ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra: A Clash of Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra emerges as the more well-rounded flagship, boasting a superior camera system, brighter display, and more refined software experience. However, the Red Magic 8 Pro+ remains the undisputed champion for mobile gaming, offering unparalleled cooling and a 165W charging speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ | Xiaomi 13 Ultra |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 26 | 2023, April 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 28 | Available. Released 2023, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 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, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional) |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.9 or f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.8, 75mm (telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.0, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| 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) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| 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 3.2, DisplayPort, OTG |
| 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, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) | 90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 100% in 49 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent | Black, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, Blue |
| Models | - | 2304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG |
| Price | About 700 EUR | € 797.98 / $ 389.69 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Unmatched gaming performance
- Blazing-fast 165W charging
- Advanced cooling system
- High touch sampling rate
- Camera performance lags behind
- Design less versatile than Xiaomi
- Software focused on gaming
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system
- Brighter display
- Premium design and build quality
- Excellent battery life
- Slower charging speeds compared to Red Magic
- Gaming performance slightly less sustained due to thermal constraints
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates. However, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra's measured 1207 nits peak brightness gives it a noticeable edge in outdoor visibility. The Red Magic 8 Pro+ likely has a slightly higher touch sampling rate, beneficial for gaming responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Xiaomi 13 Ultra truly shines. Its advanced camera system, likely featuring a larger primary sensor and more versatile lens options, delivers exceptional image quality and impressive zoom capabilities. The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s camera is competent but doesn't match the Ultra's photographic prowess.
Performance
Under the hood, both devices share the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, ensuring blazing-fast performance. The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s advanced cooling system allows it to sustain peak performance for longer gaming sessions without throttling. Xiaomi 13 Ultra's software optimization might provide a slightly smoother overall experience for everyday tasks.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s 165W charging is a game-changer, capable of fully charging the phone in under 15 minutes. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra offers 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, still fast but not as rapid. Xiaomi's endurance rating suggests excellent battery life under active use, potentially outlasting the Red Magic 8 Pro+ in extended use scenarios.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance and fastest charging. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is perfect for photography enthusiasts, power users, and those seeking a premium, versatile smartphone experience.