gaming
- Reverse wired charging
- Slower charging speed (65W)
- Cooling system may not be as effective as Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Premium price tag
Display Comparison
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1095 nits, significantly brighter than the Red Magic 8 Pro+. While the Red Magic 8 Pro+ has a good display, the ROG Phone 7's higher brightness provides better visibility in outdoor conditions. The ROG Phone 7 also boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting excellent blacks and vibrant colors, though this is a nominal value. Both phones feature high refresh rate displays (likely 165Hz) for smooth gaming.
Camera Comparison
While both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities listed, detailed camera specifications are missing. Generally, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is expected to have a more versatile and higher-quality camera system, leveraging Asus's experience in smartphone photography. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ likely prioritizes gaming performance over camera excellence, potentially offering a decent but not exceptional camera.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, ensuring top-tier performance. However, cooling solutions differ. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ is known for its advanced cooling system, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance during long gaming sessions. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate also has a robust cooling system, but the Red Magic's reputation suggests a slight edge in this area. Software optimization will also play a role, with both brands offering gaming-focused UI customizations.
Battery Life
The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate claims an impressive endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting exceptional battery life. The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s battery capacity is likely comparable, but its 165W charging speed allows it to replenish power incredibly quickly. While the ROG Phone 7’s battery lasts longer, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ can recover from low battery much faster.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers prioritizing charging speed and raw performance above all else. The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a better choice for those who want a versatile phone with a great display, camera, and excellent battery life, alongside strong gaming capabilities.