The ZTE nubia RedMagic Astra and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent opposite ends of the Android flagship spectrum. The RedMagic Astra is laser-focused on delivering an uncompromising gaming experience, while the S24 Ultra aims to be the ultimate all-rounder, excelling in photography, productivity, and everyday use. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the more compelling choice. Its superior camera system, longer battery life (13:49h active use), and broader feature set outweigh the RedMagic Astra’s gaming-centric advantages. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the Astra’s raw power and cooling a worthwhile trade-off.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, June 11 | 2024, January 17 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, June 12 | Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2) |
| Dimensions | 207 x 134.2 x 6.9 mm (8.15 x 5.28 x 0.27 in) | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | No | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN |
| Weight | 370 g (13.05 oz) | 232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version), Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Armor |
| Resolution | 1504 x 2400 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~313 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density) |
| Size | 9.06 inches, 238.3 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, 5280Hz PWM, HDR, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | 8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 15, Redmagic OS 10.5 | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Single | 13 MP, (wide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 9 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.7μm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2, Display Port, magnetic connector pins | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, 50% in 22 min | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min
15W wireless (Qi)
4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 8200 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Eclipse Black, Starfrost Silver | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange |
| Models | NP05J | SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
| Price | About 500 EUR | $ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.62 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.06 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | 67:07h endurance, 1000 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class G | - |
| Free fall | Class E (0 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class B | - |
ZTE nubia RedMagic Astra
- Unmatched gaming performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Faster 80W wired charging
- Potentially better thermal management for sustained gaming
- Shorter battery life compared to S24 Ultra
- Less versatile camera system
- Gaming-focused design may not appeal to all users
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Exceptional camera system with versatile features
- Longer battery life and wireless charging options
- Polished software experience and broader feature set
- Slightly slower charging speed
- Chipset may throttle under extreme sustained load
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1447 nits compared to the RedMagic Astra’s 1036 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ high refresh rate panels, Samsung’s display technology (likely LTPO) dynamically adjusts refresh rates for improved efficiency. The Astra’s brightness is adequate, but the S24 Ultra offers a more visually impactful experience, especially for HDR content. Bezels are likely comparable, but Samsung’s panel is known for its color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The S24 Ultra’s camera system is a clear advantage. While the context data doesn’t detail specific sensors, Samsung’s flagship consistently delivers exceptional photo and video quality. The S24 Ultra’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The RedMagic Astra, while likely equipped with capable sensors, prioritizes other aspects of the phone. The S24 Ultra’s OIS and lens apertures will be superior, resulting in sharper images and more stable videos. Ignoring any potential 2MP macro sensors on either device, the S24 Ultra’s main sensor size and processing capabilities are the key differentiators.
Performance
The RedMagic Astra’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) is a powerhouse, featuring a unique octa-core configuration with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz. This contrasts with the S24 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) which utilizes a more conventional core arrangement peaking at 3.39 GHz. The Astra’s 3nm process *should* offer better power efficiency, but the S24 Ultra’s thermal design and software optimization are crucial. The Astra’s focus is sustained peak performance, while the S24 Ultra aims for balanced performance across all tasks. The Astra’s RAM configuration (likely LPDDR5x) is critical for maintaining high frame rates in demanding games.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra demonstrates superior battery endurance with an active use score of 13:49h, exceeding the RedMagic Astra’s 11:12h. While the Astra offers faster wired charging at 80W (50% in 22 minutes), the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging (65% in 30 minutes) is still respectable. The S24 Ultra also adds 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Astra. The Astra’s 1000 cycle battery claim suggests longevity, but the S24 Ultra’s larger battery capacity and efficient chipset provide a more substantial real-world advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic Astra if you prioritize maximum gaming performance, demand the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and value a device specifically engineered for extended gaming sessions. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you need a versatile flagship with a class-leading camera, exceptional battery life, and a polished software experience for everyday use and content creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the RedMagic Astra overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The RedMagic Astra is designed with advanced cooling solutions to mitigate thermal throttling. However, even with these measures, sustained peak performance for extended periods *may* result in some throttling. The effectiveness of the cooling system will depend on ambient temperature and game settings.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra support frame rate customization for specific games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Game Booster software allows for frame rate customization in supported games like PUBG and Genshin Impact. Users can prioritize performance or battery life by selecting different frame rate caps.
❓ How does the 80W charging on the RedMagic Astra compare to real-world charging speeds?
While the RedMagic Astra advertises 80W charging, real-world speeds will vary based on the charger used and battery temperature. The stated 50% charge in 22 minutes is a reasonable expectation, but a full charge will take longer.
❓ Is the S24 Ultra's camera significantly better in low-light conditions?
Yes, the S24 Ultra's larger sensor, wider aperture, and advanced image processing algorithms result in significantly better low-light performance compared to the RedMagic Astra. Expect less noise, more detail, and improved dynamic range in challenging lighting scenarios.
