ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro vs. Honor Magic6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Display Tech
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a stunning visual experience and versatile features, the Honor Magic6 Pro is the better choice. However, gamers who demand the longest possible playtimes and don't mind a more niche aesthetic will find the RedMagic 9 Pro superior, thanks to its exceptional battery life.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro | Honor Magic6 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 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, November 23 | 2024, January 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, November 23 | Available. Released 2024, January 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather) |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | NanoCrystal Shield |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors (China only), 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 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) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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/1.4-2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 180 MP, f/2.6, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.49", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| 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 | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, 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/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min | 80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired |
| Type | 6500 mAh | Si/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sleet (Black), Snowfall (Silver), Cyclone (Transparent Black) | Black, Green, Blue, Purple, White |
| Models | NX769J | BVL-AN16, BVL-N49 |
| Price | About 850 EUR | € 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99 |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (17:38h active use)
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained performance
- Dedicated gaming features (likely includes triggers)
- Less versatile camera system (likely)
- Potentially less refined software experience
Honor Magic6 Pro
- Significantly brighter display (1578 nits)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Potentially superior camera system
- Shorter battery life (14:06h active use)
- May throttle under sustained heavy load
Display Comparison
The Honor Magic6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1578 nits compared to the RedMagic 9 Pro’s 1016 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight and a more vibrant HDR experience. While both utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the brighter display of the Magic6 Pro will be more impactful for everyday use and media consumption. Details regarding panel technology (LTPO, refresh rate) are missing, but the brightness difference is a clear win for the Honor device. The RedMagic 9 Pro’s display, while still excellent, is clearly positioned as secondary to its gaming focus.
Camera Comparison
Context data lacks specific camera details for both devices. However, given Honor’s history, the Magic6 Pro is likely to offer a more versatile and refined camera system, potentially including features like a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The RedMagic 9 Pro, while likely including capable cameras, will likely prioritize features less critical to gamers. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a definitive camera comparison is impossible, but Honor’s brand positioning suggests a stronger emphasis on photography.
Performance
Both devices are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration identical in core count and clock speeds (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520). Therefore, raw CPU performance will be nearly indistinguishable. The key differentiator will likely be thermal management. The RedMagic 9 Pro, with its gaming focus, likely incorporates a more aggressive cooling solution, potentially allowing it to sustain peak performance for longer durations. However, without detailed thermal testing data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but specific speeds are unknown.
Battery Life
The ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro delivers a remarkable 17:38 hours of active use, significantly outperforming the Honor Magic6 Pro’s 14:06 hours. This substantial difference is a direct result of the RedMagic’s prioritization of battery life for extended gaming. Both support 80W wired charging, achieving a 100% charge in 35 minutes. However, the Honor Magic6 Pro adds 66W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging (5W), offering greater convenience and versatility. The RedMagic 9 Pro’s longer battery life is a clear advantage for power users, while the Magic6 Pro’s wireless charging adds a layer of usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro if you need uncompromising battery life for extended gaming sessions, prioritize raw performance over camera versatility, and appreciate a bold, gamer-centric design. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, value the convenience of wireless charging, and desire a more polished, mainstream flagship experience with a strong emphasis on photography.