ZDNET Highlights
- The Redmagic 11 Pro is available starting at $749 on the official site.
- With liquid cooling and an industry-leading CPU it’s one of the most powerful phones I’ve ever tested.
- The camera isn’t on par with other Android flagships.
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If you’ve ever used a Redmagic smartphone, you know that the brand places special emphasis on two things: power and aesthetics. redmagic 11 pro Highlights both of these features in a way that few phones do.
I’ve been a fan of Redmagic’s products (such as the Astra gaming tablet) ever since I had the privilege of testing the RedMagic 10 Air. I found that their phones and tablets generate more power than anything I’ve experienced so far for a mid-range device.
Also: Why I recommend this Lenovo tablet over competing models that cost twice as much
Its “Pro” phones live up to that moniker and have yet to disappoint. Needless to say, when the company reached out to me with this 11 proI jumped at the chance.
How was its performance? let’s take a look.
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my experience
I’ve reviewed a handful of RedMagic devices in the past, and every one of them has been a thing of beauty. The handsets are attractive, don’t waste a centimeter of space, and offer serious power at a mid-range price.
The 11 Pro not only lives up to that reputation, but also launches it to new levels. As soon as I took the phone out of the box, I knew it was something special.
The physical appearance of the phone is boxy, so if you’re a fan of that aesthetic, you’ll love this device. The lines are clean, sharp and beautiful. The back of the device has a Nothing Phone-esque glass panel that doesn’t give you an exact glimpse of the inner workings of the device, but makes for a gorgeous case.
Too: This Android phone made my Pixel 9 Pro boring — and its battery life is actually impressive
After enjoying the physical beauty of the phone, I finally decided to turn it on. Considering that this is an Android phone, setup was painless. After about two or three minutes, I had the 11 Pro linked to my Google account and could start using it. My initial reaction?
Very good.
I love what Redmagic does with Android. If iOS and Android had a love child, it would be RedMagic. It’s beautiful not only when it’s still, but as soon as the animation starts (like when opening the notification shade or app drawer), you see what Android is capable of. It’s really something special. To date, I’ve never seen Android look so good.
Yes, Google has made huge aesthetic strides with the latest release of Android, but it still has a few things left to do with Redmagic’s design. But how does it perform?
Also: Finally, a sturdy Android phone that doesn’t look like a brick (and won’t break the bank)
liquid-cool and fast
The RedMagic 11 Pro is liquid-cooled. You read that right: The 11 Pro has a full-fledged liquid cooling system, with a micro-pump that pushes liquid through the system.
Do you remember that glass from back then? Apparently, this makes it possible to see the liquid being pumped through the system. I haven’t experienced it yet, but I’m trying to push the limits of the phone to see if I can see it unfold before my eyes.
Sure, it’s a bit gimmicky, but when you’re playing games on a mobile device (which RedMagic stakes its claim on), cooling can be important. I have played games on Android phones and felt that they overheat very quickly. This cooling system should solve that problem and allow the CPU to run perfectly without worrying about overheating.
Too: The best gaming phones you can buy: expert-tested
I installed “Diablo Immortal” to see how well it works. The installation took a little longer than usual, but I put it down to slow networking speeds (Cloudflare, I’m looking at you).
The RedMagic 11 Pro is one of the first phones to sport the new Snapdragon Elite 8 CPU, and wow, does it show. This chip is fast and the 11 Pro takes full advantage of it. Even my Pixel 9 Pro can’t match this phone’s speed (and it’s almost $200 more).
Playing Diablo Immortal was as seamless as I’ve ever seen it before. There was zero lag, the graphics were beautiful, and the sound was impressive. What else? As soon as I started playing, I checked the back of the phone and could see liquid running through the cooling system.
Liquid cooling is a nice feature.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Yes, it’s great.
The phone felt cold when touched the entire time while playing Diablo. Didn’t feel the slightest heat even once. This is a first for me. Did I mention this phone is fast? At $749, you’d consider it a little above mid-range in performance, but it’s very much a flagship device.
This is simply not true
It took me a while to find something negative to say. I’m addicted to Pixel cameras and all other phones pale in comparison. The RedMagic 11 Pro is no different. Although it takes good photos, it is not on par with the Pixel. Granted, this is a high bar, and I have yet to experience a phone to match what Google has built into its flagship phones.
If you’re not really careful, the photos can be a little blurry.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Still, if a great camera isn’t at the top of your list of mobile needs, you won’t mind the 11 Pro’s camera at all. I was able to capture some very nice photos with the camera. For me, the biggest difference between the Redmagic 11 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro cameras is that the Pixel camera is more forgiving. With the Pixel, you don’t need to keep such a steady hand. With the 11 Pro, it really helps. This is likely down to Google’s injection of AI into every aspect of the Pixel phones.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
If you want serious power in your hands without overheating, and a UI that defines what Android can be, then redmagic 11 pro It’s a phone to beat. With an industry leading CPU, liquid cooling and a stunning case, this smartphone is a thing of power and beauty.
I highly recommend this phone. In fact, I like this phone so much that I’m afraid to send it back. When the time comes to upgrade from my Pixel 9 Pro, I may seriously think about going the Redmagic route.
redmagic 11 pro technical specifications
- CPU – Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Display – 6.85-inch 144Hz 1216×2688 OLED with 1800 nits peak brightness
- Dimensions – 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm, 230 grams
- Cooling – Active cooling fan and liquid cooling
- Rating – IPX8 rated
- Battery – 7500 mAh battery and fast 80W wired/wireless charging
- Colorways – The Cryo sports a matte black finish and serves as the base model phone with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while the Nightfreeze and Subzero are available in 16GB + 512GB or 24GB + 1TB models.
- Cryo is an all black color with a matte finish. The Cryo is only available for the base model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The Nightfreeze and Subzero are available in 16GB+512GB or 24GB+1TB models.
- Cameras – 50MP main camera (1/1.55-inch sensor), 50MP ultrawide (AF), 16MP under-display selfie camera
