ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s vs. Asus ROG Phone 5s: A Gamer's Deep Dive
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing rapid charging and a more refined software experience, the Asus ROG Phone 5s emerges as the winner. Its 65W charging significantly reduces downtime, and its feature-rich software suite enhances the gaming experience. However, the RedMagic 6s remains a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s | Asus ROG Phone 5s |
| 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 - Version 1 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 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 - Version 1 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 1 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 4 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2021, August 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 238 g (8.40 oz) |
| - | RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| 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, ROG UI |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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) | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC5 | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent | Phantom Black, Storm White |
| Models | - | ZS676KS |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 1030 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s
- Potentially better sustained performance due to aggressive cooling.
- More affordable price point.
- Slightly higher CPU clock speed (3.0 GHz).
- Significantly slower 30W charging.
- Likely less refined camera system.
- Potentially less polished software experience.
Asus ROG Phone 5s
- Much faster 65W charging with full charge in 52 minutes.
- 10W reverse wired charging.
- Likely better camera performance and image processing.
- Higher price tag.
- Slightly lower CPU clock speed (2.99 GHz).
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load.
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize AMOLED panels, but detailed specifications like refresh rate and peak brightness are missing. However, given the RedMagic’s focus on gaming, it likely prioritizes a high refresh rate for smoother visuals. The ROG Phone 5s, with its broader appeal, may offer more color calibration options. Bezels are likely comparable, given both phones target a similar immersive gaming experience. Without specific data, it's difficult to definitively state a display advantage, but Asus historically focuses on display accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance isn't a primary focus for either device, but the ROG Phone 5s likely offers a more versatile camera system. While specific sensor details are absent, Asus typically incorporates larger sensors and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The RedMagic 6s likely prioritizes cost savings in this area. Expect similar performance in good lighting conditions, but the ROG Phone 5s should excel in low-light scenarios and offer better dynamic range. The inclusion of OIS on the ROG Phone 5s, if present, would further enhance image stability.
Performance
Both the RedMagic 6s and ROG Phone 5s are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with a 3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 prime core, three 2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 performance cores, and four 1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The slight clock speed difference (2.99 GHz on the ROG Phone 5s vs 3.0 GHz on the RedMagic 6s) is unlikely to translate to a noticeable real-world performance difference. The key differentiator will be thermal management. The RedMagic series is known for its aggressive cooling solutions, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance for longer durations. The ROG Phone 5s also features robust cooling, but the RedMagic’s dedicated fan may provide an edge. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed isn't specified, impacting multitasking and game loading times.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 5s boasts a significant advantage in charging speed with its 65W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, compared to the RedMagic 6s’s 30W charging. While both support PD3.0 and QC5, the ROG Phone 5s drastically reduces downtime. The battery capacity isn't specified, but the faster charging mitigates any potential disadvantage if the RedMagic 6s has a slightly larger battery. The ROG Phone 5s also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the RedMagic 6s, adding to its versatility.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s if you need a high-performance gaming phone at a more affordable price point and prioritize maximizing gaming time over rapid recharging. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5s if you prefer a more polished user experience, faster charging speeds, and a broader ecosystem of gaming accessories, even if it comes at a higher cost.