I’m a die-hard Pixel fan, but this sleek Android phone is making me question why

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I’ve reviewed a few of RedMagic’s devices, and not once have I been disappointed. In fact, as the RedMagic lineup continues to evolve, they just keep getting better, and air 11 There is evidence of that improvement.

The problem is that every time I review a RedMagic phone, I want one. This was also the case with the 11 Pro, where I claimed it offered the best mobile gaming I’ve tested so far. That was not an exaggeration.

Now, RedMagic has released the 11 Pro’s little sister in the form of air 11. Where the 11 Pro was absolutely great for gaming, the Air 11 is more streamlined. It’s lighter, performance is a bit slow, and the cooling isn’t as sophisticated.

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Before you dismiss it as inferior, understand that the RedMagic 11 Pro is the best in its class for its price range (starting at $749). Furthermore, the Air 11 is not loose. With a Snapdragon 8 Elite, RedCore R4 gaming chip, 7,000mAh battery, 16GB of RAM, and next-gen active cooling, the RedMagic 11 Air offers plenty of power, beautiful graphics, and AI for those who want it.

Specifications are one thing, but how has using this phone been in the real world? Let’s find out.

my experience

First of all, these RedMagic phones are gorgeous; And I don’t just mean the UI, but the hardware too. I would describe the Air 11 as a bit boxy, but attractive. This phone not only looks good but also feels good in your hand.

But let’s talk about the UI. It’s very smooth, with animations like butter, which is not only due to the magic that RedMagic has done for Android, but it’s able to run up to a 144Hz refresh rate.

In Settings > Display, you can choose between Auto, 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. By default, this is set to Auto, and you can see it changing as needed in the upper left corner of the display. I noticed that in the Settings app, the refresh rate automatically dropped to 120Hz. Once it dropped to 120Hz, I was unable to switch it back to 144Hz using day-to-day apps.

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Of course, I could set the refresh rate to 144Hz, but then battery life might become an issue. When working with phones and tablets designed for gaming, I prefer to have “Diablo: Immortal” installed. While downloading essential files, video playback was surprisingly smooth, and colors were beautiful.

This phone may be for gamers, but I wouldn’t hesitate to make it my favorite phone for all types of use. And with a glass-like smooth UI, that’s what Google should be aiming for in its move to Android.

I know it seems like I’m laying it on a bit too thick, but you’ll have to actually experience the Air 11 to know that I’m not exaggerating. No, this phone doesn’t perform as well as the 11 Pro, but I’m confident it will be better than any phone in its price range ($529 for the transparent black option).

And then there’s the gaming fan. Some games (and other apps) can cause the phone to heat up. With the Air 11, you get an active cooling turbofan that can deliver 24,000 RPM to maximize airflow.

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There are two settings, one that provides power-saving cooling and one that does the trick at full speed. Tapping the snowflake icon brings the fan to maximum speed. I could not only hear the sound of the fan, but also feel the air flow from the cooling vents.

a little puffy

It should come as no surprise that some Android phones include a bit of bloat (aka – unnecessary apps), and the Air 11 is no exception. The good news is that you can easily uninstall any apps you don’t want. And the Air 11 bloat isn’t as bad as I’ve experienced. It took me all of 60 seconds to delete the apps I didn’t need.

Talking about apps, you get a typical list, which includes WPS Office, Gooper (where you can manage, customize, and connect gaming peripherals like phone coolers and controllers), Google Gemini, and Private Space.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

redmagic air 11 It is a sleek phone. Both the UI and hardware are beautiful, with almost zero bezels to contend with, the phone performs like a champ. On top of that, the sound is well above average, and it feels great in your hand.

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If you’re looking for a new Android phone and don’t want to spend more than $600, this is the phone you want. If my Pixel 9 Pro didn’t always get Android updates quicker than other devices, I’d happily jump aboard the Google ship and a magical canoe called RedMagic.

The RedMagic Air 11 will be released globally on January 29, 2026.

redmagic air 11 technical specifications

• CPU – Snapdragon 8 Elite 4.6 GHz
• GPU – 1.2 GHz
• RAM – 12GB, 16GB and 24GB LPDDR5T
• Storage – 512GB to 1TB
• Battery – 7,500mAh battery for up to 34.1 hours of daily use and 7.4 hours of Genshin Impact gaming at full frame rate with 80W wired and wireless fast charging
• Display – Full Screen BOE at 1,800 nits
• Sound – 1015 + 1115E High-Fidelity Speakers
• Haptics – 0815 X-axis linear motors provide dynamic and immersive 4D vibration feedback
• 3.5mm audio jack