ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the dedicated mobile gamer, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro is the clear winner. Its 120W charging and optimized thermal design deliver sustained performance. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III excels for content creators and those prioritizing a premium, versatile camera system and a brighter, more color-accurate display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSA - China | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 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 4.5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| 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) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, heart rate | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 17 min (China) 66W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 65 min (International) | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5050 mAh (Global)· Li-Po 4500 mAh (China only) | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent, White | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | - | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 600 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (China) / 66W (International)
- Superior thermal management for sustained gaming
- Higher endurance rating (97h)
- Less refined camera system
- Display brightness lower than Xperia 1 III
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Professional-grade camera system
- Brighter and more color-accurate display
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower charging speed (30W)
- Potentially more thermal throttling during gaming
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a brighter display at 620 nits compared to the RedMagic 6s Pro’s 529 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Xperia 1 III’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a more refined panel calibration. The RedMagic 6s Pro’s focus is on refresh rate for gaming, but lacks specifics on PWM dimming, potentially impacting users sensitive to flicker. The Xperia 1 III, geared towards content creation, likely employs a wider color gamut and more accurate color reproduction, crucial for photo and video editing.
Camera Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III is the clear victor in the camera department. While the context data only states 'Photo / Video', Sony’s history with camera technology suggests a sophisticated system with advanced features like real-time tracking, eye autofocus, and extensive manual controls. The RedMagic 6s Pro, while likely including a capable camera, is not positioned as a photography-focused device. The Xperia 1 III’s sensor size and lens apertures are expected to be significantly larger, resulting in better low-light performance and image quality. The RedMagic's camera is likely adequate for casual use, but won't compete with the Xperia's pro-grade capabilities.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm) chipset, but the RedMagic 6s Pro’s active cooling system and focus on sustained performance give it an edge in prolonged gaming. While both CPUs feature the same core configuration (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55), the RedMagic’s thermal management is designed to prevent throttling under heavy load. The Xperia 1 III, while powerful, prioritizes a more balanced thermal profile, potentially leading to some performance throttling during extended gaming. The RedMagic's likely faster RAM (LPDDR5x assumed) further contributes to its gaming advantage.
Battery Life
The ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro offers a significant advantage in charging speed with its 120W wired charging (China) or 66W (International), achieving a full charge in just 17 or 65 minutes respectively, compared to the Xperia 1 III’s 30W charging taking 30 minutes for 50%. Despite the Xperia 1 III having a slightly better endurance rating of 82h vs 97h for the RedMagic, the RedMagic’s faster charging mitigates concerns about battery life, allowing for quick top-ups. The Xperia 1 III does offer wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 6s Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s Pro if you need a phone specifically engineered for extended gaming sessions, prioritizing raw performance, fast charging, and a high refresh rate display above all else. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a balanced flagship experience with a professional-grade camera, a stunningly accurate display for media consumption, and a more refined, all-around smartphone experience.