I'm a diehard Pixel fan, but this sleek Android phone has me questioning why

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ZDNET's key takeaways

The RedMagic Air 11 will be available on the official site starting Janurary 29th.
It's a brilliant phone with looks and performance to spare.
Its performance is tuned down compared to the 11 Pro.

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I've reviewed a few of RedMagic's devices, and not once have I come away disappointed. In fact, as the RedMagic lineup continues to evolve, they just get better and better, and the Air 11 is a testament to that improvement.

The problem is, every time I review a RedMagic phone, I want one. That was the case with the 11 Pro, where I claimed it boasts the best mobile gaming I've tested to date. That wasn't hyperbole.

Now, RedMagic has released the 11 Pro's little sister in the form of the Air 11. Where the 11 Pro was an absolute beast for gaming, the Air 11 is more streamlined. It's lighter, the performance is a bit dialed down, and the cooling isn't quite as sophisticated.

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Before you brush it off as inferior, understand that the RedMagic 11 Pro is a best-in-class for its price range (starting at $749). On top of that, the Air 11 is no slouch. With a Snapdragon 8 Elite, the RedCore R4 gaming chip, a 7,000mAh battery, 16GB of RAM, and next-gen active cooling, the RedMagic 11 Air delivers plenty of power, beautiful graphics, and AI for those who want it.

Specs are one thing, but how did this phone fare in real-world use? Let's find out.

My experience

First off, these RedMagic phones are gorgeous; and I don't just mean the UI, but also the hardware. I'd describe the Air 11 as slightly boxy, but elegant. This phone not only looks good, but it also feels good in your hand.

But let's talk about the UI. It's so smooth, with animations like butter, which is not only due to whatever magic RedMagic did to Android, but also that it's capable of running up to a 144Hz refresh rate.

In Settings > Display, you can select from Auto, 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz. By default, it's set to Auto, and you can watch it change as needed in the top left corner of the display. I noticed that when in the Settings app, the refresh rate automatically dropped to 120Hz. Once it dropped to 120Hz, I was unable to get it to switch 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 could become an issue. When dealing with phones and tablets geared for gaming, I like to install "Diablo: Immortal". During the download of the necessary files, the video playback was stunningly smooth, and the colors were beautiful.

This phone might be aimed at gamers, but I wouldn't hesitate to make it my go-to phone for all types of use. And with the slick-as-glass UI, this is what Google should aim for with its take on Android.

I know it sounds like I'm laying it on a bit too thick, but you really have to experience the Air 11 to know that I'm not exaggerating. No, this phone doesn't quite perform as well as the 11 Pro, but I'm confident it would best 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 heat up phones. With the Air 11, you get an active cooling turbofan that can deliver 24,000 RPMs to maximize airflow.

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There are two settings, one that delivers power-saving cooling and one that goes all out. Tapping the snowflake icon puts the fan on top speed. I could not only hear the fan, but I could also feel the air flowing out from the cooling vents.

A bit of bloat

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 of the apps you don't want. And the Air 11 bloat isn't nearly as bad as some I've experienced. It took me all of 60 seconds to remove the apps I didn't need.

Speaking of apps, you get the typical list, including WPS Office, Goper (where you can manage, customize, and connect gaming peripherals like phone coolers and controllers), Google Gemini, and Private Space.

ZDNET's buying advice

The RedMagic Air 11 is a slick phone. The UI and hardware are both beautiful, there's almost zero bezel to contend with, the phone performs like a champ. To top it all off, the sound is well above average, and it feels very good 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, hands down, the phone you want. If it weren't for my Pixel 9 Pro always getting Android updates sooner than other devices, I would happily jump the Google ship and into the magic dinghy that is RedMagic.

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

RedMagic Air 11 tech specs

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 and with 80W Wired and Wireless Fast Charging
Display - full screen BOE X10 AMOLED 6.5" at 1,800 Nits, 95.30% screen-to-body ratio, 2688 × 1216 resolution, 3,000 Hz instant touch sampling rate, and wet hand mode.
Sound - 1015 + 1115E high-fidelity speakers
Haptics - 0815 x-axis linear motors offer dynamic and immersive 4D vibration feedback
3.5 mm audio jack

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