The " REDMAGIC 11S Pro," the top-of-the-line model in nubia's " REDMAGIC " series of gaming smartphones, has gone on sale in Japan.
This model is a successor released about five months after the previous model, the "REDMAGIC 11 Pro." We took a closer look at what has changed, focusing primarily on its exterior design.
Reaching the Peak with a High-Performance Chipset
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version” chipset.
While it belongs to the same generation as the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5” used in the previous model, the REDMAGIC 11 Pro, the “Leading Version” is positioned as a special edition comprising only those chips that can operate stably at higher clock speeds.
A chip with a similar concept is the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy,” designed for Samsung’s Galaxy devices. While it is based on the same-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, it is a model that delivers enhanced performance through higher clock speeds and fine-tuning.
Although Qualcomm’s chipset generations change every year, REDMAGIC didn’t wait for the next generation and instead created the industry’s top model by incorporating a high-clock-speed version.
The display is 6.85 inches with a resolution of 2688 x 1216 pixels and a 144Hz refresh rate, and the front camera is a 16-megapixel under-display camera.
Performance other than the chipset remains virtually unchanged, effectively positioning this as a minor update released about half a year later.
Nevertheless, we commend the company’s commitment to enhancing gaming users’ satisfaction by equipping the device with a higher-performance chipset.
The design is a minor update
The eye-catching liquid cooling system on the back is carried over directly from the previous model.
There are several design changes, such as the REDMAGIC logo being positioned lower, which clearly establishes this as a distinct successor despite being a minor update.
The camera features a flat, non-protruding design and includes a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. The camera performance is also quite impressive.
Equipped with a 520Hz shoulder trigger button
Air intake vents for the air-cooling fan are also visible on the side.
The shoulder trigger buttons on both sides feature a touch sampling rate of up to 520Hz, ensuring a responsive and smooth touch experience.
The red slide switch is a key feature unique to REDMAGIC, used to launch the dedicated gaming mode “Game Space.”
The side design remains unchanged from the previous model.
The device measures 163.82 x 76.54 x 8.9 mm and weighs 230 g.
Despite its compact size, it houses a large 7500 mAh battery.
It supports 80W fast charging.
It also supports bypass charging, so as long as you keep the USB cable plugged in during extended gaming sessions, you won’t have to worry about the battery running out or degrading.
Proof of the industry’s top specs
On the back of the transparent body, you can see a nameplate that reads “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version.”
The previous model did not feature the “Leading Version” text, so just by looking here, you can tell that this model boasts the most powerful specs.
It’s definitely a feature you’ll want to show off.
I compared the actual design changes with the previous model using the Chinese version in silver.
The left is the previous model, and the right is this new product.
Can you spot the difference in the placement of the “Leading Version” text below the Snapdragon nameplate and the position of the REDMAGIC logo beneath the liquid cooling system?
The performance difference is slight, but it’s a crucial factor in gaming
When actually using the REDMAGIC 11S Pro, there’s almost no perceptible difference from the previous model in everyday use; my impression is that the differences are limited to situations where frame rates and stability improve slightly during high-load gaming.
Therefore, while I wouldn’t say upgrading from the REDMAGIC 11 Pro is absolutely necessary, in gaming, even a “slight difference in responsiveness” can sometimes determine the outcome of a match.
If you’re looking for even a slight boost in performance, switching to the REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a strong option.
Additionally, for users planning to purchase a gaming smartphone, the benefit of choosing a device with industry-leading performance at this point is significant.
Even for users beyond the high-end gaming crowd, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro’s gaming-specific display performance and features like shoulder triggers make it a solid choice that you could likely use for 2–3 years after purchase.
The Future as an AI Smartphone
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a device with high potential even when viewed as an AI smartphone.
In addition to various AI features—such as in-game assist functions—users can also access an assistant AI featuring the original character “Mora.”
Furthermore, general AI services like Google’s Gemini are, of course, available.
Just as gaming PCs are increasingly being used as “AI PCs” these days, if the number of agent functions and apps that perform AI processing locally continues to grow, gaming smartphones—equipped with high-performance CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs—are sure to see their value as “AI smartphones” capable of handling AI comfortably rise even further.
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a product we can recommend not only as a gaming smartphone but also to users seeking a “device they can keep for the long term ” with an eye toward future AI applications.
In addition to top-tier gaming performance from a high-clock-speed chipset, a cooling design combining liquid and air cooling, and dedicated features like shoulder triggers and bypass charging, it also incorporates AI experiences such as AI Assist and Mora.
For those who want to fully enjoy both gaming and AI, this highly polished smartphone can be considered the near-perfect solution available today.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane/Yasuhiro Yamane
Blog: http://www.hkyamane.com/
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