The Wildest Phone I’ve Tested: A Transformative Gaming Console Experience!

With these specifications, the Redmagic 9S Pro is significantly underleveraged by being restricted solely to Android games. I assert this because while Android smartphones — or phones in general — have adopted key hardware elements from PCs, the software has yet to achieve the same sophistication as desktop interfaces. Although there are ways to integrate mobile devices into PC setups, these methods often require effort that many users are reluctant to invest.

The Redmagic 9S Pro shines in this aspect with its specialized modes that enable a console-like gaming experience without requiring any complex hacks. This is achieved through a combination of software functions and external controls that the device provides.

A unique button for a special mode

Adjacent to the round power button on the right side of the Redmagic 9S Pro, there exists a two-way slider switch adorned with sleek accents and a metallic red finish. Activating the switch upward engages a special mode on the phone known as “Game Space.” When you activate Game Space, the interface shifts to a landscape orientation as the phone transitions into a unique environment.

The games loaded on the Redmagic 9S Pro are displayed in the “Game Lobby” as large tiles that can be arranged in a list or organized in a grid format. Tapping each tile reveals the installation date of the game along with the total hours spent playing it. This space also provides quick-access controls to manage audio and fan operations, in addition to other functions for altering the interface view.

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With the red switch positioned upward, the device is confined to the gaming space, preventing regular usage. However, this setup isn’t where the Redmagic 9S Pro truly excels. The functionalities, while not as intricate, can also be observed as game modes across various other devices.

Alternatively, the 9S Pro provides a distinctly singular experience when you connect the device to a larger screen.

The actual hidden strength of this Redmagic gaming phone resides in its desktop mode. While other smartphone manufacturers focus on a desktop environment for productivity — similar to Samsung’s Linux-like DeX interface — the 9S Pro emphasizes a gaming-centric configuration that seems heavily influenced by console design.

You can leverage this unique mode in two different ways: by linking to a display through either a wired or wireless connection. In both scenarios, you can either cast the phone’s screen directly onto a larger display or extend the view as you would with a computer, allowing you to keep interacting with your device while simultaneously viewing the Game Space displayed externally.

Starting with the wireless option, you initiate by searching for a wireless display — one compatible with Miracast or Chromecast — on the Redmagic 9S Pro.

The wireless casting feature is built into Android, indicating the phone’s display is merely duplicated on the larger screen. This configuration isn’t particularly advantageous, especially during gameplay, as you will need to glance at the phone to ensure you’re pressing the correct buttons. Hence, Redmagic adopts a different strategy to resolve this concern.

In extended screen mode, you’ll encounter a display like the one shown below. The screen transforms into a wireless touchpad that can be utilized to interact with the interface.

Furthermore, when you wirelessly cast the phone onto a larger screen, the device’s display can transform into an extensive virtual gamepad. The left side of this gamepad features a directional pad, while the right side includes a set of ABXY buttons. Two joysticks for left and right are superimposed over these button sets. This arrangement acts as an overlay on the actual game’s interface.

The overlay can be concealed, making it simpler to navigate through complex mobile game menus, and can be revealed once you’re ready to engage in gameplay. This is particularly beneficial for games that do not natively support gamepads, as the buttons can be remapped onto existing controls.

The overlay buttons are sizable and quite responsive, allowing me to adapt to them with minimal practice without tearing my gaze away from the television. Utilizing this arrangement, I thoroughly enjoyed games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, especially since I could keep using the capacitive triggers I had configured for shooting.

With the decidedly advantageous and delightful boost that a sizable 50-inch television provided, I recorded some of the best kill-to-death ratios in deathmatches and consistently came out as the MVP in most games. The larger graphics and more vibrant colors of the TV also made it significantly easier to spot enemies across the playing field.

Enhancing the experience was the fact that the Redmagic 9S Pro streamed visuals at up to 120 frames per second (fps) with lower graphics settings and 60 fps with “Ultra” video quality. Even though this is essentially a mobile game scaled up to a vast display, the subtle details are nearly invisible from a few feet away. More critically, there is virtually no latency on wireless connections, even when my router is situated in a different room.

With wired connections — whether through HDMI or DisplayPort, the Redmagic 9S Pro automatically connects in the most suitable setting, negating the need for manual toggling between duplicating the screen or extending it. With the red Game Space switch turned off, the display is simply duplicated as it would be for any other phone that allows video out via its USB port. However, when the switch is flipped on,
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The external monitor exhibits its console-like interface while the smartphone’s screen transforms into a touchpad.

The cast display adapts to the dimensions and clarity of the secondary screen, removing any letterboxing or vacant bars surrounding the display.

Nevertheless, when the smartphone is connected to a display via a cable, utilizing it to navigate the larger screen can feel unwieldy and uncomfortable. Luckily, there are several alternatives to circumvent this issue. To begin with, you can connect a keyboard and mouse to interact with the console-like environment. Redmagic even provides you with software tools for key-mapping, enabling you to allocate different keyboard and mouse buttons to each game individually. Although it would be somewhat more convenient if game presets existed, you must manually set up the controls.

Nevertheless, you still gain the benefit of utilizing a keyboard and mouse for games that can take advantage of additional physical keys. More crucially, since the keyboard and mouse connected through this method are not identified in games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, you won’t be matched with other gamers using emulators or comparable setups for first-person shooter gameplay.

To navigate the constraints of ports, I utilize a . I extend an HDMI cable from the hub and connect a wired mouse and keyboard through the USB connectors. Additionally, to guarantee I don’t deplete my battery while gaming on a larger screen, I link a charger using the hub’s USB-C port.

This hub was my choice over others as it includes a display on top, allowing me to monitor charging speeds and gain insights into the screen resolution via HDMI. Thanks to this compact screen, I can confirm that the Redmagic 9S Pro projects to my 4K monitor at full 4K resolution at 60Hz.

Although achieving higher refresh rates might present a challenge over HDMI 2.0 (given that most USB hubs lacking Thunderbolt support HDMI 2.1 or more recent standards), you can still employ a USB-to-DisplayPort cable to transmit contents at 4K resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate. The integrated Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s GPU is capable of managing the demands of this high-resolution output via the USB port. Meanwhile, the fan assists in maintaining a consistently comfortable temperature within the phone despite the performance load.

A wired configuration involving a mouse and keyboard is particularly advantageous if you prefer to game while seated at a desk. However, as previously mentioned in this article, my aim this winter is to remain cozy on my sofa for as long as possible. Therefore, I opted for a Bluetooth controller that enables me to play games and navigate the smartphone’s interface remotely.

The principal reason I selected this controller is that it can connect to a device in four distinct modes. In wireless mode, it can mimic a standard Android gamepad while also replicating a PlayStation DualShock controller and Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons. In wired mode, it can function as an Xbox controller. Depending on the game I play — and whether it supports an Android gamepad or not — I can select the appropriate mode.

For example, since Call of Duty has built-in support for PS DualShock controllers, I simply switched the GameSir to DS mode and utilized its native key mapping without any complications. However, for titles like Mech Arena or Genshin Impact that lack controller support (at least on Android), the GameSir’s application can also be employed to assign custom controls over nearly any game.

The Redmagic 9S Pro, connected to my 50-inch QLED television and wirelessly paired with the GameSir controller, creates the perfect arrangement for me to revel in numerous games without needing to leave my comfortable position.

A comparable arrangement can be made through a wireless link, featuring two wireless gadgets in a communication chain — the controller and the wireless display. However, you may notice a bit of latency, which might not be ideal for competitive gaming. Yet having immediate access to the phone means you can navigate the interface promptly, particularly if the controller lacks an integrated touchpad.

I dedicated numerous hours attempting to achieve the same level of finesse on Call of Duty: Mobile with the virtual joystick mentioned earlier, but pressing physical buttons and joysticks brings a more gratifying experience than merely tapping a screen. Your experience may vary, but the adaptability of the Redmagic 9S Pro provides considerable room for customization.

In addition to Call of Duty, I extensively engaged in Shadow Fight 4 (akin to Street Fighter), especially since it includes native controller compatibility. Likewise, Farlight 84, a playful battle royale reminiscent of Fortnite and Apex Legends, is another title I genuinely appreciated with this configuration.