Tech review: RedMagic 5S gaming smartphone

RedMagic 5S options 144Hz show, Snapdragon 865 chip, 256GB storage for €649

Earlier this 12 months I reviewed the ASUS Rog Cellphone 3, top-of-the-line handsets of 2020 and aimed squarely at ardent players.

In latest weeks, Chinese language agency Nubia has launched its newest gaming telephone RedMagic5S which prices virtually €500 much less.

It delivers an excellent gamer expertise and comes armed with some top-end specs.

The way in which it packs a lot top-end tech right into a mid-price machine jogs my memory of the early OnePlus enterprise mannequin. And common readers will know the way extremely I price OnePlus flagships.

Right here’s my long-term overview of the RedMagic5S…

Design and construct

RedMagic 5S stands out from the gang with a fairly gorgeous two-tone crimson and blue color scheme on the rear and what appears like a big X.

The 5S is likely one of the most stunning-looking handsets of the 12 months. The colors on the rear and the aluminium body shine and glisten as gentle hits the machine.

It’s a telephone I don’t need to put in a case. The aluminium framed handset has a glass entrance and rear: the later employs a metallic coating that the agency says resists smudges and fingerprints however it’s not at all times profitable.

Show

Across the entrance is a shocking 6.65in FHD+ 2340×1080 OLED panel with 19:5:9 side ratio and a 144Hz refresh price show.

The distinction between 144Hz and 120Hz refresh price shows that non-gamer flagships sport is nowhere close to as noticeable because the soar from 60Hz to 90Hz, for instance.

However it’s a nice function to have on a gaming machine, even when solely a restricted variety of video games have been optimised for 144Hz shows.

However check out the likes of Shadowgun Legends and also you’ll be blown away.

Additionally, you will take pleasure in the advantages of 144Hz when scrolling and shopping by social media apps.

You may alter the setting to always-on 144Hz or to 60Hz, 90Hz and 120 Hz. Samsung, please take observe.

The display is notch-free. There are small bezels on the high and chin of the machine that are helpful for holding the telephone in panorama mode whereas gaming with out obstructing the motion.

Brightness peaks at 600 nits.

Efficiency

Below the hood is the Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

RedMagic 5S breezes by essentially the most graphically intense video games similar to Name of Obligation: Cell, PUBG Cell and Asphalt 9.

It has shoulder triggers that assist a 320Hz contact sampling price. The triggers are haptic, however they’ve correct sensitivity ranges.

A Recreation Area mode on the machine provides to the immersive enjoyment. A bodily button on the handset permits and disables Recreation Area which incorporates instruments to maximise efficiency, scale back distractions and maintain the machine working cool.

And cooling the smartphone throughout marathon gameplay periods is one thing the RedMagic 5S does very effectively. It is only at working at a cool temperature.

Contained in the machine is a silver-plated cooling pad, ICE Ag, which the agency says delivers higher outcomes than the standard copper warmth pipes in most smartphones leading to decrease throttling.

The telephone additionally has a 15,000 RPM spinning fan from its predecessor which additionally helps it quiet down whereas refuelling utilizing a quick charger.

In non-gaming use, the machine is superfast. It runs Android 10 with a RedMagic UI 3.0 overlaid.

The customized UI shouldn’t be the smoothest I’ve examined. The software program is the weak level of the machine but it surely doesn’t hinder enjoyment.

Audio

RedMagic 5S sports activities two audio system aided by DTX: S Extremely 7-channel encompass sound.

They ship immersive audio for gaming and having fun with film or TV content material.

Most quantity is good and loud with no distortion.

Digicam

There’s a triple digicam system that may produce pleasing photographs in good lighting circumstances particularly. It might probably seize video in 8K at 30fps too.

The set-up includes a Sony IMX686 sensor, on the principle 64MP lens with f/1.8 aperture, which has extra potential than has been maximised right here in the usual computerized mode.

I bought the perfect outcomes utilizing the Professional Mode. The sensor is 1/1.72in and makes use of 0.8µm pixels.

The ultra-wide lens is just 8MP and outcomes had been solely common. There may be additionally a 2MP macro lens which I don’t see the purpose of.

The selfie digicam is 8MP decision with an f/2.0 aperture.

Battery life

RedMagic 5S battery is just 4500 mAh however I discovered it simply lasted greater than a full day in commonplace smartphone use.

You’ll run out of juice a lot sooner if indulging in prolonged gaming periods.

However on the whole, I might price the battery life extremely.

And a full recharge takes solely 45 minutes because the machine helps 55W quick charging. (Solely an 18w charger is within the field, nonetheless. The agency sells a 55w charger individually.)

Different options

Different options price mentioning are the three.5mm headphone port, a rarity on flagship smartphones, the twin SIM tray and the in-display fingerprint sensor.

An Ice Dock accent helps with cooling the telephone down throughout prolonged gaming periods. However the telephone is so good itself that I didn’t discover a lot of a lift with the Ice Dock connected.

There may be additionally a Professional Deal with which I’ve not examined that provides you the power to show the 5S right into a Change-style machine.

Verdict

RedMagic 5S is likely one of the finest gaming smartphones of 2020.

It competes with Asus Rog Cellphone 3 on so many gaming ranges however prices a fraction of the value.

How a lot does RedMagic 5S value?

RedMagic 5S prices €579 for the 128GB storage/8GB RAM model and €649 for the 256GB/12GB variations, from https://eu.redmagic.gg. The Ice Dock prices €44.90. The Professional Deal with prices €39.90. A restricted version mannequin for Europe, in Eclipse Black, goes on sale on November 20.

What are the important thing specs of RedMagic5S?

Show: 6.65in OLED, FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080), 144Hz
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
RAM: 8GB/12GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Battery: 4,500mAh, 55W charging
Rear cameras: 64MP (vast), 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (macro)
Entrance digicam: 8MP
Safety: In-display fingerprint scanner
Extras: 3.5mm headphone port, capacitive shoulder triggers, turbo fan, sport increase swap, stereo audio system