RedMagic 9S Pro+ vs Black Shark 5 Pro: A Deep Dive into Gaming Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the enthusiast gamer prioritizing peak performance and future-proofing, the RedMagic 9S Pro+ is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers a substantial leap in processing power. However, the Black Shark 5 Pro offers excellent value and a solid gaming experience for those on a tighter budget.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ | Xiaomi Black Shark 5 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 65, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, July 03 | 2022, March 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 09 | Available. Released 2022, April 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) | 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5 mm (6.45 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) | 220 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+ |
| 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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9.5 | Android 12, Joy UI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| 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 | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto macro), AF |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, under display | 16 MP, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 2.0, video output |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer (China only) |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 16 min | 120W wired, 100% in 15 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4650 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Design Sleet (Black Version), Snowfall (Silver Version), Cyclone (Transparent Black Version), Frost (White Version) | Black, White |
| Models | - | SHARK KTUS-H0 |
| Price | About 740 EUR | About 720 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 876704 (v8), 1007133 (v9) GeekBench: 3665 (v5.1) GFXBench: 82fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- Ultra-fast 165W charging
- Likely improved thermal management
- Potentially superior display technology
- Higher price point
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- More affordable price
- Solid Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performance
- Respectable battery life (83h endurance)
- Fast 120W charging
- Older chipset with lower peak performance
- May exhibit more thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Black Shark 5 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 682 nits, a respectable figure, but the RedMagic 9S Pro+ is expected to exceed this significantly, typical of newer flagships. While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), the RedMagic 9S Pro+ likely benefits from advancements in panel technology, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rates and improved power efficiency. Bezels are a key area; RedMagic phones are known for minimizing these, offering a more immersive experience, a detail likely carried over to the 9S Pro+. Color accuracy is not specified for either, but flagship devices typically aim for 100% DCI-P3 coverage.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. The Black Shark 5 Pro’s camera system is likely focused on providing acceptable image quality for social media and casual use. The RedMagic 9S Pro+ is expected to have a more advanced camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and improved image processing algorithms, though gaming phones often prioritize performance over camera prowess. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the Black Shark 5 Pro is unlikely to be a significant selling point, given its limited resolution and image quality. OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a key feature to look for, but not specified for either device.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the RedMagic 9S Pro+ utilizes the Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), while the Black Shark 5 Pro features the older SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime core, clocked at 3.4 GHz, represents a significant architectural upgrade over the 8 Gen 1’s Cortex-X2 (3.0 GHz). The RedMagic also benefits from a more efficient CPU configuration (1+3+2+2) versus the Black Shark’s (1+3+4). This translates to faster processing speeds and improved multi-tasking. The 4nm process node on both chips is similar, but the 8 Gen 3’s architectural improvements yield better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. RAM speed (likely LPDDR5X on both) is not specified, but the 8 Gen 3’s memory controller is optimized for faster data transfer.
Battery Life
The Black Shark 5 Pro has an endurance rating of 83 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the RedMagic 9S Pro+’s 165W wired charging (100% in 16 minutes) significantly outpaces the Black Shark 5 Pro’s 120W charging (100% in 15 minutes). While the Black Shark 5 Pro’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the RedMagic 9S Pro+ allows for quicker top-ups, minimizing downtime. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s improved power efficiency also contributes to potentially longer battery life despite potentially having a similar capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+ if you demand the absolute best performance for demanding games, need the fastest charging speeds, and are willing to pay a premium. Buy the Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro if you prioritize value, a proven gaming experience, and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It's an excellent choice for gamers who don't necessarily need the latest and greatest.