ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S vs Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing raw performance and sustained frame rates, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offers a noticeable performance and efficiency advantage over the Black Shark 5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, translating to less throttling and a smoother gaming experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 11 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 15 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 170.6 x 78.3 x 9.5 mm (6.72 x 3.08 x 0.37 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 215 g (7.58 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 165Hz, 700 nits (typ) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, Redmagic 5.5 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (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) | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 2.0, 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 17 min | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray | Black, White |
| Models | - | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 590 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S
- Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- More efficient chipset for reduced throttling
- Faster charging speed (17 minutes vs 15 minutes)
- Battery capacity not specified
- Display specifications are incomplete
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- 83-hour endurance rating suggests good battery optimization
- Measured 682 nits peak brightness
- Potentially more refined software experience
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
- More prone to thermal throttling
- Lacks the latest chipset advancements
Display Comparison
Both phones feature displays geared towards immersive gaming, but detailed specifications are limited for the Black Shark 5 Pro. The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, which is respectable, but the RedMagic 7S’s display specifications are not provided, leaving a gap in direct comparison. Both have an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio. The absence of refresh rate data for the RedMagic 7S is a key omission, but given the gaming focus, a high refresh rate is expected. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s brightness is adequate for most environments, but the RedMagic 7S could potentially offer a more vibrant and visible experience if it exceeds this value.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but neither is positioned as a camera-centric phone. Detailed camera specifications are lacking for both, making a direct comparison difficult. The focus is clearly on gaming, and camera performance is likely to be adequate but not exceptional. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, it’s impossible to determine a clear winner. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing tactic, offering limited real-world benefit.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the RedMagic 7S utilizes the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm), while the Black Shark 5 Pro features the older SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The ‘+’ generation signifies a crucial improvement in efficiency and clock speeds. The RedMagic 7S’s CPU configuration – 1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510 – provides a slight edge over the Black Shark 5 Pro’s 1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510. This translates to faster processing speeds and improved multitasking. More importantly, the 4nm process node of the 8+ Gen 1 offers better thermal efficiency, meaning the RedMagic 7S is less prone to throttling during prolonged gaming sessions. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the RedMagic 7S’s superior chipset will likely extract more performance from it.
Battery Life
Both phones feature 120W wired charging, achieving a full charge in 17 minutes (RedMagic 7S) and 15 minutes (Black Shark 5 Pro). The Black Shark 5 Pro has an endurance rating of 83 hours, suggesting a well-optimized power management system. However, the RedMagic 7S’s battery capacity is not specified. Despite the Black Shark 5 Pro’s endurance rating, the RedMagic 7S’s more efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset could potentially offset a slightly smaller battery capacity, delivering comparable real-world battery life, especially during gaming.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 7S if you need uncompromising performance for demanding games, prioritize sustained frame rates over extended periods, and value the latest chipset technology. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you prefer a more balanced device with a slightly more refined software experience and are willing to trade a small amount of peak performance for potentially better all-around usability and a comparable battery endurance rating.