Last year saw the much-anticipated arrival of the Redmagic 9 Pro by nubia, bringing forth a host of significant enhancements.
Equipped with the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, this device not only promises exceptional performance but also showcases a vibrant display, expansive storage, an impressive 50MP ultrawide camera, a capacious battery, and the added advantage of USB 3.2 Gen2 for the global variant.
Beyond the robust performance, the Redmagic 9 Pro elevates the audio experience with improvements to its stereo speaker setup and introduces enhanced gaming features. The LED lighting, including that around the shoulder triggers, has been refined for a more immersive experience.
Remarkably, despite a 500 mAh increase in battery capacity compared to its predecessor, the handset manages to flaunt a slimmer design—a testament to nubia’s commitment to innovation and user experience.
Let’s dive straight into its unboxing!
Quick Unboxing
The handset comes in a standard box containing the usual user manuals along with a thick, red type-C to Type-C cable for charging and data transfer and an 80W wall charger. nubia also provided a transparent protective case.
Design
Its glass back evokes a sense of intrigue with hints of transparency and exudes a premium look and feel. The screws and internal components create an industrial, almost see-through aesthetic.
One of the most striking design choices is the flush camera module, seamlessly integrated into the glass panel. This creates an almost perfectly flat back, with the only exception being the subtly protruding LED flash, strategically placed to prevent scratches. Adding to the transparent effect is the bottom ring, which functions as an LED strip around the cooling fan and peeks through the glass.
Accent lighting is minimal, with the primary sources being the LED ring, the “generation 09” inscription near the camera, and the shoulder triggers on the side frame. This frame, constructed from aviation-grade aluminum, feels solid and tactile. Smooth edges seamlessly meet the glass sheets, housing touch-sensitive shoulder triggers, the Gaming Space Center switch, power button, and volume rocker. The round power button, despite its slightly lower position, has a distinctive design for easy identification.
Vent openings for the cooling fan adorn the side frame, with LEDs subtly visible through the grilles.
The bottom houses the SIM card tray, USB-C port, and loudspeaker grille, while the top features the 3.5mm audio jack, a second speaker grille, and a unique IR blaster. Three strategically placed microphones ensure clear audio capture regardless of how you hold the phone, even during intense gaming sessions.
The front retains the familiar full-screen experience with a 6.8-inch display protected by an unnamed glass sheet and framed by thin, symmetrical bezels. The selfie camera, cleverly hidden under the display, hints at advanced technology within.
While the design and ergonomics cater to gamers, the Redmagic 9 Pro is undeniably quite large and heavy, weighing 229 grams and measuring nearly 9mm thick. However, these dimensions accommodate robust hardware, a powerful active cooling system, and a massive 6,500 mAh battery. It’s important to note the lack of water resistance, a recurring limitation due to the cooling system, but it’s a trade-off some gamers might be willing to make.
The Redmagic 9 Pro design presents a sleek and functional evolution, balancing powerful hardware with gamer-centric features in a design that is both stylish and transparent.
Display
The Redmagic 9 Pro boast a large, 6.8-inch OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and vibrant 10-bit color depth, also reaching a staggering 1,600 nits brightness thanks to its BOE Q9+ OLED technology. While resolution remains at a gamer-friendly 1116 x 2480px, a surprising drawback is the lack of HDR video support, even compared to some mid-range models. Fortunately, HDR playback does function within the YouTube app.
On a brighter note, the Redmagic 9 Pro impress with its under-display selfie cameras, seamlessly blending into the screen for a true full-screen experience. To balance performance and battery life, four refresh rate options are available: 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and Auto. By default, the system intelligently adapts to the content, prioritizing the smoothest experience whether in games, apps, or menus. However, it cleverly drops to 60Hz during inactivity or while watching videos to save power.
Conclusion
Packed with features and boasting an excellent design, the Redmagic 9 Pro emerges as a top contender in the affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 realm, potentially offering one of the best price-to-performance ratio you’ll find. Besides its attractive price tag, it shines with its impressively long battery life, surprisingly fast charging, and immersive stereo speakers.
Despite delivering a seamless gaming experience, the display of this device comes with certain trade-offs. Regrettably, its brightness and HDR capabilities may not match up to the standards set by competitors. Nevertheless, considering its price, this gaming phone remains an excellent choice.
