ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S vs. OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S is the clear winner, offering superior cooling and a gaming-focused design. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro provides a more refined all-around experience with a better display, camera, and wireless charging, making it the better choice for general users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S | OnePlus 8 Pro |
| 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) / 1800 / 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, 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, July 28. Released 2020, August 01 | 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 | 220 g (7.76 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, 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, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 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 | Silver, Pulse | Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black |
| Models | - | IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025 |
| Price | About 540 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 5S
- Extremely fast 55W wired charging
- Advanced cooling system for sustained gaming
- Gaming-focused design and features
- Lower battery endurance compared to OnePlus 8 Pro
- Less refined camera system
- More niche aesthetic
OnePlus 8 Pro
- Superior battery life (103h endurance)
- Versatile camera system with advanced features
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower wired charging compared to RedMagic 5S
- Less focused on extreme gaming performance
- Higher price point (depending on configuration)
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a superior OLED panel capable of deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. However, the RedMagic 5S delivers a measured 459 nits of peak brightness, which, while not class-leading, is sufficient for most viewing conditions. Neither device specifies refresh rate, but both are expected to offer high refresh rates common for flagships of the time. The OnePlus 8 Pro's display is likely to be more color accurate and visually pleasing for content consumption, while the RedMagic 5S prioritizes responsiveness for gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but their approaches differ. The OnePlus 8 Pro likely emphasizes image processing for natural-looking photos and versatile shooting modes. The RedMagic 5S, while capable of photo and video, prioritizes other features, and its camera system is likely less refined. Without specific sensor details, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the OnePlus 8 Pro's camera is expected to offer a more consistent and higher-quality experience across various scenarios.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), utilizing the same Octa-core CPU configuration. This means CPU performance will be largely identical. The RedMagic 5S, however, is engineered for sustained performance under load, featuring an advanced cooling system to mitigate thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. While the OnePlus 8 Pro also has thermal management, it's geared towards general usage rather than extreme gaming. The RedMagic 5S's focus on cooling gives it an edge for demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 8 Pro’s endurance rating of 103 hours significantly surpasses the RedMagic 5S’s 83 hours, indicating a more efficient power management system or larger battery capacity. While the RedMagic 5S offers incredibly fast 55W wired charging (56% in 15 minutes, 100% in 40 minutes), the OnePlus 8 Pro counters with 30W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and 3W reverse wireless charging. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities provide added convenience, while the RedMagic 5S prioritizes speed when a wired connection is available.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S if you prioritize raw gaming performance, extended play sessions, and don't mind a more niche aesthetic. You'll benefit from the 55W fast charging and active cooling system. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a versatile camera system, a vibrant display with infinite contrast, and the convenience of wireless charging, even if it means sacrificing some gaming-specific features.