RedMagic Astra 2 Overview: The Greatest Android Gaming Tablet You Can Purchase, Once more

Pros & Cons

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  Strong gaming efficiency
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  Brightest Android pill examined by CNET Lab
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  Distinctive design

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  Haptic response could possibly be higher
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  Bloatware and extra bloatware
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  No OS replace dedication

The first Astra pill from RedMagic packed a few of the greatest cell {hardware} you possibly can discover on the time. With the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Plus processor, quick reminiscence and storage and a stunning 9-inch 165Hz OLED show, it really established itself because the gaming pill to beat final 12 months. We even awarded it an Editors’ Choice together with the equally sized Legion Tab Gen 3 from Lenovo. 

What set it aside was the no-holds-barred method to {hardware}, one thing RedMagic has been doing for years. And with the Astra 2, RedMagic has doubled down on what it does greatest: delivering hands-down probably the most highly effective Android gaming pill round. 

Still (principally) best-in-class {hardware} 

The Astra 2 continues the RedMagic development of packing almost each top-of-the-line spec possible into its merchandise. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor together with RedMagic’s fourth-gen customized graphics and AI processor, the RedCore 4. That’s paired with as much as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Sadly, since all of the tech and AI billionaires apparently nonetheless don’t find the money for, the beginning worth has jumped from $549 to $699, and there’s now not a model with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.  

All that horsepower, although, offers the Astra 2 loads of efficiency chops. In lab testing, it utterly maxed out the Sling Shot Extreme 3DMark stress take a look at and delivered a rating of 30,855 on the Wild Life Unlimited 3DMark stress take a look at, a rating that beat out the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 and greater than doubled the iPad Mini with the A17 Pro chip. 

The 9.1-inch, 2.4K OLED show is similar measurement and determination as final 12 months, however the refresh fee is now a quick and clean 185Hz (up from 165Hz). The contact sampling fee additionally hits a mind-boggling 2,000Hz (on the spot contact solely) to make sure you get probably the most lightning-fast contact response fee possible whereas gaming. Notably, it additionally earned a CNET Lab Award for being the brightest Android pill examined thus far at over 1,000 nits, so all of your HDR content material will look completely gorgeous. Using it outdoor in daylight or different vivid situations is definitely much less of a wrestle with that brightness, although it doesn’t do battery life any favors.

The battery within the Astra 2 is 100 milliampere hours bigger than the first-gen mannequin at 8,300 mAh. RedMagic says the pill’s 75-watt quick charging will prime the battery up in slightly below an hour. That’s a lot better than almost each different pill of this measurement, significantly the iPad Mini. And that quick charging velocity is useful as a result of the battery life is solidly common at 11 hours, 17 minutes in our lab checks, with the display screen brightness set at 200 nits. That’s about half-hour higher than the newest iPad Mini, however considerably shorter than the 16 hours and 19 minutes of the 8.8-inch Lenovo Legion Tab, which simply got here out a couple of months in the past.  

There are two USB-C ports on Astra 2 and each help the aforementioned 75-watt quick charging in addition to audio out and reverse charging. This means you possibly can cost one other machine from the Astra 2 whereas utilizing the opposite port for headphones and even for passthrough energy.  

Aside from battery life, the one space the place the {hardware} of the Astra 2 doesn’t meet or exceed its opponents is the haptic suggestions.  It’s fairly a bit higher than the haptic motor on the unique Astra, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not as crisp and clear as what you get on a flagship telephone. It’s definitely not a deal breaker, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a bit annoying.  

The greatest {hardware} improve is the inclusion of a world’s first for tablets: liquid cooling. This is extra than simply the liquid vapor chamber that has been in telephones for a number of years now. This is an lively, circulating liquid-cooling system that the corporate first pioneered in its 11 Pro telephone. When lively, you possibly can really see the blue-colored liquid shifting over the motherboard by the semi-transparent glass on the again.  

And it’s greater than only a gimmick. Using it alongside the unique Astra pill, the Astra 2 stays noticeably cooler beneath heavy masses whereas utilizing the liquid-cooling system.  

A design that’s delicate, but distinctive 

RedMagic’s machine designs have at all times been a bit divisive. The firm deliberately makes its merchandise with a really sci-fi-heavy, gamer-focused aesthetic, which definitely makes them stand out. It’s refined them through the years, to the place the present technology is definitely a lot cleaner than the primary few generations of gadgets.

That contains the Astra 2, which remains to be distinctive, significantly with its uncovered liquid-cooling system, however the remaining is only a clean clean-looking aluminum shell. It’s fairly good, particularly on my eclipse (silver) colour mannequin. Compare that to the corporate’s present flagship telephone, the RedMagic 11S Pro, which places the cooling in a big circle on the again and different locations.

The design of the Astra 2 could also be a bit an excessive amount of for some, however needless to say it’s a pill constructed before everything for gaming, so it’s deliberately made to enchantment to avid gamers. Secondly, not less than it has some character, not like the tasteless and boring designs of all the main flagship tablets of the previous decade, so I’m right here for it.  

Software

The Astra 2 comes with RedMagicOS 11.5 working on prime of Android 16. It’s the cleanest construct of Android the corporate has ever shipped, however sadly, it nonetheless retains a number of the quirks which have plagued the software program for years. But let’s begin with the nice.  

Fast, clear and full of options 

On the floor, it appears much like what you would possibly see on a normal Motorola or Lenovo pill with the default colour scheme and icons on Android in 2026. Gone are the times of the extraordinarily sci-fi, closely skinned model of Android with sharp strains, futuristic graphics and annoying animations. Those are changed with a Material You-inspired design and a really quick and fluid consumer expertise. The software program even has Google Discover to the left of the house display screen (lastly), a normal Android characteristic that’s been lacking on RedMagic gadgets till now.  

Game Space 

The star of the software program present is what RedMagic calls Game Space. You can flip this on within the software program, or by default (it comes on whenever you flip the bodily pink swap on prime of the pill). Game Space is a devoted portion of the UI that’s meant to behave as a type of console dashboard. It aggregates all of your video games and means that you can tweak a number of further settings to squeeze much more efficiency out of the pill. 

Jason Cockerham/CNET

While enjoying a sport, you swipe in from both aspect close to the highest to pull within the in-game overlay referred to as Energy Cube. This offers you entry to those self same settings, but additionally permits you to swap efficiency modes and add in prebuilt macros to assist enhance your play. Keep in thoughts that many extra standard aggressive video games resembling Call of Duty: Mobile would possibly ban your account if you happen to’re caught utilizing unapproved software program.  

Both Game Space and Energy Cube are huge overkill for most individuals, nevertheless it’s enjoyable to mess around with the settings, and if you happen to do get pleasure from bigger, extra graphically intense, aggressive video games, they’re genuinely helpful options.  

Now for the unhealthy components. 

All the bloatware 

Sadly, RedMagic has additionally by no means been shy about transport gadgets with loads of bloatware. The firm has been higher about limiting the quantity of preinstalled apps, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly aggressive. During the setup course of, the software program asks if you wish to set up as much as 12 utterly not legitimate-looking apps, and it even preselects six of them for you (be sure you unselect them earlier than finishing the setup). 

Aside from that, there are properly greater than a dozen non-Google apps preinstalled for you with out asking for permission. Some of those are apps resembling a devoted file supervisor, browser and a clock app. That isn’t unusual on non-Google gadgets, however most of them are video games or shady issues resembling machine cleaner apps.  

No assured updates 

But by far, the most important concern with the software program is the entire lack of any sort of improve dedication. I’ve used almost each main RedMagic machine, and precisely none of them have ever include any assure of software program updates. Even the official reviewers’ information and documentation I’ve obtained concerning the Astra 2 says nothing concerning the software program apart from highlighting Game Space and the opposite software program gaming options.  

In my expertise,  RedMagic telephones usually get one or (possibly) two main Android model updates over the course of their lives, and possibly three or 4 safety updates complete. With tablets, there’s even much less of a assure. My first-gen Astra remains to be on Android 15, which it shipped with, and has had three common updates since I’ve had it. The Astra 2 ships with Android 16, and I might not rely on getting various fundamental safety and minor characteristic updates.  

To be honest, that is meant for use primarily for gaming, so so long as you don’t use it for too many delicate issues, safety and platform updates will not be as massive a deal. 

Don’t get me incorrect, although: This remains to be completely inexcusable for RedMagic. The firm has had years to construct a software program group and platform able to frequently updating its merchandise, however it has proven no curiosity, not less than on my finish, in doing so.  

In the top, so long as you retain it only for gaming, and don’t thoughts an excessive amount of about not having the newest Android safety updates, you need to be okay for a few years.  

Still the most effective gaming Android pill, even on the increased worth 

As with nearly each piece of know-how lately, the Astra 2 has suffered from the worth will increase spurred by AI. The first-gen Astra was $549 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which made it a no brainer alternative over its competitor, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3.   

Ironically, this 12 months the choices are reversed. The Astra 2 now begins at $699 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and $849 for 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The worth of the Legion Tab Gen 5 has completely dropped to $689. Whichever means you have a look at it, that’s some huge cash for a small gaming pill, nevertheless highly effective.  

In the top, the Astra 2 remains to be the best possible gaming pill you should buy proper now (although, it’s at present backordered). The further $70 over the Legion Tab Gen 5 is value it, however I’d truthfully suggest choosing up the first-gen Astra pill if yow will discover it. You’ll miss out on the liquid cooling and barely newer software program, nevertheless it’s 90% the identical pill, and also you’ll avoid wasting cash.