ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro vs. vivo iQOO 11 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Charging Supremacy
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro is the clear winner, offering superior cooling and gaming-centric features. However, the vivo iQOO 11 Pro excels for users who value blazing-fast charging and a more balanced feature set, making it the better choice for everyday use.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro | vivo iQOO 11 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, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1x | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, December 26 | 2022, December 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, December 28 | Available. Released 2022, December 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 164.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm or 9.1 mm |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 210.5 g or 213 g (7.44 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1800 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, Funtouch 13 (International), OriginOS 3 (China) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| 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/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.3, 15mm, 150˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | - | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/384kHz audio | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, 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 (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International | 200W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 10 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removable | 4700 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent | Black, Green, White (BMW M branding) |
| Models | NX729J | V2254A |
| Price | $ 659.00 | About 800 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 131h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
- Superior cooling system for sustained gaming
- Dedicated gaming features (triggers, fan)
- Longer battery endurance (131h rating)
- Slower charging speeds (65W/80W)
- Potentially compromised camera quality
- More niche, gamer-focused design
vivo iQOO 11 Pro
- Blazing-fast 200W wired charging
- 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging
- Likely superior camera system
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- Less focused on dedicated gaming features
- May not sustain peak performance as long
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) chipset, ensuring comparable graphical prowess. However, display details beyond the 'infinite' contrast ratio on the Red Magic 8 Pro are limited. The iQOO 11 Pro likely features a higher peak brightness and potentially a more color-accurate panel, typical of vivo’s display technology. The Red Magic 8 Pro’s under-display camera design, while maximizing screen real estate, may introduce slight image quality compromises compared to a traditional punch-hole or notch. The absence of refresh rate information for both devices is a notable omission, but high refresh rates are expected given the target audience.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are sparse for both devices. The iQOO 11 Pro, benefiting from vivo’s camera expertise, is expected to offer a more refined and versatile camera experience. While the Red Magic 8 Pro likely includes capable sensors, its focus on gaming may mean less investment in advanced camera features. The absence of details regarding sensor size, OIS, and lens apertures makes a direct comparison difficult, but the iQOO 11 Pro is likely to excel in image processing and low-light performance.
Performance
The shared Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and identical CPU core configuration (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) mean both phones deliver comparable raw processing power. The Red Magic 8 Pro distinguishes itself with a more aggressive cooling system, crucial for maintaining peak performance during prolonged gaming. While RAM specifications are not provided, both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x RAM for fast memory access. The iQOO 11 Pro’s performance will likely be limited by thermal throttling sooner than the Red Magic 8 Pro under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Red Magic 8 Pro offers 80W wired charging (China) or 65W (International) and boasts an endurance rating of 131 hours. The iQOO 11 Pro, however, completely overshadows this with its revolutionary 200W wired charging, capable of a full charge in just 10 minutes. This is a game-changer for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. The iQOO 11 Pro also includes 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Red Magic 8 Pro. While the Red Magic 8 Pro’s 131-hour endurance suggests a larger battery capacity, the iQOO 11 Pro’s charging speed effectively mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro if you need sustained peak performance during extended gaming sessions, prioritize active cooling, and appreciate dedicated gaming features like shoulder triggers. Buy the vivo iQOO 11 Pro if you prefer the convenience of the fastest charging available (200W), a more versatile camera system, and a sleek, mainstream design without compromising on raw power.