The ZTE nubia RedMagic Mars and the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The RedMagic Mars, even with its older chipset, targets mobile gamers with a focus on sustained performance, while the P30 Pro New Edition aims for a more balanced, all-around experience with a strong emphasis on camera capabilities and fast charging. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera versatility and fast charging, the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition is the better choice. However, gamers on a budget who prioritize sustained performance and don't mind an older chipset will find the RedMagic Mars a compelling option.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat21 1400/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, November. Released 2018, December | 2020, May 12. Released 2020, June 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Dinorex T2X-1), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Aluminosilicate glass), glass back (Aluminosilicate glass), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.2 x 75 x 9.9 mm (6.23 x 2.95 x 0.39 in) | 158 x 73.4 x 8.4 mm (6.22 x 2.89 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 192 g (6.77 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 mins)
|
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Dinorex T2X-1 scratch/shock resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 1.0 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 10GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Leica optics, color spectrum sensor, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | - |
| Triple | - | 40 MP, f/1.6, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom
20 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.7", PDAF
TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4200 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Camouflage | Aurora, Black, Silver Frost |
| Models | NX619J | - |
| Price | About 420 EUR | About 820 EUR |
ZTE nubia RedMagic Mars
- Dedicated gaming focus
- Potentially lower price point
- Strong initial gaming performance
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 845)
- Inferior camera system
- Slower charging speeds
Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
- Superior camera quality
- Faster 40W wired charging
- More efficient Kirin 980 chipset
- Less focused on gaming
- Potentially higher price
- May not offer the same level of sustained gaming performance
Display Comparison
While specific display specs beyond resolution aren't provided, the RedMagic Mars likely prioritizes a high refresh rate for smoother gaming, a common feature in gaming phones of its era. The P30 Pro New Edition, known for its excellent display, likely boasts higher peak brightness and potentially better color accuracy. The Kirin 980's image signal processor likely contributes to more accurate color reproduction on the P30 Pro. Bezels are likely comparable given the release timeframe, but the RedMagic Mars may have a slightly more utilitarian design focused on maximizing screen real estate for gaming.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei P30 Pro New Edition is the clear winner in the camera department. While specific sensor details aren't provided for the RedMagic Mars, it's unlikely to match the P30 Pro’s capabilities. The P30 Pro is renowned for its exceptional low-light performance and zoom capabilities, leveraging its large sensor and sophisticated image processing. The P30 Pro’s image processing, powered by the Kirin 980’s NPU, delivers more refined and detailed images. The RedMagic Mars likely features a more basic camera setup geared towards casual photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10nm) in the RedMagic Mars versus the Kirin 980 (7nm) in the P30 Pro New Edition. The Kirin 980’s 7nm process offers a significant efficiency advantage, translating to less heat generation under sustained load. While the Snapdragon 845’s Kryo 385 Gold cores reach a higher clock speed (2.8 GHz vs 2.6 GHz), the Kirin 980’s Cortex-A76 cores, combined with the more efficient process, provide a more balanced performance profile. Gamers will see strong initial performance on the RedMagic Mars, but the P30 Pro is likely to maintain higher frame rates for longer periods due to better thermal management. The P30 Pro's CPU architecture, with its dual Cortex-A76 clusters, also offers better multi-core performance.
Battery Life
The P30 Pro New Edition’s 40W wired charging is a game-changer, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes. This significantly outperforms the RedMagic Mars’ 18W charging. The P30 Pro also adds 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the RedMagic Mars. While the RedMagic Mars may have a comparable or slightly larger battery capacity (mAh not specified), the P30 Pro’s faster charging and wireless capabilities provide a more convenient and versatile charging experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic Mars if you need a dedicated gaming phone with a focus on sustained performance and are willing to compromise on camera quality and modern features. Buy the Huawei P30 Pro New Edition if you prefer a versatile smartphone with a superior camera system, faster charging, and a more polished software experience, even if it means sacrificing raw gaming power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 845 in the RedMagic Mars struggle with demanding games released after 2019?
While the Snapdragon 845 was a flagship processor, newer games optimized for more recent chipsets may exhibit reduced frame rates or require lower graphics settings on the RedMagic Mars. The Kirin 980 in the P30 Pro, being newer and more efficient, will generally handle these titles better.
❓ How does the thermal management of the RedMagic Mars compare to the P30 Pro during extended gaming sessions?
The RedMagic Mars, designed for gaming, likely incorporates a more aggressive cooling solution. However, the Kirin 980’s 7nm process inherently generates less heat than the Snapdragon 845’s 10nm process. While the RedMagic Mars might offer slightly cooler initial temperatures, the P30 Pro is likely to maintain more consistent performance over longer gaming sessions due to less throttling.
❓ Is the 40W charging on the P30 Pro significantly faster in real-world use?
Yes, the 40W charging on the P30 Pro is a substantial improvement over the RedMagic Mars’ 18W charging. Expect to gain a significant percentage of battery life in a much shorter timeframe, making it ideal for users who need to quickly top up their device.
