1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 161.5 × 75.6 × 7.8 mm | 169.9 × 77.2 × 9.7 mm | The Red Magic 6 is noticeably larger, thicker, and less pocketable, impacting portability and one-handed use. |
| Weight | 200g | 220g | The S21+ is lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use and less tiring in the hand. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | The difference of 0.1" is minimal; both offer similar screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same level of sharpness. |
| PPI | 394 | 387 | The difference in pixel density is minor, with no significant impact on display clarity for most users. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | The Red Magic 6 provides smoother scrolling and animations, particularly noticeable in gaming. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | The S21+ is much better for outdoor use in bright sunlight due to its significantly higher brightness. The Red Magic 6's brightness is unknown, limiting this comparison. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2100 (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | The Snapdragon 888 generally offers better gaming performance and GPU capabilities compared to the Exynos 2100. |
| AnTuTu Score | 749,100 | N/A | The S21+ has a benchmark score of 749,100, but without the score for the Red Magic 6 a direct performance comparison is impossible. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP14 | Adreno 660 | The Adreno 660 is typically favored for gaming due to its optimization, while the Mali-G78 offers a different style of performance with slightly better efficiency. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 12MP, f/1.8, 1/1.76", Sony IMX555, 1.8µm | Not available | The S21+ has a detailed standard camera, useful for everyday shots. The Red Magic 6 camera details are unknown |
| Telephoto Camera | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/1.72", Samsung S5KGW2, 0.8µm | Not available | The S21+ offers optical zoom capabilities and detailed portraits. The Red Magic 6 lacks a telephoto camera. |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP, f/2.2, 1/3.2", Sony IMX374, 1.22µm | Not available | The S21+ has a selfie camera with good low-light performance and detail. The Red Magic 6's selfie camera details are unknown. |
| Wide Angle Camera | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", Sony IMX563, 1.4µm | Not available | The S21+ has a wide-angle lens, which is useful for landscape and group photos, macro photography. The Red Magic 6 lacks a wide angle camera. |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, OIS, EIS, HDR, Stereo sound, Slow-motion | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, No stabilization | The S21+ provides stabilized footage at multiple resolutions, while the Red Magic 6's lacks stabilization which can result in shakier videos. The S21+ also offers slow-motion video. |
| DxOMark Score | 111 (Photo: 118, Video: 89) | Not available | The S21+ performs better overall in mobile camera tests and has better photo and video scores. The Red Magic 6 camera performance is unknown. |
| Camera Features | Comprehensive Feature set including: Optical zoom, OIS, digital zoom, RAW, Night mode. | Basic | The S21+ offers more flexibility and control over image capture, resulting in higher quality photos in a variety of conditions. The Red Magic 6 feature set is unknown. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 0mAh | The S21+ has a significantly larger battery, suggesting longer battery life between charges. The Red Magic 6 battery capacity is unknown. |
| Charging | 25W fast charging | Standard charging | The S21+ supports fast charging, enabling quicker refills. The Red Magic 6's charging speeds are unknown. |
| Features | Wireless, Reverse Charging | Standard features | The S21+ offers wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities for added convenience, while the Red Magic 6's charging features are unknown. |
Software & Connectivity
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11, upgradeable to 15 | Android 11 | The S21+ is confirmed to receive OS updates, potentially for longer support. The Red Magic 6 OS update information is unavailable. |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Not Available | The S21+ supports the latest WiFi standards for faster speeds and better connectivity. The Red Magic 6's WiFi capabilities are unknown. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Not Available | The S21+ has a newer Bluetooth version with enhanced connectivity. The Red Magic 6's Bluetooth capabilities are unknown. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Not Available | The S21+ supports multiple satellite systems for better location accuracy. The Red Magic 6's GPS capabilities are unknown. |
| SIM | Dual SIM, eSIM | Not Available | The S21+ has dual SIM capabilities, including eSIM, which increases flexibility. The Red Magic 6 SIM capabilities are unknown. |
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | Not Available | The S21+ comes with ample storage options for users. The Red Magic 6's storage options are unknown. |
| RAM | 8 GB | Not Available | The S21+ has 8GB of RAM for smooth multitasking. The Red Magic 6 RAM configuration is unknown. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone allows for additional storage via SD card. |
Audio & Security & Build
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Stereo speakers, noise cancellation mic | Basic | The S21+ has advanced audio features for a superior sound experience. The Red Magic 6 audio quality is unknown |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Fingerprint sensor | Both offer basic biometric security via fingerprint scanners. |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | The S21+ offers improved screen protection from scratches and drops. The Red Magic 6 screen protection is unknown. |
| Sensors | Comprehensive Suite | Basic | The S21+ offers more sensors for enhanced user experience and functionality. The Red Magic 6 sensor suite is unknown. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G Advantages:
- Superior Display Brightness: Significantly better visibility outdoors under bright sunlight.
- Better Camera System: Detailed camera system with zoom, stabilization, and various modes, enhanced by a much higher DxOMark score.
- Enhanced Video: Features optical and electronic image stabilization for smoother recordings plus slow-motion recording.
- Wireless and Reverse Charging: Offers convenient wireless charging options and the ability to charge other devices.
- Comprehensive Connectivity: Supports advanced WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS for better connectivity and location accuracy.
- Confirmed Software Updates: Guaranteed OS updates through Android 15.
- Advanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and noise-canceling for better sound quality.
- Comprehensive Sensor Suite: More sensor options for increased user functionality.
- Lighter Design: More comfortable for prolonged use due to its lower weight.
- Screen Protection: Better protection for its screen against damages.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate: 165Hz refresh rate provides an exceptionally smooth visual experience, particularly for gaming.
- Potentially Better Gaming Performance: The Snapdragon 888 is often favored for gaming performance, though this needs verification with benchmark data.
Trade-offs:
- Samsung S21+ 5G: Lacks the ultra-high refresh rate found in some gaming-focused phones.
- ZTE nubia Red Magic 6: Has very limited and unknown specifications in many critical categories such as brightness, camera quality, battery capacity, connectivity features and most importantly lacks the benchmark scores, making it hard to judge. It is significantly bulkier and heavier.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize a high-quality camera, strong performance, a great display (including outdoor visibility), and overall reliability.
- Use Cases: Everyday photography, video recording, watching media content outdoors, productivity tasks, moderate to high level gaming, and users who want a premium experience.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6:
- Ideal User: Gamers who prioritize a high refresh rate display and gaming performance but also do not mind sacrificing other common features in day to day tasks.
- Use Cases: Competitive gaming, mobile gaming enthusiasts, users who want the highest possible refresh rate, and those who care less about camera quality, battery life, and other premium features.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The S21+ typically offers a better price-to-value ratio for most users due to its balance of features and proven performance. However, without the price of the Red Magic 6, it is not possible to know the comparative value of the Red Magic 6.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is camera quality and video recording to you? The S21+ has a clear advantage here.
- Are you a serious gamer who prioritizes the highest possible refresh rate above all other features? The Red Magic 6 has a higher refresh rate, but its general performance needs clarification due to lack of benchmark data.
- Do you need a phone that can be used comfortably outdoors? The significantly higher brightness of the S21+ is a major advantage.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You take a lot of photos and videos: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: You are a serious mobile gamer who wants the absolute smoothest experience: The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 is better for it's higher refresh rate, but its capabilities needs more clarification due to lack of benchmark scores and other critical specifications.
- Scenario 3: You want a well-rounded phone that performs great at most tasks: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the best option due to its overall balance of features and known specifications.
- Scenario 4: You want a phone that performs great outdoors under bright sunlight: The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G is the best option due to its much higher brightness.
My Choice
I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. The provided data shows that it provides an overall better user experience based on the data available. The S21+ has a superior camera system with OIS, EIS and various modes, has confirmed and fast software updates, a brighter screen that is far better for outdoor visibility, a comprehensive sensor suite, reverse and wireless charging, a lighter design and a much more capable connectivity suite. Although the Red Magic 6 has a higher refresh rate display, the lack of data in critical categories for the Red Magic 6, such as camera quality, battery capacity, brightness and performance benchmarks makes it difficult to recommend for practical everyday use. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G's balanced and feature-rich performance makes it the best choice for most users.
