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Nubia Red Magic 3 Smartphone Review: 8K videos and active cooling

Stay cool! Nubia wants the Red Magic 3 to be an extraordinary gaming phone and it has done its best to achieve that lofty aim. The company has included an active cooling solution, and the ability to shoot 8K videos, both of which are firsts for the smartphones that have visited our test lab. Read on to find out whether this affordable gaming smartphone can live up to its lofty expectations in this detailed review.
Nubia Red Magic 3

The Nubia Red Magic 3 is a gaming smartphone with high aspirations. The device has an exceptional design, a huge battery, a 90 Hz display and a powerful SoC, all of which should make it superior compared to other high-end smartphones, especially with regards to gaming. Nubia has released its predecessor, the Red Magic Mars, in Europe, but its availability is limited. Hence, this is the first Nubia gaming smartphone to grace our offices.

The Chinese manufacturer has since established itself in Europe and has a website from which you can purchase the Red Magic 3. Nubia has developed a European variant of the device too, which supports regional LTE bands and ships with stock Android. The company also includes a matching charger, which is handy.

Third-party retailers such as Trading Shenzhen also sell the EU version, for reference. Trading Shenzhen also provided us with our Red Magic 3 review unit for full disclosure. The device currently sells for between €427 (~$483) and €587 (~$663) depending on the model that you buy.

We have decided to compare the Red Magic 3 against other gaming smartphones, although please keep in mind that they are often considerably more expensive than the Nubia. We shall also compare our review unit against the ASUS ROG Phone, Razer Phone 2 and the Xiaomi Black Shark 2. We will consider the Red Magic 3 against cheaper devices such as the Nokia 8.1.

Nubia Red Magic 3 (Red Magic Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 8 x 2.8 GHz, Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 485)
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
Display
6.65 inch 19,5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixel 388 PPI, capacitive touchscreen, AMOLED, glossy: yes
Storage
128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash, 128 GB 
, 120 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, 2G: 850, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz. 3G: B1, B2, B4, B5, B8, B9, B19, B34, B39. 4G: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B17, B18, B19, B20, B26, B34, B38, B39, B40, B41., Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.65 x 171.7 x 78.5 ( = 0.38 x 6.76 x 3.09 in)
Battery
5000 mAh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
Camera
Primary Camera: 48 MPix , f/1.79, Phase Comparison AF, LED Flash, Videos @ 4320p/30 FPS
Secondary Camera: 16 MPix , f/2.0, Videos @ 1080p/30 FPS
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo speakers, Keyboard: virtual, Fast charger, USB cable, SIM tool, 24 Months Warranty, LTE Cat. 12; 600 MBit/s downloads. SAR values: Body – 1.221 W/kg, Head - 1.074 W/kg. A-GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo., fanless
Weight
215 g ( = 7.58 oz / 0.47 pounds), Power Supply: 95 g ( = 3.35 oz / 0.21 pounds)
Price
479 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The Red Magic 3 certainly looks the part. Nubia has adorned the device full of angular shapes such as those housing the fingerprint scanner and camera, along with a large RGB LED strip running down the centre of the back case. The company currently sells the Red Magic 3 in black or red, which is a little unusual. The 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage version also has a unique camouflage look to it.

Nubia includes the RGB LED strip on all versions of the Red Magic 3 and pre-installs software that allows you to customise its look. Alternatively, you could choose one of the pre-built profiles, of which there are a few.

Our review unit weighs a hefty 215 g (~7.6 oz), making it heavier than all but the Razer Phone 2 of our comparison devices. Its rounded corners and curved back feels good in the hand though. Our review unit is well-built and does not flex or deform if we try to twist it. Incidentally, the display is notch-free, which has now become something worth mentioning. Its screen-to-body ratio remains high though thanks to its narrow bezels.

Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3
Nubia Red Magic 3

Size Comparison

171.7 mm / 6.76 inch 78.5 mm / 3.09 inch 9.65 mm / 0.3799 inch 215 g0.474 lbs163.61 mm / 6.44 inch 75.01 mm / 2.95 inch 8.77 mm / 0.3453 inch 205 g0.4519 lbs158.8 mm / 6.25 inch 76.2 mm / 3 inch 8.3 mm / 0.3268 inch 212 g0.4674 lbs158.5 mm / 6.24 inch 78.99 mm / 3.11 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 219 g0.4828 lbs154.8 mm / 6.09 inch 75.8 mm / 2.98 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 180 g0.3968 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

As mentioned earlier, Nubia sells two versions of the Red Magic 3, one with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and another with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Our review unit is the former. Nubia currently only sells the latter in camo, although this model was unavailable at the time of testing.

Neither version has expandable storage or NFC. Both have USB 3.0 Type-C ports though. Likewise, Nubia has included a 3.5 mm headphone jack and two nano-SIM card slots.

Topside: 3.5 mm headphone jack
Topside: 3.5 mm headphone jack
Underside: Microphone, USB Type-C port, Speaker
Underside: Microphone, USB Type-C port, Speaker
Right-hand side: Shoulder button, ventilation grille, volume rocker, power button, should button
Right-hand side: Shoulder button, ventilation grille, volume rocker, power button, should button
Left-hand side: Gaming slider, SIM card slot, microphone, docking port
Left-hand side: Gaming slider, SIM card slot, microphone, docking port

Software

As we mentioned earlier, the European version of the Red Magic 3 ships with a stock version of Android 9.0 Pie. Our review unit only had the March 2019 set of Android security patches installed when we received it, which were almost three months old at the time of testing.

Nubia pre-installs a few in-house apps on top of the suite of Google services and makes a few UI changes from stock Android. The company restricts these to a different icon pack and a branded wallpaper, which should take no time to get used to. All these in-house apps are only available in English, which is a shame if you want to use a different system language.

The real highlight of the Nubia-branded software in our opinion is that which you activate by sliding the gaming switch. Doing so puts the Red Magic 3 into gaming mode, which mutes all apps that could potentially be a distraction while gaming. It also enables the fan, about which we shall discuss more in the Emission section of the review. The mode also enables the touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, both of which are customisable from within the included app. Overall, Nubia has done a good job of collating all the various gaming settings into one well thought out app.

RGB lighting settings
RGB lighting settings
Software information
Software information
Default home screen
Default home screen

Communication & GPS

The European version of the Red Magic 3 has all the LTE coverage that you would need to connect to an LTE network. The device also supports enough bands to keep you covered when travelling abroad. Our review unit maintained stable, albeit not exceptional, reception when connected to the German D2 mobile network during our tests.

The Red Magic 3 has worryingly sub-standard Wi-Fi performance though. Our review unit averaged just 208 MBit/s download speeds and 105 MBit/s upload speeds in iperf3 Client, which is significantly lower than the likes of the Black Shark 2 and the Razer Phone 2. The Red Magic 3 only performs better than the ASUS ROG Phone of our comparison devices.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Adreno 640, SD 855, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
527 (410min - 577max) MBit/s +402%
Razer Phone 2
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
388 (234min - 484max) MBit/s +270%
Nokia 8.1
Adreno 616, SD 710, 64 GB eMMC Flash
300 (169min - 367max) MBit/s +186%
Nubia Red Magic 3
Adreno 640, SD 855, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
105 (57min - 301max) MBit/s
Asus ROG Phone
Adreno 630, SD 845, 512 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
96.7 (50min - 106max) MBit/s -8%
iperf3 receive AX12
Razer Phone 2
Adreno 630, SD 845, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
604 (420min - 626max) MBit/s +190%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Adreno 640, SD 855, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
586 (267min - 693max) MBit/s +182%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +81%
Nokia 8.1
Adreno 616, SD 710, 64 GB eMMC Flash
312 (273min - 341max) MBit/s +50%
Nubia Red Magic 3
Adreno 640, SD 855, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
208 (48min - 264max) MBit/s
Asus ROG Phone
Adreno 630, SD 845, 512 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
103 (86min - 109max) MBit/s -50%
020406080100120140160180200220240260280300Tooltip
Nubia Red Magic 3; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø208 (48-264)
Nubia Red Magic 3; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø105.3 (57-301)
GPS test: Indoors
GPS test: Indoors
GPS test: Outdoors
GPS test: Outdoors

The device does not have great GPS connectivity either. The GPS Test established that our review unit can find a satellite with up to 4 metres (~13 ft) accuracy outdoors, but it cannot locate us indoors.

Things were only marginally better in our bike ride test, where we compared our test device’s location accuracy against our reference Garmin Edge 520 bike computer. The Red Magic 3 regularly cuts corners to keep up with us. Accordingly, the device plotted a 150 m (~164 yd) shorter router than the Garmin did. In short, we would recommend using a different device if you need precise location data.

GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Overview
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 - Loop
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Bridge
GPS test: Garmin Edge 520 – Bridge
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Overview
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Overview
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Loop
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Loop
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Bridge
GPS test: Nubia Red Magic 3 - Bridge

Telephone Features & Call Quality

Nubia pre-installs the Google suite of telephony apps for handling calls and messages. All work just as well as they do on other devices that we tested.

The Red Magic 3 also has below-average call quality. The earpiece sounds tinny, and we often found it difficult to hear the person at the other end of the call. Moreover, the built-in microphones cannot pick out our voice cleanly. Calls over handsfree are better, but the speakers make incoming voices sound dull.

Cameras

Photographed with the front-facing camera
Photographed with the front-facing camera

Single rear-facing cameras have become a rarity, although you do not need several camera sensors to take good photos, as demonstrated by the Pixel series. Nubia has equipped the Red Magic 3 with the popular Sony IMX586, a 48 MP sensor that we have previously covered in our OnePlus 7 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 9 reviews.

Again, a higher megapixel count does not necessarily result in better photos, as it can mean that more pixels are crammed onto the same sensor size, resulting in less light reaching each pixel. This is not the case with the IMX586 though, as it can interpolate 4 pixels into one larger pixel, effectively creating a 12 MP image instead.

Correspondingly, our review unit takes decent looking photos in good light conditions. Dark areas are a little bit too underexposed for our tastes, and seem lighter, but the quality of our test shots still impressed us. The sensor also performs well in low-light, although photos like scene 3 lack sharpness. Low-light conditions highlight the issue of dark areas being underexposed too.

One major selling point of the Red Magic 3, and one which Nubia focusses heavily in its advertising is its ability to shoot videos in 8K. This is quite the coup for the Red Magic 3, as no other smartphone can record in 4320p at 30 FPS. Nubia still states that the technology is in beta, but the results are impressive, nonetheless. Not only does the exposure adjust well to changing lighting conditions, but the image quality is also sharp. Zooming in also reveals numerous details that 4K videos could not capture. However, this mode works best in good ambient lighting. We would not recommend shooting in 8K in low-light as the sensor noticeably underexposes the scene.

The Red Magic 3 can also record 4K videos in 60 FPS, another feather in the cap of the gaming smartphone. Overall, Nubia has done well here, although optical image stabilisation (OIS) is sorely missing.

We were less impressed by the HDR mode though, which Nubia also says is still in beta. Currently, the mode oversaturates colours to the extent that the resulting videos look more like pop art than realistic high-contrast recordings.

The Red Magic 3 also has a 16 MP front-facing camera. The sensor takes detailed and impressive selfies.

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.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

We also subjected our review unit to further camera tests under controlled lighting conditions. As demonstrated by the photo below, most colours look noticeably washed out next to the ColorChecker Passport reference colour. The rear-facing camera did a good job at captured our test chart though. The photo is uniformly sharp, and there is hardly any drop off in contrast, even at the edges of the chart.

ColorChecker Passport: The lower half of each area of colour displays the reference colour
ColorChecker Passport: The lower half of each area of colour displays the reference colour
A photo of our test chart
A photo of our test chart
Our test chart in detail
Our test chart in detail

Accessories & Warranty

The Red Magic 3 comes with a quick-charge power supply in the box along with a USB Type-C cable and a SIM tool. Nubia sells additional chargers for €10 (~$11.30) each and other general accessories such as a screen protector and headphones.

The company also sells a docking station that it calls the Magic Adapter, which utilises the proprietary port on the side of the Magic 3. The company does not currently list it on its European website, nor can we find it for sale at any third-party retailers. It also does not sell any gaming specific accessories either like ASUS does for its ROG Phone.

The Red Magic 3 comes with 24 months limited manufacturer’s warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Operation

According to Nubia, the touchscreen in the Red Magic 3 scans the surface 240 times a second, which gives the device comparatively low touch latency. In practical terms, we noticed no input lags, with our presses replicated quickly onscreen. The protective glass top layer has a pleasantly smooth finish too, on which we found it easy to perform multi-finger gestures.

Nubia has also included three hardware buttons, although they are a bit narrow for our liking. The power and volume buttons have good pressure points, but they feel rather cheap. Nubia has done a better job on the slider mechanism though, which activates the smartphone’s gaming mode. The button has a textured finish that is easy to find when not looking at the device, while the mechanism has a pleasing resistance.

The Red Magic 3 has a fingerprint sensor too, which Nubia has placed on the back of the device. The one in our review unit recognises our registered fingerprints reliably and unlocks the device quickly.

Using the default keyboard in portrait mode
Using the default keyboard in portrait mode
Using the default keyboard in landscape mode
Using the default keyboard in landscape mode

Display

Sub-pixel array
Sub-pixel array

Nubia has equipped the Red Magic 3 with a 6.65-inch display. On the face of it, the AMOLED panel should be one of the highlights of the device with its 90 Hz refresh rate, HDR support, fast response times, and low touch lag. The decision to include an AMOLED panel makes sense too as it should be more colour accurate than comparable IPS panels. Its 1,080p resolution will not set the world alight, but it puts the Magic 3 on par with the likes of the Black Shark 2 and the ASUS ROG Phone.

This all sounds great, but it quickly became apparent that Nubia has equipped the Magic 3 with an underwhelming display. The one in our review unit achieved an average maximum luminosity of 298 cd/m² according to X-Rite iPro 2 and 333 cd/m² with the brightness sensor exposed directly to bright light. By contrast, most AMOLED or OLED panels average around 600 cd/m², making the Magic 3 noticeably darker than its contemporaries. Moreover, the panel is only 80% evenly lit, with the upper area of ​​the screen being much brighter than the rest of the display when holding it in portrait mode.

277
cd/m²
299
cd/m²
328
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
294
cd/m²
333
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
287
cd/m²
325
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 333 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 297.7 cd/m² Minimum: 2.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 294 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.58 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.7 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
146.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 1.631
Nubia Red Magic 3
AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.65
Razer Phone 2
IGZO LCD, UltraMotion 120 Hz Display, 2560x1440, 5.72
Asus ROG Phone
AMOLED, 2160x1080, 6.00
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
AMOLED, 2340x1080, 6.39
Nokia 8.1
IPS, 2246x1080, 6.18
Screen
63%
50%
37%
56%
Brightness middle
294
600
104%
597
103%
409
39%
567
93%
Brightness
298
577
94%
637
114%
412
38%
547
84%
Brightness Distribution
80
92
15%
83
4%
95
19%
92
15%
Black Level *
0.31
0.61
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
10.58
3.43
68%
5.12
52%
5.2
51%
4.39
59%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
17.04
6.36
63%
10.9
36%
8.9
48%
7.28
57%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
6.7
4.4
34%
7.3
-9%
4.8
28%
4.9
27%
Gamma
1.631 135%
2.388 92%
2.203 100%
2.21 100%
2.248 98%
CCT
7184 90%
6069 107%
7371 88%
7430 87%
7642 85%
Contrast
1935
930

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 367.6 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 367.6 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 367.6 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Nubia includes several display colour options, although we left our review unit at stock settings for our tests. It quickly became apparent that the display oversaturates colours. We did not need a measuring device to pick this up either and could make it out with our eyes. Red and green tones are particularly afflicted, while grey tones have a blue tint to them. Nubia calls this mode “colourful". Fitting.

DeltaE deviations from sRGB are rather high too, although the display in our review unit still covers the entire colour space. Nubia has also included a preset called “natural", but this makes vivid colours appear noticeably more muted. The display does look less oversaturated overall, though.

Disappointingly, Nubia has equipped the Magic 3 with a panel that uses pulse-width modulation (PWM) to regulate luminosity, which can cause headaches and eye strain for some people. We measured the display flickering at 367.6 Hz across the whole brightness spectrum, which is low enough to cause health issues for those who are PWM sensitive. Enabling the 90 Hz mode should mitigate this PWM frequency though.

CalMAN: Greyscale
CalMAN: Greyscale
CalMAN: Colour Accuracy
CalMAN: Colour Accuracy
CalMAN: Colour Space
CalMAN: Colour Space
CalMAN: Colour Saturation
CalMAN: Colour Saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3 ms rise
↘ 3 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. » 13 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
10 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 5 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 18 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The AMOLED panel has stable viewing angles, so you should have no issues with reading it from practically any angle. However, its low maximum brightness means that you will struggle to read it outside under bright direct sunlight.

Viewing Angles
Viewing Angles
Using the Nubia Red Magic 3 outdoors at maximum brightness
Using the Nubia Red Magic 3 outdoors at maximum brightness

Performance

The Snapdragon 855 is the performance SoC of choice for many OEMs this year that do not develop in-house chips. However, only the Black Shark 2 comes with Qualcomm’s flagship chipset of our comparison devices, which should give the Red Magic 3 an obvious advantage of other gaming smartphones such as the ASUS ROG Phone and the Razer Phone 2. The Snapdragon 855 struggles in some benchmarks compared to its predecessor though, especially in the Compute RenderScript portion of Geekbench 4.3. The Snapdragon 710 powered Nokia 8.1 is nowhere near our review unit in any synthetic benchmark.

The Red Magic 3 performs fantastically in daily use too. Menu animations are always smooth even during heavy multitasking, while sophisticated apps pose no problem for its Snapdragon 855 SoC and 8 GB of RAM.

Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3520 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
2409 Points -32%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
2500 Points -29%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3537 Points 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1799 Points -49%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (3406 - 3537, n=14)
3480 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +44%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
11239 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
9018 Points -20%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
9231 Points -18%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
11359 Points +1%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
5856 Points -48%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (10187 - 11388, n=14)
10955 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +21%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
8024 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
13896 Points +73%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
14489 Points +81%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
7936 Points -1%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
6813 Points -15%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (7372 - 8024, n=12)
7629 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +32%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
13764 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
10006 Points -27%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
9707 Points -29%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
10330 Points -25%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
8309 Points -40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (10330 - 14439, n=19)
12161 Points -12%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +10%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
11440 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8701 Points -24%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
9430 Points -18%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
8342 Points -27%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
6887 Points -40%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (8342 - 11440, n=19)
9710 Points -15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points -5%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
69203 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
62783 Points -9%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
64029 Points -7%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
83518 Points +21%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
28895 Points -58%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (55771 - 83518, n=17)
70036 Points +1%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
106770 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
80333 Points -25%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
80283 Points -25%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
110432 Points +3%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
39655 Points -63%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (97354 - 110432, n=17)
105781 Points -1%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
31012 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
35578 Points +15%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
37475 Points +21%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
45072 Points +45%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
14820 Points -52%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (20636 - 45072, n=18)
32923 Points +6%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
6285 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
6454 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
7673 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2691 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (5251 - 7820, n=18)
7091 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8006 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8243 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
9983 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2763 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (6122 - 10008, n=18)
9272 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3587 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3668 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4240 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2467 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (3001 - 4618, n=18)
3925 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
6425 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
6568 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
7980 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2772 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (5268 - 8141, n=18)
7186 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (704 - 23024, n=115, last 2 years)
9014 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8389 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8345 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
10300 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2855 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (6358 - 10420, n=18)
9569 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (607 - 45492, n=114, last 2 years)
15728 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3532 Points
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3763 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4462 Points
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2516 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (2345 - 4703, n=18)
3892 Points
Average of class Smartphone
  (1075 - 8749, n=114, last 2 years)
4327 Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5104 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
4660 Points -9%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
4730 Points -7%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5734 Points +12%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1834 Points -64%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (4556 - 5747, n=20)
5489 Points +8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points -48%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
6336 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5113 Points -19%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5174 Points -18%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
6362 Points 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1702 Points -73%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (5429 - 6362, n=20)
6201 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points -58%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3037 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3557 Points +17%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3637 Points +20%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4262 Points +40%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2514 Points -17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (2705 - 4612, n=20)
3954 Points +30%
Average of class Smartphone
  (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +3%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
6202 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5094 Points -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
4757 Points -23%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
6312 Points +2%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1964 Points -68%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (3969 - 6404, n=20)
5819 Points -6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (317 - 20131, n=175, last 2 years)
6514 Points +5%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
7104 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5825 Points -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5673 Points -20%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
7108 Points 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1845 Points -74%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (5184 - 7148, n=20)
6793 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (267 - 33376, n=174, last 2 years)
9281 Points +31%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4293 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3540 Points -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3040 Points -29%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4535 Points +6%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2534 Points -41%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (1934 - 5024, n=20)
3942 Points -8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (938 - 8480, n=174, last 2 years)
4150 Points -3%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4875 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
4978 Points +2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (3800 - 5012, n=20)
4719 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (365 - 6439, n=97, last 2 years)
2594 Points -47%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5757 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5768 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (4236 - 5884, n=20)
5618 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (298 - 8601, n=97, last 2 years)
2755 Points -52%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3174 Points
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3365 Points +6%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (2104 - 3452, n=20)
3045 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (1667 - 3525, n=97, last 2 years)
2668 Points -16%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
91 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
89 fps -2%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
89 fps -2%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
60 fps -34%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
57 fps -37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (59 - 91, n=20)
63.4 fps -30%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps -9%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
167 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
152 fps -9%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
150 fps -10%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
167 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
65 fps -61%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (85 - 167, n=20)
153.1 fps -8%
Average of class Smartphone
  (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +46%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
85 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
56 fps -34%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
75 fps -12%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
60 fps -29%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
31 fps -64%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (46 - 85, n=20)
59.6 fps -30%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps -16%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
101 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
83 fps -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
83 fps -18%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
102 fps +1%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
32 fps -68%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (50 - 102, n=20)
92.3 fps -9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +37%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
45 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
37 fps -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
54 fps +20%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
57 fps +27%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
22 fps -51%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (27 - 58, n=20)
47.7 fps +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +33%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
71 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
61 fps -14%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
60 fps -15%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
71 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
23 fps -68%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (35 - 71, n=20)
62 fps -13%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +36%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
37 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
22 fps -41%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
31 fps -16%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
36 fps -3%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
12 fps -68%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (16 - 41, n=20)
31.7 fps -14%
Average of class Smartphone
  (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +16%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
42 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
35 fps -17%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
35 fps -17%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
42 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
13 fps -69%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (22 - 43, n=20)
39.2 fps -7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +40%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
38 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
23 fps -39%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
34 fps -11%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
38 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
13 fps -66%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (17 - 38, n=20)
32.5 fps -14%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 123, n=219, last 2 years)
43.2 fps +14%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
43 fps
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
37 fps -14%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
43 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
14 fps -67%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (22 - 43, n=21)
39.9 fps -7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 229, n=219, last 2 years)
63 fps +47%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
25 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
15 fps -40%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
21 fps -16%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
25 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
8.2 fps -67%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (11 - 26, n=20)
20.9 fps -16%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.8 - 105, n=219, last 2 years)
32.2 fps +29%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
17 fps
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
14 fps -18%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
14 fps -18%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
17 fps 0%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
5 fps -71%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (8.5 - 24, n=21)
16.2 fps -5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 94, n=219, last 2 years)
25.1 fps +48%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
380913 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
285952 Points -25%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
299878 Points -21%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
371562 Points -2%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
169262 Points -56%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (217967 - 398720, n=16)
354450 Points -7%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5314 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
4200 Points -21%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
4693 Points -12%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3847 Points -28%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2731 Points -49%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (3847 - 5397, n=19)
4796 Points -10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +7%
System (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
8991 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8120 Points -10%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8613 Points -4%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
5993 Points -33%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
5681 Points -37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (5993 - 9143, n=19)
8539 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +7%
Memory (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
6661 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
3906 Points -41%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
5296 Points -20%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
3560 Points -47%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
2947 Points -56%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (2661 - 7500, n=19)
5097 Points -23%
Average of class Smartphone
  (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points -6%
Graphics (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
9443 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
8001 Points -15%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
7957 Points -16%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
8125 Points -14%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
3086 Points -67%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (8125 - 9510, n=19)
9174 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +47%
Web (sort by value)
Nubia Red Magic 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
1409 Points
Razer Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
1226 Points -13%
Asus ROG Phone
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Adreno 630, 8192
1336 Points -5%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, Adreno 640, 8192
1264 Points -10%
Nokia 8.1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, Adreno 616, 4096
1077 Points -24%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
  (1076 - 1601, n=19)
1356 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +6%

The same goes for browser benchmarks, where our review unit regularly comes out on top in our comparison tables. Subjectively, browsing the web on Chrome 74 feels fast with media content loading promptly and without delay.

Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104.5 Points +78%
Nubia Red Magic 3 (Chrome 74)
58.8 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (45.5 - 67, n=16)
58.8 Points 0%
Asus ROG Phone (Chrome 74)
48.93 Points -17%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Chrome 73.0.3683.90)
45.54 Points -23%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=119, last 2 years)
131.8 Points +20%
Nubia Red Magic 3 (Chrome 74)
110 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (90 - 129, n=20)
105.2 Points -4%
Asus ROG Phone (Chrome 70)
103 Points -6%
Razer Phone 2 (Chrome 68)
96 Points -13%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Chrome 73.0.3683.90)
94 Points -15%
Nokia 8.1 (Chrome 71)
72 Points -35%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +51%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (17011 - 33918, n=21)
23749 Points +7%
Nubia Red Magic 3 (Chrome 74)
22233 Points
Asus ROG Phone (Chrome 70)
18275 Points -18%
Razer Phone 2 (Chrome 68)
17067 Points -23%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Chrome 73.0.3683.90)
17011 Points -23%
Nokia 8.1 (Chrome 71)
12717 Points -43%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Nokia 8.1 (Chrome 71)
3035 ms * -30%
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Chrome 73.0.3683.90)
2529 ms * -9%
Nubia Red Magic 3 (Chrome 74)
2330 ms *
Razer Phone 2 (Chrome 68)
2283 ms * +2%
Asus ROG Phone (Chrome 70)
2154 ms * +8%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (1852 - 2611, n=19)
2147 ms * +8%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +29%

* ... smaller is better

The Magic 3 also has UFS 2.1 flash storage, as do many modern flagships. Nubia has equipped the device with comparatively fast storage that just loses out to the ASUS ROG Phone in AndroBench. This gives the Magic 3 a small speed advantage when loading large apps and transferring data compared to the likes of the Black Shark 2 and the Razer Phone 2.

Nubia Red Magic 3Razer Phone 2Asus ROG PhoneXiaomi Black Shark 2Nokia 8.1Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-27%
2%
-21%
-52%
8%
170%
Sequential Read 256KB
777
733
-6%
725
-7%
793
2%
279.3
-64%
765 ?(427 - 1011, n=111)
-2%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
89%
Sequential Write 256KB
190.5
194.8
2%
243.3
28%
195.6
3%
203.8
7%
293 ?(13.6 - 719, n=111)
54%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
465%
Random Read 4KB
152.2
124.3
-18%
141.6
-7%
145.2
-5%
69.9
-54%
152 ?(92.6 - 239, n=111)
0%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
58%
Random Write 4KB
160.1
23.99
-85%
152
-5%
25
-84%
7.3
-95%
130.2 ?(18.2 - 290, n=111)
-19%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
66%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
86.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
84.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
76 ?(13.4 - 88.3, n=43)
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
62.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
58.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
59.6 ?(8.4 - 72.4, n=43)

Games

In short, the Red Magic 3 lives up to its billing as an excellent gaming smartphone. We have sung the praises of the Adreno 640 in previous reviews such as the OnePlus 7 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 9, which delivers first-rate graphics performance. The SoC allows the Magic 3 to take advantage of its 90 Hz display in games that support the refresh rate, while the special gaming mode proved useful during our tests as it greatly reduced distractions when gaming.

Nubia has also included something called Game Space 2.0, which you activate by sliding the button on the left-hand side of the Magic 3’s case. This enables the touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, which Nubia allows you to customise to specific areas on the touchscreen, allowing the buttons to trigger controls that appear there. We tested this in "Asphalt 9: Legends", which utilises on-screen drift and boost buttons, and we were pleasantly surprised with the results. The buttons activated the corresponding action reliably and emit a slight vibration when pressed. Nubia has incorporated advanced rumble effects for games such as "Asphalt 9: Legends" too, which is a nice touch. Overall, the company has executed the shoulder buttons well, and they are a worthy alternative to using onscreen buttons.

The touchscreen and associated sensors also worked perfectly during our gaming tests. We tested these with fast-paced games such as "Temple Run 2" and encountered no issues.

Fan control
Fan control
Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legends
Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2

Emissions

Fan Noise

Fan noise
Fan noise

The fan in our review unit peaked at 43 dB(A) during our tests, which we measured by placing a microphone next to it during our gaming tests. We can constantly hear the fan, which is incredibly high-pitched. You can reduce the fan speed manually though, and it only comes on when you activate the physical fan button. In short, while the fan noise is annoying, it does not run in normal use and only when you want it to.

Temperature

GFXBench battery test with the fan switched off
GFXBench battery test with the fan switched off
GFXBench battery test with the fan switched on
GFXBench battery test with the fan switched on

The Red Magic 3 still runs hot even with the fan switched on though. We recorded surface temperatures peaking at 44.9 °C (~113 °F) with the fan disabled, making our review unit uncomfortably hot to hold when gaming. Switching on the fan reduces surface temperatures by up to 1.5 °C (~3 °F), but surface temperatures mostly remain on the border between 30 °C (~86 °F) and 40 °C (~104 °F). The cost of the slightly lower surface temperatures does not outweigh the high-pitched fan noise though in our opinion.

The high surface temperatures correlate with high internal temperatures too. Our review unit throttles slightly under sustained load, as demonstrated by the GFXBench battery graphs to the right. Switching the fan on does stave off thermal throttling, but it does not eliminate it. Overall, you should not notice a huge drop in framerates during a prolonged gaming session, but the fan cannot stop the SoC from eventually throttling.

Max. Load
 44.9 °C
113 F
41.4 °C
107 F
40.1 °C
104 F
 
 44.5 °C
112 F
42.2 °C
108 F
40.7 °C
105 F
 
 44.2 °C
112 F
42.1 °C
108 F
39.9 °C
104 F
 
Maximum: 44.9 °C = 113 F
Average: 42.2 °C = 108 F
38.9 °C
102 F
39.3 °C
103 F
40.2 °C
104 F
38.9 °C
102 F
39.8 °C
104 F
40.1 °C
104 F
39.3 °C
103 F
40.6 °C
105 F
41.3 °C
106 F
Maximum: 41.3 °C = 106 F
Average: 39.8 °C = 104 F
Power Supply (max.)  43.2 °C = 110 F | Room Temperature 21.3 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 42.2 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.9 °C / 113 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 41.3 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.6 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heatmap of the front of the device under load
Heatmap of the front of the device under load
Heatmap of the back of the device under load
Heatmap of the back of the device under load

Speakers

Pink Noise speaker test
Pink Noise speaker test

Strictly speaking, the Red Magic 3 has only a single speaker, but its earpiece doubles as a secondary speaker to create a quasi-stereo effect. Both speakers fire forwards and reached a maximum of 86.8 dB(A) in our tests. The speakers sound unpleasantly high-pitched at high volumes though as the frequency graph to the right demonstrates. Thankfully, turning the volume down slightly, results in a more pleasant listening experience.

You can also listen to music using external audio equipment thanks to the Red Magic 3’s headphone jack and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Both worked fine during our tests.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2042.640.32540.1393131.232.24036.432.25040.335.46332.230.7802524.510027.727.112523.231.416021.840.620020.747.42501955.731519.55840018.658.550019.656.863020.156.280020.263.6100021.371.4125016.280.4160018.680.2200017.678.9250016.475.4315016.873.1400016.268.7500016.859630016.959.2800016.660100001857.91250017.956.1160001756.4SPL69.830.386.8N21.11.453.7median 18.6median 58median 70.2Delta38.616.630.331.538.130.828.537.931.434.136.634.224.62824.126.520.524.81925.816.936.119.150.516.652.413.955.41561.314.663.112.364.211.865.111.866.811.96711.46511.265.611.56511.364.510.963.810.561.410.764.910.667.610.567.310.663.510.654.260.264.357.22477.114.116.810.40.541.3median 11.8median 63.8median 33.8median 12.3median 59.23.77.923.411.717.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseNubia Red Magic 3Razer Phone 2
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Nubia Red Magic 3 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 70.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 70.2% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 70.2% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (127.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 97% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 99% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 0% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Razer Phone 2 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (77.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 88% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 26% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 67% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of our review unit is no cause for concern considering that Nubia has designed it as a gaming smartphone. The Red Magic 3 averages around 5.8 W under full load, which makes it noticeably more efficient than the Razer Phone 2. However, the device has comparatively high consumption at idle and consumes a minimum of 1.3 W, which is almost double that of the average consumption of our comparison devices.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.3 / 1.6 / 2.3 Watt
Load midlight 5.8 / 10.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Nubia Red Magic 3
5000 mAh
Razer Phone 2
4000 mAh
Asus ROG Phone
4000 mAh
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
4000 mAh
Nokia 8.1
3500 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
0%
24%
36%
32%
18%
18%
Idle Minimum *
1.3
0.6
54%
0.6
54%
0.73
44%
0.8
38%
0.939 ?(0.58 - 1.96, n=19)
28%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
31%
Idle Average *
1.6
1.5
6%
1.4
12%
1.01
37%
1.5
6%
1.506 ?(0.85 - 2.8, n=19)
6%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
9%
Idle Maximum *
2.3
2.6
-13%
1.7
26%
1.13
51%
1.8
22%
1.799 ?(1 - 2.9, n=19)
22%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
29%
Load Average *
5.8
7.2
-24%
3.8
34%
3.64
37%
3.2
45%
4.61 ?(3.64 - 5.8, n=19)
21%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
4%
Load Maximum *
10.2
12.3
-21%
10.6
-4%
8.86
13%
5.4
47%
9.04 ?(7.49 - 11.9, n=19)
11%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
19%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Nubia has equipped the Red Magic 3 with a huge 5,000 mAh battery, which gives the device exceptional battery life. Our review unit lasted 14:39 hours in our Wi-Fi battery life test, a runtime that is over 2 hours longer than our best comparison device. The device could probably last even longer between charges if it better managed its power consumption when idling, but you should still get a full day’s use from it.

The included quick charger recharges our review unit in less than 90 minutes. This is quite the feat considering that the size of the battery in the Red Magic 3.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
14h 39min
Nubia Red Magic 3
5000 mAh
Razer Phone 2
4000 mAh
Asus ROG Phone
4000 mAh
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
4000 mAh
Nokia 8.1
3500 mAh
Battery Runtime
-40%
-39%
-12%
-16%
WiFi v1.3
879
531
-40%
533
-39%
774
-12%
738
-16%
Reader / Idle
1630
1110
952
1682
H.264
742
800
666
857
Load
206
216
295
246

Pros

+ stylish design with LED effects
+ well-built
+ premium feel
+ excellent touchscreen
+ 90 Hz display
+ decent cameras
+ fast SoC and storage
+ good stereo speakers

Cons

- runs hot
- high power consumption
- dim display
- fan noise
- OS is not completely translated
- shaky Wi-Fi
- poor call quality with included headphones

Verdict

The Nubia Red Magic 3 smartphone review. Test device courtesy of Trading Shenzhen.
The Nubia Red Magic 3 smartphone review. Test device courtesy of Trading Shenzhen.

At €500 (~$566), the Nubia Red Magic 3 is not expensive for a high-end smartphone. The device has an extraordinary design that mimics the RGB-heavy looks of modern gaming PCs. The Magic 3 reflects its inspirations internally too, with Nubia combining Qualcomm’s flagship chipset with 8 GB of RAM and a 90 Hz display. Its stereo speakers also deliver an engrossing in-game experience, while the touchscreen is remarkably precise.

Even the advertised gimmicks are useful, although not all equally that well. The fan helps keep internal temperatures in check, but our review unit still runs too hot for our liking. The inclusion of active cooling also means that you must endure fan noise, which is noticeably high-pitched on our review unit. The freely configurable shoulder buttons are nice though and worked precisely throughout our gaming tests.

We really like the cameras too, which take surprisingly detailed pictures. Likewise, the option to shoot videos in 8K works well, even if it is a bit experimental.

The Nubia Red Magic 3 is an affordable gaming smartphone that offers a lot for the money. The active fan is more of a publicity stunt though.

However, Nubia had made some compromises to keep the cost of the Red Magic 3 down. There is no NFC, while the display is a bit of a let-down. A 1080p panel in a gaming phone seems like an odd decision when many high-end smartphones now have 1440p screens. Moreover, Nubia has opted for a comparatively dim and colour inaccurate display, which is a shame. The call quality of our review unit is sub-par too, as is its Wi-Fi performance. Nubia has not fully translated the OS from Chinese either, which makes it look like the company has cut corners.

Some of these drawbacks will not apply if you treat the Red Magic 3 as a portable games console though. We doubt most people would notice that it runs hot if it is stowed away in a case like a Nintendo Switch, and the below-average call quality will not be an issue for people who plan to use the Red Magic 3 as a secondary device. You must still get past its dim display, but overall Nubia has created an excellent gaming smartphone that stands out from the crowd.

Nubia Red Magic 3 - 06/20/2019 v6(old)
Florian Schmitt

Chassis
86%
Keyboard
68 / 75 → 91%
Pointing Device
97%
Connectivity
41 / 60 → 68%
Weight
88%
Battery
98%
Display
79%
Games Performance
70 / 63 → 100%
Application Performance
89 / 70 → 100%
Temperature
86%
Noise
75%
Audio
69 / 91 → 76%
Camera
79%
Average
79%
87%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Nubia Red Magic 3 Smartphone Review: 8K videos and active cooling
Florian Schmitt, 2019-06-21 (Update: 2019-06-22)