RedMagic 6s Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro: Which Gaming Beast Reigns Supreme?

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro and Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro represent the pinnacle of Android gaming phones, both powered by the Snapdragon 888+. However, they approach the gaming experience with distinct philosophies. The RedMagic prioritizes raw cooling and charging speed, while the ROG Phone 5s Pro focuses on a more refined, feature-rich experience with advanced peripherals. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits your gaming needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the hardcore gamer prioritizing absolute speed and the fastest charging, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro is the winner. Its 120W charging and aggressive cooling allow for sustained peak performance. However, the Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro offers a more balanced package with a superior display and longer battery endurance, making it the better choice for all-around use.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China1, 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
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, September 062021, August 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2021, August 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)172.8 x 77.3 x 9.9 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)238 g (8.40 oz)
 -Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.5Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM512GB 18GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple64 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)
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rateFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5050 mAh (Global)· Li-Po 4500 mAh (China only)Li-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhiteMatte White
Models-ZS676KS
PriceAbout 600 EURAbout 2000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 110h
Loudspeaker- -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 743021 (v8), 844901 (v9) GeekBench: 14278 (v4.4), 3672 (v5.1) GFXBench: 58fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro

  • Incredibly fast 120W charging (China)
  • Aggressive cooling system for sustained performance
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Lower display brightness
  • Less refined software experience
  • International version charging is slower (66W)

Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro

  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Longer battery life
  • AirTriggers and advanced gaming features

  • Slower charging speed compared to RedMagic (120W)
  • Potentially higher price
  • Cooling system may not be as aggressive

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro boasts a significantly brighter display at 840 nits compared to the RedMagic 6s Pro’s 529 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors and a more vibrant image. While both feature high refresh rates (assumed to be 144Hz based on market segment), the ROG Phone’s superior brightness and likely better color calibration (though not specified) provide a more immersive visual experience. The RedMagic’s lower brightness may be less comfortable for extended viewing sessions in bright environments.

Camera Comparison

Neither phone excels in the camera department, focusing primarily on gaming features. Detailed camera specs are unavailable, but given the market positioning, we can assume similar sensor quality. The ROG Phone 5s Pro likely benefits from Asus’s image processing algorithms, potentially offering slightly more refined images. However, the difference will be minimal for casual users. Both phones likely feature a standard wide, ultrawide, and potentially a macro lens, but these are unlikely to be flagship-level components.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm) chipset with an identical CPU configuration – a Cortex-X1 prime core, three Cortex-A78 performance cores, and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. Therefore, raw CPU performance will be nearly indistinguishable. The key differentiator lies in thermal management. The RedMagic 6s Pro is known for its active cooling fan, designed to maintain peak performance for longer durations. While the ROG Phone 5s Pro also features advanced cooling, the RedMagic’s system is generally considered more aggressive. Both likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the ROG Phone’s more sophisticated thermal design may allow it to sustain higher clock speeds for a longer period, despite the RedMagic’s fan.

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro edges out the RedMagic 6s Pro in battery endurance with a rating of 110 hours versus 97 hours. This is likely due to a combination of a slightly larger battery capacity (not specified, but typical for ROG Phones) and more efficient power management. However, the RedMagic 6s Pro compensates with its blazing-fast 120W wired charging (in China; 66W internationally), achieving a full charge in just 17 minutes (China) or 65 minutes (International). The ROG Phone 5s Pro’s 65W charging is still fast, taking 52 minutes for a full charge, but it’s significantly slower than the RedMagic’s peak charging speed. The ROG Phone also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the RedMagic.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro if you need the absolute fastest charging speeds, are willing to trade some display quality for peak sustained performance, and prioritize a more aggressive cooling solution. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s Pro if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, longer battery life, and a more polished software experience with features like AirTriggers and a wider range of accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the RedMagic 6s Pro’s 120W charging degrade the battery faster?
While extremely fast charging can theoretically contribute to battery degradation over the long term, RedMagic incorporates battery health management features to mitigate this. The phone dynamically adjusts charging speed as the battery nears full capacity, reducing stress. However, long-term battery health will still be impacted more than with slower charging methods.
❓ How effective are the ROG Phone 5s Pro’s AirTriggers for gaming?
The AirTriggers on the ROG Phone 5s Pro are highly effective and customizable. They simulate physical shoulder buttons, allowing you to map actions like aiming, shooting, or jumping to them. This provides a competitive advantage in many games by freeing up your thumbs for movement and other controls.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 888+ in either phone overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888+ is known to generate heat under sustained load. Both the RedMagic 6s Pro and ROG Phone 5s Pro employ advanced cooling systems to combat this. The RedMagic’s active fan is more aggressive, while the ROG Phone’s system is more refined. Expect some thermal throttling after extended gaming, but both phones are designed to minimize it.