RedMagic 7S Pro vs. Pixel 6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and AI

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S Pro and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent fundamentally different approaches to the flagship Android experience. The RedMagic prioritizes unadulterated gaming performance, while the Pixel 6 Pro focuses on computational photography and Google’s AI-driven features. This comparison dissects their core strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded experience with exceptional camera capabilities and software support, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers and power users demanding maximum performance and rapid charging will find the RedMagic 7S Pro a compelling alternative.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S Pro Google Pixel 6 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International, China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2022, July 112021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, July 15Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions166.3 x 77.1 x 10 mm (6.55 x 3.04 x 0.39 in)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight235 g (8.29 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 600 nitsLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 12, Redmagic 5.5Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single-11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, (wide), under display11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.1
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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging135W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0 (International)23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsObsidian, Supernova, Mercury, YellowCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsNX709SGLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 780 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S Pro

  • Blazing-fast 135W charging (China)
  • Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother gaming

  • Lower display brightness compared to Pixel 6 Pro
  • Camera likely inferior to Pixel 6 Pro
  • Software experience may lack polish

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and computational photography
  • Smooth and intuitive software experience with guaranteed updates
  • Brighter and more vibrant display

  • Slower charging speed compared to RedMagic 7S Pro
  • Less powerful processor for demanding games
  • Tensor chip can run hotter under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display at 846 nits measured, compared to the RedMagic 7S Pro’s 449 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight for the Pixel. While both offer smooth experiences, the Pixel’s contrast ratio is described as infinite (nominal), suggesting deeper blacks. The RedMagic 7S Pro, however, is geared towards gaming, and while brightness is lower, it likely features a higher refresh rate and potentially lower response times, though these specs aren't provided. The Pixel's larger display size and higher resolution also contribute to a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro is the clear winner in the camera department, leveraging Google’s renowned computational photography. While the RedMagic 7S Pro offers photo and video capabilities, details regarding its sensor size and image processing are absent. The Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range, detail, and low-light performance. The Tensor chip’s dedicated image signal processor (ISP) plays a crucial role in these capabilities. The RedMagic 7S Pro likely prioritizes speed and efficiency over image quality, making it less suitable for serious photography enthusiasts. The absence of detailed camera specs for the RedMagic suggests it's not a primary focus.

Performance

The RedMagic 7S Pro leverages the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm), a chip designed for peak performance and efficiency. Its octa-core configuration, featuring a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz, promises superior CPU performance compared to the Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor (5nm). The Tensor, while optimized for AI tasks like image processing and voice recognition, utilizes older Cortex-A76 cores. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers better thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The RedMagic’s likely inclusion of LPDDR5X RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, benefiting demanding games. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip excels in machine learning tasks, but falls behind in raw processing power.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 84h, but achieve this differently. The Pixel 6 Pro’s battery life is sustained by the efficiency of the Tensor chip and software optimizations. The RedMagic 7S Pro, despite potentially having a smaller battery, compensates with incredibly fast charging – 135W wired (in China, 65W internationally) can deliver a 50% charge in just 5 minutes and a full charge in 15 minutes. The Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging takes 30 minutes for a 50% charge. The Pixel 6 Pro also offers 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 7S Pro. The RedMagic’s charging speed is a significant advantage for users who prioritize minimizing downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S Pro if you need a dedicated gaming phone with top-tier performance, incredibly fast charging, and are willing to compromise on camera quality and software polish. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prefer a balanced smartphone experience with a class-leading camera, innovative software features, and long-term software support, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the RedMagic 7S Pro throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is efficient, prolonged gaming can still generate heat. The RedMagic 7S Pro incorporates advanced cooling solutions, including a built-in fan, to mitigate throttling and maintain consistent performance during extended gaming sessions. However, some performance degradation is still possible.
❓ How does the Google Tensor chip handle graphically intensive games on the Pixel 6 Pro?
The Google Tensor chip is capable of running most Android games, but it won't deliver the same peak frame rates as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the RedMagic 7S Pro. The Tensor prioritizes AI tasks and image processing, and its GPU is less powerful. Expect smooth gameplay at medium to high settings, but not necessarily at the highest possible settings.
❓ Is the 65W charging on the international RedMagic 7S Pro still considered fast charging?
Yes, 65W charging is still considered very fast, and significantly quicker than the Pixel 6 Pro's 23W charging. While not as rapid as the 135W available in China, it can still charge the device from 0 to 100% in approximately 30-40 minutes.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect from ZTE for the RedMagic 7S Pro?
ZTE's software support is generally less extensive than Google's. While the RedMagic 7S Pro will receive updates, they may be less frequent and for a shorter duration compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, which is guaranteed several years of OS and security updates.