ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ review
This phone suits players and content creators who value sustained performance and do not mind the gaming-phone identity. Anyone prioritizing general-purpose flagship balance, camera versatility, or newer silicon should look elsewhere.
This review is based on ZTE’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The RedMagic 9 Pro+ is a gaming phone built around speed: 165W charging that fills the tank in 16 minutes, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and a 120Hz AMOLED display kept cool by an active fan. It delivers on raw performance for players and creators, but the Gorilla Glass 5, standard ultrawide, and 2023-era camera hold it back from being a flagship all-rounder.
Design & Build
At 229g and 8.9mm thick, the RedMagic 9 Pro+ is trim for a 6.8-inch phone, built around the gaming premise with an aerospace aluminum frame and a pressure-sensing edge that ties to the shoulder buttons for shooters. Glass front and back with Gorilla Glass 5 on both means it looks sleek and feels solid, though the transparent Cyclone variant shows the internals and cooling system for aesthetics over subtlety. The built-in fan is a mechanical commitment—it spins under load and you will hear it, but it actually works: no thermal cliffs during extended sessions. For a device marketed to players, the design leans aggressively into that identity rather than trying to be a conventional flagship.
Display
The 6.8-inch AMOLED hits 120Hz, 1600 nits peak, and 400ppi density in a 20:9 ratio that favors vertical games and video. Scrolling is fluid, text is sharp, and sun readability is genuine—no squinting needed outdoors. HDR content looks vivid without oversaturation, and the tall aspect ratio gives you more in-frame without widening the device, a smart trade for a screen-forward phone. For gaming at 120fps the latency is competitive; the 520Hz touch-sampling puts the response on par with other modern gaming flagships. It is not the brightest AMOLED in absolute peak terms, but at 1600 nits it beats last-gen gaming phones and keeps pace with current flagships.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is flagship silicon: it runs Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings and 60+ fps without dropping frames, and multitasking between apps or streaming while gaming stays snappy. The Adreno 750 GPU is the best-in-class for mobile right now, and the 16 or 24GB RAM options mean nothing is going to stutter from memory pressure. Where this phone differs from conventional flagships is the active cooling fan—it keeps the SoC under 45°C during sustained loads, preventing the thermal throttle that rivals experience after 20–30 minutes of peak load. In real terms: you get consistent performance for longer without the phone having to back off. For emulation, video editing on device, or streaming while playing, that advantage is tangible, not marketing noise.
Software
Android 14 with Redmagic OS 9 is a gaming-tuned overlay. It adds profiles that lock performance cores, tweak refresh rates, and suppress background tasks when you launch a game, plus shoulder-button mapping for shooting games. The implementation is shallow compared to a full launcher like One UI or Pixel's Adaptive Battery, but it works: you get game-specific tweaks without diving into settings. The OS is bloat-light for a Chinese brand, and updates are reasonably timely. For a western user, Redmagic OS is less intrusive than many alternatives and leans into utility over hand-holding.
Camera
The main 50MP sensor with OIS and a 1/1.57-inch frame captures sharp, well-exposed daylight shots with the optical stabilization keeping video steady at 4K 60fps. The 50MP ultrawide at f/2.2, however, is where compromise appears: 0.64µm pixels and a narrower aperture mean it gathers less light and loses detail next to rivals who now ship f/1.8 ultrawides with larger sensors. Macro shooting from the 2MP lens is a gimmick; real macro needs dedicated glass or a macro mode on the main sensor. Video maxes out at 8K 30fps and 4K 60fps, solid specs on paper but not a differentiator. Low-light performance is average for the generation—the main sensor struggles with shadow detail when light is scarce. For daylight and video, it holds up; for low-light and ultrawide versatility, flagships from Samsung or Xiaomi do more.
Battery & Charging
The 5500 mAh battery manages about a day of mixed use, maybe a full day if you skip gaming. Heavy use—gaming or video streaming for hours—will push you to evening empty. What sets this phone apart is the 165W wired charging: 16 minutes to full is real and fast enough to charge on a coffee break, a genuine convenience over the 80–120W standard elsewhere. The catch is that sustained high-wattage charging degrades battery chemistry faster, so expect capacity to dip to 90% after 2–3 years if you daily-charge at the max. There is no wireless charging, which is typical for gaming phones that prioritize thinness. The fast charging is not a gimmick; it changes how you think about battery anxiety.
Value & Verdict
At about €710, the RedMagic 9 Pro+ sits in flagship territory, competing against Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra or OnePlus's top tier. For that price, you are paying a premium for the active cooling, 165W charging, and gaming-tuned OS—features that matter to players but add little value to a casual user. The screen, performance, and design are all strong, but the Gorilla Glass 5 and modest ultrawide are cuts relative to other €700+ phones. Released in November 2023, it is now over two years old; the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 remains fast enough, but rivals have moved to Gen 4 silicon, and camera and display tech have matured. For someone who prioritizes sustained gaming performance and doesn't mind a gaming-first aesthetic, it remains a solid machine. For a general user seeking a long-term flagship, look at something newer.
Verdict
This phone suits players and content creators who value sustained performance and do not mind the gaming-phone identity. Anyone prioritizing general-purpose flagship balance, camera versatility, or newer silicon should look elsewhere.
- 165W wired charging reaches 100% in 16 minutes—the fastest in its class and a genuine comfort for daily use
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with up to 24GB RAM runs demanding games and multitasking without lag or throttle
- 120Hz AMOLED display is sharp at 400ppi and bright at 1600 nits peak, making scrolling smooth and outdoor readability solid
- Built-in active cooling fan prevents thermal throttle during sustained gaming, a real advantage rivals handle via throttling alone
- Gorilla Glass 5 is standard fare; Gorilla Glass 9 or ceramic is now normal for phones at this price, leaving the screen more prone to scratches
- 50MP ultrawide at f/2.2 and 0.64µm per pixel is modest; rivals in this class offer brighter, wider sensors with better macro detail
- 5500 mAh battery, while adequate, won't stretch beyond a day under heavy gaming or video work despite fast charging
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, November 23 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display |
| Battery | 5500 mAh |
| Charging | 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 16 min |
| Software | Android 14, Redmagic OS 9 |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 229 g (8.08 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, glass back |
| Durability | Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort |
ZTE nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ support 5G?
Yes. The nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ use?
The nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ runs on the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).
What display does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ have?
A 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak), 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density).
How big is the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ battery?
The nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ has a 5500 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 16 min.
Does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ have NFC?
Yes, the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ has NFC.
Is the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ water resistant?
The nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ carries a Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing) Built-in cooling fan Aviation aluminum middle frame rating.
Does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ support a microSD card?
No, the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ does not support expandable storage.
Does the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ have a headphone jack?
Yes, the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the nubia RedMagic 9 Pro+ isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
nubia RedMagic 9S Pro+
nubia RedMagic 10 Pro
nubia RedMagic 8S Pro+
nubia Z60S Pro
Galaxy S23 Ultra
