ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S vs. Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S is the clear winner. Its 55W charging and focus on sustained performance outweigh the S20+'s camera advantages. However, the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G remains a compelling choice for users prioritizing a versatile camera system and a more polished software experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S | Samsung Galaxy S20+ 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - SM-G986B |
| 5G bands | 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-G986B |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 28. Released 2020, August 01 | 2020, February 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, March 06 |
| 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) | 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| 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 (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.65 inches, 108.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 144Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak) |
| 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) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USA |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Exynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USA |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USA |
| OS | Android 10, Redmagic 3.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| 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, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x 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@30fps, 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 | 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel 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 |
| 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 (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent) |
| 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 |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 55W wired, 56% in 15 min, 100% in 40 min | 25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Pulse | Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura Blue |
| Models | - | SM-G986, SM-G986F, SM-G986F/DS, SM-G986U, SM-G986U1, SM-G9860, SM-G986B/DS, SM-G986N, SM-G986B, SM-G986W, SCG02 |
| Price | About 540 EUR | $ 174.17 / C$ 684.99 / € 299.97 |
| SAR | - | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.57 W/kg (body) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S
- Blazing-fast 55W charging
- Optimized for sustained gaming performance
- Aggressive cooling system minimizes throttling
- Limited camera specifications
- No wireless charging support
- Less refined software experience
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Vibrant and accurate display
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Potential for thermal throttling (Exynos variant)
- Slower 25W wired charging
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The RedMagic 5S features a display capable of 459 nits of peak brightness, adequate for indoor use but potentially washed out in direct sunlight. The S20+’s display, while not specified in the data, is known for its vibrant colors and higher peak brightness, offering a superior viewing experience in varied lighting conditions. Both utilize 7nm+ chipsets, but the RedMagic’s display is geared towards refresh rate and response time for gaming, while the S20+ prioritizes color accuracy and HDR support. The absence of PWM dimming information for the RedMagic 5S is a concern for users sensitive to flicker, a detail Samsung typically addresses in its flagships.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for the RedMagic 5S, lacking specifics on sensor size or quality. The Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G, as a flagship, boasts a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors, optical image stabilization (OIS), and advanced image processing algorithms. While the RedMagic 5S likely offers acceptable image quality, the S20+ will deliver superior detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on the S20+ is largely a marketing gimmick, offering minimal practical benefit over the main sensor.
Performance
Both phones can be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), but the S20+ also shipped with the Exynos 990 (7nm+) in some regions. The Exynos 990 has historically been known to run hotter and throttle more aggressively than the Snapdragon 865, impacting sustained performance in demanding games. The RedMagic 5S’s CPU configuration – a mix of Cortex-A77 and A55 cores – is optimized for gaming workloads, while the S20+'s Exynos variant uses Mongoose M5 and Cortex-A76 cores. The RedMagic 5S’s active cooling system is a significant advantage, allowing it to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 5S boasts a remarkable 55W wired charging capability, achieving 56% charge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in 40 minutes. This is significantly faster than the S20+'s 25W wired charging with PD3.0. While the S20+ offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the RedMagic 5S lacks wireless charging altogether. The RedMagic 5S’s endurance rating of 83 hours suggests efficient power management, but the S20+'s larger battery capacity (not specified in the data, but typically around 4500mAh) could provide longer overall usage, despite the slower charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 5S if you prioritize uninterrupted gaming sessions, rapid charging, and don't mind a more utilitarian design. You'll benefit from the optimized cooling and raw processing power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G if you value a premium camera experience, a vibrant display, and a more refined user interface, even if it means sacrificing some gaming-specific features and potentially experiencing more thermal throttling under heavy load.