Redmagic Astra review: Mini but mighty gaming tablet

Finest Costs At present: Redmagic Astra

Nubia’s Redmagic is a model synonymous with gaming smartphones, together with the spectacular. Redmagic 10S Professional. However not too long ago, it’s been dipping its toes within the pill market.

The lineup has now been added to with the compact Astra, which boasts flagship processors, an OLED show and a complicated cooling system, all inside a small body. So, is much less actually extra? I’ve extensively examined it, and listed below are my detailed ideas.

Design & Construct

• Compact and cozy metallic development
• 207mm x 134.2mm x 6.9mm; 370g
• IP54 water and dirt resistance

Once I reviewed the Redmagic Nova gaming pill at first of 2025, I used to be impressed with the general really feel and high quality of the product.

Nevertheless, if there was one space that I wish to have seen enchancment from a design standpoint, it will be measurement. The ten.9-inch panel within the Nova meant that the general dimensions had been larger than I felt comfy with for longer gaming periods – not less than for my arthritic fingers.

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Redmagic appears to have learn my thoughts, although, because the Astra is a much more compact system, and I feel that’s an actual enchancment. That is aided by the smaller 9.06-inch show and skinny 4.9mm bezels that enable Redmagic to slim the scale to 1 that isn’t solely balanced sufficient to carry for prolonged intervals, but in addition mild sufficient to cease my arms aching.

Right here’s how the 2 evaluate by way of dimensions:

• Redmagic Nova Gaming Pill – 253.3mm x 164.6mm x 7.3 mm; 530g
• Redmagic Astra Gaming Pill – 207mm x 134.2mm x 6.9mm; 370g

As with its predecessor, the Astra incorporates a metallic physique with a futuristic patterned band on the rear that’s additionally residence to the one digital camera lens, flash, plus a round view of the fan that options RGB lights. The Redmagic emblem additionally has lights beneath, the colors of which might be customised within the settings.

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On the edges, there are twin audio system, which have a DTS:X Extremely certification for multi-dimensional audio.

The ability button has a fingerprint sensor embedded, and it labored constantly nicely all through my time with the Astra. There are additionally quantity controls and the USB-C charging port.

Common Redmagic customers will know that the pink swap on the highest edge is there to launch the corporate’s devoted Recreation House software program, however now you can additionally customise it in settings to set off different instructions as an alternative.

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As a compact and light-weight pill, it’s going up towards the likes of the iPad Mini and Galaxy Tab A9, nevertheless it positively feels extra premium than the latter. An IP54 ranking means it might survive a number of splashes, however don’t take the Astra into the tub for a session of Genshin Impression or it might not make it out alive.

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The Redmagic Astra is available in two colors – Eclipse (Black) or Starfrost (Silver).

If you wish to add a case, Redmagic provides the bespoke Astra Pill Magnetic Folio case for $32.90/$38.90 (round £28). Do you have to fancy turning the pill into one thing akin to a Nintendo Swap, there’s the Gamepad case, which provides controllers to both aspect of the Astra and prices £109/$129.

Display screen & Audio system

• 9.06-inch OLED show
• 2.4k decision, 165Hz refresh price
• Twin audio system, however no 3.5mm headphone jack

Whereas the OLED 9.06-inch panel within the Astra could also be smaller than that of the IPS one within the Nova, it has some impressively beefed-up specs compared. The two.4K (2,400 x 1,504) decision means the show is pin-sharp, with the 165Hz refresh price maintaining scrolling and on-screen motion buttery clean.

Response instances are additionally spectacular, due to the 240Hz contact sampling price and a pair of,000Hz on the spot contact sampling price, that means there’s by no means any noticeable lag, together with whereas gaming.

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It’s additionally a lot brighter than the Nova, which topped out at 550 nits, as Redmagic states that the height brightness on the Astra goes as much as an eye-burning 1,600 nits. Typically use, I measured the brightness at round 810 nits, which is sufficient to deal with sunny days and half blind you when inside.

Even with the slim 4.9mm bezels that give the Astra its 90.1% screen-to-body ratio, the front-facing digital camera is mercifully saved off the display screen, so there’s no punch-holes or notches to interrupt the gaming or video playback – necessary on a smaller show.

It additionally doubles up properly as an ideal system for studying books or graphic novels, because the detailed panel boasts wealthy and balanced colors.

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Unintentional display screen presses are all the time one thing to fret about when you might have such a small off-screen space to carry, however the Astra did a superb job of ignoring my non-dominant hand after I was working the system. Nevertheless, a number of menus by accident selected the flawed possibility after I adjusted my grip.

The dual audio system present a superb degree of quantity and keep away from being tinny or shrill. The positioning of them on the prime and backside does imply you need to watch out to not cowl them fully throughout gaming periods, however the light-weight design prevented me from gripping too arduous and muffling the sound.

Sadly, there’s no 3.5mm jack on the Astra, so if you wish to use headphones, you’ll should depend on the Bluetooth 5.4 connection. Nevertheless, this isn’t an enormous shock in 2025.

Specs & Efficiency

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
• Redmagic RedCore R3 Professional devoted gaming processor
• Liquid Steel 2.0 cooling

Redmagic’s gaming smartphones typically include the newest, strongest chips, and it’s no completely different this time round.

The Astra will get the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, Qualcomm’s flagship from 2024. That is accompanied by a Redmagic RedCore R3 Professional devoted gaming chip to deal with the livid computations demanded by in the present day’s AAA titles.

They show a mighty mixture, as my exploits in Genshin Impression, Asphalt Legends, and a wide range of different video games all went unhampered by slowdowns or any noticeable dropped frames. Every little thing labored easily and with out incident – the Astra acquired out of the way in which and let me benefit from the video games with out worrying about any efficiency points, which was very reassuring.

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I had heard some reviews in regards to the Snapdragon 8 Elite probably having overheating points, however I didn’t expertise that in gaming periods. This might be because of the ICE X cooling system within the Astra, which options Redmagic’s newest Liquid Steel 2.0 temperature management.

This strikes the liquid metallic to instantly above the CPU itself, positioned between stacked vapour chambers, permitting for extra environment friendly warmth dissipation and serving to forestall the chip from cooking itself when beneath heavy load. A 20,000RPM fan additionally strikes scorching air away from the necessary areas so the Astra can run cool.

It did appear to do its job very nicely, with no nice enhance in temperature after I was enjoying video games. Issues did get hotter, however not a lot that it made me fear or really feel uncomfortable holding the system.

The one exception was whereas downloading massive information over Wi-Fi (the system has assist for WiFi 7), as this left the Astra feeling very popular to the contact. Perhaps it is a state of affairs that isn’t lined within the software program, however I wouldn’t have wished to carry the pill for very lengthy whereas it was that scorching.  

Reminiscence and storage are additionally premium, with the Astra utilizing LPDDR5T and UFS 4.1, which come within the following configurations:

• 12GB/256GB (Eclipse/Starfrost)
• 16GB/512GB (Eclipse/Starfrost)
• 24GB/1TB (Eclipse)

Redmagic Astra benchmarks

Right here’s how the Redmagic Astra pill fared towards its rivals in our commonplace benchmark checks:

Cameras

• 13Mp rear
• 9Mp entrance
• Common outcomes

The cameras are very fundamental on the Astra, with a single 13Mp shooter on the rear and a 9Mp lens unit on the entrance.

Outcomes are satisfactory in ok mild, however actually, you’ll be higher off utilizing whichever cellphone you might have as your major digital camera. As a result of single lens, you don’t even get a portrait mode for blurred backgrounds, and the 2x and 5x zooms are simply cropping, so that you lose important element.

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Pictures from the entrance digital camera had been typically washed out and a bit hazy. Usable for video calling, however not for a lot else.

The Redmagic Astra has many nice options, as you may see from the remainder of the assessment, however don’t even take into consideration shopping for it for the cameras.

Listed below are a number of photos to see what you are able to do with the cameras:

Battery & Charging

• 8,200mAh battery with quick charging
• Stable battery life
• 80W charging, however no charger within the field

As a result of small measurement of the Astra, you gained’t discover the ten,100mAh battery that got here with the Nova, however Redmagic nonetheless manages to suit an 8,200mAh cell into its diminutive pill.

Battery life can be very strong, with a one-hour gaming session lowering the cost by round 15%-20%, relying on which recreation I used to be enjoying. Clearly, this can range because of many elements – together with display screen brightness, whether or not you’re on-line and the way graphically demanding the sport is – however for me, I might get round 4-5 hours of gaming from a single cost, which is similar to that of the Nova.

In our commonplace PCMark battery check, the Astra scored a time of 6 hours and 27 minutes, which is completely acceptable for a cell of this measurement. I don’t have any battery life considerations in any respect.  

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The Astra helps 80W quick charging, however there’s no charger included within the field, so that you’ll have to purchase one your self.

I didn’t have an 80W charger handy throughout testing, so as an alternative I needed to make do with a 67W unit I had mendacity round. From 0%, this introduced the Astra to 11% after quarter-hour, 22% after half-hour, and again to 100% after 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Not the quickest I’ve seen, however Redmagic does say that with its 80W charger you must see a full refill in solely 71 minutes, which is considerably higher. It’s a disgrace it doesn’t embrace one with the pill, however this does appear to be the brand new norm throughout the business.

Software program & Options

• Android 15
• Redmagic OS 10.5 UI
• Software program assist for 3 years (US), 5 years (UK/Europe)

Android 15 unpins the Redmagic Astra, with the customized Redmagic OS 10.5 UI on prime.

The pores and skin is maturing properly today, with hardly any of the fragmented language and occasional Chinese language that had been frequent (and undesirable) options of earlier variations. Nowadays, Redmagic OS is a strong and sturdy UI, with loads of customisation options for themes, icons and wallpapers, in addition to honing the system to your private choice in the case of textual content measurement, layouts and different options.

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Alongside the traditional day-to-day options, there’s additionally Recreation House. That is Redmagic’s devoted gaming hub, which you’ll be able to entry by way of the pink swap or by sliding in from the highest left and proper corners when in a recreation.

It provides a variety of how to handle your library or add plug-ins to enhance your gaming expertise, corresponding to high-sensitivity on-screen joystick controllers, larger body charges in-game, and screen-casting choices. There’s loads to discover, so if you wish to get essentially the most out of your cell gaming expertise, Redmagic has tons to supply with Recreation House.

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Once I reviewed the Nova, the primary downside was solely 3 years of software program assist. Issues have improved considerably with the Astra, although, as UK and European prospects will now get 5 years of assist due to regional laws. Nevertheless, prospects within the US are nonetheless restricted to these 3 years.

Contemplating most individuals improve their pill a lot much less typically than their cellphone, it is a little disappointing. There’s additionally no phrase on when the Astra would possibly get Android 16.

Value and Availability

Regardless of loads of premium specs, the Redmagic Astra has a comparatively inexpensive beginning value. Nevertheless, costs climb shortly should you’re in search of extra RAM or storage.

• 12GB/256GB (Eclipse/Starfrost) – £439/$549
• 16GB/512GB (Eclipse/Starfrost) – £559/$699
• 24GB/1TB (Eclipse) – £739/$899

You should purchase one instantly from the Redmagic website, or by way of Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Within the small pill enviornment, you may’t dismiss the iPad mini. The Apple Arcade platform provides loads of selection for video games, and the Mini is adept as a basic all-round pill too, with costs beginning at £499/$499.

The Galaxy Tab A9 can be price contemplating, nevertheless it’s a lot much less premium (from £169), and a successor might launch quickly. See extra alternate options, together with many larger choices, in our information to one of the best tablets you should buy.

After all, there’s no means a conveyable gaming dialogue can be full with out the Nintendo Swap 2. Sure, you may’t do Android issues on it, but when gaming is your main motivation (particularly for one thing simply moveable), then the £395.99/$449.99 price ticket might be a tempting one.

Do you have to purchase the Redmagic Astra Gaming Pill?

The Redmagic Astra is a really good system to make use of. Light-weight, simple to carry, however with loads of energy beneath the hood. Battery life is sweet, and with the proper charger, you will get again up and operating fairly shortly.

If you need a compact, moveable gaming platform, plus the complete energy of Android at your fingertips, then you definitely’ll should go an extended solution to beat the Redmagic Astra.

Specs

• 4.32GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
• Adreno 830 GPU
• Redmagic RedCore R3 Professional devoted gaming processor
• 9.06-inch OLED show, 2.4K (2,400 x 1,504) decision, 165Hz, 1,600 peak brightness, 240Hz Contact Sampling Price, 2,000Hz Instantaneous Contact Sampling Price
• Android 15 with Redmagic OS 10.5
• 12/16/24GB LPDDR5T Reminiscence
• 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 storage
• Twin 1620 audio system, DTS:X Extremely certification
• Magic Key (customisable)
• Quantity controls
• Energy button with embedded fingerprint reader
• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 charging port
• 13Mp rear digital camera
• 9Mp entrance digital camera
• 8,200mAh battery with quick charging
• Liquid Steel 2.0, ICE-X cooling system
• Bluetooth 5.4
• WiFi 7
• IP54
• 207mm x 134.2mm x 6.9mm
• 370g