nubia Red Magic 8 Pro review

Synthetic benchmarks

The nubia Red Magic 8 Pro packs Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It's a modern 4nm chip with one big primary ARM Cortex-X3 core that can clock up to 3.2 GHz. Also on board - two Cortex-A715 clocked at up to 2.8 GHz, two Cortex-A710 also clocked at 2.8 GHz and three Cortex-A510 units that can go up to 2.0 GHz. The onboard GPU is an Adreno 740. The Red Magic 8 Pro pairs this chipset with fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. As a reminder, our review unit has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the Red Magic 8 Pro+ can be had with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Nubia offers some impressive performance comparison numbers in its review literature. According to internal measurements, the new CPU can deliver up to 37% improved performance, whereas the GPU can be up to 42% faster. All the while, the chipset is about 50% more power efficient. We can only assume that nubia is basing these numbers on a comparison with the Red Magic 7S Pro and its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. Then there is also the jump from UFS 3.1 to UFS 4.0 storage, which is pretty significant. As is the switch to LPDDR5X RAM, which can be twice as fast as LPDDR5.

Let's kick things off with some CPU benchmarks and GeekBench. We find the Red Magic 8 Pro with a comfortable lead on all other Android phones on the list. Including the iQOO 11, which also packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Apple and the A16 Bionic remain on top of the food chain yet again in this test, but not by a lot, with a shrinking lead.

GeekBench 5 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  5423
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  5211
• iQOO 11
  4803
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  4575
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  4300
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  4231
• Realme GT Neo3
  4079
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  4021
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  3980
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  3845
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  3665
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  3505
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  2659

GeekBench 5 (single-core)

Higher is better

• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  1890
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  1486
• iQOO 11
  1479
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  1360
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  1345
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  1336
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  1329
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  1324
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  1251
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  1176
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  1110
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  1001
• Realme GT Neo3
  968

AnTuTu is pretty generous towards the Red Magic 8 Pro placing it at the front of the performance pack. It has a comfortable lead of over 100,000 points on both the ROG Phone 6 Pro with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and its ROG Phone 6D Ultimate sibling with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+.

AnTuTu 9

Higher is better

• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  1288866
• iQOO 11
  1281665
• iQOO 11 (1080p)
  1272973
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  1107464
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  1103188
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  1087412
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  1056511
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  1045876
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  1039412
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  1007133
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  955884
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  940400
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  931170
• Realme GT Neo3
  819348
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  762090

The Adreno 740 is a really powerful GPU, as evidenced by its performance. Again looking at the Red Magic 8 Pro and the iQOO 11 with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, we see the performance is in a league of its own. Definitely a noticeable step above previous gen chips.

GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11 (1080p)
  89
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  75
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  63
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  62
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  61
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  61
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  59
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  59
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  58
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  58
• iQOO 11
  54
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  51
• Realme GT Neo3
  42
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  38

GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (offscreen 1440p)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11
  62
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  61
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  46
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  46
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  46
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  46
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  45
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  43
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  43
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  41
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  37
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  32
• Realme GT Neo3
  27

GFX Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11 (1080p)
  91
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  79
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  69
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  66
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  64
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  64
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  63
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  61
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  59
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  56
• iQOO 11
  55
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  54
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  46
• Realme GT Neo3
  43
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  39

GFX Aztek Vulkan High (offscreen 1440p)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11
  69
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  68
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  52
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  52
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  51
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  51
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  50
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  49
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  48
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  44
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  44
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  38
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  34
• Realme GT Neo3
  28

In case you are wondering why the iQOO 11 consistently outscores the Red Magic 8 Pro in on-screen graphics tests, the answer is resolution. When set to FullHD, the iQOO 11 has a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, whereas the Red Magic 8 Pro has a lot more pixels to take care of at 1116 x 2480 pixels. For the sake of thoroughness, we have also included scores from the iQOO 11 at its native 1440 x 3200-pixel resolution, which are naturally a lot lower.

GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11 (1080p)
  110
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  97
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  82
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  81
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  79
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  79
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  77
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  72
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  72
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  69
• iQOO 11
  67
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  60
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  54
• Realme GT Neo3
  53
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  51

GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11
  128
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  127
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  118
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  104
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  104
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  103
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  102
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  102
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  97
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  96
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  89
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  82
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  76
• Realme GT Neo3
  60

As we go further down the stack of GFXBench runs, the test difficulty decreases as well. We then start to bump up against and saturate the maximum refresh rate of the panels of some of the devices in on-screen runs. Notably the Red Magic 8 Pro and its comparatively low 120Hz refresh rate. While the difference is small in practical terms, it is perhaps worth noting that competitors are now pushing 144Hz or even 165Hz on their respective gaming devices.

GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Red Magic 7 Pro
  147
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  140
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  126
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  124
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  122
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  121
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  120
• iQOO 11 (1080p)
  120
• iQOO 11
  112
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  103
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  91
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  90
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  60
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  60
• Realme GT Neo3
  60

GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• iQOO 11
  222
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  219
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  192
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  182
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  182
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  181
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  180
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  171
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  167
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  164
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  137
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  134
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  114
• Realme GT Neo3
  111

GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Red Magic 7 Pro
  165
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  161
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  149
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  131
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  129
• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  121
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  120
• iQOO 11
  120
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  119
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  118
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  60
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  60
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  60
• Realme GT Neo3
  60

GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (offscreen 1080p)

Higher is better

• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  328
• iQOO 11
  321
• Xiaomi 12S Ultra
  268
• Red Magic 7S Pro
  267
• Red Magic 7 Pro
  267
• Realme GT2 Explorer Master
  267
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  263
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  262
• Black Shark 5 Pro
  241
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  230
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  204
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  178
• Galaxy S22 Ultra (1080p)
  172
• Realme GT Neo3
  168

Finally, we have 3DMark where the Red Magic 8 Pro expectedly maxed-out all but the toughest of the test roster. Not only does the phone perform admirably, but it also manages to outpace the iQOO 11.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme (offscreen 1440p)

Higher is better

• ZTE nubia Red Magic 8 Pro
  3643
• iQOO 11
  3514
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
  3341
• ROG Phone 6 Pro (X Mode+)
  2815
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (X Mode+)
  2668
• ROG Phone 6 Pro
  2611
• ROG Phone 6D Ultimate
  2599

We had a great overall experience while using the Red Magic 8 Pro. It effortlessly chews through any real-world task you throw at it without any hiccups or slowdowns. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has plenty of raw power to take on any load, and Redmagic OS 6 is also well-optimized and runs smoothly.

Thermal throttling and sustained performance

The Red Magic line of phones has always taken cooling seriously with a multi-layered cooling system with both passive and active components. The Red Magic 8 Pro is no exception. Nubia calls its cooling setup ICE 11. It includes a total of 10 layers of heat dissipation technology.

We won't be going over every aspect of the cooling system but will mention its upgrades for this generation. One of these is an upgraded, extra-large, double-layer vapor chamber cooling plate that extends alongside the back of the phone over the battery. It has a volume of 2068 cubic millimeters and a thickness ranging between 0.6 and 0.45mm in its different parts.

Another upgrade is a large graphene sheet layer that sits underneath the display of the phone and helps dissipate the heat from the chipset more evenly across the display surface. Last but not least, we also have the cooling fan, which remains at 20,000 maximum RPM. This one gets pretty loud at a higher gear, but it's not too distracting. Perhaps turn it off when charging because it may disrupt your sleep at night, and we didn't find any profound effect on charging times.

As per usual, we ran some thermal-throttling torture tests on the Red Magic 8 Pro. First off, we have an hour-long test with the fan turned off.

CPU throttling test without fan

We can see that even in this scenario, the Red Magic 8 Pro handles heat well and gracefully ramps down its performance over time without any jarring spikes or drops that could lead to in-game stutters. The phone also managed to maintain an admirable portion of its starting performance at the one-hour mark.

CPU throttling test with fan at maximum

Having the internal fan on and set to its max speed definitely makes a difference to thermal behavior and sustained performance. Although the Red Magic 8 Pro still thermal-throttles, it does so even more gracefully while maintaining more of its peak performance for longer.

High refresh rate gaming performance

We used Android 13's built-in refresh rate counter alongside Game Space's built-in FPS counter to determine which games really run at more than 60fps. Sadly, for the most part, games ran at 120Hz, but the actual FPS counter showed 60fps. We tried AAA titles like Garena Free Fire, Genshin Impact, Mobile Legends, Arena of Valor, Asphalt 9 and even PUBG Mobile. They were all locked up to 60fps, while Garena Free Fire and PUBG required additional tweaking in their respective settings menus to go from 30 to 60fps.

Games running at up to 60fps

There were some games that utilized the HRR display to some degree. Call of Duty Mobile got up to 90fps, Air Force 1945 got all the 120Hz, as well as Sky Force: Reloaded, Real Racing 3, Pac Man 256, Brawl Stars and Vainglory.

Games running at up to 120fps

Unfortunately, we are still far from proper, dependable HRR gaming on Android phones, but the efforts are noticeable. Still, be prepared for the majority of games not to be able to saturate the 120Hz display of the Red Magic 8 Pro.