REDMAGIC 11S Pro: the gaming smartphone with top-notch hardware and circulating liquid cooling
REDMAGIC
REDMAGIC advances a tradition that few other brands in the gaming segment have managed to maintain with such consistency: each generation must introduce something that the competition has not yet. With the brand new REDMAGIC 11S Pro, which we had the opportunity to test before its Italian release, the stakes are raised even further. The device not only updates the SoC (with the fastest currently available on mobile), but it also brings to mass production a technology that until now existed only in AI servers and high-end desktop PCs: circulating liquid cooling.
Yes, just like in desktops, with visible liquid: not a passive architecture, not a larger-than-usual vapor chamber, but a system with a piezoelectric pump, laser-cut channels with micrometric precision, and a non-conductive fluorinated liquid that physically circulates within the phone. The commercial result of this choice is measured, as always, in real use. But the technical premises are solid enough to deserve attention.
Specifications
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version, the most powerful variant of Qualcomm's chip built on a 3nm process, is the heart of the smartphone. In this edition, the Oryon cores reach 4.74 GHz, the GPU is the Adreno 840, and the declared improvement over the predecessor (the 10S Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version) is 19% on CPU, 24% on GPU, and 39% on NPU, with a latency reduction of 33%.
These numbers need to be contextualized: the generational leap between one SoC and its "Leading" version tends to be more contained compared to a family change, but in this case, we are dealing with two distinct generations (Gen 5 vs Gen 4 in fact). Alongside the main SoC works the proprietary chip REDMAGIC RedCore R4, a co-processor dedicated to gaming that manages customizable in-game effects, 2K resolution upscaling based on Qualcomm technology, and intelligent power management during intense sessions.
This is an additional element, entirely absent on general-purpose smartphones not designed for gaming, exclusively appointed to thermal balancing and frame rate stability. Accompanying it is Energy Cube 3.0, the proprietary hardware-software optimization engine that dynamically allocates CPU, GPU, memory, cooling, and touch resources based on the gaming scenario. The declared values speak of up to 12% energy savings and up to 40% performance increase compared to non-optimized management.
The display is a BOE-produced 6.85-inch AMOLED with a resolution of 2688×1216 pixels, capable of a peak brightness of 1800 nits and edges less than a millimeter thick on all sides. Available memory varies by color: the Nightfreeze (transparent black) model is available with both 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage and in the 16 GB and 512 GB configuration; the Subzero (transparent silver) is offered exclusively in 16+512 GB.
The battery size rises to 7,500 mAh, compared to 7,050 mAh of the 10S Pro, while maintaining the body size unchanged. Both wired and wireless fast charging are at 80W, and for the first time on a REDMAGIC device, there is also bidirectional wireless charging. The dimensional profile is 163.82 x 76.54 x 8.9 mm weighing 230 grams. A smartphone that certainly doesn’t aim to be compact but boasts a great peculiarity: there are no protrusions on the back, with the rear design being perfectly flat.
There are three rear cameras, two of which are 50 MP: the main one features an f/1.8 eight-element optically stabilized (OIS) lens with a focal length of 23mm equivalent in 35mm format; the second camera is an ultra-wide-angle with a focal length of 13 mm equivalent, with an f/2.0 lens. There’s then a third 2 MP camera useful for optimizing shots taken in advanced modes. Additionally, there’s a built-in 16 MP front camera under the display with an f/2.0 lens. All cameras are managed by a new advanced AI algorithm for enhancing shots taken with the device.
In terms of connectivity, the phone integrates dual-band Wi-Fi with a 360-degree antenna, Bluetooth 5.4, USB 3.2 Gen 2, NFC with Google Pay support, dual GPS L1+L5, dual SIM slots, and fast and reliable biometrics with an under-display 3D ultrasonic sensor. There's also a 3.5 mm audio jack, a deliberate choice appreciated by gaming users. The speaker system consists of two units, 1015a and 1115e, with the second designed to offer a richer bass and a broader soundstage. The vibration system, powerful and tactile, relies on linear X-axis 0815 motors for haptic feedback.
Water protection is certified IPX8, combined with a proprietary dust-proof design. The frame is made of aluminum alloy, while the glass is Corning Gorilla Glass.
Pricing in Italy
REDMAGIC 11S PRO, gaming smartphone with circulating liquid cooling Starting at €799. The official list prices for the Italian market start from €799 for the entry-level Nightfreeze version (equipped with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage in the Black Transparent color). For those seeking the highest configuration, €899 is required: this amount allows you to take home the high-end models with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal memory, available both in the Nightfreeze (Black Transparent) and the Subzero (Silver Transparent) variant.
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Nightfreeze (12+256GB) | €799 |
| Nightfreeze (16+512GB) | €899 |
| Subzero (16+512GB) | €899 |
As for the launch roadmap, REDMAGIC has planned an initial phase dedicated to Early Bird Vouchers, purchasable from June 3 to June 9, 2026 (until 14:00). Subsequently, distribution will follow these official steps:
- Early Bird Access: June 9, 2026 (from 14:00) - An exclusive early access window of 24 hours for those who purchased the voucher, essential to secure the device before it sells out, as the brand's products often register high demand.
- Open Sales: June 10, 2026 (from 14:00) - Official opening of free sales for all users.
For all purchase information on the smartphone, we refer you to the official REDMAGIC website.
Design
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro does nothing to look like a conventional smartphone and doesn’t even try to. The transparent metal back casing is the most immediate statement of intent: through it, you can see the internal components, the AquaCore liquid cooling system circuit with blue ice fluid visibly flowing within the laser-cut channels, the REDMAGIC logo integrated directly into the fluid path, and the fan with RGB lighting.
It is an aesthetic derived from custom PCs with visible liquid cooling, brought into a pocketable format. The texture on the back isn't smooth: it follows a raised pattern called star trail, evoking star trails and adding grip without resorting to rubberized materials or opaque coatings.
The construction features aeronautical aluminum for the central frame, with Corning Gorilla Glass on the exposed surfaces. The perimeter frame hosts elements that in other smartphones are hidden or minimized: the side physical triggers are visible and protruding enough to be recognizable to the touch without looking at them, and RGB LED strips run along the frame’s profile, a novelty of this generation compared to previous models.
The back is completely flat: the absence of camera island protrusions results in extreme stability when the smartphone is resting on any flat surface. It does not wobble and maintains a uniform profile in hand during horizontal sessions, without creating uncomfortable pressure points during prolonged grip. The camera module is recessed into the body, with the lenses aligned to the rear plane. The result is a clean silhouette that contrasts with the visual complexity of the transparent casing, and the overall effect is deliberately hybrid: both industrial and technological style.
Both available colors interpret this aesthetic differently. The Nightfreeze is transparent black, with visual depth enhancing the dark internal components and contrast with the blue fluid; the Subzero - the one we tested - is transparent silver, brighter, reminiscent of a block of ice, making the internal circulation system even more visible. Both versions share the blue accents of the fluid and the fan ring, a unifying element of the visual language of this generation.
With 163.82 x 76.54 mm surface and 8.9 mm thickness, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a large phone but not out of scale compared to the average flagship of its generation. The rounded edges at the ends soften the grip and reduce fatigue during long sessions, where grip tends to concentrate pressure on the corners. The weight of 230 grams is on the higher side of the category, unavoidable considering the physical presence of the piezoelectric pump, the liquid channels, and the fan within a chassis that still manages to stay under 9 mm thick. The weight is nonetheless evenly distributed and, in our opinion, does not represent a major problem, especially for those already accustomed to a flagship smartphone from the latest generations. The IPX8 certification guarantees resistance to water immersion, paired with a proprietary dust-proof system that REDMAGIC describes as distinct from standard solutions. The fan itself is certified IP68 as a separate unit, meaning that the most vulnerable component of the active cooling system is independently protected from the ingress of liquids and dust. This construction detail addresses one of the historical criticisms of gaming phones with integrated fans: the concern that the fan could represent a weak point for dust and moisture ingress.
Software, Hardware, and Performance
The operating system is REDMAGIC OS 11.5, an evolution of the proprietary interface based on Android. The most substantial novelty on the software level is the evolution of Game Space, the dedicated gaming environment accessible with a swipe from the top edge of the screen during any session.
The additions for this generation include a Personal AI Coach that provides real-time tactical suggestions, a Win Rate Predictor (currently functioning in MLBB and Free Fire) that shows the live probability of victory, AI-Assisted Play mode for automated management of daily tasks in supported games (including Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, Delta Force, and League of Legends: Wild Rift), and Mora Mouth Replacement, which allows the virtual assistant Mora to manage in-game voice communications on behalf of the user.
The RGB LEDs on the sides, back, and in the fan housing are all extremely customizable. There’s really an embarrassment of choice as you can see from the screenshots listed below.
The physical rear triggers reach a sampling frequency of 520 Hz and for the first time also support vertical mode, expanding compatibility with games that use this format. The Magic Touch 4.0 system, based on the Synaptics 3910V chip, brings touch sampling up to 3,000 Hz in instant mode and introduces the Wet-Hand Mode to ensure responsiveness even with wet or sweaty hands. Magic Key, a physical switch that by default serves to access the Game Space, can be customized to access the camera, turn on the torch, access the voice recorder, and manage the ringtone.
In terms of performance, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro has few rivals, especially concerning sustained performance over time. This stability is largely credited to the AquaCore system, which in this generation receives its most substantial update since its first introduction. To understand what distinguishes AquaCore from a conventional cooling system requires taking a step back: high-end gaming phones typically use a combination of vapor chamber, liquid metal, and active fan. It’s an effective solution but passive in its underlying logic: heat is transferred and dissipated, but the fluid does not move. AquaCore, on the other hand, introduces active circulation of the coolant, exactly as occurs in desktop water cooling loops or cooling systems of AI servers.
The chosen fluid is a non-conductive fluorinated liquid, the same used in next-generation AI data centers, a miniaturized industrial refrigerant here. It is moved within the channels by a ceramic piezoelectric pump, selected after thousands of combinatorial tests to find the optimal balance between driving force and compact size. The channels themselves are made using micrometric laser cutting technology directly in the device body, ensuring a path free from resistance to flow.
In its complete form, the system integrates four components that work in sequence:
- Liquid Metal 3.0, positioned directly above the vapor chamber, which has the task of removing heat from the CPU and transferring it rapidly to the next layer;
- The vapor chamber of 13,116 mm², the largest ever fitted on a smartphone according to REDMAGIC, adopts a patented 4D design with protrusions on both sides increasing internal volume and thus heat distribution capacity without adding weight to the device. The covering extends from the camera area to the bottom speaker, ensuring uniform distribution across the entire surface of the body;
- the circulating fluorinated liquid specifically handles moving heat away from the battery area, reducing thermal strain on a component that degrades faster at high temperatures;
- finally, the TurboFan waterproof at 24,000 RPM, certified IP68 as a separate unit, completes the system by accelerating the circulation of hot air towards the ventilation outlets. It operates under 30 dB, a value that makes it perceptible in quiet environments but not intrusive during gaming with active audio.
The combined result of these four elements is a declared reduction of 2-3°C in peak temperatures compared to the previous generation under extreme load conditions and a 10% improvement in overall circulation efficiency. Translated into practical terms: a SoC that stays closer to its boost frequency for a longer period means more stable frame rates in prolonged sessions, which is precisely the condition in which a competitive match is played.
Display
The integrated panel is a BOE X10 AMOLED 6.85 inches with a resolution of 2688×1216 pixels, refresh rate of 144 Hz, and 95.3% screen-to-body ratio. The under-display camera technology (UDC) eliminates any interruption in the panel's surface: there’s no notch, no punch-hole, and not even a widened upper edge to hide the front camera. The result is a True Full Screen in the most literal sense, with 0.7 mm edges on all sides.
Regarding visual protection, PWM dimming works at 2,592 Hz, a high enough frequency to eliminate flickering in the vast majority of settings. DC dimming is also available as an alternative mode, useful for those who prefer to eliminate brightness modulation altogether, sacrificing fine gradation at the lowest levels. The SGS and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certifications complete the picture, confirming that the panel meets measured parameters of emission in the blue band of the spectrum, statistically correlated with eye strain.
The Synaptics 3910V chip, introduced for the first time on a REDMAGIC device with this model, manages the entire touch signal processing chain. The normal sampling is at 360 Hz, and the instant (to be activated in gaming mode) rises to 3,000 Hz. The Wet-Hand Mode intervenes precisely at the signal processing level: when the panel detects moisture on the surface, the algorithm modifies reading parameters to distinguish intentional touches from accidental contacts caused by sweat or water.
It’s worth noting that 144 Hz is the maximum frequency supported by the panel, not the one that is always active: as on all devices with adaptive refresh rate, the actual frequency depends on the content displayed and the selected settings. In gaming mode with Energy Cube active, the system dynamically optimizes the refresh rate based on the game’s frame rate, reducing power consumption in less intense moments without sacrificing perceived fluidity in critical moments.
The Superior Image Quality available in Game Space can also force upscaling to 2K resolution with 120 FPS interpolation on compatible titles such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, Honkai: Star Rail, and Wuthering Waves, a function that leverages the combination between RedCore R4 and the power of the Adreno 840 to offer superior visual quality compared to what the game would render natively.
Analysis of the AMOLED panel of the RedMagic 11S Pro was conducted with the colorimeter X-Rite i1Display Pro and the software suite HCFR, following calibration of the instrument via the spectrophotometer X-Rite i1 Pro 2, ensuring measurements referring to a solid metrological standard.
Brightness
In high dynamic content conditions with APL at 15% (a reduced portion of the screen illuminated, typical of HDR content), the display reaches a peak of 1992 nits, an excellent value even exceeding the manufacturer’s claimed specifications. With a completely white screen (APL 100%), the brightness is rated at 1452 nits, providing excellent readability even under direct sunlight. The contrast ratio is, by definition, close to infinity. AMOLED panels manage every pixel independently: when a pixel needs to reproduce black, it is simply turned off, zeroing the light emission. The practical result is absolute separation between dark and bright areas of the image, with deep blacks and rich color in shadows that no LCD can structurally replicate.
Conclusion
REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a smartphone that exactly knows what it wants to be and pursues it uncompromisingly. The AquaCore circulating liquid cooling system is a unique feature in the industry: it translates into sustained performance that no other gaming phone can offer today, putting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version in the ideal conditions to express all its potential during prolonged sessions.
Combining this power with battery phone autonomy - over 16 hours in our tests - is a significant technical achievement, obtained without sacrificing form factor or adding millimeters of thickness compared to the previous generation. The premium gaming experience is completed by the AMOLED display with peak brightness approaching 2000 nits and the Synaptics 3910V chip with touch sampling up to 3,000 Hz, which offers a responsiveness that is perceptibly felt during competitive gaming. The transparent design with a completely flat back resolves one of the most annoying practical problems of modern smartphones, and the RGB LED strips along the frame complete an aesthetic that doesn’t try to hide its nature but rather displays it consistently.
The concessions are known and expected: the camera setup remains functional but far from general-purpose flagships, and the lack of optical zoom is a deliberate positioning choice consistent with the product's primary vocation for gaming. Those seeking a single device capable of competing in both computational photography and gaming will find more balanced responses elsewhere.
Instead, for those who place gaming performance center stage and consider battery life a non-negotiable variable, REDMAGIC 11S Pro is today the most convincing and technically advanced response on the market. A product that sets a new benchmark for mobile gamers, hard to ignore.