ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For dedicated mobile gamers, the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ is the clear winner, offering superior cooling and a gaming-centric feature set. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro provides a more polished, versatile experience with a better camera system and faster wireless charging, making it the better choice for mainstream users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ | Xiaomi 14 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 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 65, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, July 03 | 2023, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 09 | Available. Released 2023, November 01 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back | Glass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Shatterproof glass |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 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, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone 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/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 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/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 16 min | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4880 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Design Sleet (Black Version), Snowfall (Silver Version), Cyclone (Transparent Black Version), Frost (White Version) | Black, Silver, Titanium, Green |
| Models | - | 23116PN5BC |
| Price | About 740 EUR | About 650 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+
- Faster wired charging (165W)
- Superior cooling for sustained performance
- Gaming-centric features (triggers, high refresh rate)
- Potentially less refined camera system
- Bulkier design due to cooling system
Xiaomi 14 Pro
- Versatile camera system
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging
- More balanced and refined user experience
- Slower wired charging (120W)
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but their display philosophies diverge. While specific display specs (resolution, refresh rate) are missing, the RedMagic line historically focuses on high refresh rates for gaming, likely exceeding the Xiaomi 14 Pro. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, given its broader appeal, will likely prioritize color accuracy and brightness. The 120W charging on the Xiaomi 14 Pro suggests a focus on quick top-ups, while the RedMagic's 165W charging is geared towards minimizing downtime during intense gaming sessions. The absence of PWM frequency data makes it difficult to assess flicker-related eye strain, but both brands typically employ high frequencies.
Camera Comparison
The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to excel in camera performance, a traditional strength of the Xiaomi flagship line. While specific sensor details are missing, Xiaomi typically employs large sensors and advanced image processing algorithms. The RedMagic 9S Pro+, while likely including a capable camera system, prioritizes gaming features over photographic prowess. The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s inclusion of 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging further highlights its focus on convenience and versatility, features less critical for the gaming-focused RedMagic.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AC/AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The RedMagic 9S Pro+ boasts a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed of 3.4 GHz (vs 3.3 GHz on the Xiaomi 14 Pro) on its prime Cortex-X4 core. While this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in most tasks, it could translate to a marginal performance advantage in CPU-bound gaming scenarios. Crucially, the RedMagic’s active cooling system will allow it to sustain these peak clocks for longer periods, mitigating thermal throttling. The Xiaomi 14 Pro will rely on more conventional passive cooling, potentially leading to performance dips during extended heavy use. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the RedMagic’s cooling solution is the key differentiator for sustained performance.
Battery Life
The RedMagic 9S Pro+ features 165W wired charging, promising a full charge in just 16 minutes. The Xiaomi 14 Pro offers 120W wired charging (18 minutes) and adds the convenience of 50W wireless charging (40 minutes) and 10W reverse wireless charging. While the RedMagic charges faster via wire, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities provide greater flexibility. The actual battery capacity (mAh) is not provided, but the RedMagic’s focus on gaming suggests a larger battery to accommodate extended play sessions, while the Xiaomi 14 Pro likely balances capacity with a slimmer profile.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ if you demand the highest possible sustained gaming performance, prioritize active cooling, and value features like shoulder triggers. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you want a premium smartphone with a top-tier camera, fast charging (wired and wireless), and a more refined software experience for everyday use.