Smartphone Comparison: ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 vs. Honor Magic4 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic4 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm | 163.6 x 74.7 x 9.1 mm | The Red Magic 6 is larger and thicker, which may feel less comfortable for some users compared to the slightly more compact Magic4 Pro. |
| Weight | 220g | 209g | The Magic4 Pro is slightly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. The 11g difference is noticeable. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.81" | Virtually identical screen sizes, no practical difference in screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1312 x 2848 | The Magic4 Pro's higher resolution results in a significantly sharper display, with finer details and text clarity. |
| Pixel Density | 387 PPI | 460 PPI | The Magic4 Pro's higher PPI makes the screen appear much sharper and less pixelated than the Red Magic 6 |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colours and deep blacks; Minimal difference in display technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | The Red Magic 6 offers a smoother experience with faster refresh rate animations and gaming, while the Magic4 Pro is still very fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | The Magic4 Pro is significantly brighter, improving outdoor visibility in sunny conditions compared to the Red Magic 6. Missing data for Red Magic makes comparison challenging. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 (5nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | The Magic4 Pro's newer chipset offers better performance, power efficiency, and is expected to handle more demanding tasks and games better than the older Red Magic 6 chip. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | The Magic4 Pro’s newer GPU offers better graphics performance for gaming and demanding apps compared to the Red Magic 6 |
| Antutu Score | N/A | 945,832 | The Magic4 Pro has a benchmark score, indicating its superior performance. The absence of a score for Red Magic 6 prevents direct comparison. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 0 mAh | 4600 mAh | The Magic4 Pro has a significantly larger battery which means potentially much longer battery life, while the Red Magic 6 battery spec is missing data, making a direct comparison impossible. |
| Charging | Standard Charging | 100W Fast Charging | The Magic4 Pro's 100W fast charging allows for significantly faster battery refills compared to the standard charging of the Red Magic 6. |
| Features | Standard features | Reverse/Wireless Charging | The Magic4 Pro offers more versatile charging options including reverse and wireless charging. Red Magic 6 specs are missing for comparison. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | N/A | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" | The Magic4 Pro has a dedicated main camera with better sensor. Red Magic 6 lacks specs, hindering comparison. |
| Telephoto Camera | N/A | 64MP, f/2.0, 1/2" | The Magic4 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens with high resolution. Red Magic 6 lacks telephoto, hindering comparison. |
| Selfie Camera | N/A | 12MP, f/2.4 | The Magic4 Pro has a front facing camera, which the Red Magic 6 lacks specs for |
| ToF 3D Sensor | N/A | 0.3 MP | The Magic4 Pro has a ToF 3D sensor for depth sensing. Red Magic 6 lacks the same. |
| Wide + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2 | The Magic4 Pro has a wide and macro camera. Red Magic 6 lacks the same. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, No stabilization | Up to 4K@60fps, EIS | Red Magic 6 can record 8k video while Magic 4 Pro is limited to 4K. Magic 4 Pro offers video stabilization for smoother footage and slow-motion recording while Red Magic 6 has no such feature. |
| DxOMark | N/A | Mobile: 126 | Magic4 Pro has been tested and scored well, while Red Magic 6 has no score, making direct comparison impossible. |
| Camera Features | Extensive list | The Magic4 Pro has extensive camera features such as optical zoom, OIS, and more advanced shooting modes. | |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | The Magic4 Pro has a more recent OS version which typically includes the latest features, updates, and security patches compared to Red Magic 6. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | N/A | WiFi 6 , Dual-band | Magic4 Pro has a newer wifi standard offering faster speeds and better network performance compared to the Red Magic 6. |
| Bluetooth | N/A | Bluetooth 5.2 | Magic4 Pro has a newer Bluetooth standard for more stable connections and better power efficiency. Red Magic 6 specs are missing for comparison. |
| GPS | N/A | Multiple systems | Magic4 Pro supports more satellite systems offering better location accuracy. Red Magic 6 specs are missing for comparison. |
| SIM | N/A | Dual SIM Dual Standby | The Magic4 Pro supports dual sim cards. Red Magic 6 specs are missing for comparison. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | N/A | 256 GB/512 GB | The Magic4 Pro has significant internal storage options. Red Magic 6 storage is unknown, hindering comparison. |
| RAM | N/A | 8 GB / 12 GB | The Magic4 Pro offers more RAM for better multitasking and smooth operation. Red Magic 6 specs are missing for comparison. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic | DTS/Stereo Speakers | The Magic4 Pro has enhanced audio features providing better sound quality. Red Magic 6 has Basic audio features, and it lacks DTS/Stereo speakers found on the Magic 4 Pro. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint | Fingerprint | Both offer basic fingerprint security. No other major security differences. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Basic sensors | Comprehensive suite | The Magic4 Pro has a more comprehensive suite of sensors that are useful for variety of applications and games. Red Magic 6 has basic sensors. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | The screen protection for both phones is unknown; therefore, direct comparison is not possible. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate: 165Hz display provides extremely smooth animations and gameplay, ideal for hardcore gamers.
- 8K video recording: Capable of recording professional quality footage up to 8k resolution.
- Potential focus on gaming: As a gaming phone, it likely includes additional features for gaming that are not fully documented in the provided specs.
Honor Magic4 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution and brightness provide a sharper, clearer, and more visible screen, especially outdoors.
- Better Performance: The newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset offers improved speed and efficiency.
- Advanced Camera System: Versatile camera setup with dedicated telephoto and ultrawide lenses, along with OIS, and 4k video.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: 100W fast charging and 100W wireless charging enable rapid battery refills.
- More Feature Rich: The Magic 4 Pro includes a variety of features that Red Magic 6 doesn't seem to have. This includes features such as reverse charging, wireless charging, a more advanced bluetooth version, and much more.
- Better Battery: A larger battery and efficient processor should make battery life superior.
- Software: Newer android version should provide more features and security.
- Comprehensive Sensors: The Magic4 Pro contains comprehensive sensors such as an accelerometer, compass, and gyroscope.
Trade-offs:
- The Red Magic 6 sacrifices camera quality, display quality, and many advanced features for a higher refresh rate.
- The Magic4 Pro provides a more balanced all round experience with a higher quality display, better camera system, and better performance but at the cost of a lower refresh rate.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Ideal User:
- Hardcore Mobile Gamers: Users who prioritize frame rates and the smoothest experience above all else.
- Users on a budget: The Red Magic 6, being an older device, is likely much cheaper than the Magic4 Pro.
- Users who need 8k video: If you need the capability to record 8k video, the Red Magic 6 is your only option.
Use Cases for Red Magic 6:
- Competitive mobile gaming.
- Playing graphically intensive games where high refresh rate is critical.
- Casual gaming without concern for camera quality or outdoor display quality.
Honor Magic4 Pro Ideal User:
- Power Users: Those who want a high-performing phone for demanding tasks, media consumption, and photography.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value versatile camera setups, including telephoto and ultrawide lenses.
- Everyday users Who value good battery life, advanced features, and ease of use.
Use Cases for Magic4 Pro:
- Photography and videography (especially in various lighting conditions).
- Daily use with web browsing, media consumption, and social media.
- Productivity tasks and multitasking between apps.
- Gaming with a balance of performance and image quality.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Given the unknown pricing of the devices, it is hard to gauge the price-to-value ratio of each of the devices, however, generally, the newer device, the Magic4 Pro, will have a higher price than the Red Magic 6.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? Is it gaming, photography, or general use?
- How important is display quality? Do you prefer an extremely smooth display or a sharper, brighter display?
- How important is camera quality? Do you need a versatile camera system, or is a basic camera sufficient?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Hardcore Gamer: If your primary focus is competitive gaming and you prioritize high refresh rate above all else, then the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 might be suitable.
- For the All-Around User: If you want a well-rounded device with a great camera, display, and performance, then the Honor Magic4 Pro is the better choice.
- For the Budget user: If you are on a very tight budget, the older Red Magic 6 is likely a much cheaper device than the newer Magic4 Pro.
My Choice:
Given the specifications and my typical usage patterns, I would choose the Honor Magic4 Pro. While the 165Hz refresh rate of the Red Magic 6 is appealing, the Magic4 Pro's superior display resolution, brightness, vastly superior camera capabilities, significantly better battery, and newer chipset, make it a much more compelling device for my needs. I also value the more comprehensive sensor suite, and newer version of android on the Magic4 Pro. Although, the Red Magic 6 may be cheaper, the additional features on the Magic4 Pro and its higher quality makes it a much more appealing option.
