ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Performance

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro and Xiaomi 14 Pro represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The RedMagic 10 Pro is unapologetically geared towards mobile gamers, prioritizing cooling and sustained performance. Conversely, the Xiaomi 14 Pro aims for a more holistic flagship experience, balancing power with camera capabilities and everyday usability. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro is the clear winner, offering superior sustained performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite and advanced cooling. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro provides a more refined all-around experience with faster charging and a potentially more versatile camera system, making it the better choice for mainstream users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro Xiaomi 14 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 42, 661, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 132023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 18Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, glass backGlass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions163.4 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.00 x 0.35 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight229 g (8.08 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version)Shatterproof glass
Resolution1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 2592Hz PWM, 144Hz, 2000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 750
OSAndroid 15, up to 1 major Android update and 2 Redmagic OS updates, Redmagic OS 10Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm 2 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging100W wired - International 80W wired - China only version120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Si/C Li-Ion 7050 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 6500 mAh (China only)Li-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsMoonlight (Transparent Silver Deuterium), Dusk (Transparent Dark Knight), Shadow (Dark Knight), White Knight, LightspeedBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
Models-23116PN5BC
Price€ 700.99About 650 EUR

ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro

  • Superior sustained gaming performance
  • Excellent battery life (17:13h active use)
  • Advanced cooling system minimizes throttling

  • Less versatile camera system
  • Slower charging speeds compared to Xiaomi 14 Pro

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Ultra-fast 120W wired charging (18 min 0-100%)
  • 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging
  • Potentially more versatile camera system

  • May throttle under sustained heavy load
  • Potentially shorter battery life compared to RedMagic 10 Pro

Display Comparison

The nubia RedMagic 10 Pro boasts a peak brightness of 1596 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s brightness isn’t specified, Xiaomi typically delivers competitive displays. The RedMagic’s focus on gaming likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time, but without further data, it’s difficult to assess the panel technology differences beyond peak brightness. Both are likely to employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, conserving battery life. The RedMagic’s design likely prioritizes maximizing screen real estate for immersion, potentially at the expense of extremely thin bezels like those found on the Xiaomi 14 Pro.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the Xiaomi 14 Pro, a direct comparison is limited. However, Xiaomi flagships consistently deliver excellent camera performance, often featuring large sensors and advanced image processing. The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to have a more versatile camera system, potentially including a telephoto lens for optical zoom, which is absent from the RedMagic’s focus on gaming. The RedMagic 10 Pro likely prioritizes functional camera capabilities over cutting-edge features. The Xiaomi’s image processing will likely lean towards vibrant, social media-ready photos, while the RedMagic may offer a more natural look.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the RedMagic 10 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), while the Xiaomi 14 Pro features the SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite, with its Oryon V2 Phoenix cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz), is architecturally designed for sustained peak performance, potentially outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) in prolonged gaming scenarios. The 3nm process of the 8 Elite offers improved thermal efficiency, reducing throttling. While the 8 Gen 3 is a powerhouse, the RedMagic’s chipset is specifically tuned for gaming. Both devices will likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the RedMagic’s cooling system is a critical differentiator, allowing it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer.

Battery Life

The RedMagic 10 Pro offers 100W wired charging (International) or 80W (China), while the Xiaomi 14 Pro boasts a significantly faster 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 18 minutes. The Xiaomi 14 Pro also includes 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic. The RedMagic 10 Pro’s active use battery score of 17:13h is impressive, suggesting excellent battery optimization despite its focus on performance. While the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speeds compensate for any potential capacity difference, offering quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10 Pro if you demand the longest possible gaming sessions without throttling, prioritize battery life above all else, and appreciate gaming-centric features like dedicated triggers. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you value a balanced flagship experience, need the fastest possible charging speeds (both wired and wireless), and want a more polished software experience with a strong emphasis on photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the RedMagic 10 Pro actually stay cooler than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process and the RedMagic 10 Pro’s advanced cooling system (likely including a vapor chamber and fan) are specifically designed to dissipate heat more effectively. This allows the chipset to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods without significant throttling, resulting in smoother and more consistent gaming performance.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro compare to the 100W/80W charging on the RedMagic 10 Pro in real-world usage?
The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s 120W charging is significantly faster, fully charging the device in approximately 18 minutes. The RedMagic 10 Pro, with 100W (International) or 80W (China) charging, will take considerably longer. This makes the Xiaomi 14 Pro ideal for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the gaming trigger functionality on the RedMagic 10 Pro useful for games that don't natively support them?
The RedMagic 10 Pro’s gaming triggers can be mapped to on-screen controls using the phone’s software. While not as seamless as native support, this allows you to use the triggers in a wider range of games, providing a more tactile and responsive gaming experience.