ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+ vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Flagship Features

The ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+ and Xiaomi 13 Pro represent two distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone. The RedMagic prioritizes raw gaming performance and cooling, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro aims for a more balanced experience with a focus on camera quality, display technology, and fast charging. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+ is the clear winner, offering superior cooling and a gaming-centric design. However, the Xiaomi 13 Pro excels in overall versatility, boasting a stunning display, a capable camera system, and faster wireless charging, making it the better choice for everyday users.

PHONES
Phone Names ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+ Xiaomi 13 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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, June 052022, December 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, July 11Available. Released 2022, December 14
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame
Dimensions164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm or 8.7 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)210 g or 229 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1300 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740 (719 MHz)Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, Redmagic OS 8Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 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)50.3 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 1080p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2 (China), 3.1 (International), OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-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, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 14 min120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 36 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4820 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight, Platinum, AuroraCeramic White, Ceramic Black, Ceramic Flora Green, Mountain Blue
Models-2210132G, 2210132C
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 750 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 115h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1281666 (v9) GeekBench: 5087 (v5.1), 5323 (v6) GFXBench: 64fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+

  • Faster 165W wired charging
  • Potentially higher sustained gaming performance due to cooling
  • Slightly higher CPU clock speed

  • No wireless charging
  • Camera likely not as advanced as the Xiaomi 13 Pro
  • Battery life potentially shorter under heavy gaming

Xiaomi 13 Pro

  • Versatile charging options (wired, wireless, reverse wireless)
  • Excellent display brightness and quality
  • Strong camera system

  • Slower wired charging than RedMagic 8S Pro+
  • Potentially more thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Slightly lower CPU clock speed

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a bright display, reaching a measured 1253 nits peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the RedMagic 8S Pro+’s display specs aren’t provided, its focus isn’t on display fidelity. The Xiaomi’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a high-quality OLED panel. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s display is geared towards content consumption and general use, while the RedMagic likely prioritizes refresh rate and responsiveness for gaming.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Pro is positioned as a photography powerhouse, though specific details are limited to 'Photo / Video'. Its camera system likely features advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensors than the RedMagic. The RedMagic 8S Pro+’s camera is likely adequate but not a primary selling point. The Xiaomi’s focus on camera capabilities makes it the superior choice for photography enthusiasts.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AC/AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) chipset, but with slightly different CPU clock speeds. The RedMagic 8S Pro+ edges out the Xiaomi 13 Pro with a 3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 prime core versus the Xiaomi’s 3.2 GHz. This difference, while subtle, could translate to a marginal performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. Both utilize the same Cortex-A715, A710, and A510 cores. However, the RedMagic’s integrated cooling system is a significant differentiator, allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer periods, crucial for gaming. The Xiaomi 13 Pro relies on more conventional thermal management.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a more comprehensive charging solution. Its 120W wired charging reaches 100% in 19 minutes, while the RedMagic 8S Pro+ achieves the same in 14 minutes with its 165W charging. However, the Xiaomi adds 50W wireless charging (36 minutes to full) and 10W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic. The Xiaomi 13 Pro also boasts an endurance rating of 115 hours and an active use score of 10:55h, indicating strong battery life despite not specifying the battery capacity. The RedMagic’s battery capacity is not provided, but its focus on high performance may result in shorter battery life under heavy load.

Buying Guide

Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+ if you demand the highest possible frame rates in demanding mobile games, prioritize sustained performance over extended gaming sessions, and appreciate features like active cooling. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Pro if you value a premium camera experience, a vibrant and bright display for media consumption, and a more refined, all-around smartphone experience with versatile charging options.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the RedMagic 8S Pro+’s cooling system significantly reduce thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the RedMagic 8S Pro+’s integrated cooling system, likely featuring a fan and vapor chamber, is designed to dissipate heat more effectively than the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s standard thermal management. This allows the RedMagic to maintain higher clock speeds for longer, resulting in more consistent frame rates and reduced performance drops during extended gaming.
❓ How does the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s camera perform in low-light conditions compared to the RedMagic 8S Pro+?
While specific camera specs for the RedMagic are limited, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is expected to excel in low-light photography. Xiaomi flagships typically feature large sensors and advanced image processing algorithms optimized for capturing detailed and vibrant images in challenging lighting conditions. The RedMagic’s camera is likely more focused on general-purpose use.
❓ Is the 165W charging on the RedMagic 8S Pro+ safe for long-term battery health?
While 165W charging is incredibly fast, modern charging protocols incorporate safety mechanisms to prevent overcharging and battery degradation. ZTE likely implements safeguards to manage the charging process and protect the battery's longevity. However, consistently using extremely fast charging *may* contribute to slightly faster battery wear over several years compared to slower charging methods.