Phones are getting more expensive, and gaming smartphones—given their, you know, specialist nature—also have pricing that is equally “elite,” if you know what I mean. Not the Redmagic 10 Air Gaming Smartphone, though. This new kid on the gaming phone block (not that the block is in any way big) is a perfect entry into serious mobile gaming. It boasts Qualcomm’s flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, which is bolstered by Redmagic’s RedCore R3 and Energy Cube Technology, further boosting gaming performance and efficiency.
RedCore R3 is a dedicated gaming chip. It optimizes graphics, audio, haptic feedback, and power efficiency, taking the load off the SoC’s back. Meanwhile, Energy Cube Technology takes care of battery efficiency and thermal management, working alongside the ICE-X 9-layer cooling system and liquid metal cooling to keep the heat in check, allowing for longer gaming sessions and enabling the device to run at peak performance.
Speaking of longer gaming sessions, they are enabled by another big thing: a 6,000 mAh battery. And when it needs to be charged, 80 W fast charging makes sure you get back into the game in no time.
Another key element in mobile gaming is, of course, the display—which makes this a big guy, literally. It rocks a large 120 Hz 6.8” display with a bezel so narrow that it results in a glorious 93.7% screen ratio. And then there are the once-sneered-at external trigger buttons. The RedMagic 10 Air touts a set of 520 Hz shoulder triggers, complete with RGB lights that scream “I am a serious gamer!”
For those not using the triggers much—or even at all—you’ll be thrilled to know that this big guy offers an insane touch sampling rate of up to, believe it or not, 2,000 Hz (average 960 Hz). Other display details include AMOLED technology, 1,600 nits peak brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass.
Finally, for those who prefer to annoy the hell out of the people around them when gaming (i.e., not wearing headphones), there are DTS:X-certified speakers with Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound tuning for high-quality audio reproduction. Plus, there’s the 0815 super linear motor vibration, allowing you to feel the music.
Other spec-sheet details include 12/16 GB LPDDR5X memory, 256/512 GB UFS 4.0 storage, 50 MP + 50 MP rear camera with OIS, a 16 MP AI algorithm-enhanced front-facing (under-display) camera, dual nano-SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS (L1+L2+L5) + AGPS, NFC, USB-C (2.0), fingerprint sensor, and the usual suspects in sensors.
The RedMagic 10 Air Gaming Smartphone has been launched globally, and in the North America markets with a modest starting price of US$549. You have the options of 12 GB + 256 GB, and 16 GB + 512 GB memories, as well as three colorways: Twilight (basically black), Hailstone (essentially, white), and an soon-to-be-available Flare (orange).
Images: Redmagic.
