ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G is the clear winner. Its focus on cooling, fast charging, and a high refresh rate display delivers a superior gaming experience. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra excels in camera versatility and offers a more polished, all-around smartphone experience for users who prioritize photography and broader functionality.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G | Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12. Released 2020, March 19 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 15 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 166.9 x 76 x 8.8 mm (6.57 x 2.99 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 218 g (7.69 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~511 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 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+) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MP11Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| 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) | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 103mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio (USA & Canada only) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.2, 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min | 45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Hot Rod Red, Black, Mars Red, Cyber Neon, Transparent | Cosmic Grey, Cosmic Black, Cloud White |
| Models | NX659J | SM-G988B/DS |
| Price | About 880 EUR | About 690 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.94 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.56 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G
- Exceptional gaming performance due to active cooling.
- Ultra-fast 55W charging.
- Long battery endurance (83h rating).
- Camera system is likely less versatile than the S20 Ultra.
- Design is overtly gaming-focused, potentially lacking mainstream appeal.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
- Versatile and high-quality camera system.
- Vibrant and bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities.
- Can experience thermal throttling under sustained load.
- Slower wired charging compared to the RedMagic 5G.
Display Comparison
The nubia RedMagic 5G boasts a 6.65-inch display capable of reaching 685 nits of peak brightness, ensuring visibility even in bright conditions. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, while not specified in the data, is known for its Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, typically exceeding 1200 nits peak brightness, offering a significantly more vibrant and visible experience outdoors. Both utilize a 7nm+ process, but the S20 Ultra's display technology provides superior color accuracy and contrast. The RedMagic 5G's focus on gaming is further emphasized by its high refresh rate (not specified, but a key feature), while the S20 Ultra offers an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, balancing smoothness with battery efficiency.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for the RedMagic 5G, suggesting a less emphasized camera system compared to the S20 Ultra. The S20 Ultra is renowned for its versatile camera array, including a 108MP main sensor, offering exceptional detail and dynamic range. While the S20 Ultra’s camera excels in various scenarios, the RedMagic 5G likely targets adequate image quality for casual use and social media sharing. The S20 Ultra’s advanced image processing and multiple lenses (ultra-wide, telephoto) provide a significantly broader photographic experience.
Performance
Both devices are available with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), but the RedMagic 5G is singularly focused on maximizing its potential. The RedMagic 5G’s CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) is identical to the Snapdragon 865 variant of the S20 Ultra. However, the RedMagic 5G’s active cooling system – a key differentiator – allows it to sustain peak performance for longer periods without thermal throttling. The S20 Ultra, while powerful, can experience throttling under sustained load, particularly in the Exynos variant. The RedMagic 5G’s design prioritizes thermal management, directly impacting sustained gaming performance.
Battery Life
The nubia RedMagic 5G achieves an endurance rating of 83 hours, indicating strong battery life. It supports 55W wired charging, achieving 56% charge in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes – a remarkably fast charging speed. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra offers 45W wired charging (PD3.0), 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the S20 Ultra offers wireless charging convenience, the RedMagic 5G’s faster wired charging significantly reduces downtime. The RedMagic 5G’s endurance rating suggests efficient power management, despite its focus on performance.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G if you need a phone specifically optimized for extended gaming sessions, prioritizing performance and cooling over camera quality and mainstream features. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra if you prefer a versatile flagship with a top-tier camera system, a vibrant display, and a wider range of features, even if it means potentially sacrificing some gaming-specific optimizations.