Syed Imran Haider The Redmagic 9 Pro from Nubia is the newest addition to the company’s smartphone gaming line and this model seems to be a global launch, as the Redmagic 9 Pro+ has not been released outside China.
Design and build
If you have seen Redmagic smartphones before, you will be able to recognize the 9 Pro right away because its design aesthetics are quite similar to that of the 8S Pro and 8 Pro. This means that the smartphone will be able to fill up your hands. It is an angular device that weighs around 229g and has an aluminum frame and square edges surrounding a display that measures 6.8-inches. The right side is where you will find the two 520Hz trigger controls that are touch-sensitive and designed for gaming purposes.
There is also a volume button, red sliding switch and power button on the right, along with a vent for a built-in cooling system, which you will also find on the left side. The speakers are on the top and bottom and there is also a 3.5mm headphone jack for those seeking an immersive audio experience. A USB-C charging port is also given.
The design of the Redmagic 9 Pro is futuristic and cool and it is available in three colors, named Snowfall, Sleek and Cyclone. There are different LEDs under the casing on all models and these give off colored lights via the trigger buttons. You can customize them in several patterns and colors, so they can be personalized easily when you are playing games. They also work as notification lights.
One design change is that the camera is no longer in the center of the rear panel. Instead, it is in the upper left section and forms a vertical panel. This gives a better gaming experience, but it also means that one camera i.e. the 2MP macro lens has been dropped.
Screen and speakers
There is a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel that boasts a resolution of 2480 x 1116. It also has a fingerprint sensor under the display as well as a selfie camera, which means there are no notches or buttons on the entire panel. This makes the screen of the 9 Pro perfect for streaming video content and gaming. The colors are good and the display is smooth due to the 120Hz refresh rate. It gives sharp details and the brightness is also quite impressive.
Audio is not as impressive as the visuals. The twin speakers do have decent volume, but they sound a bit hollow. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can plug in headphones for a better experience. There is also Bluetooth 5.3 support available for connecting wireless headphones.
Specs and performance
The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and it is capable of delivering top-notch gaming performance. The 9 Pro is responsive and snappy for day-to-day use and it also shines in the gaming arena. There are no slow-downs, or stuttering issues and the controls are very responsive due to the touch-sampling rate of the display, which is 960Hz and its 520Hz trigger buttons.
Commands are executed efficiently and quickly. The ICE 13 cooling system also prevents the phone from getting heated up too much. The latest LPDDR5X memory as well as the UFS 4.0 storage also helps with the speeds.
The Verdict
If you are looking for a gaming phone, the Redmagic 9 Pro is an excellent option. It has dedicated hardware, lots of power under the hood, good cooling as well as an impressive battery life.
