The REDMAGIC 11 Pro Review: Is This the End of Gaming Laptops?

Monday, 22 December 2025 at 04:34

The mobile gaming world moves fast, but REDMAGIC seems to be moving at a sprint. After spending two weeks with the REDMAGIC 11 Pro, I’ve realized that this isn't just another incremental update. It feels like the company is finally leaning into the "overkill" philosophy that hardcore enthusiasts crave. If the 10 Pro was a proof of concept for putting laptop-grade cooling in a pocket, the 11 Pro is the refined, slightly eccentric, and incredibly powerful realization of that dream.

Key Points:

Liquid Metal Cooling: Features industry-first AI server-grade liquid metal cooling and a 24,000 RPM fan for sustained peak performance.
Snapdragon 8 Elite: Powered by the latest 4.6 GHz SoC, offering laptop-rivaling speeds for demanding titles like Genshin Impact.
Massive 7500mAh Battery: Exceptional endurance with 80W fast charging and new wireless reverse charging capabilities.
Bezel-less AMOLED Display: A stunning 144Hz BOE X10 screen with no notches or punch-holes, providing a truly immersive view.
Gamer-Centric Features: Includes physical shoulder triggers, a dedicated "Magic Key" for Game Space, and the Mora AI companion.

A Design That Stares Back

The first thing you notice when you pull the "Nightfreeze" model out of the box is the transparency. I’ve always been a sucker for the "atomic purple" aesthetic of the nineties, and REDMAGIC taps into that nostalgia with a futuristic twist. The semi-transparent casing isn’t just for show—it’s a window into the "AquaCore" liquid cooling system.

The marketing makes it sound like a rushing river, but in reality, the fluorinated coolant moves at a pace I’d describe as glacial. You won't see a whirlpool on the back of your phone while playing Genshin Impact, but the "space time ring" motif is a conversation starter nonetheless. It’s a bit flashy, perhaps even a little garish for a boardroom, but that’s the point. It’s a gaming rig first.

The build quality is surprisingly dense. It feels substantial in the hand, likely due to the massive 7500mAh battery tucked inside. REDMAGIC claims it can survive hundreds of thousands of drops. I didn't test that—mostly because I’d like to keep the Corning Gorilla Glass intact—but the included case is a nice touch. I’d still recommend getting something sturdier, though, because while the internals are rugged, a cracked AMOLED screen is a tragedy no matter how much liquid metal is cooling the chip.

Performance: The 4.6 GHz Beast

Under the hood, we’re looking at the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. This thing is clocked at 4.6 GHz, which is frankly absurd for a handheld device. Combined with the RedCore R4 gaming chip, the performance is essentially "ceiling-less" for current Android titles.

During my time with Zenless Zone Zero, I pushed everything to the maximum. Usually, this is where phones start to throttle or turn into literal hand-warmers. Not here. The 24,000 rpm fan—which sounds like a tiny jet engine if you listen closely—kicks in and keeps the frame rates rock solid at 60fps. I noticed that even after an hour-long session, the back of the device felt merely warm, never hot. The 13,116 mm² vapor chamber is doing some heavy lifting here.

One small quirk I enjoyed: the physical "Customized Magic Key." It’s a metallic orange slider that dumps you directly into the Game Space launcher. It locks the rest of the phone out, preventing accidental swipes that might close your game mid-clutch. It’s a simple mechanical solution to a digital problem, and I wish more "standard" flagship phones had dedicated physical toggles like this.

The "Mora" Experience: A Strange Companion

We have to talk about Mora. She’s the AI mascot who supposedly traveled back from the year 2122 to live in your phone. It’s a very "waifu-coded" feature that feels specifically tailored for the Otaku subculture.

Mora lives on your home screen and reacts to touches. The concept is actually quite deep—she can offer strategic advice for games like PUBG Mobile or act as an alarm clock that scolds you for hitting snooze. However, the execution is... well, it’s a bit rough. She currently uses two different voice actors who sound nothing alike. One sounds genuinely bored, even pronouncing the "~" symbol in the text. Hearing "Hello tilde" is one of those "so bad it’s good" moments that reminds you this phone comes from a very specific design philosophy.

Despite the awkwardness, I found myself leaving her enabled. There’s a certain charm to the "Mora Care" notifications asking how I’m feeling. It’s a weird, humanizing layer on top of a very industrial piece of hardware.

Display and Daily Use

The BOE X10 AMOLED display is spectacular. With 1800 nits of peak brightness, I could actually play outside in the Greek summer sun without squinting. The 144Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it today) feel like butter, though most games still cap at 60 or 90.

The 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is also worth a shout-out. It’s significantly faster than the optical sensors found on many other flagships. You don't have to "press" your thumb; you just tap the glass and you're in. It’s one of those small quality-of-life features that you stop noticing until you have to use a phone without it.

The Camera: Good, Not Great

Let’s be honest: you aren't buying a REDMAGIC for the photography. The triple-camera setup (50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro) is basically the same as last year. It takes perfectly fine photos in daylight. They’re sharp, the colors are punchy, and the 8K video recording is a cool "flex" for content creators.

However, the camera UI is still a bit of a mess. Important settings are tucked away in odd places, and the shutter button placement can be finicky. The real win here is that the cameras are flush with the body. No camera bump means the phone lies flat on a table—a rarity in 2025—and it makes wireless reverse charging much easier to align.

Battery Life: The Endurance King

The 7500mAh battery is the unsung hero. I managed to get a day and a half of regular use, which included a healthy dose of YouTube and gaming. If you’re a light user, you could probably stretch this to three days. The 80W wireless charging is a massive upgrade over the 10 Pro, and the two-way reverse charging is great for when your friend's iPhone inevitably dies.

Final Thoughts

The REDMAGIC 11 Pro is a specialized tool. It’s not trying to be the best phone for everyone; it’s trying to be the best phone for people who treat mobile gaming as a serious hobby. It’s powerful, it’s cool (literally), and it’s unapologetically weird.

If you can get past the quirky AI assistant and the slightly clunky software interface, you’re left with a device that outperforms almost everything else on the market for hundreds of dollars less than a mainstream "Ultra" flagship. It’s a PC-level toolbox that fits in your pocket, and for a certain type of gamer, that’s exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

Nice job REDMAGIC!