The ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China) and the Xiaomi 14 Pro represent two distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The RedMagic prioritizes unadulterated performance for mobile gaming, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro aims for a more holistic experience balancing power, photography, and everyday usability. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro is the clear winner, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5's Oryon cores for sustained peak performance. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro offers a more refined all-around experience with its superior charging speeds, potentially better camera system, and broader feature set, making it the better choice for the average user.
| 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 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, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2023, November 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Shatterproof glass |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 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, HyperOS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB 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 | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 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 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@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 |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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 |
| 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), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min
50W wireless, 100% in 40 min
10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh | Li-Po 4880 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver | Black, Silver, Titanium, Green |
| Models | NX809J | 23116PN5BC |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 650 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China)
- Superior CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Potentially better sustained gaming performance due to Oryon cores
- Aggressive cooling system optimized for gaming
- Slower charging speed (80W vs 120W)
- Likely weaker camera system compared to Xiaomi
- Limited wireless charging capabilities
Xiaomi 14 Pro
- Ultra-fast 120W wired charging
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging support
- Potentially superior camera system
- Slightly less powerful CPU compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load
- Less focused on dedicated gaming features
Display Comparison
While both devices likely feature high-refresh-rate AMOLED panels, specific details like peak brightness and color accuracy are missing. However, the RedMagic series historically focuses on maximizing screen real estate and refresh rates for gaming, potentially offering a slightly more immersive visual experience. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, given Xiaomi’s display expertise, will likely prioritize color accuracy and potentially incorporate LTPO technology for variable refresh rate efficiency, extending battery life during less demanding tasks.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed sensor specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Xiaomi consistently delivers strong camera performance in its Pro models. The Xiaomi 14 Pro likely features a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The RedMagic series typically prioritizes performance over camera capabilities, suggesting the 11 Pro’s camera system will be adequate but not class-leading. The absence of details regarding OIS or lens apertures further reinforces this assumption. Users prioritizing photography will likely find the Xiaomi 14 Pro a more compelling option.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The RedMagic 11 Pro boasts the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) with its Oryon V3 Phoenix cores, designed for peak CPU performance. This architecture, with its 2x4.6 GHz prime cores, should deliver superior multi-core performance compared to the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) which utilizes a more traditional Cortex-X4 based configuration. The 3nm process of the 8 Elite Gen 5 also suggests better power efficiency at peak loads. However, the 4nm process of the 8 Gen 3 may offer better sustained performance under prolonged stress due to potentially improved thermal characteristics. The RedMagic’s focus on gaming suggests a more aggressive cooling solution to maximize the 8 Elite Gen 5’s potential.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 14 Pro significantly outpaces the RedMagic 11 Pro in charging speed, offering 120W wired charging (0-100% in 18 minutes), 50W wireless charging (0-100% in 40 minutes), and 10W reverse wireless charging. The RedMagic 11 Pro is limited to 80W wired charging. While the RedMagic 11 Pro may have a larger battery capacity (details missing), the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s faster charging mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage, offering quicker top-ups and reduced downtime. The addition of wireless and reverse wireless charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro adds further convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro (China) if you absolutely need the highest possible sustained gaming performance and prioritize raw CPU power over camera quality or wireless charging. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you value a balanced flagship experience with exceptional fast charging, a versatile camera system, and a more polished software experience for daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the RedMagic 11 Pro overheat during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is powerful, the RedMagic 11 Pro incorporates a robust cooling system, including vapor chamber cooling and potentially active fan cooling, to mitigate thermal throttling. However, sustained peak performance will still generate heat, and some throttling is possible, though likely less than on devices with less aggressive cooling.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 14 Pro's 120W charging degrade the battery health over time?
Xiaomi employs battery health management technologies to minimize degradation from fast charging. While all batteries degrade over time, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s charging system is designed to optimize charging speed while protecting long-term battery health. The inclusion of features like optimized charging curves and temperature control helps to prolong battery lifespan.
❓ Is the difference in CPU performance between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 noticeable in everyday tasks?
For typical daily tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming, the difference in CPU performance will be minimal. Both chipsets are more than capable of handling these workloads. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s advantage becomes more apparent in demanding applications like video editing, 3D rendering, and, most notably, graphically intensive mobile games.
