The ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ and the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android gaming phone design. While both aim to deliver an unparalleled mobile gaming experience, they take drastically different approaches. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ prioritizes raw, untamed performance with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the ROG Phone 8 Pro focuses on a more holistic package, balancing power with battery life, display quality, and software refinement.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the hardcore gamer prioritizing absolute performance above all else, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 offers a significant performance advantage. However, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro provides a more well-rounded experience with superior battery life and a brighter, more color-accurate display, making it ideal for everyday use alongside gaming.
| 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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 17 | 2024, January 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2024, January 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 225 g (7.94 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 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 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB 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 | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS
32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 120W wired
80W wireless | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 39 min - International
30W wired, PD3.0, PPS - India
15W wireless (Qi)
10W reverse wired |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | 5500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent Black, Transparent Silver | Phantom Black |
| Models | NX809J | AI2401, AI2401_A, AI2401_D |
| Price | About 690 EUR | $ 1,157.98 / £ 1,693.75 / € 632.66 |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+
- Unmatched CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Extremely fast 120W wired and 80W wireless charging
- Potentially superior thermal management due to 3nm process
- Camera details are unknown, potentially a weak point
- Battery life may be shorter than the ROG Phone 8 Pro
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Excellent battery life (14:43h active use)
- Bright and color-accurate display (1765 nits)
- Balanced performance and efficiency with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Slower charging speeds compared to RedMagic 11 Pro+
- Performance is not as peak as the RedMagic 11 Pro+
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1765 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the RedMagic 11 Pro+’s display specs are not provided, the ROG Phone’s brightness advantage is substantial. The ROG Phone 8 Pro likely utilizes LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, contributing to power efficiency. The ROG Phone’s display is geared towards color accuracy, important for content consumption alongside gaming, a detail not specified for the RedMagic.
Camera Comparison
The context data for the RedMagic 11 Pro+ lacks camera details, making a direct comparison difficult. The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is described as having a capable photo/video camera, but specifics are missing. Given the gaming focus of both devices, camera quality is likely secondary. However, Asus typically invests in solid camera systems, suggesting a more versatile experience than the RedMagic, which likely prioritizes other features.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ features the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) with a unique CPU configuration – 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores. This contrasts with the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) which uses a more conventional Cortex-X4, A720, and A520 core arrangement. The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should offer superior power efficiency and thermal headroom, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance. However, the ROG Phone 8 Pro benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The RedMagic’s Oryon cores are designed for peak performance, while the ROG’s cores are optimized for a balance of performance and efficiency.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro demonstrates a strong real-world battery performance, achieving 14 hours and 43 minutes of active use. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ offers faster charging with 120W wired and 80W wireless, compared to the ROG Phone’s 65W wired (international) / 30W (India) and 15W wireless. While the RedMagic’s charging speed is significantly faster, the ROG Phone’s larger battery capacity and efficient chipset contribute to its longer runtime. The RedMagic’s faster charging is ideal for quick top-ups, while the ROG Phone prioritizes endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ if you demand the highest possible frame rates, are comfortable with a more aggressive cooling solution, and prioritize benchmark scores over all else. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro if you value a balanced experience, long battery life for extended gaming sessions, a stunning display, and a more polished software experience with broader usability beyond just gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the RedMagic 11 Pro+ generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s 3nm process is designed to improve thermal efficiency. However, its focus on peak performance means it *could* generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under sustained load. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ likely employs an aggressive cooling system to mitigate this, but users should expect fan noise during intense gaming.
❓ How does the charging speed difference impact daily use? Is the RedMagic 11 Pro+'s 120W charging truly noticeable?
The RedMagic 11 Pro+’s 120W charging is significantly faster than the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 65W/30W charging. This translates to a much quicker top-up – potentially fully charging the device in under 30 minutes. For users who frequently run out of battery, this speed is a major convenience. The ROG Phone 8 Pro’s slower charging is less disruptive for overnight charging.
❓ What kind of gaming performance difference can I expect between these two phones in demanding titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile?
The RedMagic 11 Pro+ should deliver higher average frame rates and potentially more stable performance in demanding titles due to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s raw power. However, the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s optimizations and efficient cooling may close the gap, providing a very similar experience, especially at high graphical settings.
