ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra represent opposite ends of the smartphone spectrum. The RedMagic prioritizes unadulterated gaming performance, while the S22 Ultra aims for a balanced, premium experience encompassing photography, productivity, and entertainment. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device reigns supreme for specific user needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro is the clear winner, offering superior cooling and a faster charging experience. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra excels as an all-around flagship, boasting a significantly brighter display, a more versatile camera system, and broader software support, making it the better choice for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, September 062022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 27Available. Released 2022, February 25
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)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight215 g (7.58 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 660Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 11, Redmagic 4.5Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
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)-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) 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)45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5050 mAh (Global)· Li-Po 4500 mAh (China only)Li-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsEclipse Black, Transparent, WhitePhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
PriceAbout 600 EUR€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 108h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Active cooling system prevents throttling
  • Dedicated gaming triggers for enhanced control

  • Inferior camera performance
  • Less vibrant and bright display
  • Limited software support compared to Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Exceptional camera system with versatile features
  • Stunningly bright and color-accurate display
  • Long-term software support and updates

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Prone to thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s display is a clear standout, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1266 nits compared to the RedMagic 6s Pro’s 529 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in outdoor visibility. While both displays offer high refresh rates, the S22 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with LTPO technology dynamically adjusts refresh rates for improved efficiency and smoother scrolling. The RedMagic 6s Pro, while still excellent, lacks the same level of adaptive technology. The S22 Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio also contributes to deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.

Camera Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra dominates in the camera department. While the RedMagic 6s Pro has a camera, it’s clearly not a priority. The S22 Ultra’s sophisticated camera system, featuring a high-resolution main sensor (details not provided in context, but typically 108MP or higher), advanced image processing, and optical image stabilization (OIS), delivers superior image quality in various conditions. The S22 Ultra also excels in video recording capabilities. The RedMagic’s camera is adequate for casual snapshots, but it cannot compete with the S22 Ultra’s versatility and image quality. Ignoring the likely low-resolution macro lens on both devices, the S22 Ultra’s larger sensor and superior processing are key differentiators.

Performance

Both phones utilize flagship-level chipsets, but their architectures differ. The RedMagic 6s Pro features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), while the S22 Ultra comes in either an Exynos 2200 (4nm - Europe) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm - ROW) variant. The 4nm process node of the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 generally offers better thermal efficiency than the 5nm Snapdragon 888+, potentially leading to less throttling during sustained workloads. However, the RedMagic 6s Pro’s active cooling system – a built-in fan – mitigates throttling more effectively than the S22 Ultra’s passive cooling. The S22 Ultra’s Cortex-X2 core (2.8 GHz/3.0 GHz) offers a slight architectural advantage over the RedMagic’s Cortex-X1 (3.0 GHz), but the real-world performance difference is often minimal.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a slightly better endurance rating (108h) compared to the RedMagic 6s Pro (97h), but the charging speeds tell a different story. The RedMagic 6s Pro supports an astonishing 120W wired charging (in China) or 66W internationally, achieving a full charge in just 17 or 65 minutes respectively. The S22 Ultra is limited to 45W wired charging, taking considerably longer to reach 100%. While the S22 Ultra offers 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, the RedMagic 6s Pro lacks wireless charging altogether. The RedMagic’s faster charging is a significant advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro if you prioritize maximum gaming performance, require the fastest possible charging speeds, and appreciate dedicated gaming features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G if you value a top-tier camera system, a stunningly bright and color-accurate display, and a more polished, feature-rich software experience with long-term support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the European S22 Ultra overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 is known to run warmer than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. While the S22 Ultra has a decent cooling system, prolonged gaming at maximum settings can lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. The RedMagic 6s Pro, with its active cooling fan, is better equipped to handle extended gaming without significant performance drops.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up photos?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on smartphones are of limited utility. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can be fun for experimentation, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from either device. The S22 Ultra's overall camera system is far more capable for detailed photography.
❓ Does the RedMagic 6s Pro support 90fps or higher frame rates in popular games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the RedMagic 6s Pro is specifically designed for high frame rate gaming. It supports 90fps and even higher frame rates in many popular titles like PUBG Mobile, depending on the game's settings and optimization. The phone's dedicated gaming mode and cooling system ensure a smooth and stable gaming experience.
❓ How does the difference in charging wattage affect daily use? Is 45W on the S22 Ultra slow?
While 45W charging on the S22 Ultra isn't *slow*, it's significantly slower than the RedMagic 6s Pro's 120W (China) or 66W (International) charging. A full charge on the S22 Ultra will take over an hour, whereas the RedMagic can achieve a full charge in under 20 minutes (China) or around 65 minutes (International). This difference is crucial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.