How the Red Magic 3 stacks up to the competition
With the advent rise of mobile games such as Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, and more, several smartphone companies are turning their attention to this lucrative trend. One such company is Nubia, which is looking to dominate the market with the Red Magic 3.
The Red Magic 3 ticks all the boxes for a serious gamer, and it won’t cost you a fortune either. It’ll be competing directly with the likes of Black Shark 2, Razer 2, and Asus ROG. While these are all reasonable options, we’re here to showcase how the Red Magic 3 stands apart from them.
The Red Magic 3 ticks all the boxes for a serious gamer at a reasonable price.
Let’s start with the design: a subjective topic, but for enthusiasts, you’ll appreciate its striking aesthetics. It was made with serious gamers in mind after all. The aesthetics of the Red Magic 3 call to mind the stylings of a high-end gaming PC. However, Nubia presents the user with some options in this regard, including the rugged-looking camo variant that just became available July 1.
Unlike the Razer Phone 2 and the Black Shark 2, the Red Magic 3 still retains the much beloved 3.5mm headphone jack. Until Bluetooth audio quality catches up, a wired audio passthrough will always give you the best immersive experience.
On the side of the phone, you’ll find the shoulder buttons, a toggle for entering Game Space, and a pin connector. The shoulder buttons are especially useful due to its smart software implementation. It allows you to map virtually any point on the screen to the buttons. For fast-paced games, a physical button is always quicker than relying on tapping on the screen. You can even save each setting based on the game you’re playing.
The pin connectors are there to support Nubia’s esports dock, which charges the phone and elevates it into a more comfortable gaming position. It also comes with extra ports for connecting controllers. While it may be an optional peripheral, it’s still a handy add-on absent from the Razer Phone 2 and Black Shark 2.
Another tool in the chest is the Red Magic Handle, which serves as a Switch-style expansion with physical buttons for serious mobile gaming.
What about performance?
For its price range, performance is where this phone shines. In our extensive review, we praised it as a “brilliant gaming phone and represents amazing value.”
Under the hood, you’ll find the Snapdragon 855 chipset, while the Asus ROG and Razer Phone 2 are still running the older 845 chip. What makes this phone unique for gaming is the inclusion of an active liquid cooling system and an internal fan. Liquid cooling is arguably the leading method of chilling down hardware, and besides the Red Magic 3, only the Black Shark 2 has it. The Red Magic 3 is the only smartphone available with a built-in internal fan, which makes it ideal for power users looking to squeeze every mileage out of their favorite mobile game. Speaking of mileage, this phone features a massive 5,000mAh battery that towers over its competition.
When it comes down to gaming, the most important component is the graphics card. The Red Magic 3 is equipped with the Adreno 640, in contrast to the 630 GPU that’s found in the Razer Phone 2 and Asus ROG.
All in all, you’re getting around five hours of non-stop gaming. For regular daily usage, you can expect it to last all day.
Active liquid cooling system and internal fan for long play sessions.
Some may criticize the large screen size as a hindrance, but real gamers understand the need for such real estate. The 6.65-inch AMOLED screen is the biggest among its contenders. Not only does it provide crisp graphics, but the size means you’ll easily spot essential details while you play. It may look bulky, but the body is actually quite slim. It’s fashioned with a matte-finished aluminum and measures at 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7mm.
What about the competition, though?
| Nubia Red Magic 3 | Razer Phone 2 | Xiaomi Black Shark 2 | Asus ROG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.65-inch AMOLED 2,340 x 1,080 90Hz 16M Colors |
5.72-inch IGZO LCD 2,560 x 1,440 120Hz 16M Colors |
6.39-inch AMOLED 2,340 x 1,080 60Hz 16M Colors |
6.0-inch AMOLED 2,160 x 1,080 90Hz 16M Colors |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 630 | Adreno 640 | Adreno 630 |
| RAM | 6, 8, or 12GB | 8GB | 6, 8, or 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 64, 128, or 256GB | 64 or 128GB | 128 or 256GB | 128 or 512GB |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 4,000mAh | 4,000mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Rear Camera | 48MP | 12MP + 12MP | 48MP + 12MP | 12MP + 8MP |
| Front Camera | 16MP | 8MP | 20MP | 8MP |
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| Headphone jack | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Dimensions and weight | 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7mm 215g |
158.5 x 79 x 8.5mm 220g |
163.6 x 75 x 8.8mm 205g |
158.8 x 76.2 x 8.3mm 200g |
In terms of pricing, the Red Magic 3 is the most affordable. It retails at $479 compared to Razer Phone 2’s $499, Black Shark 2’s ~$620, and the Asus ROG’s $900. As for the most crucial aspect to gaming, the Red Magic 3’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and Adreno 640 GPU beats out the Razer Phone 2 and Asus ROG. Overall, its battery life and display stand above the rest. Like we mentioned earlier, it still sports a headphone jack whereas the Razer Phone 2 and Black Shark 2 do not. It also supports 8K video recording, one of the few gaming smartphones to do so.
In terms of pricing, Nubia's Red Magic 3 is the most affordable.
Mobile games are evolving at an exponential rate. To keep up with the demand, Nubia’s Red Magic 3 has solidified itself as a front-runner for hardcore gamers. A device that not only offers premium features at a valued price range but also delivers remarkable performance. If you’re looking to transcend your gaming experience, try picking up a Red Magic 3 today by hitting the button below.
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