RedMagic 11 Pro vs Z80 Ultra
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 2 points overall — it genuinely depends on price on the day. The RedMagic 11 Pro edges both longevity and performance, so prefer it when prices are close.
Value Score: RedMagic 11 Pro 61 · Z80 Ultra 63 — methodology
Who should pick which
Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.
The world's first mass-produced liquid-cooled phone is a $749 performance bargain — but with support ending in late 2028, a mid-2026 buyer gets barely 2.5 years of safe ownership.
Pick it if
- ✓ Competitive mobile gamers
- ✓ Emulation and sustained-load power users
Skip it if
- ✗ You keep phones longer than 3 years
- ✗ Camera quality matters to you
A big-battery, full-screen flagship with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a true periscope zoom at a sub-$750 price, held back by Nubia's short and vague update record.
Pick it if
- ✓ Buyers who want flagship power and a massive battery for the money
- ✓ People who love a clean, notch-free all-screen design
- ✓ Users who value fast wired and wireless charging plus a real periscope zoom
Skip it if
- ✗ You want long, guaranteed OS and security support
- ✗ You prefer polished software and wide local warranty coverage
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
Both displays are effectively the same class.
Performance is a wash — same chip tier.
The Z80 Ultra has the stronger camera system (3 real rear lenses vs 2).
Battery capacities are close enough not to decide this.
Both phones' support windows end around the same time.
Pound for pound, these two are equally good deals.
Frequently asked
How long will the RedMagic 11 Pro be supported?
RedMagic's published policy for the 11 Pro series promises 2 generations of Android OS updates and 3 years of security patches from launch — so support runs to about November 2028. Buying at mid-2026 leaves under 2.5 years of coverage, easily the shortest window of any 2025-26 flagship we track, and the main reason its longevity score suffers despite great hardware.
Is the liquid cooling a gimmick?
No — it is the first mass-produced phone with actively circulating coolant, pushed through micro-channels by piezoelectric pumps and paired with liquid metal, a huge vapor chamber, and a 24,000 RPM fan. Reviews consistently showed near-zero throttling in extended gaming sessions, which slower-cooled flagships cannot match.
When does the Nubia Z80 Ultra stop getting updates?
Nubia and parent ZTE make no clear multi-year update promise. In practice their flagships have often received only one to two Android upgrades and a couple of years of patches. We estimate around 2 OS updates and roughly 3 years of security support from its October 2025 launch (into about 2028), which is shorter than most mainstream flagships, so buy it for the hardware, not the software timeline.
Is the Nubia Z80 Ultra worth buying in 2026?
For the price it is one of the best hardware bargains around: a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 7200mAh battery, a genuine periscope zoom and an under-display camera for well under $750. The trade-offs are Nubia's rougher software and short update support, so it suits enthusiasts and value hunters more than someone who wants years of guaranteed updates.
Full spec table
| Spec | RedMagic 11 Pro | Z80 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $699 | $680 |
| Display | 6.85-inch AMOLED, 2688x1216, 144Hz, 1800 nits peak, under-display selfie camera | 6.85-inch flat AMOLED, 1216x2688 (1.5K), 144Hz, 2000-nit peak, under-display selfie camera |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB/24GB | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Battery | 7,500 mAh | 7,200 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired, 80W wireless | 80W wired (up to 90W with official charger), 80W wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide | 50MP main, 64MP telephoto, 50MP ultra-wide |
| Dimensions | 163.8 × 76.5 × 8.9 mm | 164.5 x 77.2 x 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 230 g | 227 g |
| Water resistance | IPX8 (water only, no dust rating) | IP68/IP69 |
| Supported until | Nov 2028 | Oct 2028 |
More comparisons
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.