ZTE nubia RedMagic vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, exceptional camera system, and longer battery life outweigh the RedMagic’s gaming-centric features. However, dedicated mobile gamers on a budget may find value in the RedMagic.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | ZTE nubia RedMagic | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 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 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, April. Released 2018, April | 2024, January 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2024, January 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Dinorex T2X-1), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2) |
| Dimensions | 158.1 x 74.9 x 9.5 mm (6.22 x 2.95 x 0.37 in) | 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · 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 | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Dinorex T2X-1 scratch/shock resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Armor |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) | 8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 540 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), Redmagic 1.0 | Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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 | 24 MP, f/1.7, PDAF | - |
| 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 | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 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 | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Flame Red | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange |
| Models | NX609J | SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS |
| Price | About 400 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) |
ZTE nubia RedMagic
- Potentially better thermal management for sustained gaming
- Lower price point
- Gaming-focused design
- Significantly older and less powerful chipset
- Slow 18W charging
- Inferior camera system
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Exceptional performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Class-leading camera system
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Higher price
- Larger and heavier design
- May run hotter under extreme load than RedMagic
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1447 nits, compared to the RedMagic’s likely lower peak brightness (spec not provided, but typical for the era). While the RedMagic may offer a high refresh rate for smoother gaming, the S24 Ultra’s panel likely benefits from LTPO technology, dynamically adjusting refresh rates for improved power efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s superior brightness ensures excellent visibility in direct sunlight, a crucial advantage for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
The S24 Ultra’s camera system is in a different league. While the RedMagic’s camera specs are not provided, it’s unlikely to match the S24 Ultra’s capabilities. The S24 Ultra’s advanced image processing, combined with its likely larger sensor and optical image stabilization (OIS), delivers superior image quality in all lighting conditions. The S24 Ultra also excels in video recording, offering features and quality beyond the RedMagic’s reach. We can assume the RedMagic will have a simpler camera setup, likely prioritizing speed over detail.
Performance
The performance gap between the Snapdragon 835 in the RedMagic and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra is substantial. The 8 Gen 3, built on a 4nm process, offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance, alongside enhanced power efficiency. The S24 Ultra’s 8-core CPU (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520) dwarfs the RedMagic’s Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) in both clock speed and architectural advancements. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a far more capable gaming experience on the S24 Ultra. The RedMagic’s cooling system may mitigate some throttling, but it cannot overcome the fundamental performance difference.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s battery life is a clear winner, achieving 13:49h of active use. The RedMagic’s 18W wired charging is significantly slower than the S24 Ultra’s 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes), 15W wireless charging, and even 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the RedMagic’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the S24 Ultra’s combination of efficient chipset and optimized software provides a substantial advantage in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the ZTE nubia RedMagic if you absolutely prioritize mobile gaming above all else and are comfortable with an older chipset and slower charging. You'll benefit from a potentially cooler gaming experience and a lower price point. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you demand the best possible performance across all tasks, a class-leading camera, and a premium user experience with features like fast charging and a vibrant display.