RedMagic 7S Pro Review: ‘Offers the Best Mobile Gaming Experience’

REDMAGIC 7S PRO GAMING PHONE REVIEW.

It’s only been a few months since I finished reviewing Nubia’s RedMagic 7 Pro and already an “S” variant has entered the fight for mobile gaming domination. With the launch of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor from Qualcomm, many companies are incorporating the brand new chip in their flagships for top-tier performance and efficiency. Not to be outdone by its competitors, Nubia has launched the RedMagic 7S Pro which, along with the new CPU, has some other upgrades that help to keep it super cool, even under the most intensive workloads.

RedMagic 7S Pro vs 7 Pro

While the RedMagic 7S Pro is more iterative than revolutionary, as expected from the simple “S” added to the name, the changes that have been made are significant and result in an overall impressive boost in gaming performance.

To help improve cooling over the 7 Pro, Nubia has come up with the “ICE 10.0” cooling design. This complex combination of materials results in a very real improvement over the 9.0 version used in the 7 Pro, resulting in next to no throttling even after one hour of solid use in the most graphically-demanding games around. It’s a fantastic achievement that puts Nubia at the top when it comes to internal cooling, as competitors have resorted to external fans which are nowhere near as subtle.

The improved cooling helps tame the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, though it helps itself by being 30% more efficient, according to the official specs. This pairs with a generous battery for longer battery life. What’s more, the new chip boasts an extra 10% performance, claims which my benchmarks confirmed.

Another performance difference between the 7 Pro and 7S Pro are the triggers, with the “S” variant enjoying a boost up to 520 Hz for the touch-sensitive triggers. This is just a 20 Hz boost, but it’s a boost nonetheless!

Finally, the last big difference between the 7 Pro and 7S Pro are the colors that are available. There’s a new transparent design as well as a Mercury (white) colorway, which I think looks superb. I’ve been testing the base-level Obsidian with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of memory, however. Those wanting the Mercury or transparent Supernova with their 18 GB of RAM and 512 GB of memory will need to invest that extra bit of cash.

Is the “S” model worth it?

Other than the changes listed above, the 7 Pro and 7S Pro are pretty similar. So, which one is worth picking up? Well, considering the pricing overlap, I’d for sure be going with the new 7S Pro with its new chip and improved cooling.

The 7 Pro comes in at $799 (16 GB/256 GB) and $899 (16 GB/512 GB), while the 7S Pro is priced at $729 (12 GB/256 GB) and $899 (18 GB RAM/512 GB). To me, without any price drop for the 7 Pro, the 7S Pro seems like a no-brainer right now.

With chart-topping benchmark scores and flawless performance in games, going with the latest and greatest chip gets you guaranteed top-tier internals which are combined with the fantastic triggers and software experience.

RedMagic 7S Pro Review: The final verdict

With a launch price that significantly undercuts its toughest competitor, the ROG Phone 6 Pro, and overall quality that bests the Black Shark 5 Pro, the RedMagic 7S Pro is now my top choice for a gaming phone that doesn’t leave wallets in ruins.

Though the camera is still a weak point and I’d love to see the shooters improved sometime soon, I understand that they aren’t a priority for most gaming phone buyers. Aside from that pain point, Nubia has smashed it out of the park with the RedMagic 7S Pro.

RedMagic 7S Pro was provided by RedMagic.