I’ve spent the final week with the RedMagic 11 Air tucked into my pocket, and actually, it’s a weirdly refreshing change of tempo. We’ve reached a degree the place “gaming telephones” are often synonymous with “unwieldy bricks” that really feel like carrying a small laptop computer. RedMagic determined to go the opposite means right here, attempting to see if they may shave off the majority with out shedding the soul of a devoted gaming machine. At €499, it’s enjoying in a harmful territory—competing with the Pixel “A” collection and Samsung’s midrange heavyweights—nevertheless it brings a 7,000 mAh battery to a knife combat.
Key Factors
- Design: Exceptionally slim at 8mm, that includes a clear again and built-in RGB lighting that feels premium quite than “gamery.”
- Efficiency: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it handles high-end titles simply, although it might probably get heat beneath sustained stress.
- Show: A beautiful 6.8-inch AMOLED with a 144Hz refresh price and a hidden under-display digital camera for a really seamless view.
- Battery & Charging: The 7,000 mAh cell gives almost two days of sunshine use, supported by quick 80W wired charging.
- Commerce-offs: To hit the value level, wi-fi charging is gone, and the secondary cameras (ultrawide/macro) are noticeably weak.
Aesthetics and the “Air” Philosophy
The very first thing I observed when unboxing the 11 Air was that it does not instantly scream “I play Genshin Impression for six hours a day.” It’s modern. At 8mm thick, it’s considerably extra pocketable than the Professional mannequin. They stored the clear again, which I nonetheless discover fascinating to take a look at, even when the “internals” you see are largely an ornamental plate.
One factor that bugged me barely—and perhaps I’m being choosy—is that the cameras now poke out from the glass. On earlier fashions, every thing was flush. Right here, you get a little bit of a wobble when it is sitting on a desk. They did embrace a case within the field to degree it out, however placing a plastic shell over that lovely clear again seems like a criminal offense towards design. The shoulder triggers are nonetheless there, although, they usually stay the perfect purpose to purchase a RedMagic. They simply make cell shooters really feel… proper.
The Display screen: No Notches, No Issues
I’m a sucker for a clear show. The 11 Air makes use of an under-display digital camera for the 16MP selfie shooter, which means there’s no hole-punch or notch slicing into your motion pictures or video games. It feels futuristic each time I wake the display. The 144Hz refresh price makes scrolling by means of Twitter—or X, no matter we’re calling it immediately—really feel buttery easy.
Brightness is strong, too. I took it out throughout a surprisingly sunny afternoon, and I did not must squint to learn my messages. It’s not fairly on the degree of an iPhone 17 Professional Max by way of peak outside visibility, however for half the value? I’m not complaining. The colours are vibrant, perhaps a little bit oversaturated out of the field, however you possibly can tweak that within the settings simply sufficient.
Efficiency: The “Previous” New Chip
RedMagic opted for the Snapdragon 8 Elite right here. It’s technically the earlier era in comparison with absolutely the newest Gen 5 silicon, however let’s be actual: for 95% of individuals, this chip remains to be overkill. Every little thing opens immediately. I did not discover a single hiccup whereas leaping between Slack, YouTube, and Discord.
Nonetheless, as a result of the cellphone is so skinny, there’s much less room for warmth to dissipate. After I sat down for a protracted session of Zenless Zone Zero, the again positively received toasty. It did not get “burn your hand” sizzling, however you possibly can really feel the chip working arduous. The inner fan kicks in with a tiny whir—you possibly can hear it if the room is quiet—and it helps, however physics is physics. A thinner cellphone simply cannot cool as successfully as a thick one.
Digital camera Realities
If you happen to’re shopping for this to be your main journey digital camera, you would possibly need to pause. The 50MP essential sensor is definitely fairly good; it takes sharp pictures with first rate pure blur. I took just a few pictures of my small backyard within the balcony, and the element within the flower petals was spectacular.
However the 8MP ultrawide is… nicely, it’s there. Pictures from it look a bit mushy, particularly on the edges. And the selfie digital camera? Because it’s beneath the display, there’s a slight “haze” to the pictures. It’s advantageous for a fast video name, nevertheless it gained’t make you an Instagram star. It’s a traditional trade-off: you get an ideal, uninterrupted display, however you pay for it with barely softer selfies.
Battery Life: The 7,000 mAh Thriller
You’d assume a 7,000 mAh battery would final eternally. In my testing, it’s wonderful, however maybe not “record-breaking” in the way in which I anticipated. I constantly received by means of a full day of heavy use with about 30% left by bedtime. On lighter days, I might in all probability push it to 2 days.
Charging is a spotlight, although. The 80W brick included within the field is a beast. I might plug it in whereas I jumped within the bathe, and by the point I used to be dressed, I’d added 40-50% cost. The shortage of wi-fi charging is a bummer, I will admit. I’ve a Qi pad on my nightstand that’s now primarily a paperweight once I’m utilizing this cellphone.
Ultimate Ideas: Is it price €499?
I feel the RedMagic 11 Air is a captivating system. It’s for the one who needs the facility and the gaming “extras”—the triggers, the fan, the software program—however does not need their cellphone to seem like a prop from a sci-fi film. It’s in all probability the best-looking gaming cellphone I’ve dealt with.
It is not good. The cameras are lopsided in high quality, and also you lose some “luxurious” options like water resistance scores and wi-fi charging. However for $499? You’re getting flagship-level velocity and a display that places most midrange telephones to disgrace. If you happen to can reside with plugging it in and utilizing the primary lens for many of your pictures, it’s a killer deal.
My Ideas on the REDMAGIC Cryo Cooler 8 Professional
Relating to the REDMAGIC Cryo Cooler 8 Professional, it seems like the required “lacking piece” for a cellphone as skinny because the 11 Air. Whereas the cellphone’s inside fan does its finest, the Cryo Cooler 8 Professional is on one other degree. The cooling space is very large, and the way in which it handles warmth dissipation utilizing that TEC (Thermoelectric Cooling) tech is genuinely spectacular.
If you happen to’re planning on enjoying aggressive titles for greater than an hour, this is not simply an adjunct; it’s a requirement. It’s surprisingly quiet for a way a lot air it strikes, and the RGB lighting really seems to be nice paired with the Air’s clear aesthetic. It’s the easiest way to cease the thermal throttling I observed throughout my longer gaming periods.
