1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 75.9 × 9.5 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.9 mm | The Moto G Power is slightly taller and thicker, potentially feeling less sleek. The Red Magic is slightly wider, but noticeably thinner, which is typically more desirable |
| Weight | 206.5g | 229g | The Moto G Power is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use, while the Red Magic is heavier. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on screen | The Red Magic offers better screen protection, which increases durability against scratches and minor drops. |
Display
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.6" | 6.8" | Red Magic has a slightly larger screen, making it more immersive for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1116x2480 | The Red Magic has a much sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 266 | 400 | Red Magic's higher PPI results in significantly sharper images and finer detail. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Red Magic's AMOLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, along with better power efficiency for dark mode usage. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The Red Magic offers much smoother scrolling and animations, particularly noticeable in gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have unknown brightness capabilities, making direct comparison impossible. |
Performance
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) | Red Magic's chipset is significantly more powerful, providing much faster performance for all tasks, including gaming and demanding applications. |
| AnTuTu Score | 178,220 | 2,369,542 | Red Magic has drastically superior performance for resource-intensive tasks and future-proofing. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Red Magic's GPU is much more powerful, resulting in superior graphics performance, especially for gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1.00µm, 1/1.57" sensor | Red Magic has a slightly higher resolution and larger sensor, potentially capturing more light, while the Moto G Power has a slightly wider aperture, which is also helpful for low light |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 16MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm, 1/3.06" sensor | Red Magic's selfie camera is significantly higher resolution, producing more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 0.64µm, 1/2.76" sensor | The Red Magic provides a wide-angle lens for capturing more in a single shot, while the Moto G Power does not. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | None | The Moto G Power offers a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode, which the Red Magic lacks. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm, 1/5" sensor | Both have comparable macro lenses for close-up photography. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30/60fps, EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps | Red Magic allows for much higher resolution recording (up to 8K), smoother slow-motion video, and has video stabilization |
Battery
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 6500mAh | Red Magic has a significantly larger battery, potentially offering longer battery life. |
| Charging | 15W fast charging | 80W fast charging | Red Magic charges much faster, getting you back to full power quicker. |
Other
| Feature | Motorola Moto G Power (2021) | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 10 | Android 14 | Red Magic has a much more up to date OS, likely with better performance, better features, and improved security. |
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be | Red Magic supports the latest WiFi standards (6 & 7), offering faster speeds and improved performance on compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.2 LE | Red Magic has the more recent Bluetooth version, with better power efficiency and potentially improved audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Red Magic offers far more precise GPS, due to the larger suite of supported satellite systems. |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano SIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM) | Red Magic supports dual SIMs for personal and work use, while the Moto G Power is limited to one. |
| Internal Storage | 32 GB or 64 GB | 256 GB or 512 GB | Red Magic provides significantly more storage space for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 3 GB or 4 GB | 12 GB or 16 GB | Red Magic has significantly more RAM for better multitasking and smoother performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers storage expansion through microSD. |
| Audio | Basic | DTS/DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The Red Magic has far superior audio through its stereo speakers and enhanced DTS sound. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | basic fingerprint sensor | The Moto G Power has a more advanced fingerprint sensor with side mounting, while the Red Magic offers only basic fingerprint security. |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | The Red Magic has additional sensors that can assist in mobile gaming and other activities. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: Considerably lighter (206.5g vs 229g) making it more comfortable for prolonged use.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: More advanced and ergonomic fingerprint sensor placement.
- Depth Sensor: Offers a dedicated depth sensor for enhanced portrait photography.
- Slightly Wider Aperture on Main Camera: While the sensor is smaller, it may be better in low light due to the larger aperture.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides vastly superior CPU and GPU performance (1230% higher benchmark scores).
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, higher PPI, and 120Hz refresh rate providing a much better viewing experience.
- Larger Battery & Faster Charging: Larger capacity battery (6500mAh vs 5000mAh) and faster 80W charging offer significantly longer battery life and quicker charging times.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers a superior main camera sensor and wide angle lens. Also offers 8K video recording with more advanced stabilization.
- Modern Software: Runs on Android 14 (vs Android 10), which includes better features and security
- Enhanced Connectivity: Supports the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards. Has dual SIM support and a vastly superior GPS implementation.
- Superior Audio: Includes stereo speakers, DTS/DTS:X audio, and 3 microphones for better sound quality.
- Much Larger Storage and RAM: A minimum of 256GB Storage and 12GB RAM means that this phone will perform much better for longer without having to offload data or reboot for performance reasons.
Trade-offs:
- The Red Magic 9S Pro is significantly heavier than the Moto G Power.
- The Moto G Power does have a depth sensor, which the Red Magic does not have.
- The Moto G Power has a slightly wider aperture on its main camera, which may make it a superior low-light shooter.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola Moto G Power (2021) Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious buyers: Users who need a smartphone for basic tasks and want to save money.
- Users prioritizing battery life : The larger battery combined with a power efficient chipset will provide extended battery life for less-demanding tasks.
- Users wanting a light phone: A low weight will be comfortable for extended use.
Use Cases:
- Basic web browsing, email, and social media.
- Casual photo and video capture.
- Long battery life for infrequent charging.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Ideal User:
- Gamers: Users needing maximum performance for mobile gaming with advanced features.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who demand cutting-edge technology and features.
- Power Users: Users who want superior performance for heavy app usage and multitasking.
- Content Creators: Users who want a camera that can record high quality video
- Users wanting long battery life: The larger battery capacity will be useful for users who are on the go and away from power.
- Users who want future proofing: The more modern chipset, RAM, storage, and software will keep the phone relevant for longer.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Demanding applications and multitasking.
- High-quality photography and video recording.
- VR or AR use cases.
- Long periods of use away from a charger.
- Using a phone for the long term.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? The Moto G Power will be cheaper, while the Red Magic will be more expensive.
- What is my primary use case? If it's gaming or resource-intensive work, Red Magic is the clear choice. If it's basic tasks, the Moto G Power is fine.
- How important is display quality and performance? The Red Magic offers much superior display and performance for a premium experience.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic user on a tight budget: Choose the Motorola Moto G Power for basic functionality and long battery life, but understand it has an outdated operating system.
- Scenario 2: Casual gamer or moderate user who wants better performance: Choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro for superior gaming experience, display, and battery life.
- Scenario 3: Users who need a long-term phone with good performance: Choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro, for its vastly better performance and more modern technology which will make the phone relevant for longer.
My Choice
I would choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro. While the Moto G Power is lighter, and has a depth sensor, its advantages are far outweighed by the Red Magic's strengths. The Red Magic's vastly superior performance, display, camera system, battery life, charging speed, audio and the modern operating system makes it the clear choice for me. I prioritize performance and a better overall user experience over the minor weight and sensor advantages of the Moto G Power. The future proofing of the Red Magic is also something I would prefer to have in a phone.
