It's rare that a phone manages to surprise me these days, but the RedMagic 11 Pro did just that. I knew things were different as soon as I pulled the Subzero edition out of the box. It has a window into the phone's liquid cooling system, pulsating blue RGB lighting, soft metal edges, and just a feeling of understated power even before I turn it on.
I have been using this device daily for the past month. I found a phone that is fast…and cool. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and AquaCore liquid cooling system make it the most powerful and stable phone I've ever used, not just for gaming but for everything I've thrown at it.
We design and build
The phone looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. I love watching the fluid flow inside the AquaCore cooling system. I'm a huge fan of liquid cooling in PCs, so seeing it in a phone is a shock to me.
RedMagic has finally fixed the boxy discomfort that plagued the 10 Pro series. The 11 Pro looks sophisticated, with subtle curves around the edges and a sleek Corning glass back. My hands never hurt holding it. It weighs 230 grams, but this strength only helps it look premium.
The back remains completely flat, with no camera bump, in keeping with the brand's design philosophy. And the RGB lighting is done with taste – soft impulses, not a carnival show. Additionally, small side lights make it easier to find the shoulder triggers in the dark.
Display and sound
The phone features a 6.85-inch AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and a peak brightness of 1800 nits. Every frame Call of Duty Mobile looks smooth and bright. I liked the way YouTube videos look on this device. This is a great display.
The stereo speakers are located at the top and bottom and sound fantastic until you cover them with your hands while gaming in landscape mode. Headphones – This is an easy fix, and thankfully the RedMagic still has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Performance
That's all well and good, but here's the real reason I liked this phone: raw power. The Snapdragon chip is absurd. This is the fastest and smoothest phone I've ever tested. Combined with the RedCore R4 chip and the new liquid cooling system, you have a real beast on your hands.
The 11 Pro didn't stutter, freeze, or crash even once in the month I used it. I played demanding games at maximum settings, plugged in with active charge sharing, and the case remained cool to the touch. The steam chamber and liquid system actually work. This is not a trick.
Everything on this phone is very fast. This phone doesn't just run fast, it stays cool. No thermal throttling, burning palms or battery worries.
Battery
I tested the RedMagic 10 Pro last year and was amazed by its battery life. This was my favorite thing on the phone. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the 11 Pro this year. That's not bad. It's as good as Samsung S25 or iPhone 16. I could get it to work for a day and a half, but it will eventually need charging. I think the 10 Pro has spoiled me.
Software experience
The shine wears off a bit when it comes to RedMagic's standard software. RedMagic OS 11 comes pre-installed with bloatware and few tweaks. I'm already used to the ROMs sold in the Chinese market, so it's not a big deal for me, but if this is your first drive, you'll have to spend some time removing all the unnecessary software.
The system launcher is simple and not much different from previous versions. I turned on Smart Launcher 6 and went on with my day, but I wish RedMagic had invested in a clean, distinctive Android skin. The hardware deserves it.
Press the red switch on the side to make the game more interesting. This launches Game Mode and opens the full Game Bar. You can control the fan, record gameplay, customize shoulder triggers, and even enable a variety of AI settings such as “Recon Mode,” which uses AI to zoom in on distant targets in shooting games.
Then there's Maura. Waifu's built-in assistant is more gimmick than useful, but RedMagic says it can listen to multi-user chats and offer suggestions. I don't use it, but it's part of the brand's quirky personality, so all the power goes to Mora.
Cameras
Let's be honest: you're not buying this phone for the cameras. The 50-megapixel main and 50-megapixel ultra-wide cameras do a great job, but they don't blow my mind. Social media shots or casual shots look good, but they don't match the Pixel 10 or iPhone 17 Pro in terms of dynamic range and clarity.
The 16-megapixel under-display front camera is smart but unimpressive. RedMagic claims they use artificial intelligence to improve selfies, but I found them darker and softer than I'd like. The real star of the front panel is the 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. He is lightning fast and accurate. I enjoyed 100% accuracy in the month I used it. He never misread my fingerprint and I stopped worrying about it.
Worth $999?
This phone is worth every cent. By all accounts, the RedMagic 11 Pro is a triumph of phone engineering. It's futuristic, fast and looks like a piece of electronic art. Sure, the camera system is mid-range and the software is still a work in progress, but those shortcomings don't matter when you feel the liquid-cooled chassis humming along at 144 frames per second.
This is the first gaming phone that I didn't want to put down. I even put my iPhone aside for a month because RedMagic 11 Pro became my daily driver. This is the phone I turned to every time.
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