The gaming phones segment is currently so wide that it even includes affordable gaming-centric devices besides expensive flagships. We are talking about old-gen devices about Nubia Red Magic Mars and Xiaomi Black Shark Helo, but also about the newly-announced Vivo iQOO Neo which comes as an affordable variant of the vanilla iQOO. After its release, Nubia slashed the price of the Red Magic Mars in order to better compete with its Chinese rival and several people are wondering which one to buy. That is why we think now it is the perfect moment to make a comparison between affordable gaming phones. Enjoy.

Vivo iQOO Neo vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars

Design

While both Nubia Red Magic Mars and Xiaomi Black Shark Helo boast a gaming-centric design (they even got gorgeous RGB strips), the Vivo iQOO Neo looks like a normal smartphone. So if you do not want everyone to know you got a gaming phone or you still desire an elegant handset, go for the Vivo iQOO Neo. But if you are a real advanced gamer who wants all the comforts, then you should choose the Nubia Red Magic Mars because of its physical rear keys which are very helpful in a lot of games.

Display

Do not expect a flagship class display from these gaming phones, but not even a disappointing panel. Xiaomi Black Shark Helo comes with the highest DCI-P3 coverage and it has very brilliant colors: it is definitely the most suitable display for a gamer with its AMOLED technology and the absence of a notch. Vivo iQOO Neo offers an important advantage: it is the only with an in-display fingerprint reader, but it is not a so relevant thing for gamers.

Specs & Software

Despite they are gaming-centric phones, these devices do not feature the most powerful SoC of 2019, but they have an old-gen Snapdragon 845. It is still an amazing SoC and it is more than sufficient for every kind of game, especially when it comes to Nubia Red Magic Mars and Xiaomi Black Shark which boast up to 10 GB of RAM and a very advanced cooling system. These two handsets win the hardware comparison because of these reasons, but I personally prefer the Nubia Red Magic Mars as, unlike the Black Shark Helo, it has Android 9 Pie out of the box.

Camera

Unfortunately, we still did not test the Vivo iQOO Neo, but we can tell you that on the paper Xiaomi Black Shark Helo looks like the best camera phone of this trio. It has a dual rear camera including 2x optical zoom, as well as a pretty nice 20 MP front camera. Vivo iQOO Neo has a triple rear camera with an ultrawide lens, but it comes with lower resolutions for both rear cameras and the selfie camera. Stay away from the Nubia Red Magic Mars if you need the best camera phone.

Battery

The battery is the strongest point of the Vivo iQOO Neo: it is equipped with a huge 4500 mAh and it can last up to two days on a single charge even with intensive usage. Vivo iQOO Neo even comes with a faster charging technology than both Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and ZTE Nubia Red Magic Mars. The second place goes to the Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and its 4000 mAh battery.

Price

Vivo iQOO Neo hitten the market with a $260/€290 price tag, while you can find both Nubia Red Magic and Xiaomi Black Shark Helo for more than $270/€300. Overall, on the paper, if we only consider the specifications, Vivo iQOO Neo looks better. But for real gamers, maybe Nubia Red Magic Mars is a better choice because of its physical keys on the back, more RAM, and a better cooling system.

• Read More: Nubia Red Magic Mars goes official with 10 GB RAM and trigger buttons for gaming

Vivo iQOO Neo vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars: PROs and CONS

Nubia Red Magic Mars

PROs

• Physical keys on the back
• Great hardware and cooling system
• Affordable price
• Wide availability

CONS

• Smaller battery

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo

PROs

• Good display
• Affordable price
• Big battery
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Uglier design (tastes)

Vivo iQOO Neo

PROs

• Best (but not so gaming-centric) design
• In-display fingerprint reader
• Bigger battery and very fast charging
• Very affordable price

CONS

• Notched display

The post Vivo iQOO Neo vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

In order to help smartphone buyers to make the right decision, AnTuTu has released the list of the most value for Android phones list for February 2019. The list is divided into three price segments such as 0 to 999 Yuan, 1000 to 1999 Yuan, 2000 to 3000 Yuan and 3,00 Yuan and above. The price-performance lists have been compiled on the basis of average benchmarking score on AnTuTu and current pricing on Jingdong Mall for each smartphone.

The 0 to 999 Yuan (~$150) list is led by 32 GB + 3 GB edition of Redmi Note 7 that is priced at 999 Yuan (~$150). Its value for money (VFM) score is 143.6 and it has scored 143,466 points on AnTuTu. The second place goes to 4 GB + 64 GB Lenovo K5 Pro with 120 VFM score and 114,242 AnTuTu score. It carries a price tag of 948 Yuan (~$140) on Jingdong Mall. The 4 GB + 32 GB Meizu Note 8 that cost 899 Yuan (~$135) is placed on the third position. Its AnTuTu score is 103,813 and VFM score is 115.4.

The other phones that have made it to the list include 2 GB + 16 GB Redmi 6A, 4 GB RAM + 32 GB Honor 8C, 3 GB + 32 GB Honor 8A, 3 GB + 32 GB Redmi 6, 4 GB + 64 GB Lenovo S5, 4 GB + 64 GB Meizu V8 and 4 GB + 64 GB Lenovo K5 Note.

The 1000 to 1999 Yuan (~$150 to ~$300) category has 4 GB + 64 GB Meizu V8 on the number one position with 130 VFM score and 168,757 AnTuTu score. It is priced at 1,299 Yuan (~$193). The 4 GB + 64 GB Xiaomi Mi 6X priced at 1,149 Yuan (~$170) is placed second. Its VFM score is 122.3 and AnTuTu score of 140,634. The 4 GB + 64 GB Lenovo Z5s that costs 1,398 Yuan (~$210) is on the third. Its VFM score is 120.5 and AnTuTu score is 168,543.

The other phones that are included in the list are 4 GB + 64 GB Huawei Nova 2s, 4 GB + 64 GB Nubia Z18 mini, 6 GB + 64 GB Xiaomi Mi 8 SE, 4 GB + 64 GB Vivo Z1, 6 GB + 64 GB Honor Play, 4 GB + 64 GB Vivo Z3 and 6 GB + 64 GB Lenovo Z5.

The 2000 to 2999 Yuan (~$300 to ~$450) segment is led by 6 GB + 64 GB Xiaomi Mi 8 that costs 2,299 Yuan (~$343). Its VFM score is 128.7 and AnTuTu score is 295,784. The 6 GB + 128 GB Xiaomi Mi 9 has 123.5 VFM score and 370,459 AnTuTu score. It is priced at 2,999 Yuan (~$450). The third place goes to 6 GB + 64 GB Meizu 16th with 121.9 VFM score and 292,206 AnTuTu. It carries a price tag of 2,398 Yuan (~$360).

6 GB + 64 GB Nubia Red Magic Mars, 6 GB + 64 GB Nubia Z18, 6 GB + 128 GB Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S, 8 GB + 128 GB Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, 6 GB + 128 GB Honor V20, 8 GB + 128 GB Xiaomi Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition and 8 GB + 128 GB Nubia Red Magic are the remaining phones that are present in the list.

The 3,000+ Yuan (~$450+) list includes 8 GB + 256 GB Xiaomi Black Shark with 3,099 Yuan (~$460) price tag, 94.3 VFM score and 292,136 AnTuTu score on the first position. The 8 GB + 128 GB Meizu 16th Plus is second with 94 VFM score and 291,264 AnTuTu score. It carries a price tag of 3,098 Yuan (~$460). The 8 GB + 128 GB Black Shark Helo that costs 3,199 Yuan (~$477) is placed on the third position. Its VFM score is 93 and AnTuTu score is 297,473.

Read More:Xiaomi Mi 9 tops Antutu’s Android Smartphone Performance Chart for February 2019

The other smartphones in the 3,000+ Yuan list are 6 GB + 128 GB Xiaomi Mi MIX 3, 8 GB + 128 GB Nubia X, 8 GB + 128 GB OnePlus 6T, 8 GB + 256 OnePlus 6, 6 GB + 128 GB Honor Magic 2, 6 GB + 64 GB Huawei Mate 20 and 8 GB + 128 GB Vivo NEX Ultimate.

The post AnTuTu’s most value for money Android smartphones list for February 2019 released appeared first on Gizmochina.

Despite it looks very elegant just like normal flagship phones, the first phone from the new Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO is a gaming-centric device, as stated by the company. Indeed, it has plenty of technologies that are meant to enhance performance while playing games. That is why it is natural comparing it with the latest gaming smartphones released by other companies. In this article, we will offer you an in depth specs comparison between the new beast, Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and Nubia Red Magic Mars which recently hitten the European market after an initial release in China. We still do not know whether or not iQOO will follow the same legacy, but this comparison should leave no doubts about which phone is perfect for your needs.

Vivo iQOO vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars

Design

As we said above, Vivo iQOO is the handset that looks more like a normal flagship phone instead of a gaming device. And it is much more elegant, it has a wonderful glass back as well as a higher screen-to-body ratio. So if you do not want to distinguish yourself as an advanced gamer and you just want a normal phone with gaming capabilities, go for the iOOO. If you are looking for a gaming-centric design, then Nubia Red Magic Mars and Black Shark Helo are better for you. The former has an RGB LED strip and physical keys on the back that are very useful while playing games, while the latter has LED strips at the sides and it supports a detachable controller.

Display

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo’s display should deliver a better viewing quality. It comes with 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage, so its color reproduction should be better. Further, it has no notch unlike the Vivo iQOO, and it comes with an 18:9 aspect ratio: I define these things better for people who often play games. Indeed, a very tall screen and the notch may represent a disadvantage in some games. Nubia Red Magic Mars has a good display too for games, that is also scratch resistant thanks to the Dinorex technology by NEG. However, it is just an average panel when it comes to quality. Vivo iQOO is the only with a UD fingerprint reader, but it is not that useful for a gamer.

Specs & Software

Here Vivo iQOO wins because it is equipped with a stronger chipset: the new Snapdragon 855 by Qualcomm that is up to 45 percent faster than its predecessor Snapdragon 845 found on the Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and Nubia Red Magic Mars. Last but not least, Vivo iQOO has up to 12 GB of RAM while its rivals stop at 10 GB. Vivo iQOO is also equipped with interesting gaming-centric technologies such as Net Turbo seamlessly switching between Wi-Fi and 4G when needed in order to offer better gaming performance, Cooling Turbo to avoid heating issues and Center turbo to boost app startup and frame rate.

Camera

Given that it comes with a triple camera setup including an ultrawide sensor and a depth sensor, Vivo iQOO should be able to shoot more interesting photos. But Xiaomi Black Shark Helo is all but a joke as a camera phone, thanks to its bright dual camera including a telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom. Nubia Red Magic Mars is not an excellent camera phone and it comes with a midrange-class setup consisting of a single 16 MP rear camera and a classic 8 MP selfie snapper. Do not expect so much from it.

Battery

Thanks to its big 4000 mAh battery and its efficient Snapdragon 855 chipset, we believe that Vivo iQOO should deliver a longer battery life. But its opponent should not be far away as their battery capacity is high as well. Vivo iQOO is also better when it comes to fast charging: thanks to its fast charging technology it can go up to 50 percent in just 15 minutes and it can fully charge in just 45 minutes. Note that the base version with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage has a slower charging technology.

Price

The new Vivo iQOO debuted with a price tag of just €400 (translating into $455 at the actual change) and it wins this comparison for its better hardware, software technologies, and overall specs. Xiaomi Black Shark and Nubia Red Magic Mars have listing prices of about €450 and €420, respectively, that is equivalent to about $511 and $477.

• Read More: Nubia Red Magic Mars goes official with 10 GB RAM and trigger buttons for gaming

Vivo iQOO vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars: PROs and CONS

Nubia Red Magic Mars

PROs

• Physical keys on the back
• Great hardware and cooling system
• Affordable price
• Wide availability

CONS

• Smaller battery

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo

PROs

• Good display
• Affordable price
• Big battery
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Uglier design (tastes)

Vivo iQOO

PROs

• Best (but not so gaming-centric) design
• Better hardware + cooling system
• In-display fingerprint reader
• Big battery and very fast charging

CONS

• Notched display

The post Vivo iQOO vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

Even though it is not one of the most important companies in the global market, Nubia keeps releasing innovative phones every year. After the incredible Nubia X with two displays, the Chinese company released the successor of its first gaming phone: Nubia Red Magic Mars. As it is meant for gamers, it features flagship-class performance and gaming-centric features, but it is offered at a very modest price. Here, we compare it with the latest phones from its category: the new Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and Asus ROG Phone.

Nubia Red Magic Mars vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Asus ROG Phone

Design

What makes Red Magic Mars’ design wonderful is the RGB strip on the back side and the fact that it is offered in a very attractive camouflage edition with a fingerprint-resistant coating. Xiaomi Black Shark Helo is attractive as well with its LED strips at the sides, and Asus ROG Phone is another great device with a very original gaming-centric device. I would Asus ROG Phone because of its touch area on the rear side (with three ultrasonic pressure sensitive zones) and because it is water-resistant.

Display

Asus ROG Phone has the best display because it provides a better color accuracy and a higher refresh rate. It supports up to 108.6 percent DCI-P3 coverage, 90 Hz refresh rate with 1 ms response time, and the AMOLED and HDR technologies. Xiaomi Black Shark Helo takes the second place with its AMOLED panel with 100 percent DCI-P3 gamut.

Specs & Software

These handsets are very close in terms of performance, so it is essentially a draw. They all feature the octa-core Snapdragon 845 chipset by Qualcomm running at a max frequency of 2.8 GHz, but on the Asus ROG Phone it is overclocked and it reaches 2.95 GHz. On the other hand, Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and Nubia Red Magic Mars were launched in a configuration with 10 GB of RAM.

Camera

You should not choose one of these phones if you want the best camera performance, but they are not bad at shooting photos. The most convincing one overall is the Xiaomi Black Shark Helo with its rear 12 + 20 MP f/1.8 dual camera and its 20 MP selfie camera, but Asus ROG Phone’s rear camera is more or less at the same level and unlike the Xiaomi’s flagship it features OIS and a wide angle lens.

Battery

Asus ROG Phone and Xiaomi Black Shark Helo have the same battery capacity: 4000 mAh. Both can provide an above-average battery life, but at the end of the day, Xiaomi Black Shark Helo lasts a bit more (about 25 percent of remaining charge at the end of the evening). Nubia Red Magic Mars has a smaller 3800 mAh unit but we are yet to see how it is optimized as the phone is still not on the shelves.

Price

Asus ROG Phone is the best gaming phone of this trio because it has a better display, stereo speakers and a lot of additional accessories to connect to its secondary USB-C port, which are very interesting features for gaming. But it costs a lot more than its opponents. That is why Xiaomi Black Shark Helo has the best value for money. Asus ROG Phone costs about €900/$1023, while the launch prices of Xiaomi Black Shark Helo and Nubia Red Magic Mars are about €450/$511 and €420/$477, respectively.

• Read More: Nubia Red Magic Mars goes official with 10 GB RAM and trigger buttons for gaming

Nubia Red Magic Mars vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Asus ROG Phone: PROs and CONS

Nubia Red Magic Mars

PROs

• Physical keys on the back
• Great hardware and cooling system
• Affordable price
• Android Pie

CONS

• Smaller battery

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo

PROs

• 10 GB RAM
• Affordable price
• Big battery
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Nothing particular

Asus ROG Phone

PROs

• Great hardware + cooling system
• Stereo speakers
• Outstanding display
• Big battery and fast charging

CONS

• Higher price

The post Nubia Red Magic Mars vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Asus ROG Phone: Gaming Phones Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo, the nth gaming phone, is finally official! With all the handsets launched until now, gaming devices do not seem just a temporary trend, but they are here to stay. If you are a gamer and you are looking for the best gaming smartphone at the moment, Xiaomi Black Shark Helo, Razer Phone 2 and Asus ROG Phone are the best choices for you with gaming-centric designs and specs. Here is an in-depth comparison.

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Razer Phone 2 vs Asus ROG Phone

Design

As said above, Xiaomi Black Shark Helo, Asus ROG Phone and Razer Phone 2 all feature a gaming-centric design, so they are not exactly for you if you like elegant phones. The one with the soberest and refined design is Razer Phone 2, which I would pick as I like black and elegant devices. And I also like it because it is water-resistant with the IP67 certification.

Display

Razer Phone 2 would be my choice even when it comes to the display quality. It has the screen with the highest resolution, it has a high brightness and it even has the highest refresh rate which is the most important thing for games. That is why I prefer this display, but note that Asus ROG Phone is able to provide more satisfying colors due to its wide color gamut and the HDR technology.

Specs & Software

While Razer Phone 2 looks more attractive for its display, Asus ROG Phone and Xiaomi Black Shark Helo have a superior hardware. While the first is the only device which has an overclocked Snapdragon 845 chipset, the second is the world’s first smartphone which comes with 10 GB of RAM (in its most expensive version only). Given that we still had no chance to try the new Xiaomi flagship, we still can not tell you which has better performance.

Camera

At least on the paper, the most interesting camera department belongs to Xiaomi Black Shark Helo. It boasts two sensors on the back, both with a bright f/1.8 aperture. Further, the dual camera is able to perform 2x optical zoom. However, I have to try it personally to make a definitive conclusion.

Battery

As they all have the same capacity, there will not be so much difference between the battery life of these devices. So, we suggest you not to choose your gaming phone by basing on the battery life; all of them can last long on a single charge.

Price

Asus ROG Phone is my favorite handset of the trio and it is the winner of this comparison as it boasts amazing performance, a pretty nice display and it supports important gaming accessories thanks to its secondary USB-C port. But Xiaomi Black Shark Helo has the best value for money because the company just launched it in China for just $505, while Asus ROG Phone and Razer Phone 2 cost $969/€850 and $1026/€900, respectively.

• Read More: Razer Phone 2 gaming phone is official with Snapdragon 845, Chroma lighting and wireless charging

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Razer Phone 2 vs Asus ROG Phone: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Black Shark Helo

PROs

• 10 GB RAM
• More affordable price
• Big battery
• Stereo speakers

CONS

• Worse display

Razer Phone 2

PROs

• Best display
• Great hardware and cooling system
• DAC dongle and stereo speakers
• Big battery, fast charging, and wireless charging
• Water resistant

CONS

• Bezels

Asus ROG Phone

PROs

• Great hardware + cooling system
• Stereo speakers
• Outstanding display
• Big battery and fast charging

CONS

• Higher price

The post Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Razer Phone 2 vs Asus ROG Phone: Specs Comparison appeared first on Gizmochina.