ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 vs Asus ROG Phone 5s: A Deep Dive for Mobile Gamers
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing sustained performance and a slightly more polished experience, the Asus ROG Phone 5s is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 888+ offers a marginal performance uplift, and while charging is slower, the overall package feels more refined. However, the RedMagic 6 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers who value long battery life.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 | Asus ROG Phone 5s |
| 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 - Version 1 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - Version 1 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| - | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Redmagic 4.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| 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 (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Aurora | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | NX669J | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 520 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 6
- Exceptional battery endurance (88h rating)
- Faster wired charging (38 minutes to 100%)
- More affordable price point
- Slightly less powerful chipset (Snapdragon 888)
- Lower peak display brightness
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 888+)
- Potentially better thermal management
- Reverse wireless charging capability
- Slower wired charging (52 minutes to 100%)
- Higher price tag
Display Comparison
The nubia RedMagic 6 features a display capable of 444 nits of peak brightness, which is adequate but not exceptional. While the ROG Phone 5s’s brightness isn’t specified, Asus typically delivers brighter panels. Both phones likely utilize high refresh rate AMOLED displays, crucial for smooth gaming visuals, but the RedMagic 6’s brightness may struggle in direct sunlight. The absence of LTPO technology in either phone means refresh rate adjustments aren’t as dynamically power-efficient as newer displays, impacting battery life during variable content.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a secondary concern for gaming phones, and both devices offer a 'Photo / Video' capability without specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Asus generally invests more in camera technology than ZTE, suggesting the ROG Phone 5s likely delivers superior image quality. The inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the ROG Phone 5s, if present, would further enhance image and video stability, a feature likely absent on the RedMagic 6.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the ROG Phone 5s boasts the Snapdragon 888+, a refined version clocked slightly higher at 2.99 GHz versus the RedMagic 6’s 2.84 GHz. This difference, while not massive, translates to a small performance advantage in demanding games. Both utilize the same CPU core configuration (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55). The ROG Phone 5s’s advantage is further bolstered by potentially more aggressive cooling solutions, mitigating thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. RAM configurations are not specified, but both likely utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
The nubia RedMagic 6 boasts an endurance rating of 88 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 66W wired charging, achieving a full charge in 38 minutes. The ROG Phone 5s, while offering 65W wired charging, takes longer at 52 minutes for a full charge. The ROG Phone 5s also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the RedMagic 6. Despite the slightly slower charging speed, the ROG Phone 5s’s more efficient chipset and potentially optimized software could partially offset the battery capacity difference, resulting in comparable real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 if you need maximum battery life and a lower entry price for a solid gaming experience. It’s ideal for marathon gaming sessions where topping up isn’t an option. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prefer a more feature-rich experience with slightly better performance, a more refined software experience, and don't mind paying a premium for the added polish and the Snapdragon 888+.