Smartphone Comparison: ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 vs. Honor X7a
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Honor X7a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 169.9 x 77.2 x 9.7 mm | 167.5 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm | ZTE is slightly larger and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier; Honor X7a is more pocketable and comfortable to hold |
| Weight | 220g | 196g | Honor X7a is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.8" | 6.75" | Negligible difference in screen size; both offer a large viewing area |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 720 x 1600 | ZTE offers a much sharper and clearer image quality with more detail, beneficial for media consumption and gaming |
| Pixel Density | 387 PPI | 260 PPI | ZTE's display is significantly sharper, resulting in a more detailed and less pixelated image |
| Technology | AMOLED | TFT LCD | ZTE's AMOLED display provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better viewing angles; Honor X7a's LCD is less vibrant and may have lower viewing angles |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | ZTE's 165Hz refresh rate offers much smoother animations, especially beneficial for gaming and scrolling; Honor X7a's 60Hz is standard, potentially feeling less fluid |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, making brightness a non-factor in comparison |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5 nm) | Mediatek Helio G37 (12 nm) | ZTE's chipset is significantly more powerful, offering much better performance for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking; Honor X7a's chipset is more basic and better suited for lighter usage |
| AnTuTu Score | N/A | 125,000 | No comparable data available, but the chipsets' architecture suggests a significant performance difference |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | PowerVR GE8320 | ZTE's GPU is significantly more powerful for graphically intensive tasks such as gaming |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | N/A | 50MP, f/1.8 | Honor X7a has a dedicated main camera, providing a better primary photography experience |
| Selfie Camera | N/A | 8MP, f/2.0 | Honor X7a has a dedicated selfie camera, providing a better front-facing photography experience |
| Wide Angle lens Camera | N/A | 5MP, f/2.2 | Honor X7a has a wide angle lens for capturing group photos and landscape scenes |
| Portrait mode (depth) Camera | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor X7a has a portrait mode lens for capturing depth for portrait shots |
| Macro lens Camera | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor X7a has a macro lens for close up shots |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | ZTE supports significantly higher resolution video recording, which provides higher quality footage for video production |
| Features | Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | Honor X7a has more features that may be suitable for casual photography users | |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 0mAh | 5330mAh | Honor X7a's larger battery likely translates to significantly longer battery life; ZTE battery capacity not available |
| Charging | Standard Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | Honor X7a supports fast charging, allowing for quicker top-ups, while ZTE's charging specification is not provided |
| Features | Non-removable | Honor X7a has a non removable battery | |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Honor X7a has a newer Android OS with potential improvements |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | N/A | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Honor X7a supports newer WiFi standards with faster speeds; Honor X7a additionally supports Dual band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth | N/A | Bluetooth 5.1 LE | Honor X7a has a newer Bluetooth standard and additional profiles like A2DP and LE |
| GPS | N/A | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Honor X7a supports more satellite systems for potentially better location accuracy |
| SIM | N/A | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Honor X7a supports dual SIM cards |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | N/A | 128GB | Honor X7a has 128GB of storage |
| RAM | N/A | 4GB or 6GB | Honor X7a has 4GB or 6GB RAM variants; additional data for ZTE not available |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD card expansion |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Basic audio features | Basic audio features | Both have similar audio setups |
| Security | |||
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Honor X7a has a more modern side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both have similar screen protection |
| Sensors | Basic Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Honor X7a has a more comprehensive set of sensors; includes Fingerprint, Proximity, Light sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Gravity |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with 165Hz refresh rate and higher resolution offers a significantly better viewing experience compared to the Honor X7a’s TFT LCD panel. This makes a huge difference for gaming and media consumption.
- High Performance Chipset: The Snapdragon 888 chipset provides substantially higher processing power, resulting in better performance in gaming, multitasking, and resource-intensive applications.
- High Video Recording Quality: The ability to record 8k footage is essential for high quality video creation.
Honor X7a Advantages:
- Longer Battery Life: The 5330mAh battery is a significant advantage, likely providing much better battery life.
- Fast Charging: With 22.5W fast charging, the Honor X7a can be topped up much faster.
- More Versatile Camera System: The presence of a main camera, selfie camera, wide angle lens camera, portrait lens and macro lens provides a comprehensive and versatile photography experience, catering to different shooting situations.
- Dual SIM Support: The phone supports dual SIM cards, useful for those who need two numbers.
- More Complete Software and Connectivity: The Honor X7a supports Android 12, newer wifi and bluetooth standard as well as more accurate location services and dual sim capability.
- Lighter and Thinner: The phone is easier to carry and hold with reduced thickness and weight.
Trade-offs:
- ZTE nubia Red Magic 6: Sacrifices battery life, standard camera, and a versatile camera system for superior performance and display.
- Honor X7a: Compromises performance and display quality for better battery life, camera versatility and general usability.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Ideal User:
- Mobile Gamers: Users who prioritize high frame rates and smooth gameplay will greatly benefit from the 165Hz AMOLED display and powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Those who watch a lot of videos and movies will appreciate the display's superior colors and contrast.
- Users who need High Quality Video Recording: Users who require 8k video recording capability for professional use.
Honor X7a Ideal User:
- Everyday Users: Individuals looking for a reliable phone with long battery life for daily tasks like browsing, social media, and communication.
- Casual Photographers: Users who want a versatile camera system with standard, wide, and macro lenses, capable of producing decent images without needing high-end features.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who prioritize value and practicality over cutting-edge performance and premium features will appreciate this phone.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your primary use case for a smartphone? (Gaming/Multimedia vs. Everyday Use/Photography)
- How important is battery life? (Is it a must-have or a secondary concern?)
- What is your budget? (Is the premium display and performance worth the trade-offs in battery and camera?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For High Performance Gaming and Multimedia: Choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 6. The superior display and chipset will offer a far better gaming and video viewing experience.
- For Everyday Reliability and Versatility: Choose the Honor X7a. The long battery life, versatile camera, and dual SIM capabilities are better suited for general use and casual photography.
- For a balance between performance and usability: Choose neither. It would be better to get a more recent mid-range phone that offers better features than the Honor X7a and ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 which are significantly older phones.
What I Would Choose
Based on the available data, I would lean towards neither of these phones. Both of these phones are several years old, making them a poor option compared to newer phones in the market. While both have their strengths, their weaknesses can be addressed with newer mid-range phones.
If pushed to choose one, I would choose the Honor X7a. While it does not have a superior screen and chipset, it makes up for it with a versatile camera system, better software, connectivity, battery and more convenient usability. The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 is geared towards specific use cases such as gaming, and for most people, this is not ideal.
