RedMagic 10 Air Review: Budget Gaming Powerhouse

At DG, we've long admired the RedMagic series, so testing their latest release—the RedMagic 10 Air—was particularly exciting. Positioned as a budget-friendly alternative to its premium siblings, this phone aims to deliver top-tier mobile gaming without breaking the bank.

But does it live up to the hype? Here’s our hands-on review.

First Impressions

Having reviewed the RedMagic 8 Pro two years prior, the first thing I noticed was the 10 Air’s refined design. Gone are the flashy comic-inspired packaging and sci-fi accents—replaced by sleek black-and-silver branding and subtle brushed metal trim. While I initially missed the bold aesthetic, the minimalist approach makes it discreet enough for professional settings (or covert Downwell sessions during meetings).

Setting up was seamless: USB-C transfers had all my apps—including sideloaded ones like Pojav—ready in minutes.

The Tech

Under the hood, the RedMagic 10 Air packs serious gaming-centric hardware:

• A vibrant 6.8" 120Hz AMOLED display with near edge-to-edge coverage
• The flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip paired with 16GB RAM in our 512GB test unit
• Innovative phase-change cooling using temperature-sensitive metal alloys
• A robust 6,000mAh battery delivering 3–4 hours of intensive gaming

Performance was flawless across all tested Play Pass titles, with no thermal throttling. Only high-end emulation might push its limits—though the customizable Game Center settings (more below) could help optimize such scenarios.

The Features

The Game Center (buried slightly too deep in settings) shines as a Swiss Army knife for gamers:

• Per-game performance tuning
• Built-in screen recording/casting
• Utility plugins for frame-rate monitoring, in-game calculators, and even RNG assistance

It’s a genuinely thoughtful suite—not just cosmetic "gamer" branding. Though I could’ve lived without the optional anime assistant ("Commander," really?), everything else impressed, including unexpected quality-of-life perks:

The surprisingly capable camera system (50MP main + 16MP front) supports 8K video and macro photography—a rare treat in gaming phones. Below, a sample from macro mode:

The Downsides

Minor gripes prevent perfection:

• The forced proprietary browser (Chrome installs post-setup)
• A UI that feels dated despite improvements
• 205g weight—lighter than past models, but hardly "Air" by modern standards
• Unconfirmed UK plug availability (our unit had a two-pin charger)

Final Verdict

Where the RedMagic 8 Pro felt like a niche device, the 10 Air bridges gaming prowess with daily usability. Nubia clearly iterates meaningfully—offering better ergonomics, smarter software, and versatile hardware at a competitive price.

For gamers wanting one device that excels at both play and productivity, this is among the strongest options available.