The smartphone market is no stranger to powerful devices, but the Red Magic 9S Pro might just take the crown as the most powerful smartphone on the planet. Packed with top-tier specs and a host of innovative features, it offers exceptional value, starting at just $650. Here’s an in-depth look at why this gaming-focused powerhouse stands out.
Unmatched Performance
At its core, the Red Magic 9S Pro is powered by the fastest version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of DDR5 RAM and the lightning-fast UFS 4.0 storage. Impressively, some flagship smartphones costing nearly twice as much lack these features. Red Magic has also integrated its custom Red Core 2 Pro gaming chip, which offloads tasks like haptics and lighting from the main processor, ensuring smoother performance.
To maintain its peak performance, the phone boasts the industry’s most advanced cooling system, featuring a 10-layer design that includes an active cooling fan. While this setup might be overkill for casual users scrolling through TikTok, it’s a game-changer for mobile gamers tackling AAA titles.
Benchmark Brilliance
In performance benchmarks like Wildlife Extreme, which test both peak and sustained performance, the Red Magic 9S Pro consistently outshines competitors. It outperformed the Pixel, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Galaxy S24 Ultra in peak performance and maintained its lead through sustained testing. Even against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Red Magic 9S Pro demonstrated superior performance, highlighting its ability to handle demanding gaming sessions without breaking a sweat.
Designed for Gamers
Red Magic has ensured that every aspect of the 9S Pro caters to gamers. The phone features a flat back for a comfortable grip during landscape gaming sessions, strategically placed buttons to avoid accidental presses, and customizable shoulder triggers that elevate the gaming experience. For example, in Call of Duty, you can map the left trigger to aim and the right trigger to shoot, simulating the feel of a gaming controller.
The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is another highlight, offering a 120Hz refresh rate, 960Hz touch sampling, and up to 1,600 nits of brightness. Combined with ultra-thin bezels and an under-display selfie camera, it provides one of the most immersive viewing experiences on any smartphone. However, the selfie camera sacrifices some quality, making it better suited for video calls than Instagram-worthy photos.
Immersive Audio and Smart Features
The Red Magic 9S Pro doesn’t compromise on audio, featuring powerful stereo speakers that are designed to avoid muffling when held in landscape mode. For purists, the 3.5mm headphone jack ensures zero latency, a critical feature for serious gamers.
The phone also includes features like 4D haptics for enhanced vibration feedback, a macro function to automate repetitive gaming actions, and an AI trigger that recognizes specific on-screen events to automate tasks. For instance, in Call of Duty, you can set it to activate UAVs automatically, letting you focus on your gameplay.
Battery and Longevity
A massive 6,500mAh battery powers the Red Magic 9S Pro, ensuring long gaming sessions without constant recharging. The included 80W fast charger supports a unique charge separation feature, allowing the phone to run directly off wall power during gaming. This reduces heat generation, enhances performance, and prolongs battery health.
Trade-offs to Consider
While the Red Magic 9S Pro excels in gaming, it makes some compromises in other areas. The camera system is decent but not on par with flagship devices, and the under-display selfie camera is limited in quality. Additionally, the open cooling fan design makes the phone vulnerable to water and dust, so it’s not as durable as other flagships with IP ratings.
Software updates are another drawback, with Red Magic only promising two years of support—significantly less than the five to seven years offered by competitors like Google and Samsung.
Conclusion
At half the price of flagship competitors like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Red Magic 9S Pro is a steal for gamers. Its unparalleled performance, gamer-centric features, and thoughtful design make it the ultimate choice for mobile gaming enthusiasts. While it may not be the best all-around flagship, it’s undoubtedly the best gaming smartphone on the market today.
