ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its superior Snapdragon 865 chipset, versatile camera system, and faster charging capabilities justify the higher price. However, gamers on a budget will find the RedMagic 5G Lite a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite | OnePlus 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 19. Released 2020, June 19 | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.1 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.36 in) | 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, nubia UI 8.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5100 mAh | Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | NX651J | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | About 310 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 428.39 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | - | $ 853.51 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 486.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -23.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite
- More affordable price point
- Dedicated gaming focus
- 5G connectivity
- Less powerful processor
- Inferior camera system
- Slower charging speed
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Flagship-level performance
- Versatile camera system
- Fast wired and wireless charging
- Significantly higher price
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
- Larger and heavier design
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and panel type are missing for the RedMagic 5G Lite. The OnePlus 8 Pro, being a flagship, likely boasts a higher peak brightness and potentially a more color-accurate panel. The absence of refresh rate information for the RedMagic is a significant omission, while the OnePlus 8 Pro is known to support 120Hz, offering a smoother visual experience. Bezels are likely slimmer on the OnePlus 8 Pro, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 8 Pro is expected to have a more sophisticated camera system, though specific details are missing from the provided data. The RedMagic 5G Lite’s camera capabilities are likely focused on basic functionality. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s higher price point suggests features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and larger sensor sizes, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s image processing algorithms are also likely more advanced, offering more refined and versatile photo and video capabilities. The absence of details on the RedMagic’s camera sensors makes a direct comparison difficult, but it’s unlikely to compete with the OnePlus 8 Pro’s flagship-level imaging.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) significantly outperforms the RedMagic 5G Lite’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865 features a more powerful Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz versus the Kryo 475 Prime at 2.4 GHz in the 765G. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. While both support 5G, the 865’s Adreno 650 GPU is substantially more capable than the 765G’s Adreno 620. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s availability with 12GB of RAM, paired with potentially faster LPDDR5 memory, further enhances its performance advantage. Thermal management will be crucial for the 865, but its 7nm+ node offers better efficiency than the 7nm 765G.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro offers significantly faster charging options: 30W wired (50% in 23 minutes), 30W wireless (50% in 30 minutes), and 3W reverse wireless charging. The RedMagic 5G Lite is limited to 18W wired charging, meaning a considerably longer time to fully charge the battery. While the mAh capacity isn’t specified for either device, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s faster charging capabilities provide a more convenient user experience, especially for those who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite if you need a dedicated gaming phone that won't break the bank, and are willing to compromise on camera quality and premium features. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a flagship experience with a top-tier camera, fast wireless charging, and a more refined software experience, even if it comes at a higher cost.