ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the more compelling choice. Its superior camera system, longer sustained performance due to better thermal management, and versatile feature set outweigh the RedMagic 8S Pro’s gaming-centric advantages. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the RedMagic 8S Pro’s aggressive cooling and faster charging a worthwhile trade-off.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, June 05 | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, July 11 | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 9.5 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 (719 MHz) | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 13, Redmagic OS 8 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Single | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (Global), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 40 min (International) | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Platinum, Aurora | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | - | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | About 650 EUR | € 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00 |
| SAR | - | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 126h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained gaming
- Faster wired charging speeds
- Potentially lower price point
- Inferior camera system
- Less versatile feature set
- Bulkier design
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system with versatile lenses
- Brighter and more efficient display
- S Pen functionality and productivity features
- Slower charging speeds
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but their displays differ significantly. The S23 Ultra boasts a brighter panel at 1274 nits measured, compared to the RedMagic 8S Pro’s 784 nits. This translates to better outdoor visibility for the Samsung. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the S23 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) provides deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The RedMagic 8S Pro’s display, while still excellent, is geared towards fast refresh rates for gaming, potentially at the expense of color accuracy in certain scenarios. The S23 Ultra’s LTPO panel dynamically adjusts refresh rates for power efficiency, a feature not explicitly mentioned for the RedMagic.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra clearly dominates in the camera department. While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the S23 Ultra’s advanced image processing, larger sensor, and versatile lens array (including multiple telephoto lenses) provide significantly superior image quality and flexibility. The RedMagic 8S Pro’s camera specifications are not detailed in the provided data, suggesting it’s a secondary consideration. The S23 Ultra’s ability to capture detailed images in low light and record high-resolution video is unmatched by the RedMagic, which likely prioritizes speed and efficiency over photographic fidelity. The S23 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom is a feature entirely absent from the RedMagic.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) with the same CPU configuration – a 1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 cores. However, the RedMagic 8S Pro’s dedicated cooling system – including a built-in fan – allows it to sustain peak performance for longer durations. The S23 Ultra relies on a larger vapor chamber, but may experience more thermal throttling under prolonged heavy loads. While both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, the RedMagic’s focus on gaming suggests optimizations for lower latency and faster memory access during gameplay. The S23 Ultra’s performance is more consistent across a wider range of tasks, while the RedMagic excels in short bursts of intense gaming.
Battery Life
The S23 Ultra’s active use score of 13:24h and endurance rating of 126h slightly edge out the RedMagic 8S Pro’s 132h endurance rating. This is likely due to the S23 Ultra’s more efficient display and software optimizations. While the RedMagic 8S Pro boasts faster charging – 80W wired (China) / 65W (International) achieving 100% in 35/40 minutes respectively – the S23 Ultra’s 45W charging, while slower, is still respectable and offers the convenience of 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro if you are a hardcore mobile gamer who prioritizes sustained frame rates, active cooling, and fast charging above all else. You’re willing to compromise on camera quality and broader feature sets for peak gaming performance. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra if you want a premium, all-around flagship experience with a class-leading camera, excellent display, S Pen functionality, and a more polished software experience. You value versatility and long-term usability over raw gaming horsepower.