RedMagic Astra gaming tablet review: A compact powerhouse for mobile gamers
Design and build
The Astra is a premium metal-bodied tablet that feels sleek and solid in the hand. At only 6.9mm thick and weighing 370g, it's lightweight enough for long gaming sessions without wrist fatigue. The silver finish I tested doesn't scream like many gaming devices.
I love the 9-inch form factor because I find it perfect for handheld gaming as it's large enough to display detail, yet small enough to remain portable.
Just like RedMagic gaming phones, there's no annoying camera bump to disrupt your grip, and the corners are nicely rounded for comfort. The power button doubles as a fingerprint reader, while the signature RedMagic gaming red switch on top gives you instant access to the gaming UI. However, there's no SIM support or microSD card slot, which might disappoint those hoping for cellular data or expandable storage.
Display
The Astra packs a 9.06-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,504 pixels and a super-smooth 165Hz refresh rate. Colours are rich, contrast is deep, and brightness levels (1,600 nits peak) are strong enough for both indoor and outdoor use. You can choose between dynamic refresh rate adjustment and locking it to 60Hz or 165Hz, depending on your needs.
It's a joy to game or stream video on, and although it lacks HDR support for platforms like Netflix, the Widevine L1 certification ensures full HD playback across most major apps.
Performance
Under the hood, the Astra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite Edition, paired with up to 24GB of LPDDR5T RAM (plus virtual RAM support), and UFS 4.1 Pro storage. This tablet is seriously fast. My 16GB + 512GB model never once felt slow, whether I was multitasking, gaming, or running emulators.
Games like Call of Duty Mobile and Wreckfest ran smoothly at the highest settings, and even PS2 emulation, which scaled up to 8x resolution, didn't stutter. The thermals were impressive too. Even after long sessions, the device never got hot, and I didn't notice any throttling. There's also full support for RedMagic's gaming overlays and performance modes, including 'Diablo Mode' and real-time CPU/GPU monitors.
Software features
The RedMagic gaming switch launches a dedicated game space UI where you can tweak performance, access shortcuts, and control notifications. You also get screen recording, floating windows, CPU boosting, and more. The software is slick and streamlined into an interface that feels made for gamers first.
The stereo speakers tuned with DTS:X Ultra provide punchy audio, and while the physics of a smaller device limits the bass and audio fidelity, the audio quality is excellent.
While the 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras are nothing special, they're perfectly fine for video calls, scanning documents, or casual snaps.
RedMagic haven't skimped on connectivity with the latest bells and whistles onboard, including dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB-C with DisplayPort out, which is a great feature if you want to connect the tablet to a larger display for docked gaming or media use.
The Astra comes with Android 15 and the RedMagic OS 10.5. The UI feels fluid, gaming features are neatly integrated, and it comes with full Google Play support.
Graphical features
The Astra supports frame interpolation technology, which RedMagic calls Frame Rate Boost. This enhances fluidity by intelligently inserting extra frames between existing ones, much like what you'd expect from high-end gaming monitors or smart TVs. The result is a smoother, more immersive visual experience, especially during fast-paced gameplay where split-second reactions matter.
The tablet also features the ability to upscale mobile games to 2K resolution at up to 120 frames per second, delivering a level of visual fidelity and responsiveness which RedMagic claims rivals many console or even mid-range PC setups.
A growing number of popular titles are already taking advantage of Astra's high refresh rate display. Call of Duty: Mobile currently supports 120Hz gameplay, while Minecraft takes it a step further with full 165Hz optimisation. Arena Breakout and Delta Force both run at 144Hz, with full support for Delta Force arriving in July 2025. League of Legends: Wild Rift is also due to receive 144Hz support in the same timeframe. Even PUBG Mobile is joining the high refresh club, with 120Hz gameplay expected to land by mid-2025.
Having tested several of these games on the Astra, the difference is striking. Animations appear smoother, touch response feels more immediate, and the entire gaming experience is excellent.
Battery life and charging
The 8200mAh cell comfortably lasts through a day of mixed usage, and even with sustained gaming, it managed well over six hours of screen-on time. For media streaming, you can expect up to 33 hours of playback, which is remarkable for a tablet of this size.
The Astra supports up to 80W fast charging (though no charger is included), with a full charge taking a little over an hour.
Verdict
The RedMagic Astra has a premium build, class-leading performance, and dedicated gaming features all packed into a highly portable package. Highly recommended.
From €499 eu.redmagic.gg
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