ZTE Red Magic 8 Pro vs Red Magic 7 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The ZTE Red Magic series has consistently delivered powerful gaming phones, and the 8 Pro and 7 Pro are no exception. Both boast impressive specs and features designed for mobile gamers, but significant upgrades separate them. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one comes out on top.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Red Magic 8 Pro offers a substantial performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, faster charging (in China), and significantly improved battery life. While the 7 Pro's 135W charging (China version) is incredibly fast, the 8 Pro's overall package makes it the clear winner for most gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China
Launch
Announced2022, December 262022, February 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 28Available. Released 2022, February 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight228 g (8.04 oz)235 g (8.29 oz)
 Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle framePressure sensitive zones (500Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nits
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, Redmagic OS 6Android 12, Redmagic 5.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Triple50 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)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)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (advertised) - China 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 43 min (advertised) - International135W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (Global)
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, TransparentObsidian, Pulsar, Supernova
ModelsNX729JNX709J
Price$ 659.00About 800 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 131h Endurance rating 64h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.1 LUFS (Very good) -22.6 LUFS (Excellent)
Performance AnTuTu: 1288866 (v9) GeekBench: 5211 (v5.1) GFXBench: 97fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1056511(v9) GeekBench: 3845 (v5.1) GFXBench: 77fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro

  • Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Exceptional battery life (131h endurance)
  • Improved thermal management
  • Potentially better display quality
  • Faster charging (China version)

  • Potentially higher price
  • Camera details are unclear

ZTE nubia Red Magic 7 Pro

  • Still a powerful gaming phone
  • Potentially more affordable
  • Incredibly fast charging (135W China version)
  • Good display for gaming

  • Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Thermal throttling more likely
  • Camera performance likely inferior

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a large, high-refresh-rate display (likely 6.8 inches with 120Hz+ refresh rates, based on previous Red Magic models) with a nominal infinite contrast ratio. The 8 Pro likely has improved color accuracy and brightness due to the newer display technology, though specific details are missing. Both offer excellent viewing experiences for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are sparse in the provided specs. Both phones likely feature a multi-lens setup with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and potentially a macro lens. The 8 Pro likely benefits from improved image processing and potentially a slightly better sensor, but the difference may not be drastic for casual users. Video recording capabilities are likely similar.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the 8 Pro is a significant leap over the 8 Gen 1 in the 7 Pro. Expect noticeably faster processing speeds, smoother gameplay, and improved thermal management in the 8 Pro. The 8 Gen 2's efficiency also contributes to better battery life. The 7 Pro, while still powerful, will show its age in demanding games.

Battery Life

The 8 Pro boasts a massive advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 131 hours compared to the 7 Pro's 64 hours. This translates to significantly longer gaming sessions and less frequent charging. The 8 Pro's charging speeds are also faster in the Chinese version (80W vs 65W global), further enhancing its convenience.

Buying Guide

The Red Magic 8 Pro is ideal for serious mobile gamers who demand the absolute best performance and long battery life. The Red Magic 7 Pro remains a compelling option for those on a tighter budget who still want a powerful gaming experience, especially if they can find a good deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Red Magic 8 Pro worth the upgrade from the 7 Pro?
If you prioritize performance, battery life, and the latest technology, then yes. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and improved battery are significant upgrades. However, if you're on a budget and the 7 Pro is significantly cheaper, it's still a capable gaming phone.
❓ What is the difference in charging speeds between the two phones?
The Red Magic 8 Pro charges at 80W (China) / 65W (Global), while the Red Magic 7 Pro charges at 135W (China) / 65W (Global). The 7 Pro's China version has the fastest charging, but the 8 Pro's 80W is still very fast.