The gaming phone niche has a new player: Nubia Red Magic 5G. And it is a stunning device. But is it the best gaming phone out there? We think there is no better way to have an idea about it than comparing it with the most amazing gaming phones launched by other brands. Besides Nubia, even Xiaomi launched a new flagship gaming phone recently: the Black Shark 3 Pro. And the most advanced gaming-centric handset from 2019 is the Asus ROG Phone II. Excluding the iQOO series, we believe these are the most awesome phones with gaming-centric design and features, that is why we made this specs comparison.
Nubia Red Magic 5G vs Black Shark 3 Pro vs Asus ROG Phone 2
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone II | Nubia Red Magic 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 177.8 x 83.3 x 10.1 mm, 253 grams | 171 x 77.6 x 9.5 mm, 240 grams | 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm, 218 g |
| DISPLAY | 7.1 inches, 1440 x 3120p (Quad HD+), 484 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, AMOLED | 6.59 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 391 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, AMOLED | 6.65 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz |
| MEMORY | 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB | 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – 12 GB RAM, 1 TB | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 16 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10 | Android 9 Pie, ROG UI | Android 10, Red Magic OS |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 64 + 13 MP + 5 MP f/1.8 and f/2.3 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Dual 48 + 13 MP f/1.8 and f/2.4 24 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5000 mAh Fast charging 65W |
6000 mAh, Fast Charging 30W with Quick Charge 4.0 | 4500 mAh, fast charging 55W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, magnetic charging, support for external accessories, 5G | Dual SIM slot, support to external accessories, RGB light | Dual SIM slot, 5G |
Design
Given that they are phones meant especially for gamers, these devices all come with an aggressive and original design just like gaming PCs and peripherals. Which one you should prefer is up to your tastes. I personally like the Asus ROG Phone II more because it is the only one to come with a glass back and it has a more elegant look, while Black Shark 3 Pro and Nubia Red Magic 5G have an aluminum body. Further, Asus ROG Phone II offers more compatibility for external accessories, including a desktop dock. On the other hand, Nubia Red Magic 5G has a more beautiful front panel since it features a higher screen-to-body ratio.
Display
Here it is a close fight, but we would pick Black Shark 3 Pro as the winner of the display comparison. Nuba Red Magic 5G offers the highest refresh rate (144 Hz), which is very important for gamers. It supports full DCI-P3 coverage, HDR10, and 240 Hz touch-sampling rate. But Asus ROG Phone II is very close with its 120 Hz refresh rate, 108% DCI-P3 gamut and HDR10. On the other hand, Black Shark 3 Pro has one of the widest panels in the Android world with a 7.1-inch diagonal. Unfortunately, it has a lower refresh rate (90 Hz) but also a higher refresh rate. But it is the only with a high Quad HD+ resolution and HDR10+. We would go for the Black Shark 3 Pro, but if we only consider gaming environments, the higher refresh rate of the Nubia Red Magic 5G is definitely more suitable.
Hardware/Software
On the paper, Nubia Red Magic 5G wins the hardware comparison. Just like the Black Shark 3 Pro, it is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 and 5G connectivity. But unlike Xiaomi’s flagship, it features 16 GB of RAM in the most expensive configuration. So if we consider the highest-end configuration, Nubia Red Magic 5G is superior. Asus ROG Phone II loses the comparison since it has an older and less powerful Snapdragon 855+ chipset. It even lacks 5G connectivity. But Asus ROG Phone II is definitely more interesting on the software side since it allows to switch between a customized user interface and stock Android.
Camera
Unfortunately, we won’t be able to give you a definitive vote about the cameras, even on the paper, until we tested both Black Shark 3 Pro and the new Nubia Red Magic 5G which became official just yesterday. On the paper, Black Shark 3 Pro looks better since its sensors have more potentialities. But we do not want to underestimate any device.
Battery
Asus ROG Phone II is the longest-lasting phone on a single charge with a huge 6000 mAh battery: one of the biggest ones ever seen on a flagship smartphone. It even supports reverse charging, but not wireless charging. Black Shark 3 Pro has the fastest charging technology with a power of 65W, and it even supports magnetic charging thanks to the presence of pins on the back cover. Thanks to magnetic charging, playing games is comfortable even while the smartphone is charging.
Price
Black Shark 3 Pro debuted with a $502/$450 starting price in China, Red Magic 5G begins at $540/€485, and Asus ROG Phone II launched in China last year with a $509/€457 starting price. Despite it is a phone from last year, Asus ROG Phone II still has something to say thanks to its amazing display, the support to more external accessories and a huge battery. But the lack of 5G connectivity and the lower-end chipset would let me go either for the Black Shark 3 Pro or the Nubia Red Magic 5G. The former (which looks slightly more interesting) has a wider display and a bigger battery, while the latter has a higher refresh rate, as well as very reactive capacitive triggers.
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 vs Asus ROG Phone 2 vs Vivo iQOO 3 5G: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi Black Shark 3
PROS
- Magnetic charging
- Fastest charging technology
- Magnetic charging
- Wider display
- 5G
CONS
- Nothing particular
Asus ROG Phone II
PROS
- Best battery
- Reverse charging
- Interesting external accessories for gaming
- Good price
CONS
- Inferior hardware
Nubia Red Magic 5G
PROS
- Highest refresh rate
- 5G
- Reactive capacitive triggers
- Cooling fan
CONS
- Smaller battery
