RedMagic 10 Air: Budget Gaming Phone Tested

At DG, the RedMagic series has always impressed us, which made testing their latest budget-friendly model—the RedMagic 10 Air—particularly exciting. This smartphone aims to deliver premium gaming performance without breaking the bank, perfect for mobile gamers.

Does it live up to expectations? Let’s dive in.

Initial Reactions

Having reviewed the RedMagic 8 Pro before, I immediately noticed the 10 Air’s more refined aesthetic. Gone are the flashy comic-styled details, replaced by minimalist black-and-silver packaging with a simple logo.

The phone itself ditches the futuristic accents of its predecessor in favor of subtle brushed-metal side panels. While some may miss the bolder design, the streamlined look makes it office-friendly—ideal for someone discreetly grinding through Downwell during a meeting.

Transferring data via USB-C was seamless, with apps like Pojav (unavailable on Google Play at the time) installing effortlessly.

Performance & Specs

Under the hood, the RedMagic 10 Air packs serious hardware tailored for gaming. Its 6.8-inch AMOLED display runs at 120Hz, offering smooth visuals edge-to-edge.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, our test unit (512GB storage + 16GB RAM) handled everything flawlessly. The phone’s passive cooling system—using temperature-sensitive metal—kept heat levels in check even during extended play.

The 6,000mAh battery provides solid endurance: light usage stretches over a day, while intensive gaming delivers 3-4 hours. Every game from Play Pass ran smoothly, though demanding emulation might need some tweaks via the Game Center.

Gaming-Centric Features

The Game Center (hidden in settings) doubles as an advanced launcher. Beyond organizing games, it lets you fine-tune performance per title, record gameplay, or screencast. Plugins add tools like in-game distance calculators or RNG assistance—clearly designed by gamers, for gamers.

An optional anime "assistant" greets you as "Commander"—cheesy, but removable if that’s not your thing.

Unexpectedly, even everyday features impressed. The 50MP main + 16MP selfie cameras include macro and 8K video recording (30fps). While not flagship-tier, they’re far better than expected from a gaming phone.

Minor Drawbacks

The interface feels slightly clunky, though improved over past models. Chrome installs post-setup, but a default proprietary browser is annoying. At 205g, the "Air" branding shouldn’t mislead—it’s still substantial.

Our unit came with a two-pin charger; UK plug availability is unclear.

Final Thoughts

Compared to the unwieldy RedMagic 8, the 10 Air strikes a smarter balance—powerful enough for gaming, polished enough for daily use. Nubia’s iterative improvements show genuine commitment beyond just hardware specs.

For gamers wanting a versatile, budget-conscious device, the RedMagic 10 Air is an outstanding pick. Visit RedMagic’s site if you’re intrigued.