RedMagic 10S Pro Review: Best Value Gaming Phone with Elite Performance at $699

5 minutes Julian Haag

The RedMagic 10S Pro isn't perfect, but it's undoubtedly the best value in gaming phones right now, particularly for those who crave elite performance without an elite-level price tag. With top-tier specs, a gorgeous display, and blistering gaming performance, it's a standout in the $699 price range despite its minor drawbacks.

RedMagic 10S Pro: Key Specs and Features

Before diving into the details, here's a quick rundown of its key features:

  • Price: $699
  • Display: 6.85-inch AMOLED, 2688 x 1216 resolution, 144Hz refresh rate
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (overclocked)
  • RAM: 12GB | 16GB | 24GB
  • Storage: 256GB | 512GB | 1TB
  • OS: Android 15 (RedMagic 10 OS)
  • Battery: 7,050 mAh
  • Cameras: 50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, 16MP selfie
  • Dimensions: 6.43 x 3 x 0.35 inch, weight 229g
  • Water resistance: IP54 (splash protection)

Bold Design with Some Trade-Offs

The phone's design leans strongly toward gamers, mixing bold glass aesthetics with angular, aggressive edges and red highlights. There's a distinct gamer-centric appeal, particularly evident with the dedicated Game Space slider and RedMagic branding. This robust, slightly bulky design is ergonomic overall, but the hard edges may be comfortable only in short gaming sessions. Additionally, the device has exposed vents, making IP54 splash resistance the only water protection you get.

While many gaming phones suffer from large, unwieldy camera bumps, the RedMagic 10S Pro pleasantly surprises here, providing an almost completely flat rear, barring the slightly protruding LED flash, helping it stay firmly on a surface with minimal wobble.

Gorgeous Display that's Ideal for Gaming

Its 6.85-inch AMOLED screen is sharp, vibrant, and responsive. The near bezel-less design with a skinny 1.25mm frame allows an incredible screen-to-body ratio, offering immersive gaming and content viewing experiences. With a smooth 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, it's a true star for both gaming and media consumption. Colors are punchy and vivid, pairing perfectly with games that utilize high-refresh-rate settings.

Gaming Performance -- Best-in-Class Performance at this Price

Performance is where the RedMagic 10S Pro shines brightest, driven by an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and up to an astonishing 24GB of RAM. Benchmark results beat even the more expensive Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, allowing for smooth gameplay at maximum graphical settings without breaking a sweat. Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile feel incredibly fluid, responsive, and immersive. If gaming performance and future-proof hardware specs are your top priority, this phone sits firmly at the top of the pack in its price range.

Cooling Concerns and Battery Life

Despite a comprehensive cooling solution featuring a 10-layer ICE-X system, including graphene, copper vapor chambers, and a 23,000 RPM fan, the 10S Pro can still become noticeably warm during intense gaming or heavy benchmark scenarios. Thankfully, normal use and typical gaming sessions are manageable, but be mindful during longer, more intensive play sessions.

Battery life is great thanks to its large 7,050 mAh battery, comfortably lasting two days of average use with occasional gaming. Although it charges impressively fast via a wired connection, the absence of wireless charging may disappoint some users, especially given its growing prevalence on mainstream flagship devices in this price range.

Cameras: Decent Enough for a Gaming-Focused Phone

Given that gaming phones rarely focus on camera prowess, the RedMagic 10S Pro holds up reasonably well, showcasing vibrant and highly-saturated images from its 50MP primary camera. However, the ultra-wide camera tends to produce more washed-out images lacking the detail and sharpness of the main lens. The 2MP macro sensor feels more like an afterthought. There's a noticeable gap compared to flagship smartphones dedicated to photography, but casual photographers won't feel too restricted by the camera package provided here.

User Experience and Software Features

Software-wise, the RedMagic 10S Pro runs RedMagic 10 OS (Android 15) smoothly, though there's bloatware included that you'll likely want to eliminate immediately. The Game Space app is a reliable hub for gaming-related experiences and settings customization, offering best-in-class performance tweaking options, fan adjustments, and quick-launch gaming tools. Integration with Google's Gemini AI provides handy additional features like translation assistance and photo editing enhancements, boosting its productivity as a daily driver.

A minor drawback is the fact that Nubia promises just three years of software updates, far short of Samsung and Google's commitment of around five to seven years.

Final Verdict: A Performance King for Gamers on a Budget

For $699, the RedMagic 10S Pro delivers exceptional gaming performance, a premium display, large battery capacity, and a game-centric software experience. Sure, it misses some features seen in more mainstream devices—lackluster camera experience, thermal concerns, no wireless charging, and limited IP rating—but it nails game-centric usage squarely on the head.

If you're into intensive mobile gaming, demanding better performance per dollar, this offering from Nubia is currently unrivaled. It sits confidently above similarly-priced phones in terms of raw gaming horsepower, making it the best value choice for gaming enthusiasts.

However, if gaming isn't your primary use, mainstream flagships like those from Samsung, Google, or Apple may offer a better-rounded experience. Yet for dedicated gamers, RedMagic has once again strengthened its reputation as one of the elite gaming phone manufacturers—it's clear why so many gaming enthusiasts choose RedMagic time and time again.