On Hand with ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro

ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro: Unleashing Gaming Power with Unique Features

In the realm of Gaming Phones, ZTE’s Nubia Red Magic stands out as one of the best, rivaling the popular ROG Phone. Recently, the company introduced its latest offering, the Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro, priced at just $649. This device boasts impressive specifications, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a massive 6,500mAh battery, and a distinctive design with an integrated cooling fan on the side.

Design and Build

The Red Magic 9 Pro follows a traditional squared-off design with flat edges that subtly curve at the points of contact with the display and the back. This design choice enhances the grip without sacrificing comfort. However, ZTE has not disclosed any specific water or dust resistance standards for the Red Magic 9 Pro, unlike competitors such as the Xiaomi 14 Pro or iQOO 12 Pro, which offer IP68 ratings.

The back of the Red Magic 9 Pro features a simpler and less patterned design compared to its predecessor. However, ZTE manages to make the device stand out. The macro camera is surrounded by a continuous glowing blue LED ring. The “09” logo in the top-right corner and the two touch-sensitive triggers on the right side also come equipped with green LED lights, customizable through the Settings app.

The device retains its cooling fan located on the right edge, now upgraded to spin at 22,000 RPM compared to the previous generation’s 20,000 RPM. Besides gaming, the cooling fan on the Red Magic 9 Pro can also be activated during charging to prevent overheating. However, testing with the 65W charger revealed that the device still heats up relatively quickly.

Performance and Display

Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage, the Red Magic 9 Pro delivers exceptional performance. It is considered one of the best devices in terms of Performance to Price (P/P) ratio in the sub-$600 segment. Additionally, the device features a substantial 6,500mAh battery with fast charging capabilities, supporting up to 80W.

Benchmark tests showcase impressive results for the Red Magic 9 Pro, surpassing 2.06 million points on the AnTuTu Benchmark and maintaining stability with a 99.3% score in the 3DMark Solar Bay Stress Test.

The device continues the trend of a notch-less design for the display, with the front camera hidden beneath the screen. The AMOLED display boasts 1 billion colors, a 6.8-inch size, 1116 x 2480 pixels resolution, and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.

Camera Capabilities

The Red Magic 9 Pro’s rear camera setup includes three sensors with resolutions of 50MP (main), 50MP (ultrawide), and 2MP (macro). The device supports 8K video recording, but notably lacks a telephoto lens, a reasonable omission given the primary focus on gaming features rather than camera capabilities.

In summary, the Red Magic 9 Pro impresses with its high-quality specifications in the ~$600 price range. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, scoring over 2 million on the AnTuTu Benchmark, a 6,500mAh battery, and dedicated gaming features like touch-sensitive triggers and a side cooling fan, the device is poised to make a mark. However, in-depth reviews are essential to validate the true strength of this product.