The world of gaming phones is fierce, with manufacturers constantly pushing the boundaries of performance and features. Today, we pit two titans against each other: the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ and the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro. Which one will emerge victorious in this ultimate gaming showdown?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, blazing-fast 165W charging, and generally improved cooling. While the Black Shark 5 Pro offers excellent battery life, the Red Magic's raw power and advanced features make it the superior choice for serious mobile gamers.
| 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, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 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 |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 26 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 28 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 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 | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing)
Built-in cooling fan
Aviation aluminum middle frame | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | - |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| 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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 13, Redmagic OS 6 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | UFS 4.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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) | 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, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| 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/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 | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min (advertised) | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent | Black, White |
| Models | - | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 83h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9)
GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+
- Blazing-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Incredibly fast 165W charging
- Advanced cooling system
- High refresh rate AMOLED display
- Under-display camera
- Potentially higher price
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
- Camera not top-tier compared to flagship phones
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Excellent battery life (83h endurance)
- Fast 120W charging
- Competitive price
- High refresh rate AMOLED display
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- Less advanced cooling compared to Red Magic
- Camera performance is average
Display Comparison
Both phones feature AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (165Hz on the Red Magic, 144Hz on the Black Shark). The Red Magic 8 Pro+ likely boasts better color accuracy and potentially higher peak brightness, though the Black Shark 5 Pro's infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent blacks. The Red Magic's under-display camera is a unique feature.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is often secondary in gaming phones, but the Red Magic 8 Pro+ is expected to have a more capable camera system, likely featuring a higher resolution main sensor and improved image processing. The Black Shark 5 Pro's camera is adequate but not a standout feature.
Performance
The Red Magic 8 Pro+’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a clear winner here. It offers a substantial performance boost over the Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, resulting in smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and improved multitasking. The Red Magic’s advanced cooling system is also crucial for sustained performance during intense gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Black Shark 5 Pro holds a slight edge in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 83 hours. However, the Red Magic 8 Pro+'s 165W charging obliterates the Black Shark's 120W, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups.
Buying Guide
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro+ is ideal for hardcore mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance, fastest charging, and cutting-edge features. The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro is a great option for gamers who prioritize long battery life and a more balanced feature set at a potentially lower price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Red Magic 8 Pro+ worth the extra cost?
If you're a serious mobile gamer who prioritizes performance and charging speed, the Red Magic 8 Pro+'s premium features justify the higher price tag.
❓ How does the cooling system on the Red Magic 8 Pro+ compare to the Black Shark 5 Pro?
The Red Magic 8 Pro+ features a more advanced cooling system, including a vapor chamber and multiple heat pipes, allowing it to maintain peak performance for longer periods.
