REDMAGIC 11S Pro Gaming Phone Review

The REDMAGIC 11S Pro manages to be even faster that what came before, with a new chip and improved cooling. For those gamers or enthusiasts looking to squeeze every bit of power out of the latest phone processor, for the absolute best performance, this is how you go about doing it. Here is my REDMAGIC 11S Pro review.

On the bleeding edge

Let’s dive into the hardware first. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version is paired with REDMAGIC’s RedCore R4 gaming chip, with options for 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage or 16 GB and 512 GB. Given the drama surrounding RAM right now, it’s nice to still see REDMAGIC packing their phones with it. 

Then there’s the upgraded AquaCore cooling system. REDMAGIC combines visible liquid cooling with Liquid Metal 3.0, a sizeable 13,116 mm² vapor chamber, and a fan capable of spinning at 24,000 RPM. 

The 6.85” AMOLED display is another big highlight, especially when it comes to gaming, as it boasts a 2688×1216 resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate. Once again, the selfie camera is hidden underneath the display, so there’s no pesky hole or notch getting in the way of games.

A massive 7,500 mAh battery, 80W wired and wireless charging, Charge Separation, and 520 Hz shoulder triggers round out the main gaming features.

The biggest wins

Performance is, unsurprisingly, fantastic. REDMAGIC phones have been incredibly quick for a while now, but the 11S Pro feels purpose-built for those demanding mobile games that can really push a phone. More importantly, the cooling helps keep that performance consistent during longer sessions.

Additionally, with PC gaming handheld prices on the rise, more people are turning to powerful phones like REDMAGIC’s to run PC games. This is still a new area for me, but during my brief testing, I came away impressed with what the 11S Pro can run. I got Hades 2 and GTA 5 working in perfectly playable states. 

I’m a big fan of the AquaCore system. Yes, being able to see the liquid moving through the back looks cool, but there is an actual purpose to all of this cooling hardware. Other flagship phones can be rapid, too, but REDMAGIC’s focus on sustained gaming performance continues to give it an edge over longer periods.

The screen also looks excellent, while the shoulder triggers remain genuinely useful in shooters. Add the huge battery and Charge Separation for gaming while plugged in, and it’s clear REDMAGIC still understands its audience better than most.

A familiar limitation

I feel like my complaints with REDMAGIC phones are getting pretty predictable. The 50 MP main and 50 MP ultra-wide cameras are fine for everyday photos, but they aren’t going to trouble the best camera phones. The under-display selfie camera also gives up some image quality for that uninterrupted screen.

Software remains the other area where I’d like to see more polish. There are a huge number of gaming options to play around with, which I appreciate, but things can still feel a bit overwhelming. 

Disclosure: Review sample provided by REDMAGIC.