Motorola Moto G 5G vs ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date December 7, 2020 July 9, 2024
Release Year 2020 2024

Physical

Volume 125.14 cm³ 111.51 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.16 "/g 2.97 "/g
Weight 212 g 229 g
Height 166.1 mm 164 mm
Width 76.1 mm 76.4 mm
Thickness 9.9 mm 8.9 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Frosted Silver
  • Volcanic Gray
  • Design Sleet (Black Version)
  • Snowfall (Silver Version)
  • Cyclone (Transparent Black Version)
  • Frost (White Version)

Display

Screen Size 6.7 " 6.8 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 1116 x 2480
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 85.7 % 89.1 %
Pixel Density 393 PPI 400 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 120 Hz
Typical Brightness N/A N/A
HBM Brightness N/A N/A
Peak Brightness N/A 1600 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 111.38 mAh/in² 140.57 mAh/in²
Battery Density 39.96 mAh/cm³ 58.29 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 6500 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPU Adreno 619 Adreno 750 (1 GHz)

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 3.2
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort 1
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 3.2, Gen 2, OTG, DisplayPort, Accessory Connector

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 10 14
Maximum OS Version

Comparison Summary

Smartphone Comparison: Motorola Moto G 5G vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro

1. Specifications Comparison

FeatureMotorola Moto G 5GZTE nubia Red Magic 9S ProPractical Impact
Design
Launch Date2020-12-072024-07-09Red Magic 9S Pro is much newer, suggesting access to newer tech and potentially longer software support.
Form FactorStandardStandardBoth are standard smartphones.
Dimensions166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mmMoto G 5G is slightly taller and thicker, while Red Magic 9S Pro is slightly wider, impacting handling and pocketability.
Weight212g229gMoto G 5G is lighter, possibly more comfortable for prolonged use.
Display
Size6.7"6.8"Minimal difference in screen size; negligible impact.
Resolution1080x24001116x2480Red Magic 9S Pro has slightly higher resolution; marginally sharper images and text.
Pixel Density393 PPI400 PPINegligible difference in sharpness.
TechnologyIPS LCDAMOLEDAMOLED offers deeper blacks, higher contrast, more vibrant colors, better viewing angles, and more efficient power use with dark mode, significantly enhancing visual experience.
Refresh Rate60Hz120HzRed Magic 9S Pro's 120Hz refresh rate offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations.
Brightness0 nits0 nitsIdentical brightness, but actual usability under bright light isn't available.
Performance
ChipsetSnapdragon 750G (8 nm)Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Red Magic 9S Pro has a much more powerful and efficient chipset, resulting in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, superior gaming performance.
AnTuTu Score390,0002,369,542Red Magic 9S Pro offers dramatically higher performance, suitable for intensive tasks and demanding gaming.
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 750Red Magic 9S Pro's GPU is much more powerful, offering significantly enhanced graphics performance, crucial for smooth, high-fidelity gaming and graphical tasks.
Battery
Capacity5000mAh6500mAhRed Magic 9S Pro has a larger battery, potentially lasting much longer on a single charge.
Charging20W Fast Charging80W Fast ChargingRed Magic 9S Pro charges significantly faster, reducing downtime waiting for a full charge.
Battery TypeLi-IonLi-PolymerDifference in battery chemistry, the impact will be on the overall cycle life and degradation over a longer period of time.
Camera
Main Camera48MP f/1.7, 0.8µm50MP f/1.88, 1.0µm, 1/1.57", Samsung GN5Red Magic 9S Pro has a slightly higher resolution sensor and larger pixels, typically producing better low-light photos.
Selfie Camera16MP f/2.2, 1.0µm16MP f/2.0, 1.12µm 1/3.06" Omnivision OV16A1QRed Magic 9S Pro has slightly better low-light and portrait capture.
Wide Angle Lens8MP f/2.2, 1.12µm50MP f/2.0, 0.64µm, 1/2.76" Samsung S5KJN1Red Magic 9S Pro has much higher wide-angle camera resolution, capturing a lot more detail in landscape and group photos.
Macro Lens2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm2MP f/2.4, 1.75µm, 1/5" GalaxyCore GC02M1Both have a basic macro lens, very similar performance expected.
Video Recording4K@30fps, EISUp to 8K@30fps, OIS, GimbalRed Magic 9S Pro can record much higher resolution videos and has better stabilization, enhancing video quality for both everyday and professional use cases.
FeaturesPDAF, LAF, RAWOIS, Gimbal, Under Display Camera, Manual focusRed Magic 9S Pro offers optical image stabilization (OIS) and gimbal stabilization, under-display camera and manual focus. Moto G 5G offers PDAF, RAW. The Red Magic 9S Pro offers a much more comprehensive set of video features and image control.
Software
OSAndroid 10Android 14Red Magic 9S Pro has a much more modern operating system with the newest features, better security, and performance enhancements.
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 7Red Magic 9S Pro supports much faster Wi-Fi speeds and greater network capacity.
Bluetooth5.1 LE5.2 LE, LDAC, SBC, AACRed Magic 9S Pro offers a slightly better Bluetooth version with enhanced audio codecs for higher-quality wireless audio.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GalileoA-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5)Red Magic 9S Pro has superior location accuracy due to its support of more satellite systems.
SIMDual SIM Dual StandbyDual SIM Dual StandbyBoth support dual SIM functionality, however this can impact battery life if 2 sims are active.
Storage
Internal64GB or 128GB256GB or 512GBRed Magic 9S Pro offers significantly more storage space for apps, media, and files.
RAM4GB or 6GB12GB or 16GBRed Magic 9S Pro has significantly more RAM, enabling much better multitasking and faster performance.
ExpandableNoNoNeither supports expandable storage.
Audio
Audio Quality2 microphonesDTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphonesRed Magic 9S Pro has a more premium audio setup with enhanced surround sound, stereo speakers, and better audio capture.
Security
Fingerprint SensorRear-mounted fingerprint sensorBasic fingerprint sensorBoth have basic fingerprint sensors for biometric authentication. Red Magic has it under the display
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionUnknownCorning Gorilla Glass 5Red Magic 9S Pro has better protection against scratches and impacts.
SensorsBiometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, GyroscopeBiometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, GravityRed Magic 9S Pro adds a Gravity sensor for more comprehensive functionality.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Motorola Moto G 5G Advantages:

  • Lighter Weight: At 212g, the Moto G 5G is noticeably lighter than the Red Magic 9S Pro, making it more comfortable for extended handheld use.
  • Potentially Lower Price: Being an older, mid-range phone, the Moto G 5G is likely to be significantly cheaper than the Red Magic 9S Pro.

ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Advantages:

  • Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers dramatically better performance in gaming, multitasking, and general usage compared to the Moto G 5G’s Snapdragon 750G.
  • Much Better Display: The AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers superior visual quality, smoother animations, and better power efficiency, particularly when using dark themes.
  • Larger Battery & Faster Charging: The 6500mAh battery and 80W fast charging provide significantly longer battery life and quicker recharge times, reducing downtime.
  • Advanced Camera System: The Red Magic 9S Pro has much more feature-rich and higher-quality cameras, offering better photo and video capabilities including 8K recording, OIS, and gimbal stabilization
  • Latest Software: Runs Android 14 out of the box vs Android 10 on the Moto G 5G. This offers significantly more modern features, security and app compatibility
  • Superior Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards for faster and more reliable wireless connections.
  • Significantly More Storage and RAM: Offers up to 512GB storage and 16GB RAM, suitable for power users and those who need to store large media files.
  • Better Audio: The built-in stereo speakers and DTS / DTS X enhancement offer much more immersive and high quality audio compared to the Moto G 5G's single speaker.
  • Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 provides better protection against scratches and cracks
  • Better Sensors: Offers a gravity sensor for improved gaming experience

Trade-offs:

  • The Red Magic 9S Pro is heavier and more expensive than the Moto G 5G.
  • The Moto G 5G is much older, and its software support is likely limited.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Motorola Moto G 5G Ideal User:

  • Budget-conscious users who need a basic smartphone for daily tasks (calls, texts, web browsing, social media).
  • Users who value lightweight and comfortable design over peak performance.
  • Users who don't engage in heavy gaming or content creation.

Use Cases:

  • Casual everyday use
  • Basic multimedia consumption
  • Simple web browsing and social media

ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Ideal User:

  • Gamers who demand high performance, smooth frame rates, and advanced features.
  • Users who consume a lot of media (videos, streaming content) and value a high-quality display.
  • Power users who need a lot of storage, RAM, and fast performance for multitasking and demanding apps.
  • Mobile photographers/videographers who need professional level features for recording video and capturing images
  • Users who want the latest technology, fast performance, and future-proofing.

Use Cases:

  • High-end mobile gaming
  • Intensive multitasking
  • High-quality video recording and photography
  • Mobile content creation
  • Heavy media consumption

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. What is your budget? The Moto G 5G is likely to be much cheaper, while the Red Magic 9S Pro is in the premium price range.
  2. How important is gaming and performance to you? The Red Magic 9S Pro is tailored for demanding tasks like gaming, while the Moto G 5G is better for basic use.
  3. How important are battery life, display quality, and camera features to you? The Red Magic 9S Pro offers significantly better features in these areas.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Budget-Conscious User: If the budget is tight and you only need a basic phone, the Motorola Moto G 5G is a reasonable choice.
  • Casual User: If you want a smooth experience, and would benefit from the nicer screen and much better battery, the Red Magic 9S Pro is a very strong choice, despite being pricier than the Moto G 5G.
  • Gaming Enthusiast/Power User: If you plan on playing demanding games or using resource-intensive apps, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is the superior choice.

My Choice

If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro. While it is more expensive, the leap in performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the superior AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, the significantly larger battery with faster charging, and the much more advanced camera system are well worth the investment for my use case. I prefer a fluid mobile experience with smooth animations and top tier performance. I often use my phone for gaming and editing photos/videos, and the Red Magic 9S Pro would allow me to do both with greater ease. The much faster charging and longer battery also makes the Red Magic 9S Pro a compelling option, and the higher storage capacity is an added bonus. The main trade-off is the increased cost and weight, but for my use case those are acceptable compromises.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.