The RedMagic 12 Pro is positioned by Trusted Reviews as the best Android gaming phone available, according to a review costing £799. This judgment relies on more than benchmark scores. The key test is whether the device can sustain demanding games for an hour without overheating.
The phone’s performance hardware is substantial. It pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor with RedMagic’s proprietary RedCore R5 chip. With 12 or 16GB of RAM and storage up to 1TB, Geekbench 7 scores show 3475 single-core and 11,563 multi-core, leading every Android phone tested by the publication. The 3DMark Solar Bay score of 15,869 remains the highest tested this year.
Cooling is critical to these performance numbers. The dual-loop liquid system now cools both the battery and the chipset. The micro fan is back, spinning up to 25,500RPM and rated IPX8, contributing to a claimed IP68/69 overall rating. During actual gameplay testing of Wuthering Waves with all graphical options maxed, the device remained only slightly warm, indicating effective heat management.
Design efforts have toned down compared to previous models. The transparent rear showcases the dual-loop liquid cooling, allowing the coolant movement to be visible. While the frame is boxy and flat, eliminating the camera bump, the device maintains a thin, 8.6mm profile and weighs 223g. The screen itself is a 6.85-inch AMOLED panel, notable for having no notch or punch-hole, using an under-display selfie camera that is difficult to spot in typical usage.
The display specifications are advanced. It features a refresh rate climbing from 144Hz to 185Hz. Brightness is rated at 1900 nits in high-brightness mode and reaches 5000 nits peak. Widevine L1 and HDR support ensure proper display of content from Netflix and Prime Video.
Camera capabilities represent the usual compromise. The rear setup includes a 50MP main sensor (1/1.55-inch) and a 50MP ultrawide with autofocus. The reviewer noted the absence of a telephoto lens means zoom past 2x shows processing artifacts. The 16MP under-display selfie camera was deemed an improvement over rivals.
Battery life is managed by an 8400mAh cell, allowing for realistic use of two days even with continuous gaming and cooling system operation. Charging supports 80W wired and 80W wireless, with a 250W third-party charger achieving 50% in 25 minutes and full charge in 75 minutes.
Software is delivered via RedMagic OS 12 on Android 17. The interface has modernized, adopting a cleaner look closer to a Pixel launcher. While Game Space retains core performance features, the long-term software support is limited to two years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches, compared to seven years offered by similar-priced Pixels.
If gaming remains the absolute priority, the 12 Pro makes a convincing case for a dedicated gaming device over a standard flagship. However, for occasional users, a more balanced flagship with improved cameras and longer software support may prove a better choice.
