RedMagic Astra 2 pill units new moveable gaming customary

RedMagic has made its intentions very clear: It desires to dominate moveable gaming. And the Astra 2 pill units the bar excessive, sitting within the Goldilocks zone between telephone display screen and full-sized pill – and performing nearly as good because it feels in hand.

I’ve by no means been a loyal Android person, however some latest tech has had me rethinking my loyalty to Apple. Just a few of those devices I’ve solely had an opportunity to play with in retailer – just like the Xiaomi 7 and Huawei Mate collection of gadgets – however some I’ve been fortunate sufficient to spend loads of time with, together with two from RedMagic. And this one, specifically, has me nearer to Team Android than ever.

While the worldwide model referred to as the Astra 2 is the corporate’s flagship gaming system for 2026, and constructed particularly for this function, it has another sturdy options – however let’s face it, they are not going to get a lot of the highlight. Because in the case of gaming, the Astra 2 actually does deserve the eye.

Like on its gaming smartphone, the pill options wonderful cooling expertise that makes positive prolonged play stays lag-free. To get technical, the Astra 2 is powered by Android’s quickest chip up to now – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This, paired with the RedCore R4 gaming coprocessor, basically means each the bodily (touch-screen) and visible efficiency is rattling good, even when video games are pushing the pill’s engine to the boundaries.

Out of the field, maybe the very first thing you may discover is the odd dimension of the pill. The Astra 2 encompasses a 9.06-inch OLED display screen with 2400 x 1504 decision and might deal with refresh charges as much as 185 Hz. Operating at this stage will, in fact, include a trade-off – battery longevity – so you may drop it right down to as little as 60 Hz to save lots of energy when wanted.

On the specs sheet, you may discover extra numbers – Android 16 basis, a display screen brightness that peaks at round 1,600 nits, and Synaptics S3930 {hardware} for contact accuracy and low latency. As an informal gamer, I believed the easiest way to honor this modern system was to have some pals strive it out. And all three requested if they might maintain it.

The firm prides itself on its liquid cooling system, however all you actually need to know is it really works very effectively. Essentially, the Astra 2 is as crisp and responsive at 40 minutes of intense gameplay as it’s proper at the beginning. This reliability is simple to take with no consideration, since RedMagic has in some way made it appear really easy right here.

Like earlier RedMagic gadgets, this pill has an awesome battery that may be quickly charged as much as full capability. The 8,300-mAh battery can fast-charge (75 W) by way of USB-C port from zero to greater than 50% in 25 minutes, and can get to 100% in lower than an hour. I truly used it for watching a TV collection and a few documentaries on throughout a flight from Australia to China, then forgot to cost it for my travels the next day. So I used to be stunned to seek out it nonetheless at round 30%. The firm says you may anticipate greater than 9 hours of battery life if utilizing the pill for issues different than simply gaming. And my expertise mirrored that.

Sure, passive TV viewing is an entire lot much less taxing on the system than gaming, but it surely’s value noting as a result of it definitely has extra makes use of than what it is designed for. Another attention-grabbing side is that it has two USB-C ports, so you may maintain the pill powered with out charging the battery. This is a useful choice while you’re not on the transfer, because it preserves the battery’s well being and retains the pill cooler.

While you aren’t getting the choice of card storage, the Astra 2 is accessible in 256 GB (16 GB RAM) and 512 GB (12 GB RAM) fashions, with the bigger one most likely well worth the funding in the long term. The audio is great, with two audio system providing immersive stereo sound with nice element. While there is no headphone jack, I had no subject connecting wirelessly by way of Bluetooth. But you should use one of many USB-C ports for wired sound, too.

Again, very similar to earlier gaming fashions from RedMagic, the photo-taking high quality is fairly fundamental: a 13-MP rear digicam and 9-MP entrance one. Essentially, it is nice for video calls and taking fast snaps, however do not anticipate an excessive amount of right here. I did not actually discover the influence of the AI algorithm enhancement that the Astra 2 comes with, however I have never spent lots of time testing out the cameras, since they’re extra good additions than key options.

I’d additionally extremely suggest getting a display screen protector. The pill is sturdy, and the glass is surprisingly scratch-resistant, however – me being me – I did handle to crack the display screen in transit. Fortunately it is not noticeable when the pill is in use – it took me days and a sure angle of sunshine on the display screen to even see the crack – and does not have an effect on gameplay contact in any respect. But as a result of it is a area of interest and new system, changing the broken glass could take a while – and cash. So higher protected than sorry.

Nonetheless, I completely love the scale of the pill – at first it looks as if a daring selection, but it surely feels actually good to carry. And the image high quality of the OLED show is outstanding. It additionally solely weighs round 360 g (12.7 oz), and is simply 0.27-in thick, making it thinner than many smartphones.

Again, you may anticipate finding the particular pink button alongside the aspect of the system – the one which launches RedMagic’s GameSpace platform. It’s an awesome shortcut, because it’s most likely the place you may spend most of your time on this highly effective little machine.

The modern Astra 2 is accessible in two colours – Starfrost (gray-black) and Eclipse (white). Prices could range, however on the time of publishing, the RedMagic Astra 2 begins at US$749 for the 256GB mannequin and $849 for the 512GB model.

Source: RedMagic