Smartphone Comparison: Motorola One 5G Ace vs. ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.9 mm | Red Magic 9S Pro is slightly smaller and thinner, potentially feeling more pocketable. Ace is taller and thicker, might feel bulkier. |
| Weight | 212g | 229g | Ace is lighter, more comfortable for extended holding. Red Magic 9S Pro is heavier, may feel more robust but can cause fatigue. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | Minimal difference, both provide large screens suitable for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1116x2480 | Red Magic 9S Pro has slightly sharper display, resulting in a marginally clearer picture. |
| PPI | 393 | 400 | Both are very similar in sharpness, differences are negligible for most users. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Red Magic 9S Pro offers more vibrant colors, deeper blacks and better power efficiency when using dark mode. Ace's LCD will have less vivid colors and may not be as good outdoors |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Red Magic 9S Pro is significantly smoother, particularly for gaming and scrolling through content, while the Ace feels less fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Unable to determine screen brightness, both phones are uncomparable in this metric. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Red Magic 9S Pro has a much more powerful processor, providing faster app loading, smoother multi-tasking and superior gaming capabilities. Ace is significantly less powerful, struggling with demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 2,369,542 | Red Magic 9S Pro's performance is far superior, providing a much faster experience. The Ace is suitable for basic tasks, but may feel sluggish. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 750 | Red Magic 9S Pro's superior GPU means far better gaming performance and graphic rendering. The Ace will show poor performance on graphic intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Standard | 48MP, f/1.7, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.57", 1.00µm, Samsung GN5 | Red Magic 9S Pro should capture slightly sharper images, with better light sensitivity due to its larger sensor and pixel size. Ace is less equipped for low-light performance. |
| Selfie | 16MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 16MP, f/2.0, 1/3.06", 1.12µm, Omnivision OV16A1Q | Red Magic 9S Pro has a slightly wider aperture, allowing slightly better performance in low light conditions. Both have identical pixel size. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, Samsung S5KJN1 | Red Magic 9S Pro has a significantly higher resolution and a slightly wider aperture, capturing significantly more detail and potentially better low-light shots. Ace has an inferior ultrawide lens. |
| Macro | 2MP, f/2.4, 1.75µm | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm, GalaxyCore GC02M1 | Both have similar macro lens quality, suitable for close-up shots. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps w/EIS | Up to 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | Red Magic 9S Pro records far higher quality video, offering more flexibility with frame rates and resolution. It also has better video stabilisation. |
| Features | PDAF, LAF, EIS, Night Mode, RAW | OIS, Gimbal, LAF, EIS, Night Mode, 8k video | Red Magic 9S Pro has advanced video and image stabilization along with 8k video capabilities. Ace has phase-detection autofocus and RAW image capture. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 6500mAh | Red Magic 9S Pro offers significantly longer battery life, which translates to more usage between charges. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 80W Fast Charging | Red Magic 9S Pro charges significantly faster, reducing downtime for users. |
| Battery Features | 10W Charger in box, non-removable | Non-removable | Ace comes with a 10W charger in the box, however the Red Magic has much faster charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | Red Magic 9S Pro has a much more modern and up-to-date operating system, offering the latest features and security updates. Ace is running an old OS. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 7 | Red Magic 9S Pro supports the newest Wi-Fi standards, offering faster speeds and better network performance. Ace is limited to Wi-Fi 5 which is much slower. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.2 LE | Red Magic 9S Pro has newer Bluetooth standards, with LDAC support for improved audio quality. Both have LE for better power saving. |
| 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 9S Pro offers greater location accuracy due to more satellite support. Ace's GPS support is more basic. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM | Red Magic 9S Pro can use two SIMs at the same time, while the Ace can only use one. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 256GB/512GB | Red Magic 9S Pro has far larger internal storage, allowing storage of many more files. The Ace has much more limited storage space. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 12GB/16GB | Red Magic 9S Pro has significantly more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking and gaming. The Ace has less RAM, causing lags and reloads while multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device supports external storage via microSD. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 Microphones | Stereo Speakers, DTS/X, 3 Microphones | Red Magic 9S Pro has superior sound output with stereo speakers and DTS/X, along with better voice capture with a 3 mic setup. Ace has a basic microphone setup. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic Fingerprint sensor | Both phones have similar fingerprint sensor technology and offer basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Red Magic 9S Pro uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 offering better drop and scratch resistance. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity | Red Magic 9S Pro has an extra gravity sensor for motion-based use cases. Both have an identical set of common sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: At 212g, it's more comfortable for extended one-handed use.
- Slightly wider aperature for primary camera: May perform marginally better in low light conditions than the Red Magic's standard camera, though this would not be as impactful as the Red Magic's larger sensor.
- Slightly lower cost: This phone would be cheaper than the Red Magic, though likely used.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers much faster processing speeds and better gaming performance.
- AMOLED Display with 120Hz Refresh Rate: Offers more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and smoother animations.
- Significantly Larger Battery: 6500mAh battery provides longer battery life between charges.
- Faster Charging: 80W fast charging is significantly quicker, reducing downtime.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers higher resolution, larger sensor, and more advanced video capabilities with 8K recording, OIS and Gimbal.
- Up-to-date OS: Android 14, with the latest features and security updates.
- More RAM and Storage: Offers 12 or 16GB of RAM and 256 or 512GB of internal storage compared to 4 or 6GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of storage on the Ace.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers with DTS/X offering better sound quality and 3 mics for better voice capture.
- Newest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards: Better speed and performance with wi-fi 7 and bluetooth 5.2
Trade-offs:
- Size and Weight: The Red Magic 9S Pro is heavier and slightly thicker, which may be less comfortable for extended use.
- Price: Red Magic 9S Pro is significantly more expensive due to its superior specs and features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users needing basic smartphone functionality.
- Users who prioritize lighter weight and one-handed use.
- Individuals with very basic smartphone use cases such as calls, social media, and light browsing.
Use Cases:
- Basic social media and web browsing
- Making phone calls and sending texts
- Casual photography and video
- Light media consumption
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Ideal User:
- Mobile gamers and power users who demand top-tier performance.
- Users who value display quality and smoothness for media consumption.
- Individuals who require excellent battery life and fast charging.
- Users who desire a high quality camera.
- Users who require higher storage capacity.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming
- Demanding multi-tasking and productivity tasks
- High-resolution video recording and editing
- Immersive media consumption
- Heavy use cases across all areas.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? If you are on a very tight budget, the Ace may be a more suitable option, though a used device is likely your only option due to its age.
- What is your primary use case? If you are a power user and heavy gamer, the Red Magic 9S Pro is the way to go. The Ace is only suitable for very basic tasks.
- How important is battery life and charging speed? If these are important, the Red Magic 9S Pro is a clear winner.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious Basic Use: If you just need a basic phone and are very budget-constrained, a used Motorola One 5G Ace could be a suitable option.
- Gaming & High Performance: If mobile gaming and high performance are your priority, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is the only viable option.
- Camera and Media Consumption: The ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is better, offering advanced video capabilities, a superior display, and better quality audio.
- Multitasking: The ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro is significantly better due to its additional RAM.
My Choice
I would choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro. While it's pricier, its significantly superior performance, display, battery, camera capabilities and updated software make it the far better choice for a modern smartphone experience. The performance gap between the two devices is enormous, and the Red Magic Pro provides an overall far better experience across all use cases. The Ace is severely outdated in performance, software and most specs, so it would not be suitable as a main phone for most users. The only advantage of the Ace is the lighter weight, however this is not enough to justify the huge gap in performance and features.
