ZTE nubia RedMagic 6R vs. OnePlus 9 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and All-Round Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with a superior camera and faster charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the better choice. However, dedicated mobile gamers who value sustained performance and don't mind compromises in camera quality will find the RedMagic 6R more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6R | 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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 4, 12, 17, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 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, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | 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 / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 27 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, June 02 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163 x 75.3 x 7.8 mm (6.42 x 2.96 x 0.31 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 | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 770 nits (peak) | 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 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.0, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 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 |
| 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 | 16 MP, (wide) | 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 | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS | 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, PD3.0, QC4 (China) 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 (International) | 65W wired, PD, 100% in 29 min 50W wireless, 100% in 43 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4200 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Mercury Silver, Light Blue | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | NX666J | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 500 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 6R
- Superior sustained gaming performance due to advanced cooling.
- More affordable price point.
- Dedicated gaming features (potentially including shoulder buttons - not specified in data).
- Significantly dimmer display.
- Inferior camera system.
- Slower and less versatile charging options.
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Brighter and more color-accurate display with LTPO technology.
- Exceptional camera system with Hasselblad color calibration.
- Significantly faster wired and wireless charging.
- Higher price point.
- May experience more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
- Less focused on dedicated gaming features.
Display Comparison
Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, but their displays differ significantly. The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a brighter panel at 859 nits (measured) compared to the RedMagic 6R’s 588 nits. This translates to better outdoor visibility for the OnePlus. While both offer smooth experiences, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s LTPO technology dynamically adjusts the refresh rate, potentially improving battery efficiency. The RedMagic 6R, while still excellent, lacks this adaptive technology. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s superior brightness and color accuracy make it the better choice for media consumption and content creation.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro clearly excels in the camera department. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the OnePlus 9 Pro benefits from Hasselblad’s color calibration and a more sophisticated camera system. Details regarding sensor sizes and lens apertures for the RedMagic 6R are limited, but based on market positioning, it’s unlikely to match the OnePlus 9 Pro’s image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s superior image processing and wider range of features make it the preferred choice for photography enthusiasts.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm), featuring the same CPU configuration: an octa-core setup with a Cortex-X1 prime core, three Cortex-A78 performance cores, and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. However, the RedMagic 6R prioritizes sustained performance through its advanced cooling system, allowing it to maintain peak clock speeds for longer durations during demanding gaming sessions. While the OnePlus 9 Pro also manages thermal throttling well, the RedMagic 6R is engineered for extended, high-intensity gameplay. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the RedMagic 6R’s cooling advantage is the key differentiator for gamers.
Battery Life
The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a slightly larger endurance rating at 86 hours compared to the RedMagic 6R’s 76 hours. However, the charging speeds are where the OnePlus 9 Pro truly shines. Its 65W wired charging can fully charge the battery in just 29 minutes, while the RedMagic 6R’s charging speed varies between 55W (China) and 30W (International). Furthermore, the OnePlus 9 Pro adds 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 6R. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s faster and more versatile charging options provide a significant convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6R if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended play sessions without throttling, and a more affordable price point. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you prefer a premium camera system, a brighter and more color-accurate display, significantly faster charging (wired and wireless), and a more polished software experience.