ZTE nubia RedMagic 3S 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 3S is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 855+ and superior battery endurance (115h vs 91h) provide sustained performance. However, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ remains a compelling choice for users prioritizing camera versatility, wireless charging, and a more polished overall experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 3S | 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, September. Released 2019, September | 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 (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 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 (700 MHz) | Mali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/China |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 2.0 | 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 | 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 3.1, 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 | Mecha Silver, Cyber Shade, Eclipse Black | Prism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke Blue |
| Models | NX629J_V1S | SM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X |
| Price | About 820 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 3S
- Superior battery endurance (115h)
- Snapdragon 855+ for sustained performance
- Likely features a higher refresh rate display for smoother gaming
- Less refined camera system
- Lacks wireless charging
- More utilitarian design
Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Premium build quality and design
- Versatile camera system with advanced features
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Lower battery endurance (91h)
- Exynos variant may throttle under sustained load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) and a sunlight contrast ratio of 4.514, suggesting superior outdoor visibility and dynamic range compared to the RedMagic 3S's measured 479.7 nits peak brightness. While the RedMagic 3S likely has a higher refresh rate (a key gaming feature not specified in the data, but typical for the model), the S10+'s panel excels in color accuracy and viewing angles. The S10+'s display is geared towards content consumption and general use, while the RedMagic 3S prioritizes responsiveness for gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the provided data lacks specifics. Given Samsung’s history, the S10+ likely features a more sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing and a wider range of shooting modes. The S10+ likely benefits from features like Scene Optimizer and dedicated night mode algorithms. The RedMagic 3S, while capable, likely prioritizes camera functionality as a secondary feature, focusing instead on gaming-centric aspects. Without sensor size or aperture data, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Samsung’s expertise in mobile photography gives the S10+ a likely advantage.
Performance
Both phones can be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ (7nm), but the RedMagic 3S *exclusively* features this chipset, while the S10+ uses the Exynos 9820 (8nm) in EMEA/LATAM regions. The Snapdragon 855+’s 7nm process generally offers better thermal efficiency than the Exynos 9820’s 8nm process, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The RedMagic 3S’s CPU configuration (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485) is optimized for sustained peak performance, while the S10+'s Exynos variant (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4, 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75, 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) prioritizes a balance between performance and power efficiency. The RedMagic 3S’s dedicated cooling system further enhances its ability to maintain peak performance.
Battery Life
The ZTE nubia RedMagic 3S boasts a significantly higher endurance rating of 115 hours compared to the Samsung Galaxy S10+'s 91 hours. This suggests the RedMagic 3S offers considerably longer battery life, crucial for extended gaming sessions. While the S10+ supports 15W wired charging, 15W wireless charging (Qi/PMA), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the RedMagic 3S offers 18W wired charging with QC4. The S10+'s wireless charging is a convenience feature the RedMagic 3S lacks, but the RedMagic 3S’s superior battery life and slightly faster wired charging offset this advantage for power users.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 3S if you prioritize sustained gaming performance, long battery life, and don't mind a more utilitarian design. You'll benefit from the Snapdragon 855+'s power and the phone's active cooling system. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you value a premium build quality, a versatile camera system, wireless charging capabilities, and a more refined software experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming horsepower.