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MagyarNubia RedMagic 5S Review: Gaming smartphone with active cooling
The RedMagic 5S isn't the first gaming smartphone from Nubia. We have already reviewed the Nubia RedMagic 5G as well as several other smartphones suitable for gaming from other manufacturers. These are included in our list of comparison devices, which you can find below. In addition, you can add any device from our database to the comparison at the bottom of each graph. Let's find out whether the Nubia RedMagic 5S fares better or worse in this direct comparison.
Comparison devices
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84.7 % | 10/2020 | Nubia RedMagic 5S SD 865, Adreno 650 | 218 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.65" | 2340x1080 | |
| 85.3 % | 06/2020 | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro SD 865, Adreno 650 | 253 g | 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 7.10" | 3120x1440 | |
| 89.1 % | 09/2020 | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition SD 865, Adreno 650 | 240 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.59" | 2340x1080 | |
| 87.8 % | 10/2020 | OnePlus 8T SD 865, Adreno 650 | 188 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.55" | 2400x1080 | |
| 84.2 % | 06/2020 | Nubia RedMagic 5G SD 865, Adreno 650 | 218 g | 256 GB UFS 3.0 Flash | 6.65" | 2340x1080 |
Case - Slim gaming smartphone despite fan
The Nubia RedMagic 5S has a frame made of metal, a glass back and great workmanship. The frosted glass back has some decorative elements and the device is available in the colors Sonic Silver or Pulse. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The RedMagic 5S weighs about 218 grams, which isn't particularly light but can still beat comparable smartphones. The smartphone's dimensions are average in our comparison field.
Connectivity - Fast USB port and audio jack
Nubia has equipped its RedMagic 5S with up-to-date hardware and several additional features. For example, the gaming smartphone includes an active cooling fan and capacitive shoulder buttons. The phone also has a connector for its own gaming dock as well as a mechanical switch that activates gaming mode. There isn't an option to expand storage; instead, users can insert two NanoSIM cards at the same time. Both slots support VoLTE, VoWLAN and 5G, although the latter cannot be used on both simultaneously. The USB port supports USB 3.1 Gen1 standards and can output image content. The phone also has a 3.5-mm audio jack.
Software - Comprehensive gaming mode
The RedMagic 5S is an Android 10 system that has been enhanced with the RedMagic OS user interface, version 3.5. This changes some icons and uses a different menu structure. The manufacturer has not installed a lot of third-party apps and has placed all of its focus on the Game Space 2.1. This gives users extensive setting options such as controlling the fan, assigning actions to the shoulder buttons, recording gaming sessions and much more. The phone automatically switches to this software when the switch on the side of the phone is activated. The software also offers an overview of the installed games on its own dashboard.
Communication and GPS - Fast communication with the 5G smartphone
The Nubia smartphone supports GSM, 3G, LTE and 5G networks. In LTE Cat. 20, it reaches up to 2000 MBit/s when downloading and 300 MBit/s when uploading. The RedMagic 5S can also connect via NFC, Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 6 at close range.
Our test with our reference router Netgear Nighthawk AX12 results in an average reception rate of 870 MBit/s and a rate of 681 MBit/s when sending data.
According to the app "GPS Test", the Nubia RedMagic 5S can locate its position within 4 meters, using the satellite systems GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo.
The RedMagic 5S offers similar accuracy to our reference navigation system Garmin Edge 500 on our obligatory bike tour.
Telephony and Call Quality - Clear connection with the RedMagic 5S
Talking on the phone with the Nubia RedMagic 5S works well. The phone provides a decent volume and both call partners could hear each other loud and clear in our test call. The telephone app offers direct access to a number pad and also allows users to access stored contacts. Further settings are available for groups, calls, etc.
Cameras - Acceptable images with washed-out colors
Nubai has equipped the RedMagic 5S with a main camera with three lenses as well as a simple front camera. The latter enables users to take portraits with 8 MP that show a lot of details. Colors appear natural, although the app automatically activates a beauty effect, the strength of which can be adjusted via a slider. The app also features various color filters and a timer function. The pro mode is only available for the main camera.
The main camera takes photos with a 64-MP lens. This is complemented by an 8-MP wide-angle lens as well as a 2-MP lens to provide depth. The main lens can record a lot of details, but colors appear slightly washed out. At lower zoom levels, you can also see blurry edges outside of the focal area. Our wide-angle photo manages to record more vivid colors and a good level of details. Content remains easily recognizable at 5x zoom. Our test motive is only vaguely visible in bad lighting and the pictures turn out way too dark. The camera app features a pro mode that users can use to make numerous manual adjustments.
Videos are recorded at a similar quality as photos. Again, users can use color filters and even turn the image stabilizer on and off. The available resolutions are HD 720P, FullHD 1080P and UltraHD 4K with either 30 or 60 fps, or even UltraHD 8K.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
HauptkameraWeitwinkelZoom (5-fach)LowLight
The photo of the ColorChecker passport shows that the RedMagic 5S makes colors look brighter than they should. The camera displays our test chart with a lot of details and good contrast, although this becomes weaker in the bottom corners.
Accessories and Warranty - Protective case included
The Nubia smartphone is delivered with a USB AC adapter and a USB Type-C cable, a SIM needle and a silicone protective case. The manufacturer also has a range of accessories available for the RedMagic 5S including an external cooling system, a pro controller and another protective case.
Nubia provides buyers with a 24-month warranty.
Input Devices & Handling - Gaming smartphone with capacitive shoulder buttons
Users can use Google's GBoard to input text. Inputs are recorded precisely and swiping movements also work well. If the game mode is active, users can access the settings menu from the right edge of the screen. This lets you configure the shoulder buttons, which basically simulate touching a certain spot on the screen. You can also define how sensitive they should be, so you can find the suitable feedback for every need.
On top of that, the RedMagic 5S also features an in-screen fingerprint reader. This isn't always reliable and we often had to resort to using a pattern to unlock the phone instead. Face recognition worked a lot better and is a viable alternative.
Display - With 144 Hz and PWM
The 6.65-inch AMOLED display of the RedMagic 5S offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz. The maximum brightness of 589 nits positions our device towards the bottom of our comparison table, but can still be considered good. Deactivating the ambient light sensor limits maximum brightness to 411 nits. The APL50 test results in very good 895 nits. The lowest possible luminosity is 3.72 nits.
The display uses PWM to regulate brightness below 99 percent at a frequency of 581.4 Hz.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 589 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
96.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.31
| Nubia RedMagic 5S AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.65 | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro AMOLED, 3120x1440, 7.10 | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.59 | OnePlus 8T AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.55 | Nubia RedMagic 5G OLED, 2340x1080, 6.65 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -8% | 20% | 46% | -51% | |
| Brightness middle | 589 | 570 -3% | 625 6% | 743 26% | 593 1% |
| Brightness | 592 | 589 -1% | 630 6% | 734 24% | 601 2% |
| Brightness Distribution | 90 | 90 0% | 88 -2% | 91 1% | 92 2% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.1 | 4.65 -50% | 2.6 16% | 0.89 71% | 8.1 -161% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 7.2 | 7.61 -6% | 4.5 37% | 1.69 77% | 16.2 -125% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5.6 | 4.9 12% | 2.5 55% | 1.4 75% | 7.1 -27% |
| Gamma | 2.31 95% | 2.205 100% | 2.22 99% | 2.199 100% | 2.28 96% |
| CCT | 6633 98% | 7500 87% | 6750 96% | 6423 101% | 7566 86% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 581 Hz | ≤ 99 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 581 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 581 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The AMOLED panel of the Nubia smartphone offers the contrast and black values that are typical for this kind of screen. Users can adjust color display in the settings menu by choosing from three presets. This either makes colors appear more natural, more vivid or warmer or colder.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 7 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 2.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 1.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 7 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
The Nubia RedMagic 5S is suitable for use outdoors. Its reflective screen, however, can make reading the display difficult at times, even in shade.
The AMOLED panel of the BlackMagic 5S has very stable viewing angles. Screen content can be viewed from almost any angle without colors or content distorting or being displayed incorrectly.
Performance - On par with competition
Nubia has equipped the RedMagic 5S with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. This SoC was a high-end chip at the end of 2019 and, combined with 8 GB of RAM, offers sufficient power for both everyday applications and more demanding apps. The benchmark results are on par with those of the competition. The 5S does particularly well in terms of graphic performance while system performance is average.
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro | |
| Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition | |
| OnePlus 8T | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (527301 - 631025, n=24) | |
The browser benchmark results are varied. While the Octane V2 value is very good, the other results position our test unit towards the bottom of our comparison table. Websites are still loaded quickly and scrolling is smooth in everyday use.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition (Chrome 84) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (74.2 - 145.1, n=21) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (last 2 years) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S (Chrome 86) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (39 - 304, n=122, last 2 years) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition (Chrome 84) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (97 - 127, n=23) | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro (Chrome 83) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S (Chrome 86) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=213, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition (Chrome 84) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S (Chrome 86) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (14606 - 31224, n=23) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro (Chrome 83) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5G (Chrome 83) | |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S (Chrome 86) | |
| Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro (Chrome 83) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (1623 - 2911, n=24) | |
| Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition (Chrome 84) | |
| OnePlus 8T (Chrome 86) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=173, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The Nubia RedMagic 5S has a 256-GB internal UFS 2.1 storage device that has good read and write rates according to our benchmarks, which once again position it in the center of our test field. The device does not feature a microSD card slot.
| Nubia RedMagic 5S | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition | OnePlus 8T | Nubia RedMagic 5G | Average 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 3% | 19% | -14% | -11% | 12% | 27% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 1348 | 1398 4% | 1697 26% | 1659 23% | 1654 23% | 1599 ? 19% | 1508 ? 12% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 674 | 658 -2% | 770 14% | 728 8% | 388.4 -42% | 777 ? 15% | 1118 ? 66% |
| Random Read 4KB | 213.3 | 218.2 2% | 266.8 25% | 132.6 -38% | 201.6 -5% | 244 ? 14% | 247 ? 16% |
| Random Write 4KB | 243.5 | 261.5 7% | 268.5 10% | 121.4 -50% | 193.6 -20% | 245 ? 1% | 272 ? 12% |
Games - Gaming above 60 fps almost impossible
The Nubia RedMagic 5S is suitable for gaming. However, its performance isn't good enough to ensure high refresh rates with all current titles. For example, "Armajet" would actually support 144 fps, but the RedMagic 5S only managed just over 60 fps in our test. PUBG Mobile was also displayed at 60 fps at high settings, with only very few frame drops. Controlling the games worked well via the touchscreen and the shoulder buttons.
All games were tested with Gamebench.
Emissions - Audible fans in the Nubia smartphone
System Noise
The active cooling fan of the RedMagic 5S is definitely audible when running. Fortunately, the fan's steady humming is easily covered up by sound coming out of the speakers.
Temperature
The surface temperatures of the Nubia smartphone increase to up to 35.1 °C under load. This means that the smartphone remains cool enough to hold at all times.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 35.1 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 32.2 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The RedMagic 5S produces sound via the speaker and earpiece. The volume can get quite loud and high frequencies are particularly strong. This is good for spoken content, but we would recommend connecting external headphones or speakers for a more balanced sound experience.
Nubia RedMagic 5S audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (2.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 9% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 88% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Good runtime in 60-Hz mode
Power Consumption
The Nubia RedMagic 5S consumes 8.84 Watt under load, which is the lowest consumption rate in our test field. The included AC adapter provides a rated output of 18 Watt and is large enough to cover the device's needs.
| Off / Standby |   0.02 / 0.31 Watt |
| Idle |  1.16 / 2.34 / 2.39 Watt |
| Load |
4.57 / 8.84 Watt |
    
| |
| Nubia RedMagic 5S 4500 mAh | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro 5000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition 6000 mAh | OnePlus 8T 4500 mAh | Nubia RedMagic 5G 4500 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -32% | 20% | 13% | 9% | -4% | 16% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 1.16 | 1.5 -29% | 0.91 22% | 1.1 5% | 1.1 5% | 1.133 ? 2% | 0.897 ? 23% |
| Idle Average * | 2.34 | 2.3 2% | 1.47 37% | 1.5 36% | 1.5 36% | 2.23 ? 5% | 1.452 ? 38% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.39 | 3.1 -30% | 1.49 38% | 1.7 29% | 1.71 28% | 2.45 ? -3% | 1.629 ? 32% |
| Load Average * | 4.57 | 7.4 -62% | 4 12% | 4.6 -1% | 4.84 -6% | 5.26 ? -15% | 5.55 ? -21% |
| Load Maximum * | 8.84 | 12.3 -39% | 9.55 -8% | 9.4 -6% | 10.42 -18% | 9.68 ? -10% | 8.31 ? 6% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The gaming smartphone reached a runtime of 12h and 10 min in our practical WiFi test. This means that it can make good use of its 4500-mAh battery. The included AC adapter fully recharges the phone in around two and a half hours.
| Nubia RedMagic 5S 4500 mAh | Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro 5000 mAh | Asus ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition 6000 mAh | OnePlus 8T 4500 mAh | Nubia RedMagic 5G 4500 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | |||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 730 | 767 5% | 964 32% | 1023 40% | 614 -16% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Interesting for gamers
People will argue about whether a gaming smartphone actually makes sense or not. But the fact that the Nubia RedMagic 5S's active cooling fan keeps temperatures low under load is undisputable. The shoulder buttons are easily integrated into the game with the appropriate software and performance is good enough for current titles. The device's design, workmanship and system design are also subtly but clearly directed at the target audience.
The Nubia RedMagic 5S is definitely interesting for gamers, but it can't make full use of its strengths.
At the end of the day, we wonder whether Nubia really had to install a 144-Hz panel. Most games don't even support such high refresh rates yet, plus the performance of the RedMagic 5S isn't ideal above 60 fps in high graphics settings ayway, which, in part, is also due to the lack of support.
Nubia RedMagic 5S
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08/31/2022 v7
Mike Wobker
Pricecompare
