ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Sony Xperia 1 VII emerges as the more well-rounded device. Its superior display, significantly longer battery endurance (43:30h vs 132h is a substantial difference), and refined camera system offer a premium experience. However, gamers will find the RedMagic 8S Pro’s dedicated features and raw power more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| 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 | 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, June 05 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, July 11 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 9.5 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 228 g (8.04 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| 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 (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 (719 MHz) | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 13, Redmagic OS 8 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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) | 48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (Global), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| 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/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min (China) 65W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 40 min (International) | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight, Platinum, Aurora | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | - | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | About 650 EUR | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class D |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Active cooling system prevents throttling
- Faster wired charging speeds (80W/65W)
- Dedicated gaming features (triggers, fan)
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Less refined camera system
- Lower display brightness
- Bulkier design
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Exceptional battery life and longevity
- Brighter and more color-accurate display
- Professional-grade camera system
- More efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
- Slower wired charging (30W)
- Less focused on gaming features
- Higher price point (likely)
- No dedicated gaming triggers
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly brighter display at 1475 nits compared to the RedMagic 8S Pro’s 784 nits, making it far more usable in direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Xperia 1 VII’s panel likely benefits from Sony’s expertise in display calibration, resulting in more accurate colors. The RedMagic 8S Pro, however, may offer a higher refresh rate (spec not provided, but typical for gaming phones) which is crucial for smooth gameplay, though the Xperia 1 VII’s 120Hz is still excellent. Bezels are likely slimmer on the Xperia 1 VII, contributing to its more refined aesthetic.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 1 VII is expected to feature a more sophisticated camera system, leveraging Sony’s expertise in image sensor technology and image processing. While specific sensor details are missing, Sony’s history suggests a focus on larger sensors and advanced features like real-time tracking and eye autofocus. The RedMagic 8S Pro’s camera is likely competent, but geared towards general use rather than professional-level photography or videography. The Xperia 1 VII’s emphasis on manual controls and cinematic video recording capabilities sets it apart. We can assume the Xperia 1 VII will have a more versatile lens selection, avoiding the inclusion of low-resolution macro lenses often found on gaming phones.
Performance
The Xperia 1 VII’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) represents a significant leap in efficiency and performance over the RedMagic 8S Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Oryon V2 Phoenix cores in the 8 Elite deliver higher clock speeds (4.32 GHz vs 3.36 GHz) and a more modern architecture, translating to faster processing and improved power efficiency. While the RedMagic 8S Pro’s cooling system is designed to mitigate throttling, the 8 Elite’s inherent efficiency gives the Xperia 1 VII an advantage in sustained performance. The Xperia 1 VII’s LPDDR5x RAM is also likely faster than the RedMagic’s, further enhancing responsiveness.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s endurance rating of 43:30h and active use score of 15:32h dramatically surpasses the RedMagic 8S Pro’s 132h rating. This difference is likely due to the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s superior power efficiency and the Xperia 1 VII’s optimized software. While the RedMagic 8S Pro offers faster wired charging (80W/65W vs 30W), the Xperia 1 VII’s 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging provide added convenience. The Xperia 1 VII also boasts a longer battery lifespan with 1400 cycles, indicating greater long-term reliability.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro if you demand the highest possible frame rates in mobile games, prioritize active cooling, and value a dedicated gaming experience with features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you are a content creator or enthusiast who values a top-tier display for media consumption, a versatile and high-quality camera system, and exceptional battery life for all-day use.