RedMagic 11 Pro+ vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Ecosystems
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the more polished and versatile device. Its superior camera system, long-term software support, and seamless ecosystem integration outweigh the RedMagic 11 Pro+'s raw gaming power. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the RedMagic 11 Pro+ a compelling alternative.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| 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, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3106 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 17 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 16, Redmagic OS 11 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB 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 | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| 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, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired 80W wireless | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent Black, Transparent Silver | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | NX809J | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 690 EUR | € 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29 |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+
- Blazing-fast 120W wired and 80W wireless charging
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Dedicated gaming features and cooling system
- Likely inferior camera quality compared to iPhone
- Less refined software experience than iOS
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Exceptional camera system with advanced image processing
- Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
- Long-term software support and updates
- Slower charging speeds compared to RedMagic
- Less focused on raw gaming performance
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the RedMagic 11 Pro+’s display specs are not provided, its focus on gaming suggests a high refresh rate panel. The iPhone’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate for power efficiency, a feature likely present in the RedMagic as well, though its implementation details are unknown. The iPhone’s color accuracy is renowned, crucial for content creation, while the RedMagic likely prioritizes responsiveness and low latency for gaming.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to deliver a superior camera experience, leveraging Apple’s computational photography prowess. While specific sensor details are not provided, Apple’s focus on image processing and video recording quality is well-established. The RedMagic 11 Pro+’s camera capabilities are less emphasized, likely prioritizing functionality over flagship-level image quality. The iPhone’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) will provide smoother video and sharper low-light photos. The RedMagic’s camera is likely adequate for casual use but won’t compete with the iPhone’s professional-grade capabilities.
Performance
The core battle lies between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the RedMagic 11 Pro+ and the Apple A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Both are fabricated on a 3nm process, promising efficiency gains. The RedMagic’s octa-core CPU (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) appears to prioritize peak clock speeds, potentially offering an edge in burst performance. However, Apple’s A17 Pro, with its hexa-core configuration (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz), is known for its exceptional sustained performance and optimized software integration. The RedMagic’s cooling system is critical to maintaining these peak speeds, while the iPhone relies on efficient thermal design and software throttling. The RedMagic likely utilizes LPDDR5x RAM, common in gaming phones, while the iPhone’s RAM specifications are undisclosed but are optimized for iOS.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h of active use and an endurance rating of 118h, demonstrating excellent battery life. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ compensates for potentially lower battery capacity with incredibly fast charging: 120W wired and 80W wireless. This allows for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the iPhone’s 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired PD2.0 and 15W wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2). The RedMagic’s charging speed is a significant advantage for gamers who need to quickly top up their battery between sessions.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, require the fastest possible charging speeds (120W wired, 80W wireless), and value a customizable Android experience. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a premium camera experience, seamless integration with other Apple devices, and a refined, user-friendly operating system with guaranteed long-term software updates.