Redmagic 10 Air review: Lean, mean gaming machine

Finest Costs At this time: Redmagic 10 Air

Redmagic’s gaming smartphones have frequently appeared on this web site, because of the mixture of 6-monthly launch schedules and the ability/value steadiness that makes them such interesting gadgets for cell players.

One criticism that may be aimed on the lineup although is that the handsets are normally fairly cumbersome and heavy. Redmagic has addressed that exact problem with the launch of its new 10 Air mannequin, which guarantees to deliver the powerhouse efficiency of earlier iterations in a package deal that’s a bit extra snug within the hand (and pocket).

However do construct compromises imply it’s light-weight in additional methods than one? Right here’s the total Tech Advisor overview.

Design & Construct

• New light-weight design
• No followers
• IP54 water and dirt score

Redmagic gaming telephones have stayed a fairly constant measurement over the previous few years, with the 163.4 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm dimensions of the Redmagic 10 Professional being typical of what you’d get. This chunky body was additionally accompanied by a good quantity of weight: 229g for the ten Professional.

Whereas that did make the sooner fashions really feel substantial, I’ve to confess that the slimmed down 164.3 x 76.6 x 7.85mm proportions of the ten Air (sure, it’s marginally larger however a lot thinner) and 205g weight makes it much more snug to carry for longer gaming classes.

To realize the slimmer body, Redmagic has eliminated one of many signature elements of the cooling system – the followers. With out these ports, the chassis is extra compact and might now supply at the very least some safety in opposition to water and dirt, with a IP54 score (that means it’s splash-proof however can’t be submerged).

However, as a gaming-focused machine, how can the system cease the elements from overheating with out followers? That is the place Redmagic says the liquid metallic element of the ICE-X cooling system comes into play. It dissipates warmth effectively and negates the necessity for followers.

That is accompanied by an 6100mm2 vapour chamber, which I’ve to notice is just about half the dimensions of that discovered within the 10 Professional. My preliminary ideas had been that this machine would warmth up fairly rapidly with out the flexibility to expel the air through the followers, however I’ll discover this extra absolutely within the efficiency part of this overview.

Controls have additionally been adjusted (presumably because of the absence of the fan ports), with the 520Hz touch-sensitive shoulder triggers nonetheless discovered on the correct flank, together with the amount controls and energy button. The pink change that has been a staple of Redmagic’s design for years is now a button and has moved to the left flank. It nonetheless opens up the Sport Area software program suite, and will be assigned different features, so that you don’t lose something from the relocation.

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Sadly, the three.5mm headphone jack has gone, which will probably be a blow for those who like to make use of wired headphones whereas gaming. A USB-C to three.5mm jack dongle is perhaps the reply, or you could possibly change to wi-fi and join by way of the Bluetooth 5.4 capabilities.

The rear panel has additionally modified, little question in an effort to slim down the machine. Gone is the glass panel that eliminated the digital camera bump. As an alternative there’s a matt metallic panel and the three round protrusions for the twin cameras and flash module sit up from the floor. It’s not as neat or premium as the ten Professional, nevertheless it’s fairly normal for many mid-range Android gadgets.

The metallic again additionally means there’s much less room for the RGB lighting options from earlier fashions. You continue to get a lighting ring within the flash module that may show a spread of colors, however the emblem doesn’t home lights any longer and neither do the shoulder triggers.

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As with earlier fashions, Redmagic features a plastic case, though it doesn’t supply a lot in the best way of safety and because of the easy edges really makes the ten Air much less straightforward to carry. It’s in all probability greatest to attempt to decide up a 3rd get together one as a substitute, as frantic gaming classes may simply find yourself with the machine slipping out of your fingers.

At launch, the Redmagic 10 Air is available in Twilight (Black) or Hailstone (White) with the somewhat fetching Flare (Orange burst) following on later.

Display & Audio system

• 6.8in AMOLED show with 1.5K decision
• 120Hz
• Stereo audio system

Visually, the Redmagic 10 Air bears greater than a passing resemblance to its forebears. You get a pleasant 6.8-inch AMOLED panel that runs at 1.5K decision (2,480 x 1,116) and boasts a powerful 93.7% display screen to physique ratio. All of that is uninterrupted by pinholes or notches, as the ten Air additionally options an under-display fingerprint reader in addition to a digital camera that’s hidden in the same method.

This makes for an awesome gaming expertise, in addition to when watching films or different video content material, with nothing obscuring the motion. The fingerprint sensor proved to be fairly dependable throughout my time with the ten Air, which has additionally been the case with the earlier fashions within the vary. 

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There have been a number of compromises when in comparison with the ten Professional. Brightness is said at a most of 1,600 nits, somewhat than the two,000 provided on its larger brother. The refresh charge can be 120Hz, whereas the ten Professional tops out at 144Hz. It’s nonetheless a really easy and crisp panel although, and I didn’t discover a variety of distinction between the 2 when utilized in actual life.

Contact responses are additionally slower, with the two,000Hz instantaneous contact sampling charge not fairly matching the two,500Hz of the Professional, however 960Hz general contact pattern charges are the identical. In all honesty, the ten Air at all times felt fast and correct in regard to controls, even throughout busy sections of video games.

Audio comes from the stereo audio system positioned at both finish of the machine. Not like earlier fashions, the left speaker is the one used for telephone calls versus a devoted one positioned on the shorter edge.

It doesn’t appear to have an effect on the standard, as the ten Air kicks out loads of quantity and with a frequency unfold that’s all you could possibly actually hope for from a mid-range telephone. It could actually get slightly toppy at instances, however there’s nonetheless a good quantity of beef there within the mid-range and bass, so issues don’t sound shrill.

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The ten Air does include DTS-X Extremely certification and helps Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, so pairing it with some good headphones ought to ship spectacular sonic outcomes. As talked about earlier, you’ll both want a USB-C to three.5mm converter or accept wi-fi connection by way of the Bluetooth 5.4 capabilities on board, because the bodily port has been left off this explicit mannequin.

Specs & Efficiency

• 3.3Ghz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• Devoted RedCore R3 gaming chip
• LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0

One other indicator that this can be a funds model of the Professional mannequin is within the silicon. Don’t get me improper, the three.3Ghz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a quick processor, particularly because it’s nonetheless aided by the RedCore R3 gaming chip from the final iteration.

However, the Professional mannequin got here outfitted with the Elite model, and former fashions have featured the Main Edge variants, which had been mainly overclocked variations that had extra energy below the bonnet. You continue to get the LPDDR5X reminiscence speeds although, in addition to UFS 4.0 storage.

With the processor caveat in place, the efficiency of the ten Air was good. Video games loaded rapidly and ran with out noticeable slowdowns or crashes. Utilizing the usual suite of video games I throw at gadgets like this, I discovered the expertise responsive and dependable. Asphalt Legends whisked alongside at a frenetic tempo, with the machine simply getting out of the best way and letting me play.

I did expertise some weirdness with the adverts you need to watch to spice up your in-game forex. On a few events they completed however the sport didn’t revert again, inflicting me to have to shut the app and reboot it ultimately.

It’s arduous to know whether or not this is a matter with the present model of the sport (I haven’t seen this earlier than) or the Redmagic software program. As soon as the app was restarted, all the things was effective once more, so possibly it’s only a glitch that will probably be gone when the following replace arrives. 

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For tougher duties, I fired up the graphically demanding Genshin Affect. Once more, the ten Air proved greater than able to reacting to the sport with out shedding any steps. Extended enjoying of any high-level sport does warmth up the ten Air fairly rapidly. A 40-minute session with Asphalt Legends did begin to make the chassis a tad heat, though not burning sizzling, however longer classes may end in temperatures that may begin to turn into regarding.

Stopping for a couple of minutes did see the warmth dissipate, so the cooling system does handle the warmth effectively, though I feel common breaks would preserve issues at manageable temperatures.

The dearth of followers does appear to make the cooling system slower and fewer highly effective than on the ten Professional and former fashions, which makes me suppose that the Air is extra of a critical informal gamer machine somewhat than hardcore gamer. 

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As is normal with evaluations right here on Tech Advisor, I ran the Redmagic 10 Air by way of our barrage of bench checks, from which it returned the next scores:

Cameras

• 24mm 50Mp major digital camera
• 14mm 50Mp vast digital camera
• 16Mp under-display selfie digital camera

The digital camera array is identical as discovered on the Redmagic 10 Professional, albeit with the 2Mp Macro module eliminated, however there gained’t be a lot crying within the streets lamenting its loss. 

As with its predecessor, the ten Air is a strong mid-range performer, with the lenses capable of seize completely usable photographs and video. I didn’t discover that a lot distinction in color and sharpness between the Large and Ultrawide cameras, so you may shoot because the house round you calls for. Too near get all the things in? Change to the ultrawide for a bit extra protection, in any other case you’re good to remain on the vast lens. 

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Pores and skin tones could be a little tender at instances, with the software program additionally typically washing out photographs if mild sources are on the sophisticated facet, however for on a regular basis snaps it may actually do the enterprise. Portraits supply delicate (however pure) wanting bokeh, and night time pictures are good for those who’ve acquired a gentle hand. 

As normal, you need to flip off the watermark possibility that Redmagic infuriatingly units as on by default. Plus, you’ll in all probability wish to take the Magnificence setting off the portrait mode, because it simply smooths issues out in a method that isn’t nice. 

I took the ten Air for a day trip in London, visiting a number of completely different settings, and got here again with loads of usable photographs. It’s additionally notable that using easy edits on Google Pictures turned among the footage into cool, moody ones that I’d be very comfortable to share on Instagram or different social media feeds. 

Redmagic consists of loads of digital camera modes you can play with, together with Star Trails for night time pictures, time-lapse, sluggish movement, multi-exposure and different enjoyable choices that you need to use to create fascinating photographs. There’s additionally a Professional mode in order for you full handbook management over all of your settings. 

The entrance going through digital camera is an under-display variant, as with earlier Redmagic smartphones. And, in step with custom, it’s not nice. However whereas on earlier iterations the Photographs had been washed out and fuzzy, there appears to be one thing happening with the software program within the 10 Air. Now, faces are sharpened and look extra detailed, albeit with unusual blotches of colors that aren’t current in actual life.

As an illustration, the software program had an inclination to group a few of my freckles collectively into darkish areas of pores and skin, whereas a slight redness on my lip because of a lower from a number of weeks in the past was introduced as much as look rather more outstanding than in actuality. It reveals promise, so with some extra tweaks possibly a usable under-display digital camera isn’t too far off.  

Video is strong too, with the 4K 60fps aided by OIS to maintain issues secure. Body-drops didn’t seem like a problem and the steadiness when shifting from mild to darkish areas was nicely judged by the software program. Clearly, if the sunshine begins to fade then you definately’re going to get some noise and the main focus can begin to battle.

Right here’s some photographs I managed to seize on the Redmagic 10 Air:

Battery Life & Charging

• 6,000mAh battery
• 80W wired quick charging
• No wi-fi charging

If you wish to play lengthy gaming classes in your telephone, you want to know that the battery goes to final. So it’s excellent news that the Redmagic 10 Air comes with a sizeable 6,000mAh cell inside. Sure, that’s not as giant because the 7,050mAh one within the 10 Professional, however then the Air doesn’t should drive these followers. 

In our normal PCMark battery bench take a look at, the ten Air put up 10 hours and eight minutes, which is respectable however hardly class-leading. It’s in keeping with earlier Redmagic choices although, because the 6,500mAh outfitted 9S Professional scored 10 hours and 50 minutes and the 9 Professional clocked up 10 hours and 23 minutes with the identical battery. Sadly, we couldn’t take a look at the ten Professional, because the pre-production software program didn’t assist the PCMark 3.0 benchmark app on the time.   

Judging by the battery depletions throughout numerous gaming checks I ran, you’re in all probability taking a look at between 5 and 6 hours of play earlier than you’ll have to recharge, relying on the sport you’re enjoying, brightness settings, Bluetooth connections and different components. If, for some motive, you’re simply utilizing the ten Air as a daily telephone, then you may in all probability eke out a day and half of regular duties earlier than needing to discover a energy supply. 

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Fortunately, recharging is much more spectacular, with the 80W quick cost capabilities that means that the ten Air went from zero to 100% in only a hair over 42 minutes with the included charger. 

Sadly, there’s no wi-fi charging obtainable for the ten Air, however that is in step with earlier fashions from the model. 

Software program & Apps

• Android 15
• Redmagic 10 UI
• Safety updates till 2028

Redmagic provides the ten Air with Android 15, overlaid with its Redmagic 10 UI – the identical as on the ten Professional. Every part runs easily, with the UI providing loads of options that assist you to tailor the machine to your preferences. These embody icon packs, a great deal of wallpapers, numerous themes, plus the flexibility to alter the color of the notification mild on the again. 

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As any fan of Redmagic is aware of, the devoted Sport Area software program is among the standout options of the sequence. That is accessible through both the bodily pink button or by swiping in from each side of the machine when in panorama mode. 

As soon as opened, you may handle your sport library, tweak the settings, allow and outline the shoulder set off buttons, plus entry numerous in-game options resembling magnified sniper views, larger distinction graphics to determine opponents extra simply, and a wealth of plug-ins to degree up each the looks and efficiency of video games. 

For many who take cell gaming critically, Sport Area has a incredible array of instruments to get probably the most out of the expertise. 

Redmagic has confirmed that the ten Air will obtain three Android model updates, in addition to three years of safety updates assist. Whereas this isn’t anyplace close to the size you’ll get from Google, Samsung or different main gamers, it’s an enchancment over the corporate’s current affords. Keep in mind that after these three years of updates, the ten Air gained’t be secure to make use of on-line.

Worth & Availability

Redmagic launched the ten Air on 23 April 2025, with the next configurations obtainable from the Redmagic UK and Redmagic US websites

• Redmagic 10 Air 12GB/256GB (Twilight & Hailstone) – $549 / £439 / €499
• Redmagic 10 Air 16GB/512GB (Twilight & Hailstone) – $699 / £559 / €649
• Redmagic 10 Air 16GB/512GB (Flare) – $699 / £559 / €649

These tiers signifies that the ten Air is round £140 cheaper within the UK than the ten Professional, whereas US prospects are taking a look at round $100 distinction between the fashions.

If you need the final word gaming telephone, you’ll be wanting in direction of that glorious ROG Cellphone 9 Professional, however that may set you again over £1000/$1000, which is significantly greater than the ten Air. Our recommendation is to search for the Redmagic 9S Professional or Redmagic 9 Professional second-hand or on supply, as they ship comparable or higher efficiency at costs that ought to be round that of the ten Air. In fact, they’ll be larger and heavier although, in order that’s value taking into consideration. 

Alternatively, you may have a look at our choice of the most effective mid-range telephones presently obtainable to see what the non-dedicated gaming gadgets have to supply. 

Do you have to purchase the Redmagic 10 Air?

The Redmagic 10 Air is a curious beast. For rather less cash, you lose out on fairly a number of options from its heftier siblings. The ten Professional (and former fashions) have 3.5mm headphone jacks, cooling followers, tweaked variations of the processors, extra RGB lights, a macro digital camera (though this isn’t an awesome loss), and longer battery life. 

That being stated, the ten Air is a nicer telephone to make use of within the hand, due to its slimmer and lighter construct. The addition of splash safety is a welcome one, and the entrance going through digital camera reveals promise of truly being usable if the software program continues to be tweaked. The much less efficient cooling system does counsel that that is geared toward players that aren’t fairly within the hardcore camp, however somewhat discovered within the lovers camp. That’s no dangerous factor, as the total blown Redmagic telephones might be overkill for some gamers. 

If you need a gaming focussed smartphone, however would somewhat keep away from the heft of the same old candidates, the Redmagic 10 Air might be the correct combination of energy, value and ergonomics in case your calls for aren’t too excessive. 

Specs

• Android 15
• Redmagic 10 UI
• 6.8in AMOLED show with 1.5K decision, 120Hz
• 3.3Ghz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• Devoted RedCore R3 gaming chip
• 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X
• 256GB or 512GB UFS 4.0
• 24mm 50Mp major digital camera
• 14mm 50Mp vast digital camera
• 16Mp under-display selfie digital camera
• Stereo audio system
• 520Hz Contact-sensitive shoulder triggers
• Beneath-display fingerprint sensor
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• Twin SIM (Nano)
• ICE-X cooling system
• IP54 score
• 6,000mAh battery
• 80W wired quick charging
• USB-C
• 164.3 x 76.6 x 7.85mm
• 205g