I recently had a abbreviated experience with Samsung ’s tardy tablet . Starting at a cool $ 1,000 , the first opinion thatthe Galaxy Tab S10+elicited from me was “ Meh . ” It is n’t exactly a acedia , but it lacks oomph . For that terms , you may buy theM4 - powered iPad Pro , a much right hatful for multiple grounds .
So , are Android tablets doom ? No , and the RedMagic Nova is a prize exercise of that . It be half of what the expectant male child out there need for their high - end tablets , and yet , the Nova still serves a particularly - tune version of Qualcomm ’s yesteryear flagship silicon . It ’s the fastest tablet I ’ve ever used , and mate with great battery life , first-class gaming features , and a killer price , it may just be one of 2024 ’s best lozenge choices .
RedMagic Nova specs
You’ve never seen a tablet quite like this
The RedMagic Nova pad of paper bewitch your attending from the get - go . The surprises start right from the unbox experience . The company ship an 80W load brick inside the retail package , and base on your fix , you will get either the EU or NA adaptation .
In a world where brand name ( cough , Samsung and Apple , cough ) have the audacity of sell tab that be as much as $ 1,200 but still burden purchaser with the added cost of outgo on a charging brick , RedMagic is stand up magniloquent . To make issue better , the RedMagic Nova starts at just $ 499 .
But that ’s just the start , as the Nubia - own brand is n’t rip any punches in any core group department . rent ’s start with the flesh , which is made wholly out of aerospace - ground level Al . The obscure gray aluminum has an anodized finishing , which feel really nice to allude .
It ’s not virtually as slender as the M4 iPad Pro ( 7.3 mm versus 5.3 mm ) and about 17 % heavier , tip the scales at 530 grams . The workmanship is really telling here , particularly when you factor in the asking price . There are no skreak function , the cut are sharp , and the elusive polish across the nook adds to the in - hand feel .
The thickness can also be assign to the thermal computer hardware , including a real physical fan and a nine - layer cooling system . This whole gismo work out , but more on that later in the carrying into action subdivision .
Over the year , I ’ve grown quite untrusting of shrewd border , particularly on large and heavy tablets , but the trend remain a mainstay . It ’s pretty brisk to see a humble musician like RedMagic daring to deviate and then put to death its vision well .
The craftsmanship is really telling here , especially when you factor in the asking price .
The RedMagic Nova has subtly brush edge angled at 45 degrees to offer a more cosy in - hand experience . At the top , the fingerprint sensor is integrate into the great power clitoris .
The standout constituent is the see-through funnies running across the camera lens of the eye , offering a glimpse of the RedMagic Nova ’s innards . This comic strip is not merely decorative , even though it take care stunning , in the same nervure as thetransparent esthetics of the Nothing smartphones .
The top layer is made out of lens - grade aluminosilicate drinking glass , which , so far , has make do to keep mule Saint Mark at bay despite my boisterous utilization pattern . Underneath the television camera island is the buff cavity , lit by an RGB array that extend all the way to the RedMagic stigmatize at the bottom .
Also , apart from RedMagic and Asus , you wo n’t find any mainstream brand that offers a tablet with all those snazzy promiscuous - up effects to deal the “ gamer ” vibraphone . So , there ’s that RGB cred , as well .
Overall , the RedMagic Nova will storm you with its solid engineering and unmistakably bold design . That ’s something I ca n’t say for tablets hawked by mainstream brands , and this in itself is quite a triumph for an arriviste like RedMagic .
A quality display, with some catches
The Nova tablet offers a 10.9 - in display with a 2.8 kilobyte ( 2880 x 1800 pixels ) resolution , eclipsing theiPad Airand the Samsung Galaxy S10 + in pixel compactness and sharpness . The aspect proportion is your common 16:10 formatting .
It ’s an LCD instrument panel that delivers a peak luminance of 550 nits , higher than that of the aforementioned Apple pad of paper . Where the RedMagic pad races far ahead is the refresh charge per unit figures , which remain firm at 144Hz .
To keep up withgamers ’ ready reflex demands , the touch sampling rate has climbed to 840Hz . For comparison , the touch sampling rate ofAsus ’ ROG Phone 8 Proonly get to 720Hz .
The projection screen is keen , and thanks to the in high spirits refresh rate , every UI fundamental interaction feels crisp . Compared side by side , even the mighty M4 iPad Pro feels slightly irksome . Or peradventure the Apple tablet is normal , and the RedMagic Nova is naturally faster .
It ’s the same kind of fluidness that I ordinarily get on a telephone or tab after adjust window living , transition invigoration , and animator length scales within the developer options . Or peradventure it ’s the lightweight computer software interface that is weaving its magic .
The display has a couple of oddities hold out on . To anyone who has experienced the deep blacks of an OLED silver screen and the vivacious colour , the Nova ’s screen will forthwith stomach out , but not in a skilful way .
The blacks are not , well , shameful , and the colour science is also somewhat off . The filmdom calibration here is pretty cold , and to such an extent that it takes a spartan bang on the content colour reproductive memory .
Take , for lesson , this side - by - side comparison with the iPad miniskirt . observe the difference between the color output , especially the highlights and vividness level . That ’s interesting , as both the tablets use an LCD screen with similar point brightness levels .
The exhibit has a twain of oddity going on .
The chroma details are crushed aggressively in the phantom regions . Third - political party apps and Netflix list the DRM support level at L1 , with a catch . The DRM Info app refer support for HDR and HLG , while the Netflix app clearly says “ None ” for HDR capabilities .
Another issue is glare . The screen is quite broody , and it could have been a tad brighter to balance things out . However , you may still read content on it under daylight without too much squinting , though angle adjustments would be ask from time to time .
Indoors , this screenland gets the job done for its intended task . A absolute majority of mobile games out there , and even those accessible through emulation platforms , do n’t ordinarily bid a long ton of setting to specifically sop up the benefits of OLED or HDR compliance .
Touch reception rates are impressive . Of the nearly half a dozen gaming fancier who tried the RedMagic Nova , they loved the movement clearness and silky legato interactions . For shooter games likeCall of Duty : Mobile , that combination can make a real difference .
Feature-rich software package
The RedMagic Nova runs a mostly stock Android experience , and save for the public utility company apps , there is n’t much third - political party jargon instal on the simple machine . There are a couple of clusters named Hot Apps and Hot Games , but these are simply pre - download shortcuts that can be easily removed .
The company has only done a minimum job with reskinning Android 14 and now calls it RedMagic O . However , the OS offers many puppet baked at the system spirit level , in addition to theme fabric , light , and legal effect . You discover the vroom of a sports car when you launch the Game Space . And the rooter also triggers its own locomotive engine phone . Call it dedication to the craftiness !
On the connectivity front , we have Z Smart Cast , a wireless lane for casting the pad ’s screen on a TV or monitor . The larger silver screen becomes the hub of activity , while the tablet ’s cover can be turn into a touchpad or control point .
It ’s a premix and match of Samsung ’s DeX and the iPad ’s own concealment mirroring and extension systems . In wireless mode , there is some expected interim , so it ’s not ideal for fast - step gaming . Thankfully , you could also go with an HDMI or USB screen cast option .
Remember that RedMagic is n’t chase a full - fledge desktop surroundings for body of work , so it lacks the tools you would otherwise get with DeX. This is a gaming lozenge , and in pumped-up connection style , it does its intend job without any hiccups .
I hooked it up with my 24 - inch play monitor and played my fair share ofDiablo Immortaland emulated games such asGod of War . The experience was fantastic , and I did n’t consort into any issues with frame rate dissension or random stutters .
The theming organization offers a dedicated splashboard for the light strip at the back . you may enable it for games , media playback , notifications , and other activity . you could also plunk the colors and effects to arrange the whole mood for each activity .
interchangeable to Samsung and OnePlus devices , a obscure drift sidebar tender quick entree to utility pecker and frequently used apps . Additionally , a straightaway ball system inspired by iPhones combine navigation and a few other system tools into a tasteful little cluster .
Moving over to the notifications ghost , the RedMagic Nova offers a smattering of quick access button for casting , rooter control , and light strip switch , in addition to the usual set of shortcuts .
The star of the show is the Game Space . It ’s a great little biz launcher , but this is also where you see the piece of work RedMagic has done for its gambling audience . At the top is RedMagic Time , a coordinated splasher to get at all your in - secret plan seizure files , neatly arranged in a slide format for each secret plan .
RedMagic has done a applaudable job with the software .
In the preferences section , you could separately operate the CPU and GPU performance profiles , adjust rooter and recording behaviour , and customize screen attribute such as soupcon sampling pace , sensitiveness , and stabilization , among others .
Within the Game Space , you may customize keyboard / mouse and restrainer interactions for each game , both of which are accessible right by the beginning button . Casting controls are also uncommitted in the same draw - out card megabucks for seamless launch .
swap away from the biz Game Lobby , there ’s Super Base . Here , you get access to Gravity X , where you could create and save presets for physical input machine . The mapping controls are also approachable within a plot by swiping to get at the game assistant .
Finally , there ’s the plug - in library , where you may spiel with over a XII customs tools that can give you an edge in games . For deterrent example , there is somatosensory manipulation , which lets you flick the tablet in your hands to fulfill an on - screen clink . For games with crowded on - covert buttons , this one get in ready to hand .
In shooter game , you could start the Audio and Visual Probes , which offer a channelize highlight of the activeness far away , by circling the audio recording and motion activity . You do n’t of necessity have to whip out the cathode-ray oscilloscope to find the natural action .
There ’s a dedicated sound equalizer , plus a Free Display plug - in that lets you conform a game ’s aspect ratio . What I be intimate the most was the prosperous primal remapping organisation , which save me the hassle of dish out with dedicated controller apps .
Overall , RedMagic has done a commendable job with the software package , which is light and load up with meaningful gambling - first features . I wish the desktop casting mode offer a few more tricks , but that ’s not why someone is buying a tablet like the Nova , so the omission makes sense .
Fast and hot performance
Unhinged silicon throughput is what you buy the RedMagic Nova for , and it does present on that front . you’re able to pick between variants with 12 GB and 16 GB RAM and up to 512 GB memory . The keyboard and style are sold separately .
Leading the charge here is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version . compare to the regular version , this extra silicon is an overclocked trim that pelt along up the GPU to 1GHz , while the prime Cortex X4 CPU core bear on a peak relative frequency of 3.4 GHz .
The best part is that you’re able to rap into all that firepower — if you are willing to bear the passion revenue enhancement . The tablet offers three performance profiles by default : Rise , Eco , and Balance .
But there ’s a obscure Diablo mode , too . Compared to ascend mode ( the top system - horizontal surface performance preset ) , Diablo mode takes the GPU frequency from 500MHz to 1GHz , while the CPU speed last from 2.3GHz to 3.4GHz .
Starting with AnTuTu benchmark , the RedMagic Nova transcend the GPU leaderboard with 876,442 points , eclipsing the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 + and other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices .
The overall musical score of over 2 million points put it ahead of mainstream options such as the SamsungGalaxy S24 Ultra , and it only lags behind a few other play - centric earphone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 atomic number 14 .
However , it still ca n’t quite see up with the M4 atomic number 14 inside the iPad Pro . The Apple tablet had a tether of around 21 % , while the GPU reckoning was also ahead by a similar margin . Running the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress exam , the Nova race past the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and sat at the top of the tilt . However , something really interesting hap here .
The net tally was higher , and the stability was lower when running the test in standard mode , but when overclocked in Diablo preset , the overall score fall slightly . Still , the stability went from 27.7 % to 86 % , which is challenging .
That ’s a monolithic leap , though it come at a cost . When the CPU and GPU are feed at their peak frequencies , the frame rate fluctuation is minimum and pretty consistent .
Even after 20 successive loop , the operation stability only drops by around 8 % . In Rise fashion , after the seventeenth loop-the-loop , the counting adopt a sharp dip , and you land at well-nigh one - third of the maximum arrangement output .
So , how do the fans fit out into the picture ? Well , within five minutes of start the fan , the electric battery temperature dropped from 44 degrees to 36 degrees Anders Celsius . But in overclock mode , things get toasty pretty quickly .
After a stress test , I measured the international temperature at 48 stage and the battery temperature at 46 degree . The glass strip bleed really hot , and on one occasion , it reached 51 degree .
But those public figure were put down after play the full cortege of tests in GFXBench . While playing game likeZenless Zone ZeroorCall of Duty : Warzone , the ordinary temperatures did n’t climb above 42 degree chain of mountains .
Realistically , you will feel the warmth .
Realistically , you will feel the warmth , but not enough to trench the pill . Plus , the cooldown effect is the quick I have realize on a performance - oriented tablet , so there ’s that .
Synthetic benchmark are only one side of the equating . At gaming , the RedMagic Nova crushes it . I cherry - picked the most demanding titles out there , and every unmarried one of them performed admirably .
For form of address that can touch on 60 fps , the average orbit always hover between the 56 - 60 Federal Protective Service mark . track down emulators , you could easily get between 30 - 45 fps , at least for the PlayStation 2 . Winlator , which is extremely cranky with the setup , also delivers a playable experience of AAA title .
If you ’re chiefly concerned with fluid titles , like aboriginal Android or emulation for PlayStation Portable ( via PPSSPP ) and retro political program , the RedMagic Nova will put up an enjoyable experience .
I mostly stuck with 6x-10x upscaling and had a good time with PSP games hightail it on the Vulkan computer graphic backend . That ’s nearly 4 K resolution tantamount , for mention . With the Dolphin aper , 4x is the sweet bit running atop the OpenGL framework for Nintendo titles .
The experience translate well on a large covert using Z Smart Cast in wired mode , with control and keyboard inputs . Feral’sAlien Isolationgame , a clean demanding title , put to work well in a steady 60 fps ballpark .
For cooling the whole outfit , the RedMagic Nova comes armed with a nine - layer cooling system of rules , which , aside from a 20,000 RPM sports fan , also includes a hotness pipe , tune canal , bull foil , insulation sheet , thermal gel , and an alloy array underneath the screenland .
The whole system rises to the function , more so at post - usage cooldown rather of keeping thing systematically cool under accent . Overall , if you are after an Android tablet for play and emulation , the RedMagic Nova is easily the best flock out there .
Good battery life, better charging
The RedMagic Nova descend equipped with a dual - cell 10,100mAh battery , which is good for a pad of paper of its step . But what do it aside is the charge focal ratio , which pull in sensation given the kind of utility you attempt out of it .
This ticket supports 80W fast charging . The only pad of paper thatcomes close to that figure is theOnePlus Pad 2,at 67W , whileSamsung and Apple only reach close to the halfway mark .
I could get a 100 % top - up from a blank ticket in about 1 hour and 7 bit . For a quick run , you’re able to reliably go from an empty tank to about 40 % stratum in approximately 20 minutes . For this tablet , it ’s more of a necessity than a perk .
count on the kind of plot and what point of graphics output you are expecting , the battery levels drop rather haphazardly . Take , for exemplar , the mobile version ofPUBG , which can eat up to 12%-15 % in just about 30 minute of arc at blossom frame rate and visual configurations .
InDiablo Immortal , the free fall was slightly lower at around 10%-11 % . Now , those figures will vary dramatically . For example , most games play nearly as well in Balanced mode as they do in the overclocked Diablo modal value , but the battery consumption varies by a healthy security deposit .
Conversely , you may not necessarily see the kind of fps gains you are expecting by duplicate the GPU frequence and increasing the mainframe clock velocity to its maximal limit . The place with the Nova is rather alone in more room than one .
Compared to Android native game , emulate games take a heavier cost on the battery . But even while sticking with Android game , it depends solely on the game ’s optic architecture on just how much battery it will suck up per academic session .
While playingPUBG Mobile , Diablo Mode ware 13 % of barrage at the best graphics presets in 30 arcminute , while Rise Mode used only 10 % with smooth computer graphic and delivered a clean in force 60fps experience .
Interestingly , if you take things up a notch to 90 fps , the battery draw is adequate across the Rise and Diablo organization profiles . If you project to principally lock in gaming , you’re able to expect anywhere between three and five hours of barrage fire life .
For solar day where you only essay casual gaming for short spells , the tablet can last a whole day , but adjudicate to tone down the screen refresh charge per unit and brightness level to achieve that .
There are a couple of nerveless bill feature in the context of warming . The first one is Turbo modal value , which increases the stride of charging but at the monetary value of the shelling run hotter than usual .
Then , there is electric charge detachment . This one cuts off accession to the bombardment when a charger is plugged . The integral system is drive entirely by the big businessman deliver through the USB - C port , which means the battery does n’t hot up up . This modal value is idealistic for long gaming sessions and should also bode well for battery wellness in the long run .
Should you buy the RedMagic Nova?
The RedMagic Nova is quite an easy testimonial , chiefly because it ’s the only product of its kind in the section . For just $ 499 , you could tapdance into the full potentiality of a top - tier Qualcomm silicon , which is half the competition ’s current ask for such a installation .
The build is great , and play enthusiasts will appreciate a healthy lot of innovative features . It acts more like a mobile gambling cabinet if you also have a larger screen at your disposal and bed emulation gaming .
The RedMagic Nova is quite an easy passport .
The RedMagic Nova is also the quickest - charge tablet , and the rut dissipation outfit is true . The UI is also clean . The only downsides are beat color production on the screen , garish software design , and high temperature generation good manners of its performance profiles .
Overall , the RedMagic Nova tick off more boxes than almost any ticket in its price square bracket , and it does so in manner . For its objective interview , it delivers on the look where it matters , and that ’s a winnings at the end of the day .
