RedMagic is known for the 9S Pro, a smartphone that leads the pack in delivering portable gaming. The company has now turned its attention to tablets with the RedMagic Nova Gaming Tablet. It packs all the power of their flagship phone (and more) but with a 10.9-inch 2.8K resolution display that brings games to life.
Tablets, including the best iPads, are continuing to find broad appeal especially amongst creatives with the best tablets for drawing growing in popularity. It is only in recent years that manufacturers have been able to scale down hardware to facilitate performance-hungry gaming which is why something like the Nova is now even possible.
With an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, dedicated cooling system, and 50MP AI camera I was more than excited to get my hands on the tablet. But do the impressive specs translate into enjoyable gameplay? Are the speakers good enough to immerse you in the battle? And does the battery performance make it as portable as its size allows? Read on to find out.
RedMagic Nova Gaming Tablet review: Key specifications
Design and build
When I took the RedMagic Nova out of the box, it looked like any normal tablet: a black screen, rounded corners, a camera in the top middle, and almost edge-to-edge glass. Then I turned it over and boom there it was—clear evidence that this is a tablet designed for gamers.
What did I see? A transparent strip across the back of the case that displays some beautiful electronics, houses the 50MP AI camera, and the inclusion of a strip of RGB customisable lights. In many ways, it looks out of place. After all, it isn't something you've probably ever seen on a tablet before. But after a while, I came to really love it. Most of the strip is beautifully flush with the metal back with a small protruding section for the camera and flash.
Despite the case being made entirely of metal, the overall weight sits at only 530g. Alongside a 7mm thickness, the device sits comfortably in the hand with limited strain on the body even during extended gaming sessions. The high build quality results in a robust and durable tablet that was fine even when I accidentally dropped it onto a wooden floor.
Connectivity is limited to a single USB-C port, which can be used for charging or attaching a hub or dongle for inputs such as a keyboard and a mouse. The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack is surprising and a little disappointing, especially considering they've included one in their 9S Pro phone. Thankfully the four speakers are loud and bold enough to immerse you in any game you choose.
Features
Let's begin with the 10.9-inch display. It has a 2.8K resolution, which is above an often-standard Full HD. In real terms, that means you'll get more detail. The 144 Hz refresh rate is perfect for ensuring smooth gameplay whether you're playing Fortnite, Genshin Impact, or FIFA.
At 550 nits brightness, you'll get bold and vibrant visuals that make your games pop. Considering this isn't an OLED display, the results are quite impressive. RedMagic have opted for a 16:10 golden ratio for the screen, which is better for productivity tasks and browsing the web.
The RedMagic Nova is the only gaming tablet with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version Chip. The superior processor enables speeds up to 3.4GHz and the GPU to 1GHz. All of this results in seamless frame rates no matter how demanding the game is. The Snapdragon processor also promises to reduce power consumption and avoid overheating.
All of this power is backed up by an impressive dedicated cooling system. The built-in fan circulates air internally rather than through holes in the case. This has the added benefit of preventing dust build-up and reducing operating noise.
To boost gaming immersion, the Nova includes DTS-X Ultra Sound across four symmetrical speakers. These are spread around the tablet for the best surround sound that a tablet could possibly offer.
There are also two cameras, one on the front and the other on the back. The 50MP on the back is boosted by AI tech smarts although I don't imagine too many people using this tablet for photography. There is also a 20MP front camera which will be better suited to video calling.
Performance
Our Geekbench 6 tests show how capable this tablet really is. It easily outperforms non-gaming tablets such as the Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 or Lenovo Tab P12. It even comes close to beating the MSI Prestige 14 AI, which I reviewed and loved.
The 3rd-Gen Snapdragon 8 Leading Version delivers all the power required for the latest games. I experienced no frame rate or performance issues at all. This is a tablet that has no issues delivering well above 60 fps on games.
Sound is provided by DTS-X Ultra Sound with 3D Audio from four symmetrical speakers, and they perform incredibly well. Having four rather than just two speakers helps to provide a great surround sound and therefore immerse you deeper in the game. They also come into their own when watching videos and films.
The 2.8K resolution display is incredibly bright, even when I used it in well-lit rooms or outside. This is perfect for portability. Unfortunately, it is a little bit let down by its limited dynamic range. Blacks were represented okay but a lot of detail was lost in the highlights. It results in some areas being blown out. It's not a game changer though and was only noticeable on more demanding visual output.
The RedMagic Nova is a high-performing gaming tablet that has everything required to also cut it as a device for creatives and those seeking a productivity powerhouse.
Price
The RedMagic Nova Gaming Tablet ships with two models. The first costs £439 and has 12GB of memory with 256GB of storage. This second attracts a price of £559 but comes with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Both are available in midnight colour only.
A screen protector can be purchased separately for £19.90 as well as a stylus for £69.90. By selling these as add-ons, RedMagic are able to keep the initial cost of the tablet as low as possible.
Who is it for?
If you want to know who the RedMagic Nova Gaming Tablet is for, then you just need to take notice of the name. Everything from the processor to the display and everything in between is designed with gamers in mind. That being said, any gaming tablet is going to suit most other users well. It has enough power for creatives to fulfil light tasks and the 16:10 screen ratio is ideal for productivity and browsing the web.
Buy it if:
- You want a portable gaming device
- You need a high-performing tablet
- You want a flagship Android tablet
Don't buy it if:
- You want a cheap and cheerful tablet
- You're in love with Apple iPads
- You need a dedicated drawing display
