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REDMAGIC 9 Pro vs nubia Z60 Ultra: Which is the better gaming smartphone?

By Timothy Teoh January 23, 2024

Two of arguably the most stylish phones in the market have made their 2024 entrance, with them being the REDMAGIC 9 Pro and the nubia Z60 Ultra. They are essentially gaming phones, but perhaps one more so than the other.

While the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is a gaming device through and through with all the bells and whistles, the nubia Z60 Ultra hasn’t thrown itself full on into that bracket. Still, it will be a mistake to underestimate its gaming capabilities.

If you’re in the toss between the two, we’ve put them side-by-side in an effort to help you make your decision. Here’s the spec comparison between REDMAGIC 9 Pro and nubia Z60 Ultra.

REDMAGIC 9 Pronubia Z60 Ultra
PriceRM3,699 – 12GB+256GB (Sleet)
RM4,499 – 16GB+512GB (Cyclone, Snowfall)		RM3,499 – 12GB+256GB
RM4,299 – 16GB+512GB
ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 3, Red Core 2Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Display 6.8″ AMOLED, FHD+ (2480x1116px), 120Hz, 1,600nits, Gorilla Glass 5, Fully flat display6.8″ AMOLED, FHD+ (2480×1116), 120Hz, 1,500nits, Flat display
Battery & Charging6,500mAh, 80W wired charging6,000mAh, 80W wired charging
Wi-Fi & BluetoothWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Shoulder Triggers Yes; 520Hz touch sampling rateN/A
Cooling SystemICE 13.0 vapour chamber; High-speed Turbofan (22,000rpm)VC cooling system; aerospace-grade thermal plate
SpeakersStereo Speakers; DTS: X ULTRAStereo Speakers; DTS HD sound
3.5mm JackYesNo
Protection RatingN/AIP68
NFCYesYes
Fingerprint SensorIn-displayIn-display
Rear Camera50MP wide w/ OIS + 50MP ultrawide + 2MP macro50MP (35mm) IMX800 main w/ OIS + 50MP (18mm) ultrawide w/ OIS + 64MP (85mm) portrait prime w/ OIS
Front Camera16MP, under-display12MP, under-display

The first thing that separates the two devices is the number of chipsets they run on. Even though both rock the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro piles on an additional Red Core 2 chip to help with haptics, audio processing, and activating the shoulder triggers, among many others. The secondary chip offloads some weight from the Snapdragon, thus allowing it to double down on other processing needs.

On a related note, one feature which really nails the REDMAGIC 9 Pro as a complete gaming phone is its 520Hz shoulder triggers which can be mapped to provide additional controls. This is particularly useful for first-person shooters (FPS) or racing games.

(Left) The REDMAGIC 9 Pro in Cyclone design, and (right) the nubia Z60 Ultra

Things even out when it comes to displays, with both phones sporting a flat 6.8″ AMOLED with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. You won’t find a front camera notch on either, since both have found a way to sneak the selfie cameras under the displays.

One thing to note is that nubia does not list any glass protection for the Z60 Ultra, which might be a cause for concern if you’re prone to dropping phones (or tossing them out of frustration mid-game). The REDMAGIC, on the other hand, is protected with Gorilla Glass 5.

Its somewhat reversed when it comes to IP rating. While the nubia Z60 Ultra is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, the REDMAGIC does not specify any IP rating for the 9 Pro, so it’s probably wise to keep it free from splashes.

The nubia Z60 Ultra in Silver

The REDMAGIC 9 Pro triumphs in the battery department with a 6,500mAh capacity versus the 6,000mAh on the nubia Z60 Ultra. All is even on the charging side though, with both having an 80W wired fast charging, with no wireless charging option.

As for cooling systems, the nubia Z60 Ultra has an aerospace-grade thermal plate and a large vapour chamber for efficient heat dissipation. The REDMAGIC 9 Pro also has a vapour chamber, with the addition of a built-in cooling fan which at its maximum will run 22,000rpm.

(From left) The REDMAGIC 9 Pro in Sleet, Cyclone, and Snowfall

For a gaming phone, the nubia Z60 Ultra has surprisingly versatile and impressive cameras. For one, its 50MP 35mm lens is backed by a 1/1.49″ Sony IMX800 sensor; which comes with OIS. This is flanked by a 50MP 18mm ultrawide lens, and a 64MP 85mm portrait prime lens; both of which are also fitted with OIS. Gaming phones typically don’t have the fanciest of cameras, so the Z60 Ultra could perhaps fill that gap.

The REDMAGIC 9 Pro has pretty decent 50MP wide camera with OIS to start with, but trails off with a 50MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro lens that no longer have OIS.

Editor’s Note

Running on dual chips, equipped with shoulder triggers, and a built-in turbofan, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro looks to take top spot on the podium. It’s a total gaming phone, so hardcore gamers and perhaps even pro mobile gamers will no doubt see this is a clear choice. However, where the nubia Z60 Ultra lacks, it attempts to make up with the cameras. Remember, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and a large vapour chamber, this is unmistakably a gaming phone which will appease gamers too. Just maybe not hardcore gamers.

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    realme 11 Pro+ vs HONOR 90: Gucci leather or Diamond eyes?

    By Timothy Teoh January 22, 2024

    If you’ve scoured the market for mid-rangers, chances are you’ve seen these two names pop up quite readily. The realme 11 Pro + and the HONOR 90 share similarities across features and price points which will no doubt leave you at a crossroad.

    To help you make your decision, we’ve pit them against each other and lay bare everything you need to know about these two devices.

    realme 11 Pro+HONOR 90
    Price
  • RM1,999 – 12GB+512GB
  • RM1,899 – 12GB+512GB // RM1,699 – 12GB+256GB
    • ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 7050 5GSnapdragon 7 Gen 1
    Display6.7″ curved, Full HD+ (2412x1080p), 120Hz, 950nits peak brightness, HDR10+6.7″ curved, 1.5K (2664x1200p), 120Hz, 1,600nits peak brightness, HDR10+
    Rear Camera200MP 1/1.4″ main camera w/ OIS + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro camera200MP 1/1.4″ main camera + 12MP ultra-wide + 2MP depth camera
    Front Camera32MP50MP
    Battery & Charging5,000mAh, 100W SUPERVOOC5,000mAh, 66W SuperCharge
    Wi-Fi & BluetoothWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
    NFCYesYes
    Fingerprint SensorIn-displayIn-display
    SpeakersDual Speakers, supports Dolby AtmosMono
    3.5mm JackNoNo

    The first real thing you need to decide is – which design do you prefer? This isn’t the question we’d normally prioritize, but the disparity in designs between the realme 11 Pro+ and the HONOR 90 demands that it is answered first and foremost.

    (Left) realme 11 Pro+ and the HONOR 90

    The realme 11 Pro+ dons a sleek vegan leather texture on the back panels, with a centre gold strip streaming down and around the giant circular camera module. The design was brought to life by former Gucci prints designer, Matteo Menotto. The poster model of the HONOR 90 on the other hand is bedazzled in striking silver, textured with diamond grid lines and a camera module with thick elegant rims. This, however, is exclusive to the Diamond Silver design; the Peacock Blue and Emerald Green designs loses the diamond grid texture, but the thick module rims stay put.

    So, what’s it going to be – Gucci leather or Diamond eyes? We’ll let you decide for yourself.

    Now, onto the nitty gritty. Aside from design, this is also going to be a head-to-head between MediaTek and Qualcomm. You’ll find the former’s Dimensity 7050 5G on the realme 11 Pro+, and the latter’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 on the HONOR 90. As far as performance goes, the Snapdragon offering does seem to lead in multiple benchmark scores[1] which would make it suitable for everyday use and gaming.

    Both devices are 6.7″ with a curved display and 120Hz refresh rates. The HONOR 90 does boasts higher resolution, as well as a much higher peak brightness. One area which must be mentioned is HONOR’s 5-fold eye protection. You won’t find too many brands pushing out eye care as part of their selling points, so it’s nice to know HONOR does take eye health into consideration. You’ll find Risk Free Dimming, Dynamic Dimming, Dynamic Adjustment, Circadian Night Display, and a Low Blue Light mode on the HONOR 90.

    When it comes to cameras, the leading spec on both devices is its 200MP main shooters. But look a little closer and you’ll find that the HONOR 90 does not have optical image stabilization (OIS), where else realme was kind enough to fit one on the 11 Pro+ 5G. The absence of OIS on the HONOR 90 is quite questionable, since it’s become somewhat of a norm even for devices in this price range. But if you’re not the type to whip out your cameras at a whim, you can probably let this slide.

    A 5,000mAh battery powers both devices, but the realme 11 Pro+ packs the quicker 100W charging compared to the 66W on the HONOR 90. Another area where the HONOR falls behind is in speakers, which pales in comparison to the dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support on the realme 11 Pro+.

    TL;DR
    The realme 11 Pro+ and HONOR 90 both have extremely varying aesthetics which are subjective to the user. The HONOR 90 leads in display resolution and brightness, and boasts the stronger processor (according to benchmarks). It also has 5-fold eye protection, which maybe useful for those with sensitive eyes. While both devices have 200MP cameras, only the realme offering comes with optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, the realme 11 Pro+ also have faster 100W charging speeds and dual stereo speakers, as compared to the 66W charging and mono speakers on the HONOR 90.

    [1] NanoReview, Versus.com, TopCPU

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