The Red Magic 10 Air, launched in April 2025, positions itself as a sleeker, lighter alternative to its chunkier sibling, the Red Magic 10 Pro. Aimed squarely at mobile gamers who crave high performance without the bulk, this gaming smartphone promises to deliver top-tier gaming features in a more portable package. But with a slimmer design comes inevitable trade-offs. Does the Red Magic 10 Air maintain the brand’s reputation for exceptional gaming value, or do its compromises undermine its appeal? Let’s dive into this detailed review, drawing insights from hands-on testing and real-world performance.

Design and Build: A Subtle Gaming Aesthetic

The Red Magic 10 Air marks a departure from the ostentatious designs often associated with gaming phones. At 205 grams and 7.85 mm thick, it’s noticeably lighter and slimmer than the 229-gram, 8.9-mm Red Magic 10 Pro, making it one of the thinnest full-screen gaming phones available. The brushed aluminum alloy frame, paired with flat glass panels on the front and back, gives it a premium, minimalist look that doesn’t scream “gaming phone” at first glance.

Available in Twilight Black, Hailstone White, and the bold Flare Orange (with the latter exclusive to the 16GB/512GB variant and delayed in some markets like the UK), the Red Magic 10 Air offers a matte finish that resists fingerprints effectively. Subtle branding and small camera bumps, reminiscent of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series, ensure minimal wobble when placed on a flat surface. The absence of a transparent model, a signature of past Red Magic devices, might disappoint fans of the cyberpunk aesthetic.

Gaming-specific design elements include the bright red “Magic Key” (a customizable slider for launching Game Space) and 520Hz capacitive shoulder triggers on the opposite edge. While RGB lighting is present, it’s restrained compared to the “techno rave” displays of other gaming phones, offering customizable presets for notifications, charging, or calls. However, the IP54 splash and dust resistance rating means it can handle light rain but isn’t suited for submersion, a trade-off for its slim profile and passive cooling system.

Display: Immersive but Not Top-Tier

The Red Magic 10 Air sports a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2480 x 1116 pixels, delivering crisp visuals despite its large size. The under-display selfie camera ensures an uninterrupted, notch-free screen, achieving a 93.7% screen-to-body ratio. The camera is nearly invisible during gaming or video playback, only noticeable under close scrutiny in specific lighting conditions.

With a 120Hz refresh rate and a 960Hz touch sampling rate (peaking at 2000Hz instantaneously), the display is highly responsive, enhanced by Magic Touch technology that reduces latency and minimizes false touches. However, the 120Hz cap is a step down from the 144Hz offered by the Red Magic 10 Pro, though this difference is barely perceptible in practice. The screen reaches 1600 nits of peak brightness, adequate for most environments but struggling with glare in bright, reflective settings, such as when gaming in dimly lit game environments like caves in Wuthering Waves.

Official specifications lack mention of PWM dimming, which could be a concern for users sensitive to OLED flicker. The display supports 10-bit color, 100% DCI-P3, and 2160Hz PWM with DC dimming, ensuring vibrant colors and smooth visuals for gaming and media consumption. Overall, it’s a solid gaming display, but it falls short of the Pro’s higher refresh rate and brightness.

Software: Red Magic OS 10 with Quirks

Running Red Magic OS 10 based on Android 15, the Red Magic 10 Air offers a familiar software experience to the 10 Pro. The UI is customizable, with futuristic themes, wallpapers, app icons, and fingerprint sensor animations, catering to the gaming aesthetic. The RGB light strip and Magic Key are fully configurable, allowing users to personalize notifications or launch Game Space for quick access to games and performance settings.

Game Space is a highlight, offering tools to boost performance, adjust screen sensitivity, prevent accidental edge touches, and access features like scout mode, crosshair assists, and frame rate boosts for select titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile. The Red Magic Assistant, Mora, adds a playful element with its virtual avatar, live wallpapers, and charging animations, though its utility is limited beyond entertainment.

However, Red Magic’s software support is a weak point. With only one major OS upgrade and approximately two to three years of security updates, it lags behind competitors like Google’s Pixel series, which offer seven years of support. The 512GB storage capacity is ample for large games like Genshin Impact, but the lack of long-term software commitment may deter buyers seeking longevity.

Performance: Still a Gaming Beast

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the Red Magic 10 Air is a step behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Red Magic 10 Pro but remains a powerhouse. The Red Core R3 co-processor handles secondary tasks like audio, haptics, and lighting, reducing strain on the main chip and improving thermal efficiency.

In testing, the Red Magic 10 Air handled demanding titles like Wuthering Waves and Call of Duty Mobile with ease. On maxed-out settings, Wuthering Waves maintained a steady 59–60 FPS, while Call of Duty Mobile ran smoothly at 120Hz. The 520Hz shoulder triggers, with zero lag and haptic feedback, enhance precision in fast-paced games, and the X-axis linear motor delivers satisfying haptic responses.

The absence of an internal fan, a casualty of the slim design, is a notable downgrade. The 9-layer ICE Cooling System, featuring a 3D vapor chamber, solid-state liquid metal, and high-conductivity graphite, performs admirably but struggles after 30–40 minutes of intense gaming, with the phone becoming noticeably warm. While performance didn’t throttle significantly during extended sessions, bypass charging is recommended to prevent overheating when plugged in. For sustained cooling, the optional Red Magic Cooler 6 Pro, which attaches magnetically, is a worthwhile accessory.

Audio and Connectivity

The Red Magic 10 Air features a loud stereo speaker setup with an earpiece and a bottom-edge speaker, supporting DTS:X Ultra for immersive audio. It delivers robust volume suitable for gaming and media, though it lacks the front-firing symmetry of some competitors. Bluetooth streaming is reliable, but the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack forces reliance on USB-C dongles or wireless audio, a drawback for wired headset users. Wi-Fi 7 support and a 360-degree antenna design ensure stable connectivity, even in challenging environments.

Battery Life: Impressive but Game-Dependent

The 6000mAh battery, smaller than the 7050mAh cell in the Red Magic 10 Pro, still offers strong endurance. At maximum performance settings and 120Hz, Call of Duty Mobile lasted 10–11 hours, while Wuthering Waves drained the battery in just 3.5 hours due to its intensive demands. The 80W fast charging fully recharges the phone in approximately 40 minutes, but the lack of wireless charging is a missed opportunity. Bypass charging is a lifesaver for extended gaming sessions, preserving battery health and reducing heat.

Camera: Functional but Uninspiring

The Red Magic 10 Air’s camera setup mirrors the 10 Pro, featuring a 50MP OmniVision OV50E primary sensor with OIS and a 50MP OV50D ultra-wide sensor. It offers pro controls, RAW shooting, and modes like portrait and Milky Way night mode, with video recording up to 8K at 30 FPS or 4K at 60 FPS. However, image quality is merely adequate, suitable for casual snaps but not competitive with mainstream flagships.

The 16MP under-display selfie camera is a weak link, producing murky 1080p footage and lackluster stills, making it unsuitable for serious selfies or video calls. For gamers prioritizing performance over photography, this is a minor issue, but it limits the phone’s versatility as a daily driver.

Pricing and Availability

Starting at CNY 3,499 (~$476) for the 12GB/256GB model and CNY 4,199 (~$571) for the 16GB/512GB variant in China, the Red Magic 10 Air offers excellent value. The Flare Orange 16GB/512GB model costs CNY 4,399 (~$598). Launched in China on April 16, 2025, it’s set for global availability starting April 23, 2025, via redmagic.gg.

Verdict: Great Value, but Not Without Trade-Offs

The Red Magic 10 Air delivers impressive gaming performance in a slim, stylish package, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, responsive shoulder triggers, and vibrant AMOLED display ensure a top-notch gaming experience, while the 6000mAh battery and 80W charging provide solid endurance. The sleek design and restrained aesthetic broaden its appeal beyond hardcore gamers, and the starting price under $500 is hard to beat.

However, sacrifices like the lack of an internal fan, limited software updates, and mediocre cameras prevent it from outshining the Red Magic 10 Pro. The phone’s tendency to warm up during extended gaming sessions and the absence of a headphone jack or wireless charging are notable drawbacks. For those prioritizing portability and value, the Red Magic 10 Air is a fantastic option, but gamers seeking the ultimate performance and cooling may prefer the chunkier 10 Pro with its Snapdragon 8 Elite and built-in fan.

Pros:

• Slim, lightweight design with premium build
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Red Core R3 co-processor
• Responsive 520Hz shoulder triggers and immersive AMOLED display
• Long-lasting 6000mAh battery with 80W fast charging
• Affordable starting price (~$476)

Cons:

• No internal cooling fan, leading to warmth during extended gaming
• Limited software support (one OS upgrade, ~2–3 years of updates)
• Mediocre camera performance, especially the under-display selfie cam
• No wireless charging or headphone jack
• 120Hz display lags behind 10 Pro’s 144Hz

For gamers on a budget who value portability, the Red Magic 10 Air is a strong contender, but those needing uncompromising performance might look to the Red Magic 10 Pro or competitors like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Share your thoughts on the Red Magic 10 Air in the comments below, and stay tuned for more tech reviews