The ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s and OnePlus 9 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The RedMagic 6s aggressively targets mobile gamers with a focus on raw performance and cooling, while the OnePlus 9 Pro aims for a more balanced experience, blending high-end specs with a premium camera system and refined software. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s is the clear winner, offering a more potent chipset (Snapdragon 888+), and a design geared towards sustained performance. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro excels in camera versatility, faster charging, and a more polished all-around user experience, making it the better choice for mainstream users.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - EU |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - EU |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 28, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - CN |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 06 | 2021, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 27 | Available. Released 2021, March 30 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.5 mm (6.69 x 3.04 x 0.37 in) | 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.90 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1440 x 3216 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| | - | Always-on display |
| 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 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Hasselblad Color Calibration, dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, AF
2 MP, f/2.4, (monochrome) |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| 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, PD, 100% in 29 min
50W wireless, 100% in 43 min
5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent | Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black |
| Models | - | LE2121, LE2125, LE2123, LE2120, LE2127 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | € 246.17 / $ 264.95 / £ 287.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 86h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.1 LUFS (Very good)
|
ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s
- More powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
- Superior thermal management for sustained gaming
- Potentially higher refresh rate display
- Slower charging speed (30W)
- Likely less versatile camera system
- Less refined software experience
OnePlus 9 Pro
- Faster 65W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Versatile and high-quality camera system
- Polished software experience
- Snapdragon 888 chipset (slightly less powerful)
- More prone to thermal throttling under sustained load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 859 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the RedMagic 6s display specs aren't provided, nubia typically prioritizes refresh rate over peak brightness. The OnePlus 9 Pro likely benefits from a more color-accurate panel, geared towards content consumption, while the RedMagic 6s likely focuses on a high refresh rate for smoother gaming visuals. The OnePlus 9 Pro's display is likely LTPO, allowing for variable refresh rates and improved power efficiency.
Camera Comparison
The OnePlus 9 Pro is positioned as a camera-centric flagship, and while specific sensor details aren't provided, it's expected to offer a more versatile camera system with advanced features like Hasselblad color calibration. The RedMagic 6s, geared towards gaming, likely features a more basic camera setup. The OnePlus 9 Pro’s focus on photo and video quality, including OIS and potentially larger sensor sizes, will deliver superior results in most scenarios. We can assume the OnePlus 9 Pro will have a more comprehensive suite of camera modes and processing algorithms.
Performance
Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the RedMagic 6s steps up with the Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm). This translates to a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz) on the Cortex-X1 core, offering a marginal performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. However, the RedMagic 6s’s advantage lies in its superior thermal design, crucial for sustaining peak performance during prolonged gaming. The OnePlus 9 Pro, while powerful, is more likely to experience thermal throttling under heavy load. Both devices feature Octa-core CPUs with the same Cortex-A78 and A55 configurations.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 86 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing charging capabilities. However, the OnePlus 9 Pro significantly outpaces the RedMagic 6s in charging speed, offering 65W wired charging (100% in 29 minutes), 50W wireless charging (100% in 43 minutes), and 5W reverse wireless charging. The RedMagic 6s is limited to 30W wired charging, meaning significantly longer recharge times. While the battery capacity isn't specified for either, the OnePlus 9 Pro’s faster charging mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s if you prioritize uncompromising gaming performance, extended play sessions without throttling, and a design optimized for mobile esports. Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro if you value a versatile camera system, incredibly fast charging (both wired and wireless), a refined software experience, and a more balanced feature set for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the RedMagic 6s's cooling system actually prevent throttling during long gaming sessions?
Yes, the RedMagic 6s incorporates an advanced cooling system, including a built-in fan and vapor chamber, specifically designed to dissipate heat and maintain peak performance for extended periods. This is a key differentiator, allowing it to sustain higher clock speeds than the OnePlus 9 Pro under sustained load.
❓ How does the OnePlus 9 Pro's 65W charging compare to other fast charging solutions?
The OnePlus 9 Pro's 65W charging is exceptionally fast, fully charging the device in just 29 minutes. This is significantly quicker than many competitors using 25W or 45W charging, and even surpasses some 65W implementations due to optimized power delivery. The addition of 50W wireless charging is also a major advantage.
❓ Is the camera on the RedMagic 6s sufficient for casual photography?
While the RedMagic 6s camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, it's not its primary strength. The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a far more versatile and capable camera system with features like Hasselblad color calibration, OIS, and potentially larger sensors, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 888+ in the RedMagic 6s provide a noticeable performance boost in demanding games?
The Snapdragon 888+ offers a modest performance increase over the Snapdragon 888, particularly in sustained workloads. Coupled with the RedMagic 6s's superior cooling, this translates to smoother frame rates and less throttling in graphically intensive games, providing a noticeable advantage for serious mobile gamers.
