ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive for Power Users
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers prioritizing sustained performance and a high refresh rate, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 is the clear winner. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a more versatile package with a superior camera system, brighter display, and faster overall charging, making it the better choice for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 | OnePlus 9 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, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 11 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.38 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 220 g (7.76 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 630 nits (typ) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 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 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (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 |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, 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 | 66W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 38 min | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Aurora | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | NX669J | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 520 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 86h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.1 LUFS (Very good) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 6
- Superior sustained gaming performance due to active cooling.
- Higher refresh rate display (165Hz) for competitive gaming.
- Faster charging than OnePlus 9 Pro (38 minutes vs 29 minutes)
- Potentially more comfortable grip during long gaming sessions.
- Significantly dimmer display, impacting outdoor visibility.
- Less versatile camera system.
- Lacks wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Brighter and more color-accurate display.
- Superior camera system with Hasselblad color science.
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging capabilities.
- More balanced overall feature set.
- May throttle more quickly under sustained heavy load.
- Slightly slower wired charging speed (29 minutes vs 38 minutes).
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, but their displays diverge significantly. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a substantially brighter panel at 859 nits measured, compared to the RedMagic 6’s 444 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in outdoor visibility. While both offer smooth experiences, the RedMagic 6’s focus is on a 165Hz refresh rate for competitive gaming, potentially at the expense of color accuracy. The OnePlus 9 Pro, while also offering a 120Hz refresh rate, prioritizes color calibration and overall image quality, making it better suited for media consumption. The OnePlus 9 Pro likely employs LTPO technology, dynamically adjusting refresh rate to conserve battery, a feature absent in the RedMagic 6’s specifications.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro distinguishes itself with a more comprehensive camera system, though detailed sensor information is absent from the provided data. The OnePlus 9 Pro, benefiting from Hasselblad’s color science, likely delivers more accurate and pleasing images. The RedMagic 6’s camera is described simply as ‘Photo / Video,’ suggesting a less emphasized focus on photographic capabilities. While both can record video, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s superior image stabilization (OIS) and advanced processing algorithms will likely result in smoother and more detailed footage. The RedMagic 6’s camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots, but won’t compete with the OnePlus 9 Pro’s photographic prowess.
Performance
Under the hood, both phones share the same Snapdragon 888 5G chipset and CPU configuration – an octa-core setup with a Cortex-X1 prime core. However, the RedMagic 6’s design prioritizes thermal management with its active cooling system, aiming to sustain peak performance for longer durations during demanding games. The OnePlus 9 Pro relies on more conventional passive cooling. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the RedMagic 6’s cooling solution allows it to maintain higher clock speeds for extended periods, potentially leading to a performance advantage in sustained gaming scenarios. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s performance will likely be more consistent across a wider range of tasks, but may throttle more quickly under prolonged heavy load.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings – 88 hours for the RedMagic 6 and 86 hours for the OnePlus 9 Pro – despite differing battery capacities (not specified in the data). The RedMagic 6’s 66W wired charging achieves a full charge in 38 minutes, while the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W wired charging is slightly faster at 29 minutes. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro adds the convenience of 50W wireless charging (43 minutes to full) and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 6. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s charging versatility provides greater flexibility for different usage scenarios.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended play sessions without throttling, and a design geared towards comfortable grip during intense gaming. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a well-rounded flagship experience with a top-tier camera, a vibrant and bright display for all content, and the convenience of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.