ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life, camera quality, and software support, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the clear winner. However, if raw gaming performance is paramount, and you're willing to sacrifice battery endurance and camera prowess, the RedMagic 5S delivers a significantly more powerful experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28. Released 2020, August 01 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm (6.64 x 3.07 x 0.39 in) | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Pulse | Mostly Black |
| Models | - | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 540 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 122h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S
- Significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding tasks
- Ultra-fast 55W charging
- Potentially higher refresh rate display (implied by gaming focus)
- Much shorter battery life
- Likely inferior camera performance
- Less frequent software updates
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Exceptional battery life
- Excellent camera quality and image processing
- Guaranteed software updates from Google
- Less powerful processor
- Slower charging speed
- Less focused on gaming features
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display at 861 nits, compared to the RedMagic 5S’s 459 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors. While both displays utilize OLED technology, the Pixel 5a’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a more optimized panel for deep blacks and vibrant colors. The RedMagic 5S, geared towards gaming, likely prioritizes refresh rate over peak brightness, a detail not provided in the data, but a common trade-off. The brighter Pixel 5a is better for media consumption in bright environments.
Camera Comparison
The provided data lacks specific camera sensor details, making a direct comparison challenging. However, Google’s Pixel phones are renowned for their computational photography prowess, leveraging software algorithms to produce exceptional image quality even with modest hardware. The Pixel 5a 5G likely excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The RedMagic 5S, while capable of taking photos and videos, is unlikely to match the Pixel’s image processing capabilities, prioritizing gaming features over camera innovation. The Pixel 5a’s camera is the safer bet for consistent, high-quality results.
Performance
The RedMagic 5S’s Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, built on a 7nm+ process, represents a substantial performance leap over the Pixel 5a’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865’s octa-core CPU, with its higher clock speeds (2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core vs. 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime), will deliver noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and higher frame rates in demanding games. However, the 765G’s efficiency may contribute to the Pixel 5a’s superior battery life. The RedMagic 5S’s performance advantage is undeniable for power users and gamers.
Battery Life
The Pixel 5a 5G’s endurance rating of 122 hours dwarfs the RedMagic 5S’s 83 hours. This substantial difference is likely due to a combination of the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset and potentially a larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). While the RedMagic 5S offers incredibly fast 55W wired charging (56% in 15 minutes, 100% in 40 minutes), the Pixel 5a’s 18W charging, though slower, is sufficient given its longer battery life. The Pixel 5a is the clear winner for users who prioritize minimizing charging frequency.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S if you need uncompromising gaming performance, fast charging, and don't mind a less refined camera experience. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a consistently excellent camera, all-day battery life, clean software, and reliable updates – even if it means sacrificing peak processing power.