ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and value, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G emerges as the winner. Its aggressive cooling and 55W charging provide a superior gaming experience, and it typically comes at a lower price point. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III excels for content creators and those demanding a top-tier camera and display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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) / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12. Released 2020, March 19 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), 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) | 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 | 218 g (7.69 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 | 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 (~82.5% 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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| 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) | 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 | 8K@15fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Hot Rod Red, Black, Mars Red, Cyber Neon, Transparent | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | NX659J | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 880 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
- Faster charging (55W)
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained gaming
- Potentially lower price point
- High refresh rate display (implied)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 865)
- Less refined camera system
- No wireless charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Newer chipset (Snapdragon 888)
- 4K HDR display with excellent color accuracy
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Professional-grade camera system
- Slower charging (30W)
- Higher price point
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays capable of excellent image quality, but their approaches differ. The Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.1-inch 4K HDR OLED display with a contrast ratio described as 'infinite (nominal)', suggesting deep blacks. However, its peak brightness of 620 nits is only marginally higher than the RedMagic 5G’s 685 nits. The Xperia 1 III’s 4K resolution is a significant advantage for detail-oriented users, but the RedMagic 5G’s higher refresh rate (not specified in the data, but a key feature of the device) provides smoother motion in games. The Xperia 1 III’s focus on color accuracy is evident in its marketing, while the RedMagic 5G likely prioritizes vibrant colors for gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but their strengths likely lie in different areas. The Xperia 1 III, consistent with Sony’s Alpha camera expertise, likely prioritizes image quality, dynamic range, and color science. The RedMagic 5G’s camera system is likely geared towards social media sharing and casual photography. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but Sony’s history suggests a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensor sizes. The Xperia 1 III’s video capabilities are likely more robust, offering features like 4K HDR recording and advanced stabilization.
Performance
The Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) chipset represents a generational leap over the RedMagic 5G’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+). The 5nm process node offers improved power efficiency and thermal performance, allowing the Xperia 1 III to sustain peak performance for longer periods. While both CPUs feature a 2.84 GHz prime core, the Xperia 1 III utilizes the newer Cortex-X1 architecture, offering a performance advantage. The RedMagic 5G’s cooling system is its key differentiator, attempting to mitigate the thermal limitations of the Snapdragon 865. The Xperia 1 III benefits from faster RAM (likely LPDDR5 vs the RedMagic 5G’s LPDDR4X, though not specified), further enhancing responsiveness.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of around 82-83 hours, indicating comparable battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified). However, their charging speeds differ significantly. The RedMagic 5G’s 55W wired charging can reach 56% in 15 minutes and 100% in 40 minutes, offering a substantial advantage over the Xperia 1 III’s 30W charging, which takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. The Xperia 1 III also supports wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 5G. This provides added convenience, but the slower wired charging speed is a trade-off.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5G if you need uncompromising gaming performance, long play sessions without throttling, and fast charging. It’s ideal for competitive mobile gamers and those who prioritize raw power. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a professional-grade camera system, a color-accurate display for content consumption and creation, and a more refined, all-around flagship experience. It’s best for photographers, videographers, and multimedia enthusiasts.