ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Air vs OnePlus 12R: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the OnePlus 12R emerges as the more practical choice. Its 100W charging, significantly reducing full-charge time to 26 minutes, and brighter 1181-nit display offer tangible benefits. However, gamers prioritizing peak performance will find the RedMagic 10 Air’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 a compelling advantage.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Air | OnePlus 12R |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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, 42, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, April 16 | 2024, January 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, April 16 | Available. Released 2024, February 06 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back (Panda Glass 2) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 76.6 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) | 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Redmagic OS 10 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, AF | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (DTS X certified) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band or tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, 100% in 52 min | 100W wired, 100% in 26 min |
| Type | 6000 mAh | Li-Ion 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Twilight, White Hailstone, Orange Flare | Iron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune |
| Models | NX779J | CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611 |
| Price | € 449.00 / $ 772.30 / £ 389.00 | € 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 57:57h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class B | - |
| Free fall | Class D (45 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Air
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for top-tier gaming
- Advertised long battery lifespan (1000 cycles)
- Potentially superior sustained performance (depending on cooling)
- Slower 80W charging (52 minutes to full)
- Lower peak display brightness
- Limited battery endurance data beyond cycle count
OnePlus 12R
- Incredibly fast 100W charging (26 minutes to full)
- Brighter 1181-nit display for outdoor visibility
- Stronger active use battery performance
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- May throttle under sustained heavy load
- Less focused on dedicated gaming features
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 12R boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1181 nits compared to the RedMagic 10 Air’s 1023 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the RedMagic 10 Air’s panel specifications (PWM frequency, color gamut coverage) are not provided, making a direct color accuracy comparison difficult. However, the OnePlus 12R’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor users and media consumption. Bezels appear comparable based on available imagery, suggesting neither phone excels dramatically in maximizing screen real estate.
Camera Comparison
The provided data lacks detailed camera specifications for both devices. Without sensor size, aperture information, or image processing details, a meaningful camera comparison is impossible. We can assume both phones will offer competent camera systems for their price points, but neither is likely to challenge flagship camera performance. The absence of information suggests neither phone prioritizes camera capabilities as a key selling point.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the RedMagic 10 Air features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), while the OnePlus 12R utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Gen 3’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 prime core – represents a generational leap over the 12R’s 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3. This, coupled with architectural improvements in the Gen 3’s Cortex-A720 cores, will result in noticeably faster processing speeds and improved gaming performance. The 12R’s LPDDR5x RAM is standard for its class, but the RedMagic 10 Air’s RAM specifications are unknown. Thermal management will be crucial for the RedMagic 10 Air to sustain peak performance, a factor not detailed in the provided data.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 12R’s 100W charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 26 minutes, while the RedMagic 10 Air takes 52 minutes with its 80W charging. Despite the RedMagic 10 Air claiming 57:57h endurance and the OnePlus 12R lacking this metric, the 12R’s active use score of 14:32h is superior to the RedMagic’s 13:10h. This suggests better power efficiency or a larger battery capacity (not specified) offsetting the RedMagic’s endurance claim. The RedMagic 10 Air’s advertised 1000 charge cycles suggest a focus on long-term battery health, but the faster charging of the OnePlus 12R offers immediate convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Air if you absolutely need the most powerful mobile gaming experience possible and are willing to trade off charging speed and potentially battery longevity for that performance. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prioritize a well-rounded experience with a stunning display, incredibly fast charging, and excellent battery life for everyday use and moderate gaming.