1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 and the Honor 90, focusing on practical user experience:
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | The Honor 90 is noticeably smaller and thinner, making it more pocketable and easier to handle. The Red Magic 6 is larger and thicker which may be cumbersome for some users. |
| Weight | 220g | 183g | The Honor 90 is significantly lighter, resulting in a more comfortable experience for extended usage and reduced fatigue. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Negligible difference in size, both are large-screen phones for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1200 x 2664 | The Honor 90 has a higher resolution and is sharper. Images and text will look clearer on Honor 90. |
| Pixel Density | 387 ppi | 435 ppi | The Honor 90 has a slightly higher pixel density, leading to a clearer and more detailed display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks typical of AMOLED technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 has a higher refresh rate, resulting in smoother scrolling and gaming, especially for users that play games often. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | The Honor 90 has significantly higher brightness, making it much more viewable in bright outdoor conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | The Snapdragon 888 in the Red Magic 6 is generally more powerful for gaming, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in Honor 90 is very capable and more energy-efficient. |
| AnTuTu Score | N/A | 701,227 | No Antutu Score for the ZTE Red Magic 6 is available for comparison. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 644 | The Adreno 660 in Red Magic 6 is more powerful for graphics intensive tasks, while the Adreno 644 in Honor 90 is more energy-efficient. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | N/A | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4" Samsung ISOCELL HP3 | Honor 90 has a significantly higher resolution camera leading to more detail and better image quality. The Red Magic 6 does not have a standard camera in this spec. |
| Selfie Camera | N/A | 50MP, f/2.4 | The Honor 90 has a front-facing selfie camera, the Red Magic 6 does not have it in this spec. |
| Portrait Mode Camera | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4, 2.24 µm pixel size | The Honor 90 offers a dedicated depth sensor for portrait photos. The Red Magic 6 does not have a portrait mode sensor in this spec. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Camera | N/A | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12 µm pixel size | The Honor 90 offers a wide-angle and macro camera that the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 does not include in this spec. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps; No stabilization | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS; Slow-motion: Yes, 960 fps | The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 can record higher resolution videos but lacks stabilization. The Honor 90 records 4k footage with electronic image stabilization and slow-motion, which will result in a smoother and better quality experience. |
| DXOMark Score | N/A | Overall: 122, Photo: 128, Video: 126 | No DxOMark score was listed for ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 for comparison. |
| Camera Features | N/A | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Front Flash, Night Mode | The Honor 90 provides a more feature-rich camera experience. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 0 mAh | 5000 mAh | The Honor 90 has a substantially larger battery, leading to longer battery life. |
| Charging | Standard charging | 66W Fast Charging | The Honor 90 offers fast charging capability, which results in faster charging speeds than the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 |
| Features | Standard Features | Non-removable | The Honor 90 has a non-removable battery, which is standard in most modern smartphones. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | The Honor 90 has a newer Android OS, which means it will have better security and features. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | N/A | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, Wi-Fi MiMO | The Honor 90 has a newer and more advanced WiFi standard, which offers better speeds and reliability. |
| Bluetooth | N/A | Bluetooth 5.2 LE; A2DP, EDR, LE, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | The Honor 90 has a newer Bluetooth version, leading to better connection speeds and energy consumption. |
| GPS | N/A | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | The Honor 90 supports more GPS systems, which means more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | N/A | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM) | The Honor 90 has dual SIM functionality, allowing you to have two numbers. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | N/A | 256 GB or 512 GB | The Honor 90 has substantially more storage, which is excellent for media and apps. |
| RAM | N/A | 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB | The Honor 90 has more RAM than the ZTE Nubia Red Magic 6, resulting in a better multitasking experience. |
| Expandable Storage | No expandable storage | No expandable storage | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Noise cancellation microphone | Honor 90 has noise cancellation which results in clearer calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones include basic fingerprint sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | It is not clear what type of screen protection is present on these two phones. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Basic Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Light sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, RGB | Honor 90 offers a better sensor suite including: fingerprint, proximity, light sensor, accelerometer, compass, and RGB. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate Display (165Hz): Offers exceptionally smooth scrolling and animations, especially beneficial for gaming enthusiasts.
- Potentially Stronger Gaming Performance: The Snapdragon 888 and Adreno 660 make it suitable for high-end mobile gaming.
- Higher Video Resolution Recording: Can record videos at up to 8k resolution.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Superior Display Brightness: The 1600 nits display is significantly brighter, offering much better outdoor visibility.
- Higher Resolution Display: Provides a sharper image with greater detail.
- Better Camera System: Features a versatile triple-camera setup with higher resolution sensors, offering better photo and video quality and features.
- Much Longer Battery Life: Larger battery capacity allows for extended usage without frequent charging.
- Fast Charging: Supports 66W fast charging, significantly reducing charging times.
- Modern OS: Comes with Android 13 for the latest features and security.
- Significantly Lighter and Smaller: The phone is more convenient to carry and handle than the larger, heavier ZTE nubia Red Magic 6.
- More Sensors: The Honor 90 includes additional motion sensors, biometric sensors, and proximity sensors.
- Better Connectivity: Has better Wi-Fi standards and features, more robust Bluetooth, and better GPS support.
- Noise-cancelling Microphone: Provides better call quality.
- Significantly More Storage and RAM: The Honor 90 features more RAM for better multitasking performance, and more storage for all media and apps.
Trade-offs:
- The Red Magic 6 trades camera quality and battery life for a higher refresh rate and potentially better performance for gaming.
- The Honor 90 provides a better general user experience with its bright display, great camera, longer battery life, and lighter design but may not be as good for gaming as the Red Magic 6.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for ZTE nubia Red Magic 6:
- Hardcore Gamers: Prioritizes the highest refresh rate display and strong graphics performance for demanding games.
- Users Who Need 8k Recording: Those that need to create 8k footage for any reason.
- Users Willing to Sacrifice on Camera and Battery: Users who can live with a poor camera experience and poor battery life for a superior gaming experience.
Use Cases for Red Magic 6:
- Playing fast-paced action and competitive games that require a very high refresh rate.
- Creating 8k footage for any professional or personal reason.
Ideal User for Honor 90:
- Everyday Smartphone Users: Requires a versatile phone with a great display, good camera, and long-lasting battery.
- Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: Needs a high-quality camera system with video stabilization.
- Users Who Want a Premium Phone Experience: Seeking a phone with modern software, good performance, and good battery life, and good connectivity.
- Users Who Value Portability: Prefer a lighter and smaller phone for convenience.
Use Cases for Honor 90:
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos in various scenarios.
- Comfortable daily usage with a long-lasting battery, including social media, browsing, and watching videos.
- Extended outdoor usage due to its bright screen.
- Everyday use of multiple apps because of the amount of RAM available.
Price-to-Value:
- The Honor 90 provides a better all around value due to its better camera, display, and battery life. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 does offer superior gaming and potentially better processor performance, but most users will benefit from all that the Honor 90 provides more than the gaming performance offered by the Red Magic 6.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (Gaming, photography, everyday use, or other specific needs)
- How important is screen brightness and outdoor visibility to me? (Do you spend a lot of time outdoors?)
- How important is battery life and fast charging? (Are you often away from a power outlet?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Heavy Gamer): If your primary focus is mobile gaming and you prioritize the highest refresh rates and strongest gaming performance above all else, the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 might be slightly more appealing. Be aware, however, that the other features of this phone are drastically inferior to the Honor 90.
- Scenario 2 (Everyday User): If you want a well-rounded smartphone with great camera capabilities, longer battery life, better screen brightness, and a modern OS, the Honor 90 is the better choice.
- Scenario 3 (Photography Enthusiast): If you prioritize camera performance, including detail, video stabilization, and versatility, the Honor 90 is the superior option.
My Choice:
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Honor 90. While the Red Magic 6 offers a higher refresh rate display, its other features pale in comparison to the Honor 90. The vastly superior camera system (including a front-facing camera), much brighter screen, longer battery life, and faster charging of the Honor 90 make it the better choice for almost all use cases. The lighter design and newer OS of the Honor 90 also provide a superior user experience. Unless your only need for a phone is to play mobile games, the Honor 90 is superior to the Red Magic 6.
