1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 169.9 × 77.2 × 9.7 mm | 158.5 × 75.9 × 7.7 mm | Red Magic 6 is significantly larger and thicker, making it less pocketable and harder to use one-handed, while the S24+ is more sleek and portable. |
| Weight | 220g | 196g | S24+ is noticeably lighter, which translates to more comfortable prolonged use. Red Magic 6 might feel heavy during long gaming sessions or general use. |
| Build Quality | Unknown Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | S24+ screen will likely be more durable and resistant to scratches and cracks from everyday use. |
Display
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.8" | 6.7" | Negligible difference; both provide a large viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3120 | S24+ offers a much sharper and more detailed display, resulting in a significantly better viewing experience when reading text, watching videos or playing games. |
| PPI | 387 | 513 | S24+ has a noticeably crisper display with higher pixel density, making images look more defined. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | Red Magic 6 offers deeper blacks and more vibrant colors if it is AMOLED. The S24+ will need more details provided to be compared. |
| Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | Red Magic 6 has a smoother scrolling and gaming experience due to its higher refresh rate but S24+ also provides a smooth experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2600 nits | S24+ offers vastly superior outdoor visibility even in bright sunlight due to significantly higher brightness. Red Magic 6's screen is very hard to use in the sun due to its low brightness rating. |
Performance
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | S24+ has a much newer and more powerful chipset which results in significantly faster processing speeds, improved graphics, better power efficiency and support for more advanced features. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | S24+ has a newer GPU, offering significantly better graphics performance for gaming and other graphically intensive tasks. |
| Antutu Score | N/A | 1,639,695 | S24+ demonstrates much higher benchmark performance, indicating a faster and smoother overall experience. The Red Magic 6 score is missing, so the performance difference cannot be quantified. |
Camera
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | None | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.57" sensor, 1.00 µm pixel size | S24+ captures high-resolution, detailed photos in good lighting. Red Magic 6 appears to lack a dedicated main camera. This is odd, and further information is needed to confirm this. |
| Selfie Camera | None | 12MP, f/2.2 | S24+ offers a front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. Red Magic 6 appears to lack a selfie camera. This is odd, and further information is needed to confirm this. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 10MP, f/2.4, 1/3.9" sensor, 1.00 µm pixel size | S24+ allows for optical zoom, preserving image quality when zooming in. Red Magic 6 appears to lack a telephoto camera. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor, 1.40 µm pixel size | S24+ captures wider scenes, making it suitable for group photos and landscapes. Red Magic 6 appears to lack a wide angle camera. |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps, no stabilization | Up to 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, Stereo Sound, Slow-motion: Yes, 240 fps | S24+ offers smoother video recording with stabilization and slow-motion features. Red Magic 6 may result in shakier video footage. |
| Camera Features | None | Many features including Night Mode, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, OIS, PDAF, HDR, RAW and more | S24+ offers a versatile camera system suitable for various situations. Red Magic 6 lacks most common camera features. |
Battery
| Feature | ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 | Samsung Galaxy S24+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 0 mAh | 4900 mAh | S24+ is expected to offer significantly longer battery life due to a much larger battery. |
| Charging | Standard | 45W fast charging, Li-Ion | S24+ can be charged much faster than Red Magic 6. |
| Features | Standard features | Bypass Charging, Reverse charging, Non-removable, 15W wireless charging, 4.5W reverse wireless charging | S24+ offers more versatile charging features such as reverse charging, and wireless charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Advantages:
- Higher Refresh Rate: 165Hz provides an incredibly smooth experience, especially for gaming.
- Potentially better colour and contrast: If the Red Magic 6 uses an AMOLED screen, it would offer deeper blacks, better contrast, superior power efficiency for dark themes, more vibrant colors, but this is an assumption and is not fully confirmed.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ Advantages:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution, higher pixel density, and much higher brightness result in a far superior visual experience.
- Modern Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Adreno 750 provide faster performance, better graphics capabilities, and better power efficiency.
- Advanced Camera System: The S24+ has a much more versatile camera with features like optical zoom, OIS, stabilization, and a range of shooting modes.
- Larger Battery: 4900mAh battery with fast charging should last much longer.
- Premium features: The S24+ includes wireless and reverse wireless charging, and advanced connectivity features such as dual SIM, eSIM, and modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- Modern Software: The S24+ runs on Android 14, offering the latest features and security updates.
- Better build quality: The S24+ has a more durable screen, and is lighter and smaller, which adds to it's appeal.
Trade-offs:
- Red Magic 6: The Red Magic 6 prioritizes gaming performance with a high refresh rate display but has drawbacks in the display quality, camera performance, battery and more.
- Samsung Galaxy S24+: The S24+ offers an all-around premium experience, but does not have a 165Hz refresh rate like the Red Magic 6.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 Ideal User:
- Hardcore Mobile Gamers: Users who prioritize the highest refresh rate for competitive gaming at a lower cost.
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for a gaming-focused device at a lower price point.
Use Cases:
- Playing fast-paced, competitive games where high refresh rates provide an advantage.
- Users that are able to be plugged in all the time due to the small battery, or those who want a phone for a limited time, that is low cost.
Samsung Galaxy S24+ Ideal User:
- General smartphone users: Those who want an all-round great phone with a strong battery life.
- Professional Users: Users who need a reliable device with a high-quality display, excellent camera, and robust performance.
- Multimedia Consumers: Those who want a great display for watching videos, taking photos and general browsing.
Use Cases:
- Taking high-quality photos and videos.
- Consuming media with a premium display and speakers.
- Multitasking with demanding apps.
- Daily tasks, such as web browsing, communication, etc.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Red Magic 6 aims for a lower price but compromises on display quality, camera features and battery. It is a device for a niche audience.
- The S24+ is a more premium device offering superior features across the board. It provides a significantly better user experience, justifying the higher cost for most users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority for display quality? If display resolution and brightness are important, S24+ is the clear winner. If a high refresh rate at the expense of other display aspects, the Red Magic 6 is better.
- How important is camera quality? If you want a versatile camera system with many features, the S24+ is much better. If you use the camera rarely, the Red Magic 6 may suffice.
- How important is battery life? If all-day battery life with fast charging and wireless charging is crucial, the S24+ is better. If you only need a phone for short periods, the Red Magic 6 will suffice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual gamer who enjoys watching movies and wants a good camera: The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is the better choice. It offers a high-quality display, versatile camera, great performance, better battery life and wireless charging.
- Scenario 2: Competitive gamer on a budget who needs a high refresh rate: The ZTE nubia Red Magic 6 is better. It offers a much higher refresh rate, though this will come at the expense of other features such as battery and camera.
- Scenario 3: Professional user who wants an all-round good device: The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is the best choice. It offers a top-tier display, powerful performance, a great camera system, and a long-lasting battery.
My Choice and Why
Based on the provided specifications, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy S24+.
Here's why:
- Superior All-Around Performance: While the Red Magic 6 may have a higher refresh rate, the S24+ outperforms it significantly in every other aspect. The S24+'s superior chipset, display, camera, and battery capabilities make it a much better device for the average user, and its superior build quality and battery are also preferable.
- Better User Experience: The S24+ offers a better camera, battery life, and overall experience due to its modern software and build quality. Even though I enjoy gaming, I would choose a more well-rounded device than one that focuses only on a high refresh rate. The higher resolution and brightness will make every task on the device more enjoyable.
- Future-Proofing: With a more modern chipset and software, the S24+ is likely to receive updates for a longer period, and will generally last longer before it needs to be replaced.
While the Red Magic 6 may appeal to very niche users (mainly people on a budget who want a high refresh rate), the S24+ provides a significantly better experience across a range of use cases for the vast majority of users. The trade-offs for not getting the high refresh rate are outweighed by the benefits of the S24+.
