ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S10+: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 855 paired with active cooling delivers sustained performance that the S10+ struggles to match. However, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ remains a compelling choice for users prioritizing camera quality, wireless charging, and a more refined software experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 | Samsung Galaxy S10+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, May. Released 2019, May | 2019, February 20 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2019, March 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in) | 157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz | Dynamic AMOLED, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Exynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/China |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF | - |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1920fps | 4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm, depth sensor |
| Features | HDR | Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC4 | 15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage, Red/Blue | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue |
| Models | NX629J | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X |
| Price | About 500 EUR | $ 199.00 / C$ 879.99 / £ 999.00 / € 299.00 / ₹ 39,940 |
| SAR | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.52 W/kg (head) 1.58 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -94.3dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 91h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.514 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.7 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 333736 (v7), 399901 (v8) GeekBench: 10387 (v4.4), 2190 (v5.1) GFXBench: 23fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 3
- Superior battery life (112h endurance)
- Active cooling system prevents throttling
- Faster wired charging (18W with QC4)
- Lower display brightness (377 nits)
- Likely less versatile camera system
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Higher display contrast and brightness
- Versatile camera system with multiple lenses
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life (91h endurance)
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
- Slower wired charging (15W)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a measured 4.514 contrast ratio in sunlight, suggesting superior visibility in bright conditions compared to the RedMagic 3’s 377 nits max brightness. While both utilize AMOLED technology, the S10+’s higher contrast and potentially better color calibration (not specified in the data) offer a more visually appealing experience for general content consumption. The RedMagic 3 likely prioritizes refresh rate over peak brightness, a common trade-off in gaming phones, though this isn't explicitly stated.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the context data lacks specifics. Given Samsung’s history, the S10+ likely features a more sophisticated camera system with multiple lenses (wide, ultrawide, telephoto) and advanced image processing algorithms. The RedMagic 3, geared towards gaming, likely prioritizes camera functionality less, potentially offering a simpler setup. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Samsung’s brand reputation suggests a superior photographic experience.
Performance
Both phones can be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), but the RedMagic 3’s design explicitly focuses on sustaining performance from this chipset. The inclusion of an active cooling system is a key differentiator, mitigating thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. The S10+’s Exynos 9820 (8nm) variant, found in EMEA/LATAM regions, may exhibit more throttling under sustained load due to its less efficient manufacturing process. The CPU configurations are identical on the Snapdragon variants, but the RedMagic 3’s cooling gives it a clear advantage in maintaining peak clock speeds for longer durations.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 3’s endurance rating of 112 hours significantly surpasses the S10+’s 91 hours, indicating superior battery life. This is likely due to a combination of a larger battery capacity (not specified) and the RedMagic 3’s focus on minimizing background processes. While the S10+ offers 15W wired charging, PD2.0, 15W wireless charging (Qi/PMA), and even 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the RedMagic 3’s 18W wired charging with QC4 is optimized for faster top-ups, though it lacks wireless charging altogether. The S10+'s wireless charging is a convenience feature the RedMagic 3 forgoes.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 3 if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, require active cooling to prevent throttling, and are willing to compromise on camera versatility and wireless charging. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you value a premium build quality, a versatile camera system with multiple lenses, wireless charging capabilities, and a more polished, feature-rich software experience.