1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic6 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 169.9 × 77.2 × 9.7 mm | 162.5 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | The Red Magic 6 is noticeably larger and thicker, potentially feeling less comfortable in hand and pocket. The Magic6 Pro is more compact and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 220g | 225g | The Red Magic 6 is slightly lighter (5g), which is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. |
Display
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic6 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.8" | Both phones offer the same screen size, providing an immersive experience. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1280 x 2800 | The Magic6 Pro has a higher resolution, resulting in significantly sharper text and images. |
| PPI | 387 | 453 | The Magic6 Pro's higher pixel density leads to a noticeably clearer and more detailed display, especially for reading and viewing high-resolution content. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer excellent color reproduction and contrast with minimal practical difference. |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | The Red Magic 6 provides a smoother visual experience for gaming and scrolling with the 165Hz display. Magic6 Pro is still smooth, but not as fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have peak brightness of 0 nits, which is not a meaningful value. Peak brightness could not be determined. |
Performance
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic6 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The Magic6 Pro's newer, more powerful chipset offers superior performance, faster processing and better power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | N/A | 2,069,877 | The Magic6 Pro has a benchmark score indicative of very high performance. No comparison can be made due to missing data for the Red Magic 6. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 | The Magic6 Pro's newer GPU provides superior graphics performance for gaming and demanding applications. |
Camera
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic6 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | Not available | 50MP, f/1.4, 1/1.3", Omnivision OV50H, 1.20 µm | The Magic6 Pro has a dedicated standard camera capable of capturing high-quality images, while the Red Magic 6 lacks a specific standard camera description. |
| Telephoto + Portrait Camera | Not available | 180MP, f/2.6 | The Magic6 Pro offers a versatile telephoto camera for zoomed photos and portraits, a feature missing on the Red Magic 6. |
| Selfie Camera | Not available | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.51", Sony IMX816, 0.64 µm | The Magic6 Pro provides a high-resolution front camera for detailed selfies; the Red Magic 6 lacks this specific front camera information. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Camera | Not available | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.88", Omnivision OV50D40 Light Hunter 400, 0.61 µm | The Magic6 Pro has a dedicated wide angle and macro camera, which the Red Magic 6 does not have detailed. |
| Video Recording | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, No stabilization | 4K@24/30/60fps with HDR, OIS, EIS, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps with HDR, OIS, EIS, Slow-motion: 960fps | The Red Magic 6 offers 8K video, but without stabilization; the Magic6 Pro offers stabilized 4K recording with comprehensive features, and supports slow-motion videos. |
| DXOMark Mobile | N/A | Main: 158 (Photo: 160, Video: 150) | Magic6 Pro has a tested and rated camera, while the Red Magic 6 has not been rated and may offer inferior photo/video quality. |
| DXOMark Selfie | N/A | Main: 151 (Photo: 149, Video: 155) | Magic6 Pro has a tested and rated selfie camera, while the Red Magic 6 has not been rated and likely inferior selfie photo/video quality. |
| Camera Features | No detail | Extensive, including OIS, EIS, AF, various modes | The Magic6 Pro has comprehensive camera features, the Red Magic 6 has no information provided, implying a lower level of functionality. |
Battery
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor Magic6 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 0 mAh | 5600 mAh | The Magic6 Pro has a significantly larger battery, offering much longer battery life and usage time than Red Magic 6 which had no information provided for capacity. |
| Charging | Standard charging | 80W fast charging, wireless charging 66W, reverse wireless 7.5W | The Magic6 Pro supports much faster wired charging, and convenient wireless and reverse wireless charging, compared to Red Magic 6 standard charging. |
| Features | Standard | Reverse charging, non-removable, 66W wireless, 7.5W reverse wireless, E1 chip, no charger inbox | The Magic6 Pro has more flexible battery and charging options, while the Red Magic 6 has standard charging options. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 165Hz display offers a slightly smoother visual experience than the Magic6 Pro's 120Hz, which can be beneficial for gaming.
- 8K Video Recording: Supports recording at 8K, which is useful for professional video content creators, but lacks stabilization.
Honor Magic6 Pro Advantages:
- Newer, More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers significantly better performance and power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 888.
- Significantly Better Display: Higher resolution and pixel density result in a sharper, clearer, and more detailed display.
- Superior Camera System: Features a versatile multi-camera system, with much higher quality output based on DXOMark scores. Includes stabilization, and comprehensive features.
- Much Larger Battery: A 5600mAh battery provides considerably longer usage time, crucial for heavy users.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Options: 80W fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging offer far more convenience.
- Newer Software: Runs on Android 14, ensuring access to the latest features and security updates, while the Red Magic 6 is based on an older Android 11 version.
- Advanced connectivity: newer Wifi and Bluetooth standards, more satellite navigation systems.
- More Storage/RAM: More internal storage options, with up to 1024GB internal storage and up to 16GB of RAM, far exceeding the Red Magic 6.
- Advanced Audio: Enhanced surround sound, better audio separation and immersion
- Extensive Sensors: A wide range of sensors offer more functionality and usability.
Trade-offs:
- The Red Magic 6 is slightly lighter, however, the size difference likely offsets this benefit.
- The Red Magic 6 offers 8K video, but lacks stabilization, which may result in shakier videos compared to the Magic6 Pro's stabilized 4K.
- The Red Magic 6 has a higher refresh rate, which is only beneficial to gamers, where Magic6 Pro has an all-round better display for every other use case.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Ideal Users:
- Budget Gamers: Users who prioritize a high refresh rate display for gaming above all else and might be on a budget, potentially purchasing this used.
- Video Creators Needing 8K: Although lacking stabilization, the 8K capabilities would be appealing for those seeking high-resolution video capabilities, though they would need external stabilization.
Use Cases:
- Playing fast-paced games, where the 165Hz refresh rate may provide a marginal advantage.
- Capturing 8K video in scenarios where stability is not paramount, and external stabilization is possible.
Honor Magic6 Pro Ideal Users:
- Power Users: People who need top-tier performance for demanding tasks, multitasking, and gaming.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want a high-quality camera system with versatile features and excellent image quality.
- All-Day Users: Individuals who require long battery life, fast charging, and wireless charging.
- Users who need up-to-date features: The newest software, Wifi standards, Bluetooth standards and advanced sensors make this a great choice.
- Users who want the best smartphone experience: The Magic6 Pro represents a flagship level experience for most tasks.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming on the go.
- Taking high-quality photos and videos in various scenarios.
- All day usage, without the need for frequent charging.
- Using many apps simultaneously without performance slowdown.
- Travelers who would appreciate the versatile SIM card options, and fast and easy charging.
- Users that want to have a modern user experience.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Red Magic 6, is likely much cheaper due to its age, if it can be found on the used market, making it a reasonable value option for its high refresh rate screen. However, it will be a significantly compromised overall experience.
- The Magic6 Pro, offers premium flagship features, so costs more than the older Red Magic 6. However, the feature set is clearly superior across nearly all categories.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, photography, everyday use, content creation)
- How important is battery life and charging speed? (Do you need all-day battery, and wireless charging?)
- How important is a high-quality camera system? (Do you need OIS, various lens capabilities, high DxOMark scores?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget conscious gamer looking for highest refresh rate screen, the Red Magic 6, used, may be a decent choice.
- Scenario 2: Demanding user wanting a premium smartphone experience with great performance, camera, battery, and modern features, the Honor Magic6 Pro is the clear winner.
- Scenario 3: Photography enthusiast who wants high quality photos and videos, with versatile camera features, the Honor Magic6 Pro is the only suitable choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Honor Magic6 Pro without hesitation. While the Red Magic 6 has a higher refresh rate, that's its only real advantage. The Magic6 Pro offers a superior experience in almost every other way: much more powerful performance, a far better display, a much more versatile camera system, significantly longer battery life, much faster charging capabilities, a more current OS, and a wider array of additional features that greatly increase the functionality of the phone.
The fact that the Red Magic 6 had no details for battery capacity, front and rear camera systems, and many of its features, while the Magic6 Pro has extensive details is also telling. Based on the data that we do have, the Magic6 Pro is the better choice for the vast majority of users, with the exception being, perhaps, very budget conscious users, for whom the Red Magic 6's higher refresh rate may represent a good option as a second phone. However, as an all-round smartphone, the Honor Magic6 Pro is clearly superior.
