ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Photography
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the Sony Xperia 1 III emerges as the stronger contender. Its versatile camera system, excellent display, and robust build quality offer a more complete package. However, gamers seeking maximum performance at a potentially lower price point will find the RedMagic 6s a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s | 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 | LTE | 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 | SA/NSA | 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 | 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 | 5.1, 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/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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC5 | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5050 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Transparent | 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 500 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
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 888+
- Active cooling system prevents throttling
- High 165Hz refresh rate display for smooth gaming
- Likely inferior camera quality
- Less refined software experience
- Potentially lower build quality
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Excellent camera system with professional features
- High-quality 620 nit display with infinite contrast
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slightly less powerful processor (Snapdragon 888)
- No dedicated gaming features
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize a 6.8-inch display, but their approaches differ significantly. The Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility outdoors, while the RedMagic 6s’s brightness is not specified, suggesting it may not reach the same levels. The Xperia 1 III’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio indicates a true OLED panel, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the RedMagic 6s likely also uses OLED, its focus is on a 165Hz refresh rate for smoother gaming, a feature the Xperia 1 III lacks. The Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards content consumption and color accuracy, while the RedMagic 6s prioritizes responsiveness for competitive gaming.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 1 III clearly dominates in camera capabilities. While both are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Xperia 1 III is renowned for its professional-grade features and image processing. Details regarding the RedMagic 6s’s camera sensors are absent, suggesting a less sophisticated setup. The Xperia 1 III likely features a larger main sensor, optical image stabilization (OIS), and advanced video recording modes. The RedMagic 6s likely focuses on basic photography for social media, while the Xperia 1 III caters to enthusiasts and professionals.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but with key distinctions. The RedMagic 6s features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm), a slightly overclocked version of the Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). While the CPU core configuration is nearly identical – Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) for the RedMagic 6s and (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) for the Xperia 1 III – the RedMagic 6s benefits from a more aggressive cooling system, potentially allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer durations. The RedMagic 6s’s design prioritizes thermal management, crucial for demanding games, while the Xperia 1 III aims for a more balanced thermal profile.
Battery Life
Both devices offer 30W wired charging, with the Xperia 1 III claiming a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Xperia 1 III also adds wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities, offering greater convenience. Both phones have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. The Xperia 1 III’s wireless charging and more efficient power management likely offset any capacity differences.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 6s if you need uncompromising gaming performance, active cooling, and are willing to sacrifice camera quality and mainstream features. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a premium, all-around flagship experience with a focus on photography, videography, and a high-quality display, and are willing to pay a premium for it.