Nubia’s RedMagic 8 Pro gaming phone comes with high-end hardware, a custom cooling solution, and a massive battery. Here’s how to buy it in the U.S.
Nubia announced the global launch of its latest gaming phone, the RedMagic 8 Pro. The device was officially unveiled in China in December and was one of the first mainstream gaming smartphones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Nubia might not be familiar to many outside of China, but the gaming sub-brand of Chinese telecom giant ZTE is known for its value-for-money smartphones that offer great performance at relatively affordable prices.
The RedMagic 8 Pro series includes the RedMagic 8 Pro and the RedMagic 8 Pro+ in China, but only the former is making its way to global markets in its current state. Instead of the Pro+, the company is launching a new ‘Void’ version that offers some of the same features, but with some changes. The Void has the same 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, but instead of the 5,000mAh unit of the Pro+, the Void comes with a larger 6,000mAh battery. The Chinese model also offers 165W charging, while the global model is limited to 65W. The Void also has a transparent back that shows off the active cooling fan with RGB lighting.
RedMagic 8 Pro Gaming Smartphone
The standard RedMagic 8 Pro will be available in the base ‘Matte’ version with a textured, opaque, back panel. It has less RAM and storage than the Void, with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Other hardware stays the same, including a 6.8-inch 120hz AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution. On the back are a 50MP Samsung GN5 primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide snapper, and a 2MP macro camera. The phone also sports a 16MP under-display front-facing camera for selfies and video chats. The standard 8 Pro has the same 6,000mAh battery and 65W fast charging capabilities.
One of the highlights of the RedMagic 8 Pro is its custom cooling solution that includes a vapor chamber cooling plate and a built-in fan that reaches up to 20,000 RPM. It also offers a pair of capacitive shoulder triggers with a 520Hz sampling rate to boost performance and reduce reaction times while playing shooting games. Connectivity options include a 3.5mm audio socket, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7, and 5G. The phone runs Android 13 with the custom RedMagic OS on top.
The RedMagic 8 Pro will be available for purchase from the official RedMagic website to buyers in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa from Feb. 2. The RedMagic 8 Pro is priced at $649 for the 12GB+256GB Matte version, while the 16GB+512GB Void model will cost $799, making it a touch more expensive than its Chinese counterparts.
Source: Nubia