ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and AI
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with exceptional camera capabilities and long-term software support, the Google Pixel 8 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers and power users demanding maximum sustained performance will find the RedMagic 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and advanced cooling system far more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro | Google Pixel 8 Pro |
| 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, 42, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, November 23 | 2023, October 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, November 23 | Available. Released 2023, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Multi-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance |
| Triple | 50 MP, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm 2 MP (macro) | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 6500 mAh | Li-Ion 5050 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sleet (Black), Snowfall (Silver), Cyclone (Transparent Black) | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint |
| Models | NX769J | GC3VE, G1MNW |
| Price | About 850 EUR | € 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999 |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (17:38h active use)
- Superior gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Faster 80W wired charging
- Lower peak display brightness (1016 nits)
- Less advanced camera system compared to Pixel
Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Brighter display (1600 nits)
- Best-in-class camera with AI features
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- Shorter battery life (11:14h active use)
- Less powerful chipset for gaming (Tensor G3)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display at 1600 nits, compared to the RedMagic 9 Pro’s 1016 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize a 4nm chipset, the Pixel’s display technology likely contributes to its higher power consumption. The RedMagic 9 Pro, however, is expected to have a higher refresh rate (likely 120Hz or higher, based on RedMagic’s history) optimized for gaming, a detail not specified in the provided data. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for efficiency, but the RedMagic’s panel is geared towards responsiveness.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but their approaches differ significantly. The Pixel 8 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, focusing on image processing and AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Best Take. While sensor sizes and apertures aren’t provided, the Pixel’s reputation suggests a larger sensor and advanced image stabilization. The RedMagic 9 Pro, while likely equipped with a capable camera system, prioritizes other features, and its image processing will likely be less sophisticated. The Pixel 8 Pro’s strength lies in consistently delivering excellent results in various lighting conditions, while the RedMagic’s camera is likely a secondary consideration.
Performance
The RedMagic 9 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a clear advantage in raw processing power over the Google Tensor G3 (4nm). The Snapdragon’s octa-core configuration, with its Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz, is designed for peak performance, while the Tensor G3’s nona-core setup prioritizes AI tasks. The RedMagic’s focus on gaming implies a more aggressive thermal design, crucial for maintaining peak performance during extended gaming sessions. The Tensor G3, while capable, is optimized for Google’s machine learning algorithms, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load. The RedMagic’s LPDDR5x RAM (assumed, based on segment) will further enhance its gaming capabilities.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 9 Pro demonstrates superior battery endurance with an active use score of 17:38 hours, significantly outperforming the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14 hours. This difference is likely due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s improved efficiency and the RedMagic’s larger battery capacity (assumed, based on segment). The RedMagic’s 80W wired charging is also faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W charging, achieving 100% charge in 35 minutes versus the Pixel’s 50% in 30 minutes. The Pixel 8 Pro offers the convenience of 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic 9 Pro.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro if you need a phone specifically engineered for demanding mobile games, prioritizing sustained performance, a high refresh rate display, and long battery life during gaming sessions. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a phone with a best-in-class camera system, seamless integration with Google’s AI services, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, even if it means sacrificing some raw gaming power.