In late spring, we reviewed a top gaming smartphone REDMAGIC 9 Pro. And this month, its successor, the gaming flagship Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro, which is positioned as the most powerful smartphone for mobile gamers, officially entered the Ukrainian market. We have already tested the new product, figured out its differences from its predecessor, and now we know for sure whether it is really what the manufacturer claims.
Content
| Display | 6.8-inch AMOLED, 2480×1116 pixels, 120 Hz, HDR10+ support, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Graphics processor | Adreno 750 |
| RAM | 12/16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Built-in memory | 256/512 GB UFS 4.0 |
| Main camera | 50 MP (main) + 50 MP (ultra-wide) + 2 MP (macro) |
| Front camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 6500 mAh with 80W fast charging support |
| Operating system | Redmagic OS based on Android 13 |
| Features | Active ICE 13.5 Cooling System with Turbo Fan, RGB backlighting, touch triggers for gaming |
| Body | Metal/glass |
| Dimensions | 163.98×76.35×8.9 mm |
| Weight | 229 grams |
Like its predecessor, the Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro comes in a bright silver box with a futuristic gaming design.
Inside we see the phone itself with a film on the screen, a paper clip to open the SIM card slot. A transparent plastic cover because it’s hard to call it a case, a USB-C cable with an 80W power supply, documentation, and a warranty.
Just like the previous model, the new device has many accessories to enhance the gaming experience, cases, coolers, headphones, etc., but none of these are officially available in Ukraine and are not even sold unofficially yet. All additional accessories for the model have to be found on Chinese sites.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro does not differ in design from its predecessor. This is the same device in an aggressive futuristic style with flat edges and rounded corners. The body is glass and glossy, and it has a metal frame. It’s also cool that the cameras are recessed into the body and don’t stick out at all.
We reviewed a black version of the device, and there are also white and black versions with a transparent case.
On the back of the case, we see a glossy glass surface with a textured pattern, the brand logo, 9S and RED MAGIC inscriptions. There is also a triple main camera, a fan, and a flash.
The front panel of the smartphone is distinguished by thin bezels and the absence of a front camera. It’s there, of course, but like its predecessor, it’s hidden under the screen.
On the right side of the smartphone there are touch triggers for backlit games, a button to activate the game mode, volume and screen lock buttons, and the aforementioned cooling grill. The other is on the left side, and there is nothing else on it. On the top edge of the Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro we see a microphone, a second speaker, an IR port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. On the bottom of the device there is another speaker, a microphone, a card slot (only two Nano-SIMs, no microSD card slot) and a USB-C 3.2 port with DisplayPort support.
The dimensions of the smartphone are 163.98×76.35×8.9 mm, and it weighs 229 grams. It’s neither big nor small, but just a standard modern smartphone that someone might call a «shovel». Due to the glossy glass body, the device does not sit very securely in your hands without a case, so it is better to put on at least the bundled case because it is better than nothing.
But in general, you need to remember that the bundled cover scratches very quickly, which can be seen in the review of the predecessor REDMAGIC 9 Pro. Therefore, this time I took a picture of it before using it because it looked bad then, and I had only been using the smartphone for a week and very carefully.
There is no official moisture protection, and probably no real protection either. Because there are large cooling system holes on the case, through which water can easily get inside. So you have to be careful with this.
Like its predecessor, the Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro has a full-fledged active ICE 13.5 Cooling System with a Turbo Fan and an evaporation chamber. In general, the system has been modernized and should cool even better. According to the manufacturer, not only this, but also special materials in a 10-layer construction are used to dissipate heat. They promise that the whole system can reduce the temperature to almost 20 degrees Celsius.
The fan can be turned on/off manually through a special widget on the desktop, through a button in the functional curtain, or by creating certain scenarios in a separate menu in the settings. For example, the cooling system turns on by default when charging, running games, etc. You can change some of these settings to suit your needs. This is how I turned off the cooler while charging.
The smartphone also has a backlight. In this case, the cooler itself and the touch triggers at the ends of the opaque case glow. All of this is controlled through a special menu item, and it can be turned on or off. There you can also choose the color and mode of the backlight (breathing, flickering, or constant backlight). However, this is not a full-fledged RGB backlight because the selected colors do not change. But you can set the backlighting of triggers to notifications, incoming calls, alarms, etc.
According to the numbers, the Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro has the same screen as its predecessor. But it was already great. We have a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2480×1116 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz (sensor sampling rate of up to 2000 Hz) and support for HDR10+. The screen has a high PWM dimming frequency (2160 Hz) and a pixel density of 400 ppi. The declared peak brightness is 1600 nits. From above, all this business is protected by tempered Gorilla Glass 5.
I didn’t notice any difference in quality either. It’s still a very bright screen, which is easy to read even in direct sunlight, and there’s still a margin. The colors are rich, the viewing angles are excellent, the image is detailed, and the contrast is adequate. But if anything, you can seriously change the color mode and temperature in the settings. I like it when «Color mode» and the usual color temperature are set here.
You can also change the screen refresh rate between automatic (recommended), 60, 90, or 120 Hz. Not to forget the reading mode, font change, improved display mode that additionally «eats» battery, etc.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro has the Always-On Display function. In a separate menu, you can carefully customize the image for yourself, choose a style, picture, watch type, additional information, etc.
There is a built-in fingerprint sensor. It works well, but sometimes there are temporary «blackouts». In general, the scanner works perfectly and recognizes the finger from the first touch. But sometimes something gets on it and, for example, it does not recognize the finger at all for 10 minutes, even if you carefully and slowly put it there. So you have to use a quick face or code scanner and wait for it to release your finger. It seems to me that the joke here is not in the fingerprint itself, but in some kind of systemic problem that sometimes arises and quickly disappears.
The Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro has full stereo sound with two speakers located at the top and bottom ends. DTS: X Ultra technology is also announced, and in the audio settings you can choose automatic settings from artificial intelligence, which changes it depending on your usage scenario. There are also modes for games, movies, or music.
In general, the sound is loud and detailed, and it doesn’t buzz when it’s very loud and even has some bass, of course, as far as possible for such tiny speakers.
The vibration response is just powerful and pleasant, but there are no settings for it. For an ordinary flagship, this is probably a drawback, but we have a gaming flagship here, so I think those who buy it don’t care about it at all.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro has the same cameras as its predecessor. The first one is 50 megapixels, f/1.88, with laser autofocus, electronic and optical stabilization. The second one is also 50 megapixels, but the aperture here is f/2.2, and it’s also ultra-wide-angle. The third is a simple 2-megapixel macro module.
The smartphone can still shoot video in 8K/30 fps, 4K at 30 or 60 fps, 1080p at 30 or 60 fps, and 720p at 30 frames per second. There is support for HDR.
The Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro takes beautiful and sufficiently detailed photos. This is more than adequate for a gaming smartphone, but certainly not enough for a classic flagship.
Photos on the main module are taken in 12.5 megapixels, but there is a separate 50 megapixel mode and a PRO mode. The images are detailed and with adequate contrast and realistic colors. Even on a cloudy day, they look fine. Night mode is just there and fine. But in the photos taken with a wide module, the contrast is not so good, and the detail is a little worse. But in general, they are also OK, especially for a gaming smartphone.
The 16-megapixel front module with f/2.0 aperture is hidden under the screen. The sensor shoots videos in 1080p or 720p at 30 frames per second.
The manufacturer has improved the «transparency» of the screen, so there is no more strong blurring, as there was in the photos from the front-facing camera of the predecessor REDMAGIC 9 Pro. But at the same time, the camera has been given some beautifiers that cannot be turned off. The photos below show that it is artificially improved, but I turned off everything I could. But it still comes out. I guess they were trying to make the selfie better, but it actually did the opposite. It would be better if they gave the option to turn everything off.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro runs on the manufacturer’s overclocked version of the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version (4 nm) chipset. The CPU frequency has been increased to 3.4 GHz, and the GPU to 1 GHz. There is 12 or 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 256 or 512 GB of UFS4.0 internal storage. It is also possible to add up to 12 GB of virtual RAM. The graphics chip here is the same as in its predecessor – Adreno 750.
Wireless interfaces and modules are represented by two SIM cards and support for e-SIM, 5G (SA/NSA), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS (L1 + L5), IR port, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro, of course, has become even more powerful than its predecessor. In the AnTuTu tests, the device scored 2119623 points, which is 70000 more than the previous model. And the device delivers excellent results in other benchmarks as well. Compared to the total number, this is a small increase, but for an overclocked chipset, certain places in the rankings, and certain performance improvements, it works. Especially for those who care about their smartphone’s rankings, benchmarks, etc.
Of course, the device runs any popular mobile project without any problems at maximum graphics settings with many frames per second. In general, it’s 60 or more, and in Fortnite, it gives 90 frames and maximum graphics. Of course, it’s far from perfect on smartphones, but it’s still very comfortable to play. We also have the maximum settings with excellent fps in Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and more.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro runs on Android 14. On top is the proprietary REDMAGIC OS shell. Despite the many customization features (changing wallpapers, themes, unlock animations, icons, etc.), it is relatively neat and not intrusive. There are few proprietary applications and pre-installed programs, and you can completely change the appearance of the system, but there are no ads, unnecessary offers, unnecessary applications, etc.
The local Game Space gaming hub is also worth mentioning. It is activated by a red physical switch on the case and also starts automatically when the user turns on the game. There is a separate player menu with all the games and more. We also can connect additional gaming accessories, set up broadcasting and streaming, save screenshots, etc. Let’s not forget about Maura, the virtual assistant, who can be dressed up and customized to your liking, talk to her, etc.
There is a separate system optimizer for games. It allows you to switch between the three available smartphone modes (Eco, Balance, and Boost), change the screen sampling rate, adjust the brightness, and so on.
In general, REDMAGIC OS+Android 14 work great. This is probably more due to the super-powerful hardware than to optimization, but I don’t think it matters to the user why their smartphone flies and launches everything instantly, doesn’t glitch, etc. The device has no problems with this at all and is unlikely to have any.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro also has a large 6500 mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. The battery takes 35-40 minutes to charge from 0 to 100%.
Depending on the game and its graphics, the battery is discharged by 8-20% in one hour. In Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, it’s 13-15%, but Fortnite takes up to 20%.
In general, the smartphone easily lasts a day and a half on a single charge if you don’t play much. And if you play more, it will easily last for a day. And if you need even more, it will hold a charge for two days without playing games, especially if you activate a simple power saving mode.
This time, the PC Mark tests were launched, and the smartphone showed a result of 13 hours and 32 minutes. This is a good indicator. Not the best, but not low either. It’s just the golden mean.
In any case, such a battery is a plus for this smartphone because it is primarily designed to provide longer time in mobile games, and the overall long battery life is an additional bonus.
Compared to its predecessor, it holds a little less with the same battery. This is probably due to the overclocked processor, but in general, a day and a half, or even two, is a good result for such a smartphone.
For some, the lack of wireless charging may be a disadvantage. On the one hand, flagships have had it for a long time. However, this is not an ordinary flagship, but a gaming one, and here the increased battery is important, so there is simply no room for a wireless module. Of course, it could have been added, but it would have increased the already compact size of the device. In my opinion, the developers made the right choice, but for some, the lack of Qi support may still be a disadvantage.
The overall experience of using the Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is, of course, very similar to its predecessor, but there are some differences. I like its design, but it’s clear that this is a gaming smartphone for a certain range of users, plus taste, so it will suit some people and not others.
Ergonomics has not changed and it is not the best. That is, the size of the phone and the location of the elements, the 3.5 mm audio jack and other things are in place and everything is fine. I’m talking about the slippery body, and it feels like the phone is about to fall out of your hands. Only a non-bundled case will help here. It’s good that they are already on sale. To be more precise, these are models for REDMAGIC 9 Pro, but they are visually and in size the same, so it will do.
The Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is really good at gaming. It’s a full-fledged flagship for gamers with a convenient gaming hub and the ability to adjust the power at the touch of a button. And most importantly, the smartphone has become even cooler.
The predecessor was hot in various benchmarks, which is normal, but no more. In games, it was just sometimes hot or warm. And this one was barely hot only in benchmarks, and in games it was just warm, and sometimes even just barely. That is, the improvement of the already good cooling system is definitely confirmed, so everything is fine. However, I should note that I played without a case, so it may be a little worse with it, but not significantly.
Of course, you can hear the cooler itself, but it’s very small, so it’s quiet. It doesn’t interfere with gaming or using the smartphone at all.
The cameras take normal photos, but they are not at the level of «ordinary» flagships. Therefore, you should understand this when buying a gaming smartphone. The photos from the front-facing camera seem to have improved, but it seems to have artificial enhancements that cannot be turned off, so this is not a smartphone for selfies either.
In general, hiding the front module for maximum gaming convenience undoubtedly makes sense, but it also has its downsides. In my opinion, this small dot would not have prevented me from playing games, but at least the front camera would have taken normal photos. But the manufacturer decided otherwise, so this is also a matter of taste.
I would also like to note the convenience of using the built-in triggers. I highly recommend customizing them for yourself and your favorite games and using them. Of course, if you play a lot on smartphones, it will not be convenient at first, and the level of play will drop. But as soon as you get used to it, it will give you serious advantages and super convenience.
It feels close to playing on a gamepad, portable console, or smartphone gamepad, which seems to turn it into a portable console. Of course, there are only two triggers, but they help a lot in the game after getting used to it. For some, it takes an hour or two, and for others, several days. You have to be prepared for this.
Otherwise, it’s the same Nubia REDMAGIC 9 Pro with a high-quality and juicy screen, loud and powerful stereo sound, and good battery life. It’s definitely not worth upgrading from its predecessor, but it’s worth considering buying in general, especially if you’re a mobile gamer.
Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is sold at a price of UAH 28,899 for the 12/256 GB version. However, these are «gray» versions of the smartphone. As I understand it, they are officially sold in Ukraine only by «Allo» in the 16/512 GB version. And the price is here UAH 44,999.
Considering that we have the most powerful gaming flagship on Android, the price, in my opinion, is definitely adequate. Of course, for the same money, you can get another «classic» flagship with a better camera, wireless charging, etc., but it won’t have everything this device has. Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is a smartphone for mobile gamers and for them it is an almost perfect solution, of course, not without nuances.
And it has very few competitors, especially since some of them are its predecessors. For example, the previous ones are worthy of attention REDMAGIC 9 Pro with a price tag of UAH 27,600. And there are also Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro (price from UAH 30,900). And of course, we have gaming models from ASUS — ROG Phone 8 (price from UAH 29,300) and ROG Phone 8 Pro with a price tag of UAH 49,800.
