ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive for Power Users
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G is the clear winner, offering a more focused experience. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro provides a more versatile package with superior battery life, faster charging, and a more refined camera system, making it the better choice for the average user.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G | OnePlus 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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 | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 78 SA/NSA - IN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12. Released 2020, March 19 | 2020, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, April 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 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 | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | 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 (~82.5% 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 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) |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 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 | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min | 30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Hot Rod Red, Black, Mars Red, Cyber Neon, Transparent | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | NX659J | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | About 880 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
- Faster wired charging (55W)
- Gaming-focused design and features
- Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal design
- Shorter battery life (83h endurance)
- Less versatile camera system
- Less refined overall experience
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Longer battery life (103h endurance)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- More versatile and refined camera system
- Slower wired charging (30W)
- May experience more thermal throttling under heavy load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, but their displays diverge significantly. The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a high-quality OLED panel, while the RedMagic 5G reaches a measured peak brightness of 685 nits. While the RedMagic 5G's brightness is respectable, the OnePlus 8 Pro's superior contrast likely delivers a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. Neither specification details refresh rate, but both are expected to offer high refresh rates common in this class. The OnePlus 8 Pro's display is likely tuned for color accuracy, while the RedMagic 5G may prioritize responsiveness for gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but their approaches differ. Both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. The OnePlus 8 Pro, given its price point and brand reputation, likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors, optical image stabilization (OIS), and advanced image processing algorithms. The RedMagic 5G's camera is likely adequate for casual photography, but it's not a primary focus. The absence of specific details on the RedMagic 5G's camera suggests it's a secondary consideration compared to gaming performance.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means raw processing power is largely equivalent. However, the RedMagic 5G's design prioritizes thermal management for sustained performance during extended gaming sessions, potentially allowing it to maintain peak clock speeds for longer. The OnePlus 8 Pro, while capable, may experience more throttling under prolonged heavy load due to its more conventional thermal design. RAM configurations are not directly comparable, but both will offer smooth multitasking.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro significantly outperforms the RedMagic 5G in battery endurance, achieving a rating of 103 hours versus the RedMagic 5G's 83 hours. This difference is substantial and translates to a noticeable advantage in real-world usage. While the RedMagic 5G offers faster wired charging at 55W (reaching 56% in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes), the OnePlus 8 Pro counters with 30W wired, 30W wireless, and 3W reverse wireless charging. The OnePlus 8 Pro's wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities offer added convenience, while its superior battery life minimizes the need for frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G if you prioritize raw gaming performance, need the longest possible gaming sessions, and appreciate features like shoulder triggers. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a balanced experience with excellent battery life, fast wireless charging, a versatile camera, and a more polished software experience for everyday use.