ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the more compelling choice. Its superior camera system, broader feature set, and refined software experience outweigh the RedMagic 11 Pro’s gaming focus. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the RedMagic 11 Pro’s raw power and exceptional battery life unmatched.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 | 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 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 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 / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, November 03 | 2024, January 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, November 13 | Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), 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 Glass | 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, 1800 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, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Triple | 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 | - |
| 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 80W wireless, 100% in 68 min | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Matte Black Cryo, Transparent Silver Subzero, Transparent Black Nightfreeze | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange |
| Models | - | SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
| Price | € 698.00 / £ 618.00 | $ 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
- Exceptional battery life (20:02h active use)
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Faster charging speeds (80W wired/wireless)
- Camera likely inferior to S24 Ultra
- Software experience may be less polished
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Refined software experience with One UI
- Broad feature set and ecosystem integration
- Shorter battery life (13:49h active use)
- Slower charging speeds (45W wired)
Display Comparison
Both devices boast excellent displays, with the RedMagic 11 Pro reaching a measured peak brightness of 1569 nits and the S24 Ultra hitting 1447 nits. While the S24 Ultra’s display is likely to benefit from Samsung’s superior color calibration, the RedMagic 11 Pro’s higher peak brightness could provide a slight advantage in direct sunlight. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel technology (LTPO), but both are expected to be high refresh rate panels. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s design likely prioritizes maximizing screen real estate for gaming, potentially resulting in slightly larger bezels compared to the S24 Ultra’s more refined aesthetic.
Camera Comparison
The S24 Ultra is the clear winner in the camera department. While the RedMagic 11 Pro’s camera specifications are not provided, Samsung’s history suggests a focus on a versatile multi-camera system. The S24 Ultra’s camera system is expected to feature a large main sensor, advanced image stabilization (OIS), and sophisticated image processing algorithms. The S24 Ultra’s video capabilities are also likely to be superior, offering features like 8K recording and advanced stabilization. The RedMagic 11 Pro likely offers a competent camera, but it won’t match the S24 Ultra’s breadth and quality.
Performance
The performance gap is significant. The RedMagic 11 Pro’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) features an octa-core CPU configuration with a 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M setup, designed for sustained peak performance. This contrasts with the S24 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) with its 8-core configuration (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520). The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should offer superior power efficiency and thermal management, allowing for longer periods of peak performance during demanding games. The RedMagic 11 Pro is built for sustained gaming, while the S24 Ultra balances performance with broader usability.
Battery Life
Battery life is a key differentiator. The RedMagic 11 Pro achieves an impressive 20:02 hours of active use, significantly outperforming the S24 Ultra’s 13:49 hours. This advantage is likely due to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and the RedMagic 11 Pro’s focus on optimizing power consumption for gaming. Charging speeds also favor the RedMagic 11 Pro, with 80W wired and 80W wireless charging, achieving a full charge in 68 minutes. The S24 Ultra offers 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging, a slower charging experience overall.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, require the longest possible battery life, and value aggressive cooling solutions. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you demand a versatile camera system, a polished software experience, and a device that excels in all aspects of smartphone usage, even if it means sacrificing some gaming-specific features.