ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus Review with Pros and Cons

UNB

Publisted at 11:23 AM, Sat Mar 9th, 2024

The Red Magic 9 Pro+ mobile was released in India on 23 November 2023. As smartphone performance continues to rise, gaming smartphones have become less distinct. However, Red Magic is changing this perception.

The Red Magic 9 Pro+ offers a breakthrough in gaming smartphone technology. Let's delve into the specific performance enhancements that make the Red Magic 9 Pro+ stand out in the gaming smartphone market. Let’s take a look at the key specs, pros, cons, and price of this device.

Key Features and Specs of Red Magic 9 Pro+
Design
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ measures 164 mm by 76.4 mm by 8.9 mm and weighs 229 g. It features a glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), an aluminum frame, and a glass back. It supports dual Nano-SIM with dual stand-by functionality and includes pressure-sensitive zones (520 Hz touch-sensing) and a built-in cooling fan. 

The middle frame is made of aviation aluminum. Its flat-back design enhances grip during gaming, while the custom-designed glass ensures durability and high-quality lens standards. Components have been re-customised for a slim 8.9mm body, accommodating improvements such as enhanced camera hardware. 

Available color options include "Dark Knight'' and transparent variants, with upgraded RGB lighting effects on the cooling fan and illuminated buttons for a customized gaming experience.

Display
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ boasts a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a hidden front camera design, achieving an impressive 93.7% screen-to-body ratio. The display utilizes BOE's under-screen Q9+ light-emitting material, enhancing brightness up to 1600 nit while improving visual effects like color accuracy and dark light optimization. It achieves 100% coverage of sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts, measured using DisPlay CAL. 

With a high refresh rate of 120Hz, the gaming screen delivers clear and smooth visuals. The screen resolution stands at 1116 by 2480 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio, offering sharpness at ~400 ppi density. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen, ensuring durability against scratches and impacts.

Cameras
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ not only excels in gaming performance but also delivers standard image quality. Equipped with a 50-megapixel Samsung GN5 main camera and a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 ultra-wide-angle lens, it offers a versatile dual-camera setup. Additionally, a 2-megapixel macro lens enhances versatility for close-up shots. 

Features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode further enhance the photography experience. Video recording capabilities are also robust, supporting resolutions up to 8K at 30fps and various frame rates for flexible shooting options. With a 16-megapixel under-display selfie camera, users can also capture clear and detailed self-portraits.

Performance and Hardware
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ impresses with its powerhouse performance, driven by Qualcomm's  Snapdragon 8’s third-generation built on TSMC's 4nm process. Featuring an 8-core full 64-bit architecture, paired with LPDDR5X and UFS4.0 data transfer technology, it forms the formidable "Iron Triangle," yielding an AnTuTu score exceeding 223W points. In gaming, it excels, effortlessly handling demanding settings with smooth gameplay. 

Its RAM power ranges from 16 to 24GB. While starting from 256GB the internal storage capacity reaches up to 1TB.

Tested at very high settings and extreme image quality for half an hour, it maintains an average frame rate of 120.8 frames, showcasing its capability even under intense conditions. Cooling is handled by the ICE 13 Magic Cooling system, featuring 10 layers of precision cooling, an active cooling fan, and a large VC heat spreading plate. The flat-back design contributes to a more comfortable gaming experience despite noticeable heat.

Battery and Charging
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ boasts a substantial 5500mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery, providing ample power for extended gaming sessions. The blazing-fast charging capability sets it apart, supporting 165W wired flash charging. This feature allows the device to be fully charged in just 16 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime between gaming sessions. 

Whether prioritizing uninterrupted gameplay or minimizing charging time, the Red Magic 9 Pro+ delivers an efficient and reliable battery and charging solution to suit diverse needs.

Pros and Cons of ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+

  • Pros
    Sleek design with flat-back for better grip
    Impressive display with a high refresh rate
    Advanced Processor, powerful RAM, spacious memory, and fastest data transfer mechanism
    Versatile camera setup for standard photos and videos
    Substantial battery with rapid wired flash charging
  • Cons
    Heat buildup during intensive gaming
    Limited color options
    Lack of reverse and wireless charging facility
    No micro SD card slot
    No information about dust and water resistance
    No Gyrp-EIS support for video recording.

Price of Red Magic 9 Pro+
The Red Magic 9 Pro+ starts at CNY 5,499 (approximately BDT 83,674) for the 16GB+256GB RAM and storage model. It will also come in a 16GB+512GB version priced at CNY 5,799 (around BDT 88,239) and a high-end 24GB+1TB model costing CNY 6,999 (about BDT 1,06,499). The conversion rate here is CNY 1 = BDT 15.22.

Conclusion
The ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus sports a sleek design with a flat back for enhanced grip. It also boasts a spacious AMOLED display with a high refresh rate and impressive color accuracy. Powered by a robust processor, RAM, fastest data transfer technology, and spacious memory, it delivers reliable performance, which is ideal for demanding gaming sessions. The device can capture quality photos and videos. Moreover, its substantial battery supports flash charging. 

Red Magic 9 Pro Plus has some drawbacks like heat buildup during intensive gaming, limited color options, lack of reverse and wireless charging, etc. 

However, considering gaming performance, the ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ appears as a powerful contender in the gaming smartphone market.

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