Our Verdict
RedMagic is aware of play to its area of interest and has delivered a contender for the most efficient Android gaming pill in the marketplace. Its functionality is improbable, the show is vibrant and easy, and the Sport House device provides to the enjoy. There may well be higher all-rounders, however if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing purely for play, that is the only.
- Most sensible-tier gaming functionality
- 144Hz refresh charges
- Sport House device
- Inexpensive
- No OLED
- Fairly chunky bezels
- No Sport House button
Within the smartphone global, RedMagic is synonymous with top-tier cell gaming. It’s liable for considered one of this 12 months’s best possible gaming telephones, the RedMagic 9S Professional, and now it’s increasing into the pill area with the RedMagic Nova. Then again, it faces some stiff festival, with Apple, Samsung, Honor, and extra all freeing new pills in contemporary months.
Whilst it would seem like every other pill from the outdoor, dig a little bit deeper, and it’s transparent why RedMagic isn’t shying clear of taking at the large names. It’s a functionality beast, using some of the best possible Android processors to supply a gaming enjoy that few can fit on the $500 worth level whilst nonetheless providing many of the multitasking and video streaming options you need from an iPad an identical. Nonetheless, the query stays: how does the Nova without delay evaluate to the alternatives on our record of the best possible gaming pills? Let’s in finding out.
Why you’ll be able to agree with our recommendation ✔ At Pocket Ways, our mavens spend days trying out video games, telephones, tech, and products and services. We at all times percentage truthful critiques that will help you purchase the most efficient. In finding out how we take a look at.
Worth and availability
The RedMagic Nova gaming pill is now to be had from the respectable RedMagic web site. You’ll be able to make a choice from both the 256GB+12GB or 512GB+16GB configurations, beginning at $499 and $649, respectively. Whichever you opt for, you’ll have greater than sufficient room to retailer a number of your favourite cell video games. On the subject of colorways, it’s to be had in simply Nighttime, which is someplace between gray and black.
Specifications
Listed here are the RedMagic Nova’s specifications:
| Show | 10.9-inch 144Hz IPS LCD (1800 x 2880 pixels) |
| Battery | 10,100mAh |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Main Model |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB / 25GB |
| Garage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Cameras | 20MP entrance, 50MP again |
| Weight | 530g |
| Dimensions | 253.3 x 164.6 x 7.3mm |
| Colours | Nighttime |
Options and device
The RedMagic Nova runs at the emblem’s personal RedMagicOS Android 14 pores and skin, which is a wonderfully superb little bit of device. It’s no longer as simplified and useable as Apple’s iPad iOS, nevertheless it’s additionally no longer as clunky as probably the most different Android skins available in the market. Its theming could be very gamer-centric, however you’ll be able to customise that within the settings if you need it to really feel much less such as you’re the usage of a 14-year-old boy’s pill.
On the subject of bloatware apps, there aren’t so much, however you continue to need to do a bit of of upkeep when you’ve arrange the pill (and no matter you do, don’t conform to obtain all of the knock-off cell video games while you first load it up). It’s no longer anyplace as egregious as probably the most examples of bloatware I’ve come throughout on telephones just like the Xiaomi 14T and Nubia Turn 5G, regardless that, so I will be able to hardly ever bitch.
Shifting directly to gaming-specific device, there’s RedMagic’s Sport House, which I’m already used to having spent a bit of of time with the RedMagic 9S Professional. With a sport open, all it’s important to do is pull the Sport House overlay out from the left of the show, and also you’re just right to move. From right here, you’ll be able to document gameplay, flip off notifications, or boot up purpose lend a hand, all with out taking your self clear of the motion. There are many different Sport House options, however the record is simply too lengthy for this newsletter.
Sport House is a handy gizmo, however I nonetheless suppose there may well be a couple of enhancements. For a get started, I’d slightly find out about my body charges than GPU or CPU functionality, and the device places the ones main points entrance and middle. It’s additionally a bit of complicated, and I will be able to see avid gamers who aren’t too afflicted about the main points simply heading off it altogether slightly than possibility the confusion of working out what all of the other buttons and settings do. I’m no longer announcing it’s a nasty factor to have such a lot freedom to configure, nevertheless it is probably not user-friendly sufficient for some.
Design and audio
Purely on the subject of design, there’s no longer a lot that is helping the Nova stand out when taking a look at its show. It’s under no circumstances unsightly, nevertheless it’s rather simple and serves as a reminder that manufacturers like RedMagic and Asus are leaving at the back of the ones types of edgy designs chances are you’ll go together with gaming pills and telephones. There aren’t any splashes of purple around the bezels, stick-on flames, or cases of the phrase ‘gamer’ in graffiti anyplace at the entrance of the item. I just like the simplicity, nevertheless it may well be a bit of tame for some.
You’ll be able to discover a moderately attention-grabbing design characteristic at the rear, regardless that. The pill has a clear phase alongside the highest of the again quilt that appears like a window into the pill’s interior workings and cooling gadget. I say seems like as a result of there’s some trickery afoot, and also you’re no longer in reality taking a look at what you suppose you’re. Nonetheless, it’s great to look a emblem take a look at new issues with the moderately inflexible boundaries of pill design, even supposing you hardly see it.
Whilst I’m prepared at the Nova’s understated design, I want RedMagic had added the similar Sport House button to the pad that you’ll be able to in finding at the 9S Professional mobile phone. There’s one thing about flicking that transfer and going into the Sport House overlay that will get you within the zone, nevertheless it’s no longer the similar right here. I’d additionally reasonably like a three.5mm jack, as I nonetheless personal a couple of dependable stressed out headphones for gaming, however I’ve had to make use of my lower-quality Bluetooth earbuds whilst trying out.
Relating to audio, the Nova has a beautiful first rate set of audio system, and so they’re loud sufficient that you simply don’t have to hook up with a Bluetooth speaker if you happen to’re taking a look to hear track or circulate a movie. The sound high quality isn’t wonderful, with some noticeable muddiness within the low-end in comparison to my 2021 iPad Mini, however making an allowance for the associated fee level, you’ll be able to’t have the whole thing, and I’d slightly in finding the audio a little bit flat than the visuals.
Show
The RedMagic Nova would possibly have some of the best possible LCDs I’ve observed on a pill, even supposing it’s nonetheless a bit of disappointing that it’s no longer OLED. I’ve were given a Nintendo Transfer OLED, a Steam Deck OLED, and my day by day telephone is an Honor Magic6 Professional, with, you guessed it, an OLED show. All of those gadgets have made me a bit of of a display snob, however the Nova nonetheless impresses; there’s just a bit much less intensity of colour than chances are you’ll get from a pill with an OLED.
The Nova’s 144Hz refresh charges aren’t simply upper than the rest we’ve observed from Apple’s iPad sequence but additionally beat out my Steam Deck, Transfer, and Honor telephone. Which means whilst the on-screen colours is probably not reasonably as vibrant as those OLED gadgets, the in-game motion is as easy as easy will get, and I best needed to play part an hour of Zenless Zone 0 to look this for myself. The soar from 120Hz to 144Hz isn’t hugely noticeable, however if you happen to put the 2 facet via facet, you’ll be able to see that the upper refresh fee is a bit of nicer at the eye.
Then again, the Nova’s show isn’t best. Its bezels are a little bit chunkier than I’d like. They’re no longer enforcing, however I’ve observed in a similar fashion priced pills with extra display retail property, and that’s a beautiful vital issue when it’s a gaming-specific instrument like this. I would like as a lot display as imaginable, particularly if I play one thing with tiny in-game textual content. Nonetheless, this isn’t an issue unique to this pill, and the bezels are simply as large on Apple’s newly introduced iPad Mini.
It’s additionally value mentioning that with a top brightness of 550 nits, chances are you’ll battle the usage of the Nova in direct daylight, regardless that I haven’t been ready to position this to the take a look at as I’m in the United Kingdom and it’s autumn, so it’s repeatedly gloomy. Oh neatly, all of the extra explanation why to spend extra time gaming indoors. Deficient me.
Efficiency
For the reason that the RedMagic Nova is a gaming-specific pill, you’d hope this factor packs sufficient horsepower to make cell gaming a pride. Just right information; it does. That’s no longer a lot of a wonder making an allowance for it’s packing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Main Model chipset, a juiced-up model of the processor powering 2024’s best possible gaming telephones, together with the RedMagic 9S Professional.
When it’s time to check pills and telephones, I regularly use video games like Honkai Celebrity Rail and Zenless Zone 0 to look whether or not I will be able to push a tool to its limits, as each are lovely performance-intensive, particularly if you happen to dial as much as 60fps gameplay. The Nova takes those video games in its stride, even in busy sequences with a couple of characters on-screen. I doubt there’s a cell sport available in the market it will possibly’t take care of, and whilst I’ve no longer attempted it myself, I’m positive it’s most likely a monster in relation to emulation, too.
No longer best is the Nova a functionality beast, nevertheless it additionally makes use of some lovely subtle cooling tech to make sure issues by no means get too sizzling to take care of. I’m no longer going to delve into the sophisticated main points an excessive amount of right here, however the mixture of a formidable inner fan and leading edge cooling tube approach your fingers by no means get toasty whilst gaming. Higher nonetheless, that fan by no means will get as loud as my Steam Deck OLED, which from time to time sounds find it irresistible’s readying for takeoff slightly than looking to stay alongside of the calls for of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Battery
The RedMagic Nova’s 10,100mAh battery is a blended bag, as whilst you’ll be able to tinker with the settings to make gaming all day with out charging a chance, it drains battery faster in standby mode than every other Android pill I’ve used. It’s 2024, and I’m no longer used to turning issues off after I’ve completed with them for the day, so I’d regularly select up the Nova the next morning with much less battery than I expected. Nonetheless, I’d slightly that than lose upwards of 30% battery in an hour whilst gaming, which isn’t an issue with the Nova.
On the subject of charging time, the RedMagic pill juices from flat again as much as 100% in slightly below an hour, equipped you’re the usage of the charger from the field. You’ll be able to’t argue with the ones speeds, and it’s a lot faster than many Android pill and iPad equivalents, even Apple’s 2024 flagship iPad Professional. If, like me, you at all times put out of your mind to position your instrument on price till simply as you’re on the point of go away the home, a 25% spice up from quarter-hour of charging is greater than optimum.
RedMagic Nova cameras
The RedMagic Nova’s cameras are k, and that’s about as excited as I will be able to get about them. The 20MP selfie digicam is forged sufficient for video calling, however if you happen to’re a large selfie-taker, I’d counsel the usage of your telephone as an alternative. Selfies I’ve taken lack a little bit definition, and whilst it’s worthwhile to spend time modifying them, that isn’t in point of fact what that is for.
At the again, the Nova has a 50MP lens, however don’t let that megapixel depend idiot you into pondering this is similar form of digicam high quality you’d get on an Android flagship telephone. Once more, it’s no longer an terrible digicam, and you’ll be able to seize some first rate footage if the lights is perfect, nevertheless it’s nonetheless less than the usual as one thing you’d get on a mid-range or flagship smartphone.
Must you purchase the RedMagic Nova gaming pill?
When you’re on the lookout for a pill for the explicit goal of gaming, I’d counsel the RedMagic Nova above all else. On simply the gaming enjoy by myself, you’d suppose this factor is a lot more dear than its $500 price ticket, beating out dearer pills and smartphones within the functionality division. Upload to that the loss of issues round thermals, and there’s little higher for a bit of of Honkai Celebrity Rail, PUBG Cell, or Diablo Immortal. Select your poison; the Nova can take care of it.
Then again, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a pill that doubles as a creativity station or selfie gadget, there are higher choices. The similar is going for any person on the lookout for a pill only for a bit of of streaming. In that regard, it’s a bit of like purchasing a supercar that you simply’re best ever going to make use of for choosing up groceries. Simply grasp an affordable second-hand iPad and be carried out with it.
Choices
If we haven’t offered you at the RedMagic Nova, take a look at our ideas for possible choices beneath.
iPad Air M2
Apple is the pill marketplace chief for a explanation why, and whilst the Nova may well be the most efficient for gaming, the most recent iPad Air takes the cake in nearly each different division. Its iPadOS device is extra user-friendly, and its Apple Pencil compatibility makes it a better choice for any person who desires to steadiness gaming with some creativity. The caveat is that it’s a bit of dearer, however there’s nonetheless quite a few price for cash. If you need the entire lowdown, take a look at our iPad Air evaluation.
OnePlus Pad 2
When you’re on the lookout for extra of an all-rounder pill, the OnePlus Pad 2 is any other incredible choice. Your selection is right here easy: if you need one thing for gaming, opt for the Nova, however if you happen to love to get inventive, opt for the OnePlus Pad 2. Each are nearly precisely the similar worth and feature identical LCD monitors and Snapdragon chipsets, so it would in the long run come all the way down to emblem allegiances.
