The ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China) and vivo iQOO 12 Pro represent two distinct approaches to flagship Android performance. The RedMagic prioritizes raw gaming power with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the iQOO 12 Pro aims for a more balanced experience with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, alongside significantly faster charging capabilities. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing sustained performance, the RedMagic 11 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 offers a slight edge. However, the iQOO 12 Pro wins for the average user due to its faster 120W charging, wireless charging, and more versatile chipset for everyday tasks.
| 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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 17 | 2023, November 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2023, November 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 164.6 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm or 8.8 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 205 g or 210 g (7.23 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 16, Redmagic OS 11 | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 14 (International), OriginOS 4 (China) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 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
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, ulti-directional PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired | 120W wired
50W wireless
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black, Red, White (BMW M branding) |
| Models | NX809J | V2329A |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 650 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China)
- Potentially higher peak gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Oryon V3 Phoenix cores offer architectural advantage
- Likely features advanced cooling system for sustained performance
- Slower 80W wired charging
- No wireless charging
- Camera likely less sophisticated than iQOO 12 Pro
vivo iQOO 12 Pro
- 120W wired charging for incredibly fast top-ups
- 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers excellent all-around performance
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may throttle slightly more under sustained load
- Oryon cores are absent, potentially impacting peak gaming performance
- May prioritize camera features over raw gaming power
Display Comparison
While specific display specs are missing, both phones are expected to feature high refresh rate AMOLED panels. However, the core difference lies in the processors powering them. The iQOO 12 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 benefits from advancements in display driver technology, potentially leading to slightly better power efficiency when rendering visuals. The RedMagic 11 Pro, focused on gaming, likely prioritizes refresh rate and response time over absolute color accuracy, catering to competitive gamers.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, given vivo’s iQOO sub-brand’s history, the iQOO 12 Pro is likely to feature a more sophisticated camera system with a larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. The RedMagic series traditionally focuses less on camera capabilities, prioritizing gaming features. Expect the iQOO 12 Pro to excel in low-light photography and offer more versatile shooting modes.
Performance
The heart of the matter: the chipsets. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) utilizes Oryon V3 Phoenix cores, promising a significant IPC (Instructions Per Clock) uplift over traditional Arm cores. This translates to potentially higher single-core and multi-core performance, especially in tasks optimized for the Oryon architecture. The iQOO 12 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) employs a more conventional Arm Cortex-X4 prime core, but benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations and a larger L3 cache. The 4nm process of the Gen 3 offers better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions. The RedMagic’s active cooling system will be crucial to maintaining peak performance, while the iQOO relies on more passive thermal management. The iQOO 12 Pro also benefits from LPDDR5x RAM, which is standard for flagships and contributes to faster data access.
Battery Life
The iQOO 12 Pro takes a clear lead in charging speed with its 120W wired charging, capable of fully charging the battery in under 20 minutes. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s 80W charging is respectable, but significantly slower. Furthermore, the iQOO 12 Pro adds 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, offering unparalleled convenience. While the RedMagic 11 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, the iQOO 12 Pro’s faster charging mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China) if you absolutely need the highest possible sustained gaming frame rates and are willing to sacrifice some battery convenience. Buy the vivo iQOO 12 Pro if you prefer a more well-rounded flagship experience with blazing-fast charging, wireless charging, and a chipset optimized for both gaming and daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the RedMagic 11 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a powerful chip, and heat generation is a concern. However, the RedMagic 11 Pro is expected to feature an advanced cooling system, potentially including a vapor chamber and fan, to mitigate throttling and maintain peak performance for extended periods. Real-world testing will be crucial to determine its effectiveness.
❓ Does the iQOO 12 Pro support high frame rate gaming, like 120fps in demanding titles?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is capable of driving high frame rates in many games. However, achieving consistent 120fps will depend on the game's optimization and graphics settings. The iQOO 12 Pro’s thermal management will also play a role in sustaining those frame rates over longer gaming sessions.
❓ How does the 120W charging of the iQOO 12 Pro affect battery health over the long term?
While extremely fast charging can theoretically accelerate battery degradation, modern smartphones employ sophisticated charging algorithms to minimize this effect. The iQOO 12 Pro likely utilizes adaptive charging that slows down the charging rate as the battery nears full capacity, protecting its long-term health. However, consistent use of extremely fast charging *may* result in slightly faster degradation compared to slower charging methods.
