ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and AI

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent fundamentally different approaches to the flagship smartphone. The RedMagic prioritizes unadulterated gaming performance with aggressive cooling and a high refresh rate display, while the Pixel 6 Pro focuses on computational photography, AI-powered features, and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects these contrasting philosophies to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888+ chipset, 120W charging, and gaming-centric features provide an unmatched experience. However, for users prioritizing camera quality, software updates, and a more versatile smartphone experience, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the superior choice.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro Google Pixel 6 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) / 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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2021, September 062021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.5Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single-11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
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)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.1
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, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International)23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5050 mAh (Global)· Li-Po 4500 mAh (China only)Li-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhiteCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
Models-GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 600 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging (China)
  • Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 888+
  • Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother gaming

  • Lower display brightness compared to Pixel 6 Pro
  • Less refined camera system
  • Software updates may be less frequent

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and AI-powered features
  • Clean and constantly updated Android experience
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility

  • Significantly slower charging speed
  • Less powerful GPU for demanding games
  • May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 846 nits compared to the RedMagic 6s Pro’s 529 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Pixel 6 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a more refined panel with deeper blacks. The RedMagic 6s Pro, however, likely features a higher refresh rate (typically 165Hz, though not specified in the data) geared towards smoother gaming visuals, a feature not explicitly highlighted for the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro’s larger display size also offers a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The provided data doesn’t detail camera specifications, but the Pixel 6 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor chip’s AI capabilities. Google’s image processing algorithms are a key differentiator, delivering consistently excellent results in various lighting conditions. The RedMagic 6s Pro, while likely equipped with a capable camera system, is not positioned as a camera-centric device. The Pixel 6 Pro’s focus on features like Magic Eraser and Motion Mode demonstrates a commitment to innovative camera experiences, while the RedMagic prioritizes gaming features. Without specific sensor details, it’s reasonable to assume the Pixel 6 Pro offers a more versatile and refined camera experience.

Performance

Both phones employ an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X1 prime cores, but the underlying chipsets differ drastically. The RedMagic 6s Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), known for its raw processing power and gaming capabilities. The Pixel 6 Pro, conversely, is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor chip (5nm). While Tensor excels in AI and machine learning tasks – powering features like Live Translate and advanced image processing – the Snapdragon 888+ generally holds an edge in sustained GPU performance. The RedMagic’s focus on gaming likely includes optimized thermal management to minimize throttling under heavy load, a factor not explicitly detailed for the Pixel 6 Pro. Both utilize similar Cortex-A78 and A55 cores, but the clock speeds differ, with the RedMagic’s X1 core running at 3.0 GHz versus the Pixel’s 2.80 GHz.

Battery Life

The RedMagic 6s Pro boasts a significantly faster charging speed – 120W wired (in China) or 66W internationally – capable of fully charging the device in just 17 or 65 minutes respectively. The Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging is considerably slower, taking approximately 30 minutes to reach 50%. However, the Pixel 6 Pro offers 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic. Despite the RedMagic’s faster charging, the Pixel 6 Pro’s endurance rating of 84 hours is higher than the RedMagic’s 97 hours, suggesting more efficient power management despite a smaller battery capacity. This could be attributed to the Tensor chip’s optimized power consumption.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro if you demand the highest possible frame rates in demanding mobile games, require incredibly fast charging, and value a dedicated gaming experience with features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prioritize exceptional camera performance, a clean and constantly improving Android experience powered by Google's Tensor chip, and a more balanced smartphone experience with features like Call Screen and Magic Eraser.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the RedMagic 6s Pro’s cooling system effectively prevent thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The RedMagic 6s Pro incorporates an advanced cooling system, including a built-in fan and vapor chamber, specifically designed to mitigate thermal throttling. While independent testing is required for definitive confirmation, the device’s focus on gaming suggests a robust thermal management solution, allowing for sustained peak performance during prolonged gameplay.
❓ How does Google’s Tensor chip impact the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life compared to phones with Snapdragon processors?
Google’s Tensor chip is designed with a focus on AI and machine learning tasks, which can be more power-efficient than traditional CPU/GPU workloads. While the Pixel 6 Pro’s battery endurance rating is 84 hours, it’s important to note that real-world battery life will vary based on usage patterns. The Tensor chip’s optimized power consumption contributes to a competitive battery life despite not having the largest battery capacity.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the international RedMagic 6s Pro still significantly faster than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W charging?
Yes, even the international version of the RedMagic 6s Pro with 66W charging is considerably faster than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W charging. The RedMagic can fully charge in approximately 65 minutes, while the Pixel 6 Pro takes significantly longer. This difference is substantial for users who prioritize quick top-ups.