The ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ and the OnePlus 12R represent distinct approaches to the high-performance Android smartphone market. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ is a dedicated gaming device, boasting the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the OnePlus 12R aims for a more balanced experience with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, prioritizing battery life and broader usability. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the RedMagic 11 Pro+ is the clear winner, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5's superior CPU and GPU performance. However, the OnePlus 12R offers a more refined all-around experience with excellent battery life (14:32h active use) and a brighter display, making it the better choice for everyday users.
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 17 | 2024, January 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 17 | Available. Released 2024, February 06 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 163.3 x 75.3 x 8.8 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 230 g (8.11 oz) | 207 g (7.30 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density) | 1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.85 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 2592Hz PWM, 2000 nits (peak) | LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 16, Redmagic OS 11 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 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, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.77", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 120W wired
80W wireless | 100W wired, 100% in 26 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7500 mAh | Li-Ion 5500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Transparent Black, Transparent Silver | Iron Gray, Cool Blue, Electric Violet, Sunset Dune |
| Models | NX809J | CPH2609, CPH2585, CPH2611 |
| Price | About 690 EUR | € 410.84 / $ 399.95 / £ 649.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+
- Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Industry-leading 120W wired and 80W wireless charging
- Likely optimized cooling system for sustained performance
- Battery life likely inferior to OnePlus 12R
- Camera system likely not a priority
- Software may be less refined than OnePlus’ OxygenOS
OnePlus 12R
- Excellent battery life (14:32h active use)
- Bright and vibrant 1181 nit display
- Fast 100W wired charging
- Less powerful CPU and GPU than RedMagic 11 Pro+
- May experience more thermal throttling under heavy load
- Gaming performance not as optimized
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 12R boasts a display capable of reaching 1181 nits of peak brightness, 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, but likely at the expense of peak brightness. The OnePlus 12R’s panel is likely to offer a more consistently vibrant and readable experience for general use. The absence of LTPO information for the RedMagic suggests it may not be as power efficient in dynamically adjusting refresh rates.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications for the RedMagic 11 Pro+ are unavailable. The OnePlus 12R, while not a camera-focused device, benefits from a likely larger main sensor and optimized image processing. Given the RedMagic’s gaming focus, its camera system is likely a secondary consideration. The OnePlus 12R’s image processing will likely prioritize color accuracy and dynamic range for everyday photography, while the RedMagic may lean towards more stylized results.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ utilizes the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), featuring a unique Oryon V3 Phoenix CPU architecture (2x4.6 GHz + 6x3.62 GHz). This architecture is designed for sustained performance and efficiency. The OnePlus 12R, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), employs a more traditional ARM-based CPU (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, etc.). The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should translate to better thermal efficiency and potentially higher sustained clock speeds, giving the RedMagic an edge in demanding games. The OnePlus 12R’s 4nm process is still very efficient, but will likely throttle more under prolonged heavy load. The RedMagic’s focus on gaming also suggests optimized RAM configurations (likely LPDDR5x) for lower latency.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 12R shines in battery life, achieving 14 hours and 32 minutes of active use. While the RedMagic 11 Pro+’s battery capacity is unknown, its focus on high performance and the power draw of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 suggest it may not match the OnePlus 12R’s endurance. The RedMagic compensates with incredibly fast charging – 120W wired and 80W wireless – allowing for rapid top-ups. The OnePlus 12R’s 100W wired charging (0-100% in 26 minutes) is still very fast, but slower than the RedMagic’s options.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 11 Pro+ if you absolutely prioritize peak gaming performance, need the fastest possible charging (120W wired, 80W wireless), and are willing to accept a more niche software experience. Buy the OnePlus 12R if you prefer a more balanced smartphone with excellent battery life, a brighter display (1181 nits), and a smoother, more mainstream software experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming horsepower.
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+ is expected to feature an advanced cooling system (likely including a vapor chamber and fan) to mitigate thermal throttling. However, sustained peak performance will still generate heat, and some throttling is possible during extremely demanding games over long periods.
❓ How does the 120W charging on the RedMagic 11 Pro+ compare to the 100W charging on the OnePlus 12R in terms of real-world speed?
The RedMagic 11 Pro+’s 120W charging will be noticeably faster, allowing for a full charge in less time than the OnePlus 12R’s 26-minute 0-100% time. However, the difference may not be significant for all users, as both phones offer very rapid charging capabilities.
❓ Is the OnePlus 12R capable of running graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus 12R is capable of running Genshin Impact and other demanding games at high settings. However, you may experience some frame drops or thermal throttling during extended gameplay sessions, especially at the highest graphical settings.
❓ Does the RedMagic 11 Pro+ have any features specifically designed for competitive gaming, like trigger buttons?
RedMagic phones are known for their gaming-centric features. The RedMagic 11 Pro+ is expected to include built-in shoulder triggers, providing a more console-like gaming experience and a competitive edge in certain games.
