Nubia RedMagic 10 Pro is the first genuine gaming phone equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, integrated cooling fan, priced at around $860 USD.
The gaming smartphone market remains relatively small, long dominated by Asus ROG and Chinese brands like Nubia RedMagic and Xiaomi Black Shark. This year, while ROG has yet to introduce new models, Nubia has strengthened its position with the launch of the RedMagic 10 Pro. It is the first phone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and among the early officially distributed Nubia products. The device is listed at $866 for the 12GB RAM, 256GB storage version and $945 for the 16GB RAM, 512GB storage version but is currently available at a $79–$158 discount for pre-orders.
While high-end smartphones see minimal design changes, gaming phones stand out with their rugged aesthetics and continuous innovations, bringing fresh energy to the market. The RedMagic 10 Pro exemplifies this with its boxy design, flat metal edges, and distinctive buttons and cooling vents along the sides.
Despite its large size, the device weighs 229 grams, the same as the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Thoughtfully crafted edges enhance comfort, making prolonged use feel less heavy. To accommodate a larger cooling fan, the 10 Pro features noticeably thicker edges than most modern smartphones. In return, this design improves button accessibility, making it more gamer-friendly.
Despite the dense integration of various features, the multiple interaction methods help reduce accidental operations. For instance, the slide-type quick action button is positioned next to the push-type power button, while the two ends feature touch-sensitive buttons that activate only during gameplay.
A signature RedMagic element is the red toggle, allowing users to quickly enable or disable specific functions like the camera, flashlight, or sound mode. By default, this button launches Game Space, providing a dedicated gaming environment. When swiping back during a game, the phone minimizes the game app and returns to the main screen, enabling seamless multitasking without disrupting gameplay.
The two touch-sensitive buttons on the top edge, also known as “shoulder buttons,” function similarly to those on specialized gaming controllers. They offer high responsiveness with a 2,500 Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring ultra-fast input. Essentially, these buttons can be mapped to specific points on the screen, allowing users to perform actions without physically touching the display.
This provides a major advantage in games requiring quick and precise controls. For example, in PUBG Mobile, relying solely on on-screen controls can be limiting, especially for users with larger hands. Many gamers resort to purchasing external accessories like clip-on touch buttons for better handling. However, Nubia integrates this feature directly into its devices, eliminating the need for extra attachments.
A standout feature of the RedMagic 10 Pro is its cooling fan cluster, with ventilation slots on both the left and right edges, along with a circular element that resembles a camera lens. However, this is actually a transparent glass cover for the fan, which is enhanced with color-changing LED lights for a striking visual effect.
Nubia’s ICE X cooling technology incorporates liquid metal with a maximum thermal conductivity of 80 W/mK, allowing the chip temperature to drop by 21°C. The system features an 11-layer cooling structure and a high-speed fan spinning at up to 23,000 RPM. During demanding games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact, or while running performance benchmarks, the device remains noticeably cool, with only mild warmth near the back edges.
The cooling fan can be activated manually with a button or set to turn on automatically when charging or gaming. While it operates smoothly without vibrations, the fan noise is noticeable, sometimes overpowering in-game sounds. Additionally, this design trade-off means the device has limited dust and water resistance.
As a dedicated gaming device, the RedMagic 10 Pro not only boasts powerful hardware but also features deep software optimization tailored for professional gaming.
Sliding the red toggle activates Game Space, a hub where all installed games are stored for quick access. Upon activation, the phone performs automatic optimizations, such as clearing memory, enabling the cooling fan, and launching the virtual assistant to ensure peak performance before gameplay begins.
Game Space also offers advanced gaming features, including AI optimization, enhanced aiming assistance, screen color adjustments for better target visibility in FPS games, sound enhancement, and high-speed signal transmission for external displays. Since these are built-in system features, they work across multiple games, giving RedMagic users a competitive edge over standard gaming phones.
Users can adjust device settings in real time while gaming without needing to switch apps, ensuring a seamless experience.
A powerful configuration is a key factor behind the RedMagic 10 Pro’s smooth performance. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite and features UFS 4.1 Pro storage, significantly improving data read and processing speeds.
Even with the base model (12GB RAM, 256GB storage), benchmark tests on Geekbench show impressive results:
- Multi-core score: 9,645
- Single-core score: 3,111
These scores surpass the Galaxy S24 Ultra, one of the top flagship devices earlier in the year. Additionally, GPU performance reached over 19,500 points, ranking among the highest on the market. With such power, the RedMagic 10 Pro can handle even the most demanding games at high settings without issue.
Beyond its software and processing power, the display is another highlight of the RedMagic 10 Pro. It features a 6.85-inch AMOLED screen with a 2,688 x 1,216 pixel resolution, manufactured by BOE, and designed to be nearly bezel-less. The selfie camera and fingerprint sensor are hidden beneath the screen, blending seamlessly so users barely notice their presence.
With a 144Hz refresh rate, it outperforms most flagship phones capped at 120Hz, delivering smoother gameplay. The display also boasts HDR10+ support, a 2,000-nit peak brightness, and high contrast, ensuring excellent visibility in various lighting conditions. Colors appear slightly more vibrant than in real life, enhancing the gaming experience with rich, dynamic visuals.
Another standout feature is the back design. The silver and gray versions feature a transparent casing, allowing a glimpse of the internal components, while the black version (as shown in images) showcases patterned aesthetics combined with red LED lighting for a bold gaming look.
However, camera performance is not the RedMagic 10 Pro’s strong suit. It comes with a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultra-wide lens, equipped with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and anti-glare coating. Despite these specs, image quality is average, with photos appearing somewhat flat in low-light conditions. Additionally, the device lacks a telephoto lens, limiting zoom capabilities compared to flagship competitors.
The RedMagic 10 Pro is one of the few modern smartphones that still retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing gamers to use wired headphones to minimize the audio lag often experienced with Bluetooth.
Powering the device is a 7,050 mAh battery, providing long-lasting endurance. When gaming at high settings, the battery drops only 10% per hour of continuous play. For mixed usage—including web browsing, social media, and 1-2 hours of gaming per day—the phone lasts 1.5 to 2 days, outperforming most flagship smartphones.
Additionally, the RedMagic 10 Pro supports 100W fast charging. Testing with the included charger, the device charges from 0% to 100% in approximately 40 minutes. During charging, the cooling fan runs continuously, helping to regulate temperature and maintain performance.
In the $800 price range, the RedMagic 10 Pro competes with devices like the Oppo Find X8, Xiaomi 14, and Galaxy S24, while being more affordable than the iPhone 16 with similar storage options.
This phone is ideal for mobile gaming enthusiasts or those looking for a unique design. It boasts a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a high-quality AMOLED display, fast 100W charging, and gaming-optimized features.
However, there are trade-offs:
Software optimization needs improvement, as some UI elements and fonts may display errors, though these could be addressed in future updates.
The crevices in the design make it prone to dust buildup.
It lacks water resistance.
