The RedMagic 11 Air is no looker, but you won't find better gaming performance for the money

14 Mar 2026, 15:00 · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

RedMagic’s latest repurposing job is even more gaming-focused than before, for better and for worse. It’s less pleasant and viable to use day-to-day than the 10 Air, but it stands as an even better gaming device if you're on a lower-mid-range budget.

Pros

+Outstanding gaming performance for the money
+Huge battery supplies epic stamina
+Upgraded display is a delight

Cons

-Clunky design has regressed from the 10 Air
-Camera also not as good as before
-RedMagic OS remains a clunky customer

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RedMagic 11 Air: Two-minute review

Like its lightweight predecessor, the RedMagic 10 Air, the RedMagic 11 Air represents a smart piece of repurposing. It takes the RedMagic 10 Pro and slims down the package, losing a few pounds (not to mention some camera capabilities) and resulting in a temptingly approachable gaming phone.

At an asking price of less than $500 / £500, you’re getting a hugely capable performer with a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and ample memory. It’s not up there with the very fastest phones on the market, thanks to the inclusion of a slightly older chip, but it’s still capable of running the most demanding games at high frame rates.

Thanks to remappable trigger buttons and parent company Nubia’s custom Game Space gaming UI, it’s a well-optimized way to play competitive online games like Call of Duty: Mobile.

RedMagic has improved on its first Air phone in a couple of ways, most notably by reinstating the physical cooling fan for superior sustained performance. You also get a superior 144Hz display and a significantly larger 7,000mAh battery.

(Image credit: Future)

You could argue that this is all a case of Nubia strengthening where it was already strong while neglecting the rest of the package. None of our key complaints about the RedMagic 10 Air have been addressed.

RedMagic OS continues to be a messy, clunky Android UI. The camera system, too, continues to underwhelm, with selfies a particular low point. Even at this low price, you can get a much better photographic experience if you’re willing to compromise on gaming output.

Indeed, in certain ways, the RedMagic 11 Air represents a downgrade from its predecessor, with a clumsier design and an inferior ultra-wide camera.

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