I’m a diehard Pixel user, but this liquid-cooled Android phone has my attention

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google.

If you’ve ever used a Redmagic smartphone, you know the brand places a particular emphasis on two things: power and aesthetics. The Redmagic 11 Pro–> highlights both of these traits in a way few phones do.

I’ve been a fan of Redmagic’s products (such as the Astra gaming tablet) ever since I was lucky enough to test the RedMagic 10 Air. I found their phones and tablets to eke out more power for a mid-range device than anything I’ve experienced to date. 

Also: Why I recommend this Lenovo tablet over competing models that cost twice the price

Its “Pro” phones live up to that moniker and have yet to disappoint. Needless to say, when the company reached out to me with the 11 Pro<!–>, I jumped at the chance.

How did it fare? Let’s take a look. 

–>

My experience

I’ve reviewed a handful of Redmagic devices in the past, and every one of them has been a thing of beauty. The handsets are sleek, don’t waste a centimeter of space, and offer serious power at a mid-range price.

The 11 Pro not only lived up to that reputation, but also launched it to new levels. The second I pulled the phone out of the box, I knew it was something special. 

The phone’s physical form is boxy, so if you’re a fan of that aesthetic, you’ll love this device. The lines are clean, sharp, and elegant. The back of the device has a Nothing Phone-esque glass pane that doesn’t exactly give you a peek into the inner workings of the device, but makes for a gorgeous case. 

Also: This Android phone made my Pixel 9 Pro look boring – and its battery life is truly impressive

After enjoying the physical beauty of the phone, I finally decided to turn it on. Given this is an Android phone, the setup was painless. After roughly two or three minutes, I had the 11 Pro linked to my Google account and could start using it. My initial response?

Wow. 

I love what Redmagic does with Android. If iOS and Android had a love child, it would be Redmagic’s take on the latter. Not only is it beautiful when it’s static, but the second an animation kicks in (such as opening the Notification Shade or the App Drawer, you see what Android is capable of. It really is something special. To date, I’ve not seen Android look this polished.

Yes, Google has made huge aesthetic strides with the latest release of Android, but it still has some catching up to do with Redmagic’s design. But how does it perform? 

Also: Finally, a rugged Android phone that doesn’t look like a brick (and won’t break the bank)

Liquid-cooled and fast

The Redmagic 11 Pro is liquid-cooled. You read that right: The 11 Pro has a full-blown liquid cooling system, complete with a micro-pump that pushes liquid through the system.

Remember that glass back? Apparently, this makes it possible to view the liquid being pumped through the system. I haven’t experienced that yet, but I’m trying to push the phone’s limits to see if I get to watch it unfold before my eyes.

Sure, it’s a bit gimmicky, but when you’re playing games on a mobile device (something Redmagic has staked its claim on), cooling can be crucial. I’ve played games on Android phones and felt them heating up pretty quickly. This cooling system should solve that problem and allow the CPU to run all out without concern for overheating.

Also: The best gaming phones you can buy: Expert tested

I installed “Diablo Immortal” to see how well it worked. The installation took a bit longer than usual, but I chalk that up to slow networking speeds (Cloudflare, I’m looking at you). 

The Redmagic 11 Pro happens to be one of the first phones to sport the new Snapdragon Elite 8 CPU, and wow, does it show. This chip is fast, and the 11 Pro takes full advantage of that. Even my Pixel 9 Pro can’t match the speed of this phone (and it’s roughly $200 more).

Playing Diablo Immortal was as smooth as I’ve ever seen it. There was zero lag, the graphics were lovely, and the sound was impressive. And guess what? As soon as I started playing, I checked the back of the phone and was able to see the liquid passing through the cooling system.

<!–>

Yeah, that’s cool.

While playing Diablo, the phone felt cool to the touch the entire time. Not once did it feel even slightly warm. That’s a first for me. Did I mention this phone is fast? At $749, you would assume it to be just above mid-range in performance, but this is a flagship device through and through. 

It’s not quite perfect

It took me a while to find something negative to say. I’m accustomed to the Pixel cameras, and all other phones pale in comparison. The Redmagic 11 Pro is not different. Although it takes fine photos, it’s not up to par with the Pixel. Granted, that’s a high bar to reach, and I’ve yet to experience a phone to match what Google has created in its flagship phones.

Even so, if a brilliant camera is not at the top of your list of mobile needs, you won’t mind the 11 Pro’s camera one bit. I was able to snap some really nice photos with the camera. For me, the biggest difference between the Redmagic 11 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro cameras is that the Pixel camera is more forgiving. With the Pixel, you don’t have to have such a steady hand. With the 11 Pro, it really helps. This is most likely do to Google’s injection of AI into every aspect of the Pixel phones.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you want serious power in your hands without overheating, and a UI that defines what Android can be, the Redmagic 11 Pro<!–> is the phone to beat. With an industry-leading CPU, liquid cooling, and an elegant case, this smartphone is a thing of power and beauty.

I highly recommend this phone. In fact, I liked this phone so much, I’m going to dread sending it back. When it comes time to upgrade from my Pixel 9 Pro, I might seriously think of going the Redmagic route.

Redmagic 11 Pro tech specs

• CPU – Snapdragon 8 Elite
• Display – 6.85-inch 144Hz 1216×2688 OLED with 1800 nits peak brightness
• Dimensions – 163.8 x 76.5 x 8.9 mm, 230g
• Cooling – Active cooling fan and liquid cooling
• Rating – IPX8 rated
• Battery – 7500 mAh battery and speedy 80W wired/wireless charging
• Colorways – Cryo is a matte black finish and serves as the base model phone with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while Nightfreeze and Subzero are available for the 16GB+512GB or 24GB+1TB models
• Cryo is an all-black colourway with a matte finish. Cryo is only available for the base model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Nightfreeze and Subzero are available for the 16GB+512GB or 24GB+1TB models.
• Cameras – 50MP main camera (1/1.55-inch sensor), 50MP ultrawide (AF), 16MP under-display selfie camera