The gaming phone market is heating up, with the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10S Pro+ entering the fray with Qualcomm’s cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This puts it directly against established players like the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. We’re dissecting these two devices to determine which offers the superior experience for mobile gamers and power users.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the dedicated gamer prioritizing raw performance and long-term battery health, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10S Pro+ emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 80-hour endurance rating, coupled with 1200 charge cycles, provide a significant advantage. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro’s faster 15-minute charging remains a compelling feature for those valuing speed above all else.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | 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, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, May 26 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, May 26 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.00 x 0.35 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Mohs level 4 | - |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2000 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 15, Redmagic OS 10.5 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 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), 1/2.77", 1.0µm, under display | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L2+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 100% in 35 min | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Knight, White Knight, Transparent Silver Deuterium, Transparent Dark Knight | Black, White |
| Models | NX789J | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 730 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) |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | 80:12h endurance, 1200 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class A | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 10SPro+
- Superior chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite)
- Longer battery lifespan (1200 charge cycles)
- Potentially better thermal management
- Slower charging speed (35 minutes)
- Display specifications currently unknown
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Extremely fast charging (15 minutes)
- Bright display (682 nits)
- Established gaming features
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
- Lower battery cycle count
- Potential for thermal throttling
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, a respectable figure, but the RedMagic 10S Pro+’s display specifications are currently unavailable. Given the RedMagic’s focus on immersive gaming, we anticipate a comparable or superior brightness level. Both devices feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. The absence of refresh rate or panel technology details for the RedMagic necessitates further testing, but the Black Shark 5 Pro’s display provides a solid visual experience, though it lacks the latest LTPO advancements for variable refresh rate efficiency.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but neither is positioned as a camera-centric device. Details regarding sensor sizes and image processing are lacking for both. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s camera system is likely to be more refined due to Xiaomi’s broader camera expertise, but the RedMagic’s camera performance remains an unknown quantity. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on the Black Shark 5 Pro is a common, yet often underwhelming, addition that adds little value for most users.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The RedMagic 10S Pro+ utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores. This represents a significant leap over the Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) with its 1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510 configuration. The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite translates to improved thermal efficiency and potentially higher sustained performance, minimizing throttling during prolonged gaming. The RedMagic’s architecture, with its Oryon cores, is designed for peak performance, while the Gen 1 prioritizes a balance of power and efficiency. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the RedMagic’s superior chipset will likely yield a noticeable performance advantage.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 10S Pro+ boasts an 80-hour endurance rating and an impressive 1200 charge cycles, indicating a focus on long-term battery health. While the Black Shark 5 Pro also achieves an 83-hour endurance rating, the RedMagic’s higher cycle count suggests greater longevity. Both support 120W wired charging, but the Black Shark 5 Pro claims a full charge in just 15 minutes, significantly faster than the RedMagic’s 35-minute charge time. This difference is crucial for users who prioritize quick top-ups, even if it comes at the cost of potentially faster battery degradation over time.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 10S Pro+ if you need uncompromising performance for demanding games, extended gaming sessions without throttling, and a battery designed to last. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you prioritize the absolute fastest charging speeds and are willing to trade some sustained performance and battery longevity for that convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the RedMagic 10S Pro+ significantly reduce thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Black Shark 5 Pro?
Yes, the 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is inherently more thermally efficient than the 4nm process used in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This means the RedMagic 10S Pro+ is likely to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods during demanding gaming sessions, resulting in less performance throttling and a smoother overall experience.
❓ Is the 15-minute charging time of the Black Shark 5 Pro worth sacrificing the longer battery lifespan of the RedMagic 10S Pro+?
That depends on your usage habits. If you frequently find yourself needing to quickly top up your battery and don't mind potentially replacing it sooner, the Black Shark 5 Pro's charging speed is a major advantage. However, if you prioritize long-term battery health and don't mind a 35-minute charge time, the RedMagic 10S Pro+ is the better choice.
❓ How does the CPU architecture of the Oryon cores in the RedMagic 10S Pro+ compare to the Cortex cores in the Black Shark 5 Pro for gaming?
The Oryon cores, designed by Qualcomm, are optimized for peak performance, particularly in single-threaded tasks which are common in many games. While the Cortex-X2 in the Black Shark 5 Pro is also a high-performance core, the Oryon architecture is expected to deliver a noticeable advantage in gaming scenarios, leading to higher frame rates and smoother gameplay.
