ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova vs Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate: A Deep Dive for Gamers
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing peak performance and a more compact form factor, the ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers a significant performance leap over the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and its faster charging speeds are a tangible benefit. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s superior display and established gaming features remain compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova | Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | 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, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, September 05 | 2023, April 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September 05 | Available. Released 2023, May |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 253.3 x 164.6 x 7.3 mm (9.97 x 6.48 x 0.29 in) | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 530 g (1.17 lb) | 239 g (8.43 oz) |
| - | Built-in motorized cooling air vent (AeroActive Portal) IP54 water resistant 2" OLED display (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1800 x 2880 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~312 ppi density) | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 10.9 inches, 344.5 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, 550 nits | AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-core (1x3.4GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9.5 | Android 13, up to 2 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM | 512GB 16GB RAM |
| - | UFS 4.0 NTFS support for external storage | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+ |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | Panorama, HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, 29mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers) | Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers) |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes (no payments support) | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 Gen2, video output, magnetic connector pins | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector |
| 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, 100% in 55 min - International model 120W wired, 50% in 15 min, 100% in 45 min - China model | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 100% in 42 min 10W reverse wired |
| Type | 10100 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Cyclone, Snowfall, Midnight | Storm White |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 780 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 131h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.5 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1325105 (v9) GeekBench: 5139 (v5.5), 5567 (v6) GFXBench: 107fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for superior performance
- Faster charging speeds (especially China model)
- Potentially more compact design
- Lower display brightness
- Camera likely not a primary focus
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
- Brighter, higher-quality display
- Established gaming ecosystem and accessories
- Excellent battery endurance
- Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
- Slower charging speeds
- Potentially larger and heavier design
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate boasts a significantly brighter display at 1095 nits, compared to the RedMagic Nova’s 517 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both feature high refresh rates (assumed on the RedMagic Nova, based on brand history), the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel. The RedMagic Nova’s lower brightness may be a drawback for outdoor gaming or content consumption. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s display is clearly geared towards a more visually immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo/video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Given the ROG Phone’s history, it likely prioritizes image quality and versatility. The RedMagic Nova, traditionally, focuses less on camera performance. Without sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is likely to offer a more refined and feature-rich camera experience, while the RedMagic Nova’s camera is likely adequate for casual use.
Performance
The ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) represents a generational leap over the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Gen 3 features a redesigned CPU architecture with a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.4GHz, compared to the ROG Phone’s Cortex-X3 at 3.2GHz. This, coupled with improved GPU performance, will result in noticeably faster frame rates and smoother gameplay, especially in graphically intensive titles. While both utilize a 4nm process, the architectural improvements in the Gen 3 offer a performance advantage. The RedMagic Nova is likely to exhibit less throttling under sustained load due to the newer process and potentially improved thermal design (though specifics are missing).
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s endurance rating of 131 hours suggests excellent battery life, despite a potentially smaller mAh capacity (data missing). The RedMagic Nova delivers a solid 10:51h of active use. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s 65W charging (42 minutes to 100%) is slower than the RedMagic Nova’s 80W (55 minutes) for the international model, or 120W (45 minutes) for the China model. The RedMagic Nova’s faster charging is a significant advantage for users who need to quickly top up their battery. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s endurance rating suggests better overall efficiency, but the RedMagic Nova offers quicker replenishment.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic Nova if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding games and applications, and value a more manageable phone size. You'll benefit from the latest chipset and faster charging. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if you prefer a fully-featured gaming experience with a brighter, higher-quality display, advanced cooling solutions, and a robust ecosystem of gaming accessories. It’s the choice for those who prioritize a complete, immersive gaming package.