I used to own a liquid-cooled gaming phone, and it hardly ever disappointed me in my daily routine.
The Red Magic 11S Pro features liquid cooling, a 24,000rpm fan, RGB lighting, and shoulder triggers, all indicating that it is specifically designed for a premium gaming experience. Every aspect seems tailored for this purpose.
I was even able to run Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on it via GameHub. The setup required considerable adjustments, and stability varied based on the performance mode; nevertheless, the experience of playing a AAA title on a phone demonstrated how much Red Magic has advanced the hardware. However, after finishing the game, I still required a standard smartphone.
This meant I relied on the phone for browsing, making calls, streaming content, and ensuring it lasted throughout the day without frequent battery checks. Here, the Red Magic 11S Pro impressed me by managing these tasks effectively.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
The gaming display provides an excellent phone screen
Since the display is what you interact with the most, the Red Magic 11S Pro delivers one of the most immersive viewing experiences available. While you may find other phones that boast higher resolutions or slimmer bezels, a truly full-screen front is still uncommon. Thanks to its under-display selfie camera, there is no punch-hole cutout disrupting the top of the display. Once I got used to this clean interface, traditional phone screens started to appear unnecessarily interrupted.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
Additionally, the 6.85-inch AMOLED screen on the Red Magic 11S Pro exemplifies how gaming features can enhance daily use. It boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth navigation, while the 2688 x 1216 resolution keeps text and images crisp.
Extensive battery life ensures it keeps operating
Gaming smartphones require large batteries because demanding games drain power rapidly. Others benefit from this capacity as well. The 7,500mAh battery provided me with about eight hours of screen time when I used the Red Magic 11S Pro as an everyday phone. Lighter usage could easily extend that time, while intense gaming would naturally reduce it.
Ignoring software optimization, such a large battery offers a straightforward solution to enhancing the smartphone's endurance. I could browse, stream, take photos, message friends, and play games without having to schedule my day around a charger or carry a portable power bank.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
When the battery finally ran low, the 80W charging system brought it from nearly depleted to about 70% within 30 minutes. A full charge took just under an hour during my tests. Wireless charging can also reach the same 80W maximum with compatible devices, which remains relatively rare among gaming phones.
The phone supports bypass charging, allowing external power to run the device without continuously charging the battery. This feature is designed for prolonged gaming sessions and can assist anyone using the phone for navigation, video calls, or extended workloads similar to a desktop.
The camera meets basic expectations
Cameras are the most visible indication of where the Red Magic 11S Pro prioritizes its gaming features. The 50MP main camera captured good detail in daylight, and optical image stabilization helped maintain stable shots. However, images sometimes appeared overprocessed, and low-light performance was merely adequate. The 50MP ultrawide lens adds valuable versatility, though neither camera rivals the top photography-centric phones within this price range.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
The under-display selfie camera sacrifices some quality. By concealing it beneath the screen, the uninterrupted display is preserved, but this compromises image clarity compared to a traditional front-facing camera. Despite these limitations, I never found the camera system unusable. It leans more toward competent midrange performance. This suffices for casual snapshots, social media posts, video calls, and capturing moments. I believe the best camera is the one you have at that moment, and while you might miss advanced filters or superior processing, the camera hardware here is still acceptable.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
Digital Trends
Digital Trends
For anyone who prioritizes photography, this phone may not suit their needs. My expectations were realistic—I just wanted a camera capable of documenting daily life without detracting from the rest of the device, which it achieved.
Gaming features extend beyond gaming
Several gaming-specific enhancements proved useful in everyday scenarios too. The physical shoulder triggers can be mapped for use in games, and the customizable Magic Key can open the camera, flashlight, or other shortcuts. The 3.5mm headphone jack is also valuable for gaming and listening to music without Bluetooth latency or battery concerns, making me nostalgic for wired earphones.
Vikhyaat Vivek / Digital Trends
Robust stereo speakers enhance experiences whether gaming, watching videos, or listening to podcasts. The cooling system effectively manages intensive tasks, whether it involves GameHub, video editing, emulation, or lengthy recording sessions. However,
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I used to own a liquid-cooled gaming phone, and it hardly ever disappointed me in my daily routine.
The Red Magic 11S Pro is capable of handling resource-intensive PC games, but its battery life, display quality, charging speed, and overall daily dependability are equally important beyond gaming.