1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 169.9 × 77.2 × 9.7 mm | 162.1 × 75.5 × 8.5 mm | Red Magic 6 is larger and bulkier, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use and pocketing. Mate 50 Pro is more compact and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 220g | 205g | Mate 50 Pro is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
Display
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.74" | Negligible difference; both offer immersive screen experiences. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1212x2616 | Mate 50 Pro has a sharper display, with noticeable improvement in text clarity and image detail. |
| PPI | 387 | 428 | Mate 50 Pro displays finer details, resulting in crisper images and text. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer excellent contrast, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | Red Magic 6 offers smoother animations and scrolling, particularly beneficial for gaming. Mate 50 Pro provides a very smooth experience but slightly less so than the Red Magic. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | No data available for either; real-world brightness may vary significantly |
Performance
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm) | Mate 50 Pro's chipset is newer and more efficient, potentially offering better performance and power efficiency, but note the 4G restriction. |
| Antutu Score | N/A | 1,022,043 | Mate 50 Pro scores very high in benchmarks, but no score for Red Magic 6 for direct comparison. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | Mate 50 Pro's GPU is more powerful, leading to superior gaming and graphics-intensive performance. |
Camera
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | N/A | 50MP f/1.4, 1/1.56" Sony IMX766 | Mate 50 Pro has a dedicated high quality standard camera with a large sensor for good low light performance, while Red Magic 6 lacks information. |
| Selfie Camera | N/A | 13MP f/2.4 | Mate 50 Pro has a dedicated selfie camera for video calls and selfies, Red Magic 6 has no information on the front camera. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 64MP f/3.5, 1/2" Omnivision OV64B | Mate 50 Pro offers significantly better zoom capabilities. Red Magic 6 lacks this functionality. |
| Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 12MP f/2.2, Sony IMX688 | Mate 50 Pro has a wide angle lens for taking expansive landscape photos or group shots. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, no stabilization | Up to 4K@60fps with HDR, EIS; Slow-motion: 240 fps | Red Magic 6 has higher resolution video capabilities, but lacks stabilization, potentially resulting in shaky videos. Mate 50 Pro includes stabilization features and slow-mo capture. |
| DxOMark Scores | N/A | Mobile: 149 (photo: 152, video: 141), Selfie: 145 (photo: 147, video: 143) | Mate 50 Pro offers substantially better camera performance according to DxOMark scores. No data for Red Magic 6. |
| Camera Features | N/A | Extensive list incl. OIS, various AF modes, zoom, night mode, RAW, etc. | Mate 50 Pro offers a rich set of professional and creative tools, absent in Red Magic 6. |
Battery
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 0 mAh | 4700 mAh | Mate 50 Pro should provide a full day of use, with longer run times than the Red Magic 6 due to better battery capacity. |
| Charging | Standard Charging | 66W fast charging, 50W wireless, 7.5W reverse wireless charging | Mate 50 Pro charges significantly faster wired and wirelessly; can also be used as a power bank for other devices. |
| Features | Standard Features | Reverse charging, Non-removable, 50W wireless charging, 7.5W wireless reverse charging | Mate 50 Pro has more charging flexibility. |
Software
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Red Magic 6 uses Android 11, while the operating system of the Mate 50 Pro is not specified. |
Connectivity
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display, MiMO | Mate 50 Pro has a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster and more stable connections and offers more versatile connectivity features, Red Magic 6 Wi-Fi specifications are not specified. | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Mate 50 Pro provides better audio connectivity and stability, Red Magic 6 Bluetooth is not specified | |
| GPS | A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC, QZSS | Mate 50 Pro offers more accurate location tracking, Red Magic 6 GPS specifications are not specified. | |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Mate 50 Pro allows two sim cards, Red Magic 6 SIM specifications are not specified. |
Storage
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | 256 GB or 512 GB | Mate 50 Pro has significantly more internal storage. Red Magic 6 internal storage is not specified. | |
| RAM | 8 GB | Mate 50 Pro has sufficient RAM for smooth multitasking, Red Magic 6 RAM is not specified | |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
Audio
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Basic audio features | Stereo Speakers | Mate 50 Pro offers better audio immersion thanks to the stereo speaker setup. Red Magic 6 audio specifications are not specified |
Security
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | basic fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both have fingerprint sensors for biometric security; details not specified. |
Build Quality
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | No information about the screen protection. |
Sensors
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Basic sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Light, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer, Gravity, Hall | Mate 50 Pro has more sensors, leading to broader capabilities and more advanced features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate Display (165Hz): Offers incredibly smooth scrolling and animations, ideal for gaming.
- Potentially Higher Video Recording Resolution (8K): May appeal to users who need professional video recording quality, despite missing video stabilization.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Camera System: Offers dedicated lenses, more advanced features, and better image quality in every scenario, including telephoto and ultrawide photos. Backed by strong DxOMark scores.
- More Powerful & Efficient Chipset: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides better performance and battery efficiency although the 4G limitation should be considered.
- Significantly Larger Battery with Fast Charging and Wireless Charging: Provides much longer battery life and faster charging speeds, plus the convenience of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
- Better Connectivity: Has a newer Bluetooth version and support for more satellite navigation systems.
- More Storage and RAM: Provides more space for files and better multitasking.
- Stereo Speakers: Provides a more immersive audio experience.
- More Sensors: Includes a more comprehensive sensor suite for advanced functionality.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Red Magic 6: While the higher refresh rate is advantageous, it is compromised by an inferior camera system, lack of fast charging, and uncertain battery capacity.
- Huawei Mate 50 Pro: The Mate 50 Pro's chipset is limited to 4G connectivity.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Ideal User:
- Hardcore Mobile Gamers: Users who prioritize extremely high refresh rates for a competitive edge.
- Users Prioritizing Video Recording Resolution: Those who require high resolution video capture (8k) despite lacking stabilization capabilities, provided they can add their own stabilization solutions.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro Ideal User:
- Mobile Photographers: Users who prioritize high quality images and versatile camera capabilities.
- Power Users: Users who need a balance of power, good battery life and fast charging.
- Users who value good audio and build quality: Users who prioritize high-quality sound and want a device with a complete sensor suite.
Specific Use Cases:
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6:
- Competitive gaming: benefiting from the 165Hz display for smoother gameplay.
- Professional video capture: For users that do not need stabilization.
Huawei Mate 50 Pro:
- Travel photography: Utilizes the versatile camera system with telephoto and wide-angle lenses.
- Long work days: The larger battery, fast charging, and efficient chipset ensure reliable performance.
- Multimedia consumption: Enhanced audio experience with stereo speakers
- Navigation: Comprehensive satellite connectivity offers accurate navigation.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Without pricing information, it's hard to make a complete assessment. However, if the Red Magic 6 is priced significantly lower, its limited feature set may be acceptable for some users who prioritize gaming on a budget. However, given the older processor and missing features I expect the Mate 50 Pro to be the more valuable option for most.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case? (Gaming, photography, general productivity, etc.)
- Is battery life and fast charging important?
- Are advanced camera features and image quality essential?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Hardcore Gamer on a Budget: If your priority is raw gaming performance (high refresh rate) and you have a limited budget, the Red Magic 6 might be considered, provided you can live with its compromises and missing specs.
- Scenario 2: Photography Enthusiast: If you value a high-quality camera system, great battery life, and fast charging, the Mate 50 Pro is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: All-Rounder: If you want a well-rounded phone with a great camera system and all modern amenities (wireless charging, fast charging, good connectivity etc), the Mate 50 Pro is the better choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing, I would select the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. The superior camera system, more powerful and efficient chipset, significantly larger battery with fast and wireless charging, and the more complete feature set (including things like better connectivity and comprehensive sensor suite) make it the more versatile and future-proof option. While the Red Magic 6's 165Hz display is tempting, I think the compromises on battery, camera, charging, and general features outweigh the benefits of a slightly higher refresh rate. The Mate 50 Pro is much more well-rounded for a variety of everyday use cases, and I consider it the more capable device. The only potential limitation would be the lack of 5G connectivity, however, this is a manageable issue for many users.
