The ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China) and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent opposite ends of the flagship spectrum. The RedMagic 11 Pro is laser-focused on delivering the ultimate mobile gaming experience, while the S24 Ultra aims to be the best all-around smartphone, excelling in photography, productivity, and everyday use. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the more compelling choice. Its superior camera system, brighter display, and longer battery life offer a more balanced and refined experience. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the RedMagic 11 Pro’s raw power and gaming-centric features irresistible.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 17 | 2024, January 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2) |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Armor |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | 8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 16, Redmagic OS 11 | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB 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
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, 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/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange |
| Models | NX809J | SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
| Price | About 600 EUR | $ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.62 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China)
- Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Faster 80W wired charging
- Likely features active cooling for sustained performance
- Camera likely inferior to S24 Ultra
- Battery life potentially shorter than S24 Ultra
- Software experience may be less refined
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system with advanced features
- Long-lasting battery life (13:49h active use)
- Bright and color-accurate display (1447 nits)
- Slower 45W wired charging
- Chipset slightly less powerful than RedMagic 11 Pro
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 1447 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the RedMagic 11 Pro’s display specs are not provided, nubia typically prioritizes high refresh rates for gaming. The S24 Ultra’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, improving power efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s panel is also known for its color accuracy, crucial for content creation, a feature likely less emphasized on the RedMagic 11 Pro.
Camera Comparison
The S24 Ultra is expected to have a significantly more versatile and capable camera system. While specific details aren’t provided, Samsung’s flagship cameras are renowned for their image processing, dynamic range, and zoom capabilities. The RedMagic 11 Pro, geared towards gaming, likely features a competent camera but won’t match the S24 Ultra’s sophistication. The S24 Ultra’s larger sensor size and advanced OIS will result in better low-light performance and smoother video recording. We can assume the RedMagic 11 Pro will have a more basic camera setup focused on social media sharing rather than professional photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the RedMagic 11 Pro features the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), while the S24 Ultra uses the SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The 3nm process of the 8 Elite Gen 5 *should* offer greater power efficiency and potentially higher clock speeds (4.6GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores) compared to the 4nm 8 Gen 3 (3.39GHz Cortex-X4). However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s architecture is more mature and optimized. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s focus on gaming suggests a more aggressive thermal design to sustain peak performance, while the S24 Ultra balances performance with thermal management for all-day use. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s RAM speed is not specified, but gaming phones often prioritize faster LPDDR5x RAM.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra achieves an impressive 13:49h of active use, demonstrating excellent battery life. The RedMagic 11 Pro offers 80W wired charging, significantly faster than the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging (65% in 30 minutes). While the S24 Ultra supports 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the RedMagic 11 Pro’s charging speed is a clear advantage for gamers who need to quickly top up their battery between sessions. The actual battery capacity of the RedMagic 11 Pro is unknown, but the faster charging suggests a smaller capacity is offset by the charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, demand the latest chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), and value features like active cooling and dedicated gaming triggers. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prefer a versatile flagship with a class-leading camera, a stunning display, all-day battery life, and a more polished software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the RedMagic 11 Pro actually translate to a noticeable gaming advantage over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra?
While the 8 Elite Gen 5 boasts higher clock speeds and a 3nm process, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is highly optimized. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s advantage will be most apparent in sustained gaming sessions where its superior cooling system prevents throttling, allowing it to maintain peak performance for longer.
❓ How effective is the cooling system on the RedMagic 11 Pro, and does it generate significant fan noise?
Nubia RedMagic phones are known for their aggressive cooling solutions, often including active fans. While effective at maintaining performance, these fans can become audible during intense gaming. The level of noise varies depending on the fan speed and game settings.
❓ Is the 45W charging on the S24 Ultra slow compared to the RedMagic 11 Pro’s 80W?
While 80W is faster, 45W on the S24 Ultra is still reasonably quick, reaching 65% charge in 30 minutes. The S24 Ultra’s larger battery capacity and efficient power management contribute to its excellent overall battery life, mitigating the slower charging speed.
❓ What kind of gaming triggers does the RedMagic 11 Pro have, and are they customizable?
RedMagic phones typically feature capacitive shoulder triggers that can be mapped to on-screen buttons for a more console-like gaming experience. These triggers are usually customizable in terms of sensitivity and activation area, allowing users to tailor them to their preferences.
