ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 vs. Google Pixel 4 XL: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Photography Trade-offs
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Google Pixel 4 XL offers a more balanced experience, particularly given its current pricing. While the RedMagic 3 excels in gaming endurance, the Pixel 4 XL’s superior camera capabilities and software support make it the more practical choice for daily use.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 66 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May. Released 2019, May | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | NX629J | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 3
- Exceptional battery life (112h endurance)
- Superior thermal management for sustained gaming
- Potentially higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals
- Likely inferior camera performance
- Bulky design focused on cooling
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Excellent camera quality and computational photography
- Clean Android software experience
- Wireless charging with PD2.0
- Significantly shorter battery life (73h endurance)
- Prone to thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, but their displays differ significantly. The RedMagic 3’s display reaches 377 nits of peak brightness, adequate for indoor use but potentially washed out in direct sunlight. The Pixel 4 XL, while not specified in the provided data, is known for its excellent color accuracy and higher peak brightness, making it more suitable for outdoor viewing. Neither device's specs mention refresh rate, but the RedMagic 3's gaming focus suggests a higher refresh rate is likely, a feature absent on the Pixel 4 XL. This impacts smoothness during scrolling and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but their approaches differ drastically. The Pixel 4 XL is renowned for its computational photography, leveraging Google’s software algorithms to produce exceptional image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The RedMagic 3, geared towards gaming, likely features a more basic camera system. Without specific sensor details, it’s safe to assume the Pixel 4 XL offers a significantly more refined and versatile camera experience. The Pixel 4 XL’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail, features likely absent in the RedMagic 3’s camera.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) chipset with an identical CPU configuration – Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485). However, the RedMagic 3’s design prioritizes thermal management for sustained performance. Its active cooling system, not detailed in the provided data, is crucial for preventing throttling during extended gaming. The Pixel 4 XL, lacking such a system, is more prone to thermal throttling under heavy load. While both share the same chipset, the RedMagic 3’s cooling gives it a clear advantage for demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 3 boasts a significantly superior endurance rating of 112 hours compared to the Pixel 4 XL’s 73 hours. This translates to considerably longer battery life, especially during gaming. Both support 18W wired charging, but the Pixel 4 XL adds wireless charging with PD2.0 support, while the RedMagic 3 uses QC4. While charging speeds are similar, the RedMagic 3’s larger battery capacity provides a substantial advantage in overall usage time. The Pixel 4 XL’s wireless charging offers convenience, but the RedMagic 3’s endurance is more impactful for power users.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 if you absolutely prioritize extended gaming sessions and require a device that can maintain peak performance for longer periods without significant throttling. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you value a best-in-class camera experience, a clean Android interface, and a more versatile smartphone for everyday tasks, especially considering its current affordability.