RedMagic 9S Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average gamer prioritizing marathon sessions, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro is the clear winner. Its exceptional 17:08-hour active use battery life significantly outpaces the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 14:43 hours. However, the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s brighter display and more refined software experience make it a compelling alternative for those valuing visual fidelity and broader functionality.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 65, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, July 03 | 2024, January 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 09 | Available. Released 2024, January 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 225 g (7.94 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.4 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-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9.5 | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), 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/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 35 min | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 39 min - International 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS - India 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired |
| Type | 6500 mAh | 5500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Design Sleet (Black Version), Snowfall (Silver Version), Cyclone (Transparent Black Version), Frost (White Version) | Phantom Black |
| Models | - | AI2401, AI2401_A, AI2401_D |
| Price | About 700 EUR | $ 1,157.98 / £ 1,693.75 / € 632.66 |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro
- Exceptional battery life (17:08h active use)
- Slightly faster CPU clock speed
- Aggressive cooling system for sustained performance
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less emphasis on camera quality
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
- Significantly brighter display (1765 nits)
- More versatile charging options (wired, wireless, reverse)
- Potentially superior camera system
- Shorter battery life (14:43h active use)
- Slightly slower CPU clock speed
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro’s display is the standout feature, achieving a measured peak brightness of 1765 nits, substantially exceeding the RedMagic 9S Pro’s 1058 nits. This difference translates to significantly better visibility in bright outdoor conditions. While both utilize high refresh rate panels, the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s superior brightness and likely wider color gamut (though not specified) provide a more immersive visual experience. The RedMagic 9S Pro, however, may benefit users sensitive to flicker with a potentially higher PWM dimming rate, a detail not provided in the specs but common in RedMagic displays.
Camera Comparison
The provided data focuses heavily on gaming performance, leaving camera details sparse. The ROG Phone 8 Pro is marketed with a focus on photo and video capabilities, suggesting a more sophisticated camera system. While the RedMagic 9S Pro likely includes a capable camera, it’s positioned as a secondary feature. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s marketing suggests a more comprehensive photographic experience. The absence of details regarding the RedMagic’s camera implies a less emphasized feature set.
Performance
Both devices are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The RedMagic 9S Pro features a slightly faster prime core at 3.4 GHz compared to the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 3.3 GHz. While this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in most games, it could provide a marginal advantage in CPU-bound tasks. Both utilize a similar core configuration (1+3+2+2), and both benefit from the efficiency of the 4nm process. Thermal management will be crucial; the RedMagic series historically prioritizes aggressive cooling, potentially allowing for sustained peak performance, while Asus balances cooling with a more refined user experience. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring ample memory bandwidth for demanding games.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the RedMagic 9S Pro truly shines. Its active use score of 17:08 hours is a significant improvement over the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s 14:43 hours. This translates to hours of extra gaming or everyday use. While the ROG Phone 8 Pro offers more versatile charging options – 65W wired (international), 30W (India), 15W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless – the RedMagic 9S Pro’s 80W wired charging is still competitive, reaching 100% in 35 minutes. The ROG Phone 8 Pro takes 39 minutes (international) to reach full charge. The RedMagic’s larger battery capacity clearly offsets the ROG Phone’s charging versatility for users prioritizing longevity.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro if you need uncompromising battery life for extended gaming sessions, prioritize raw performance over camera quality, and appreciate a more aggressive, gamer-focused aesthetic. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, a more versatile camera system, and a more polished, mainstream-friendly software experience with broader ecosystem integration.