The ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite and the Sony Xperia 1 III represent vastly different approaches to the smartphone market. The RedMagic 5G Lite aims to deliver a compelling gaming experience at a more accessible price point, while the Xperia 1 III is a no-compromise flagship focused on multimedia creation and consumption. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with a superior camera and display, the Sony Xperia 1 III is the clear winner. However, gamers on a budget will find the RedMagic 5G Lite offers a surprisingly capable experience, albeit with significant compromises in other areas.
| 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 19. Released 2020, June 19 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.1 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.36 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| | - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases |
| 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-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, nubia UI 8.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.X |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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 | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF
0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Dynamic vibration system |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| | - | Native Sony Alpha camera support |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min
Wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5100 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NX651J | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 82h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.5 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 607423 (v8)
GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite
- More affordable price point
- Dedicated gaming focus
- 5G connectivity
- Inferior camera performance
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging speed
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Flagship-level performance
- Superior camera system
- Faster charging and wireless charging
- Significantly higher price
- May be overkill for casual users
- Larger size and weight
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a significantly more premium display experience. While both phones lack specified refresh rates in the provided data, the Xperia 1 III’s measured 620 nits of peak brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a high-quality OLED panel, likely with excellent black levels. The RedMagic 5G Lite, lacking brightness data, likely offers a less vibrant and impactful visual experience, typical of its price bracket. The Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards content creators and consumers, while the RedMagic 5G Lite prioritizes responsiveness for gaming.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the Xperia 1 III is expected to deliver a far superior camera experience. Sony’s expertise in camera technology, combined with the processing power of the Snapdragon 888, allows for advanced image processing and features. While sensor sizes and lens apertures are unknown for both, the Xperia 1 III likely features a larger sensor and more sophisticated optics. The RedMagic 5G Lite’s camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots, but will fall short in low-light conditions and detail reproduction. The Xperia 1 III caters to photography enthusiasts and videographers.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The Sony Xperia 1 III’s Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) is a flagship-tier chipset, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, offering significantly higher processing power than the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 5nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 888 also translates to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. The RedMagic 5G Lite’s Snapdragon 765G is still capable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, but will struggle with demanding titles at higher settings. The Xperia 1 III is designed for power users and demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Xperia 1 III’s 30W wired charging with PD and 50% charge in 30 minutes offers a significantly faster charging experience compared to the RedMagic 5G Lite’s 18W wired charging. The Xperia 1 III also adds wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities, providing greater convenience. While both may last a full day, the Xperia 1 III allows for quicker top-ups and more versatile charging options.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G Lite if you prioritize mobile gaming on a budget and are willing to sacrifice camera quality and premium features. You'll benefit from a dedicated gaming focus and 5G connectivity without breaking the bank. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you demand a top-tier camera, a stunning display for media consumption, and a refined, flagship-level experience, and are prepared to pay a premium for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 765G in the RedMagic 5G Lite powerful enough for demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to maintain a stable frame rate. It won't deliver the same smooth experience as the Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia 1 III, which can handle the game at higher settings.
❓ Does the Sony Xperia 1 III overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate heat, but the Xperia 1 III’s thermal management system, combined with the 5nm fabrication process, is designed to mitigate overheating. While some throttling may occur during prolonged, intensive gaming, it's generally well-controlled and doesn't significantly impact performance.
❓ What type of storage does the RedMagic 5G Lite use, and is it expandable?
The provided data doesn't specify the storage type or expandability. However, given its price point, it likely uses UFS 2.1 storage and may or may not include a microSD card slot. Checking specific retailer listings is recommended to confirm storage details.
❓ How does the camera on the Xperia 1 III perform in low-light conditions?
The Xperia 1 III's camera is expected to excel in low-light photography thanks to its advanced image processing and likely larger sensor. Sony's expertise in camera technology allows for effective noise reduction and detail preservation in challenging lighting scenarios.
