The best gaming cellphone ever made

It’s uncommon {that a} cellphone nonetheless manages to shock me lately, however the RedMagic 11 Professional did precisely that. I knew this was completely different the second I pulled the Subzero version from the field. It has a window into the cellphone’s liquid cooling system, pulsing blue RGB lights, mushy metallic edges and only a sense of restrained energy earlier than I even energy it on.

I’ve been utilizing this system each day for the previous month. What I discovered was a cellphone that runs quick… and chilly. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and AquaCore liquid cooling system make it probably the most highly effective and steady cellphone I’ve ever used, not only for gaming however for something I threw at it.

Design and construct

The cellphone appears straight out of a sci-fi film. I really like watching the flowing liquid contained in the AquaCore cooling system. I’m a giant fan of liquid cooling in PCs, so seeing this in a cellphone is mind-blowing for me.

RedMagic has lastly mounted the boxy discomfort that plagued the ten Professional collection. The 11 Professional feels refined, with delicate curves alongside the sides and clean Corning Glass again. My arms by no means damage holding it. It’s a hefty 230 grams, however that solidness solely helps it scream premium.

The rear stays fully flat with no digital camera bump in any respect, true to the model’s design philosophy. And the RGB lighting is tastefully dealt with — mushy pulses fairly than a carnival present. Plus, the small aspect lights make the shoulder triggers simpler to seek out at midnight.

Show and sound

The cellphone sports activities a 6.85-inch AMOLED panel with as much as 144Hz refresh and 1,800 nits peak brightness. Each body of Name of Obligation Cell appears fluid and vivid. I liked how YouTube movies pop on this system. It’s a beautiful show.

Stereo audio system sit on the prime and backside, they usually sound implausible, till your arms cowl them when gaming in panorama mode. Earphones are a straightforward repair, and fortunately, RedMagic nonetheless features a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Efficiency

All of that’s good, however right here’s the actual cause I liked this cellphone: uncooked energy. The Snapdragon chip is absurd. It’s the quickest, smoothest cellphone I’ve ever examined. Paired with the RedCore R4 chip and that novel liquid cooling system, you’ve bought a beast in your hand.

The 11 Professional didn’t stutter, lag or crash a single time within the month I used it. I performed demanding titles at max settings, plugged in with cost separation lively, and the chassis stayed cool to the contact. The vapour chamber and liquid system really work. It’s not a gimmick.

All the pieces is tremendous snappy on this cellphone. This cellphone doesn’t simply keep quick, it stays cool. There’s no thermal throttling or burning palms or battery anxiousness.

Battery

Final 12 months I examined the RedMagic 10 Professional and was blown away by the battery life. It was my favorite factor concerning the cellphone. Sadly, I can’t say the identical factor with the 11 Professional this 12 months. It’s not dangerous. It’s nearly as good as a Samsung S25 or an iPhone 16. I might get a superb day and a half of use out of it, however ultimately it will want charging. I suppose I used to be spoiled by the ten Professional.

Software program expertise

The shine fades just a little relating to the inventory RedMagic software program. RedMagic OS 11 comes pre-loaded with bloatware and little polish. I’m used to Chinese language-market ROMs by now, so it’s no massive deal for me, but when it’s your first, you’ll need to spend a while deleting all of the bloatware.

The system launcher is barebones, and there’s not a lot that’s completely different from earlier variations. I slapped on Good Launcher 6 and went on with my day, however I want RedMagic would spend money on a clear, distinctive Android pores and skin. The {hardware} deserves it.

Flip the pink change on the aspect to make issues extra attention-grabbing. This launches Recreation Mode and divulges a full gaming dashboard. You possibly can management the fan, document gameplay, alter shoulder triggers, and even allow a bunch of AI tweaks like “Scout Mode,” which makes use of AI to zoom in on distant targets in capturing video games.

Then there’s Mora. The built-in Waifu assistant is extra gimmick than useful, however RedMagic claims she will be able to hear in to multiplayer chats and provide options. I don’t use her, however she’s a part of the model’s quirky identification, so all the facility to Mora.

Cameras

Let’s be sincere: you’re not shopping for this cellphone for the cameras. The 50-megapixel most important and the 50-megapixel ultrawide do a strong job, however they don’t blow me away. Photographs for social media or informal snaps look effective, however they don’t match a Pixel 10 or iPhone 17 Professional for dynamic vary and readability.

The under-display 16-megapixel entrance shooter is intelligent however underwhelming. RedMagic says they use AI to assist improve selfies, however I discovered them darker and softer than I like. The true star of the entrance panel is the 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. It’s blazing quick and correct. I loved 100 per cent accuracy within the month I used it. By no means as soon as did it misinterpret my fingerprint, and I ended worrying about it.

Value $999?

This cellphone is price each nickel. By each metric, the RedMagic 11 Professional is a triumph of cellphone engineering. It’s futuristic, quick and appears like holding a bit of digital artwork. Positive, the digital camera system is mid-tier and the software program remains to be unfinished, however these flaws don’t matter as soon as you are feeling that liquid-cooled chassis buzzing alongside at 144 frames per second.

That is the primary gaming cellphone I didn’t need to put down. I even shelved my iPhone for a month as a result of the RedMagic 11 Professional merely grew to become my each day driver. It’s the cellphone I reached for each time.