RedIllusion loves cramming its gaming telephones with insane options, and we noticed that with the RedIllusion 9 Pro earlier this 12 months. The RedIllusion 9S Pro isn’t any exception—it’s a powerhouse filled with all of the muscle you want for a critically epic gaming expertise.
The 9S Pro landed just a few months after its predecessor. It would possibly simply be a reputation change with an “S,” but it surely packs an overclocked chipset, a brand new look, and improved cooling. It’s not an enormous improve, however that’s anticipated because it’s extra of a mid-year refresh than a full-on new cellphone.
If you’re new to the RedIllusion model, the 9S Pro received’t allow you to down if you happen to’re after a top-tier gaming cellphone. Just be ready for some ongoing software program points that may nonetheless be a bit annoying.
RedIllusion 9S Pro: Price and availability
The RedIllusion 9S Pro is available in 4 variations. The base Sleet mannequin, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, is priced at $649. The Cyclone and Snowfall fashions, each packing 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, go for $799. And then there’s the Frost mannequin, which has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, additionally priced at $649.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro retains the identical pricing because the 9 Pro, with one key change: the addition of the entry-level Frost mannequin.
| Category | RedIllusion 9 Pro |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Redmagic OS 9.5 (Android 14) |
| Display | 6.8-inch BOE Q9+ FHD+ OLED (2480×1116), 120Hz refresh, 1600 nits max brightness |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version, Red Core 2 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Rear digicam 1 | 50 MP (huge), PDAF, OIS |
| Rear digicam 2 | 50 MP (ultrawide), f/2.2 |
| Rear digicam 3 | 2 MP (depth), f/2.4 |
| Front digicam | 16 MP (huge), f/2.0, beneath show |
| Cooling system | ICE 13 10-layered system, 22,000 RPM high-speed Turbofan with RGB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Fifth Generation, Global Positioning System |
| Security | In-screen optical fingerprint sensor, face unlock |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack, twin three-dimensional 1115K audio system, DTS:X Ultra, Snapdragon Sound |
| Battery | 6500mAh, 80W wired |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.4 x 8.9mm |
RedIllusion 9S Pro: What I like
I’m a giant fan of the RedIllusion 9S Pro’s boxy design that’s each eye-catching and sensible, and RedIllusion absolutely owns it with these flush rear cameras. Right out of the field, you’ll discover its hefty, stable construct—this factor feels substantial. It’s visually placing, one thing you don’t see a lot in telephones nowadays. Best of all, it avoids the over-the-top, flashy look that plagues so many gaming telephones. It’s daring, positive, however there’s a clear, industrial vibe that’s laborious to not love.
I’ve no gripes with this design method. If you’ve used the RedIllusion 9 Pro, the 9S Pro will really feel proper at dwelling. It’s nonetheless a chunky, heavy cellphone, however that’s the worth you pay for an enormous 6.8-inch show and all the center of the ICE 13.5 cooling system.
Sure, the burden would possibly bug some folks, and people sharp edges aren’t precisely hand-friendly, but it surely’s a critically handsome cellphone that feels rock-solid prefer it may survive a drop off a cliff.
The cooling fan lights up when it’s spinning however in any other case blends proper in with the vertical digicam stack. As for the shoulder buttons, they’ve received their very own lighting, too, doubling as standing or notification indicators. You can decide from seven colours and results like flashing, respiratory, or a gentle glow.
One of the best issues right here is the edge-to-edge show—no digicam notch, no gap, simply pure display screen. The entrance digicam is tucked beneath the show like RedIllusion’s achieved earlier than, and I find it irresistible as a result of it lets your video games take middle stage. There’s a tiny bezel across the edges, with the underside a bit thicker, but it surely’s so near even you received’t actually care.
The display screen is available in at 1116×2480 pixels, which isn’t the best decision on the market, but it surely’s spot-on for gaming. A decrease decision helps the GPU hold issues working easily, so body charges keep excessive. Plus, it’s sharp sufficient that even small textual content is simple to learn.
The panel’s peak brightness of 1600 nits additionally isn’t the brightest on the market, but it surely’s greater than sufficient for comfy out of doors use. In on a regular basis conditions, the show’s brightness held up simply fantastic, hardly ever needing an additional enhance.
The show has subtly rounded corners, and the perimeters are gently curved, making it extra comfy to carry. Plus, the pre-applied display screen protector blends proper in, so that you don’t have to fret about placing one on your self.
The seamless show is ideal for watching films or TV reveals and gaming.
RedIllusion has fine-tuned the 9S Pro with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version. This overclocked model of the already highly effective Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 boosts efficiency whereas retaining energy utilization in verify. Plus, AI optimizations make the gaming expertise even smoother and extra responsive.
While the advertising hype across the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version sounds spectacular, the real-world efficiency distinction in comparison with the usual model is probably going minimal. The overclocked chip does provide a slight enhance, however in on a regular basis use, you most likely received’t discover a lot of a distinction, particularly with much less demanding duties. To actually see what the chip can do, you’d must put it by means of its paces with some heavy-duty Android video games.
When you dive into video games like Genshin Impact or different graphically demanding titles, the 9S Pro simply powers by means of, because of the 1GHz Red Core 2 Pro gaming chip. In its highest efficiency mode, the 9S Pro constantly hit 60fps with zero crashes, stuttering, or loading hiccups. Animations had been easy, and each motion felt instantaneous. Even in intense gaming moments, there’s no slowdown, and the big show makes it simple to see and management all the pieces.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro shines in gaming efficiency, however heavy classes, particularly with high-performance modes on, could make it warmth up quick. To keep away from discomfort, it’s a good suggestion to make use of a case or controller. Without them, the aluminum body can get fairly heat after some time.
Many flagship telephones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can battle with warmth and efficiency dips. However, the RedIllusion 9S Pro’s superior cooling system, together with the energetic fan, permits it to keep up peak efficiency for longer. This means you get a easy, responsive gaming expertise, even throughout essentially the most demanding classes.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro’s efficiency isn’t nearly gaming—it shines in on a regular basis use, too. Whether you’re scrolling by means of apps, switching between duties, or dealing with extra demanding apps, it does all the pieces easily and effortlessly, exhibiting off simply how succesful this machine actually is.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro’s inside fan runs surprisingly quietly, which is a giant win for a high-performance gaming machine. Considering how vital it’s for retaining temperatures in verify, it’s spectacular. The quiet fan makes the entire gaming expertise higher by reducing down on distractions and making a extra immersive surroundings.
The machine comes loaded with a stable set of gaming options, constructing on what earlier fashions already nailed. While a whole lot of these options will really feel acquainted to RedIllusion followers, the model retains including cool new stuff with every launch. It’s positively one of the vital packed gaming toolkits on any cellphone.
One function I actually dig is the touch-sensitive triggers with built-in LEDs. They gentle up, making it method simpler to search out them throughout gameplay. And it’s not only for present—the LEDs additionally double as notification lights, which is a pleasant contact.
RedIllusion 9S Pro: What I do not like
The rear cameras on the RedIllusion 9S Pro aren’t on par with different Android digicam telephones, however they do a stable job in good lighting. They’re greater than sufficient for snapping on a regular basis moments and social media content material, protecting the fundamental images wants of a gaming cellphone.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro sticks with the identical digicam setup as its predecessor, focusing extra on gaming efficiency than images. While the digicam has improved over time, it nonetheless lags behind devoted digicam telephones, particularly in picture high quality and flexibility. That mentioned, given the worth, the digicam does an honest job for many customers.
You’re getting the identical 50MP Samsung GN5 sensor that’s been in the previous few fashions. It’s a stable digicam, but it surely’s not precisely groundbreaking or new.
The main digicam takes pictures with barely muted colours, and whereas it handles element effectively in good lighting, shadows, and darker areas can look a bit blurry. The ultrawide digicam struggles in low gentle, with much less element within the photographs. RedIllusion applies distortion correction, however the outcomes can nonetheless present some unnatural artifacts.
If there’s one main draw back to Nubia’s all-screen design, it’s the 9S Pro’s 16MP under-display selfie digicam. The selfies are fairly terrible—element, publicity, and dynamic vary are all missing, making it worse than even some finances telephones with an everyday front-facing digicam.
RedIllusion 9S Pro digicam samples
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Another factor that’s a bit annoying is how the entrance digicam offers hazy pictures due to the display screen above it. It’s first rate for fast calls or streaming with associates whereas gaming, however if you happen to’re into taking selfies for Instagram or need one thing extra polished, you’ll be let down.
On the software program entrance, RedIllusion’s software program was once a little bit of a large number, however the firm has come a good distance up to now couple of years. These days, utilizing a RedIllusion machine day-to-day is glitch-free and fairly pleasant.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro runs on Android 14 with RedIllusion OS 9.5 on prime. While the interface generally is a bit quirky at occasions, it offers you loads of customization choices to tweak issues like themes, wallpapers, and menu colours to match your fashion.
Nubia claims that every one fashions get “greater than two years of software program assist” and guarantees no less than one main Android replace per 12 months. However, it is unclear how lengthy it will truly final. Compared to corporations like Google and Samsung, which provide as much as seven years of assist, this feels a bit missing.
At the tip of the day, you’ve received to make some trade-offs to maintain a $649 price ticket on a cellphone with the most recent Snapdragon. But in relation to gaming, the RedIllusion 9S Pro completely delivers, and that’s what actually issues.
RedIllusion 9S Pro: Competition
Nubia and ASUS are often on the prime of our gaming cellphone rankings, so the brand new ROG Phone 9 sequence would possibly catch your eye. But if you happen to’re not seeking to break the financial institution, the ROG Phone 8 from final 12 months remains to be a beast and a method higher deal.
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 may not be the most recent mannequin, but it surely’s nonetheless a stable decide. While it may not have the identical bang-for-your-buck attraction because the RedIllusion 9S Pro, its higher software program assist, improved digicam, and extra comfy design make it an excellent all-around gaming cellphone. You also can go for the beefier ROG Phone 8 Pro if you’d like somewhat extra energy.
Additionally, the iQOO 12 is a stable competitor within the finances gaming cellphone class, providing spectacular worth for its worth. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset delivers efficiency on par with the RedIllusion 9S Pro and even beats it with 120W quick charging. However, it falls brief within the gaming division with out options like devoted cooling and shoulder triggers, that are a should for hardcore cellular avid gamers.
RedIllusion 9S Pro: Should you purchase it?
You can buy it if…
- You’re after a stable worth cellphone with nice efficiency and an unlimited battery.
- You favor a cellphone that stays cool even throughout these marathon gaming classes.
- You desire a cellphone that lasts all day and costs up very quickly.
You shouldn’t purchase it if…
- You’re after top-notch digicam efficiency, for the reason that RedIllusion 9S Pro may not be your greatest guess.
- You’re not a fan of generic-looking interfaces.
- Limited software program assist is a dealbreaker for you.
The RedIllusion 9S Pro is a powerhouse in relation to gaming, with {hardware} that may deal with even essentially the most demanding duties with out breaking a sweat. Its superior cooling system retains issues cool, whereas the overclocked chipset ensures easy, lag-free efficiency in even essentially the most intense gaming classes. It’s simply one of the vital highly effective smartphones on the market proper now. But it’s not nearly gaming. The 9S Pro additionally delivers a stable all-around bundle, that includes a basic headphone jack, a shocking OLED show, and a giant battery with quick charging to maintain you within the recreation longer.
While the RedIllusion 9S Pro is a beast in relation to gaming, it doesn’t fairly shine as an all-around smartphone. The lack of an IP score and its underwhelming digicam efficiency may be dealbreakers for these searching for a cellphone that excels in each gaming and on a regular basis duties. Sure, it presents stable worth in comparison with premium flagships and gaming telephones just like the ROG Phone 9, however its sturdiness and images shortcomings would possibly maintain it again from claiming a prime spot within the broader smartphone market.
If you are not too fussed concerning the digicam or software program quirks, and also you’re simply after a beastly gaming cellphone with cool stuff like built-in cooling and air triggers, the RedIllusion 9S Pro is a stable decide. It’s a little bit of overkill, but it surely’s loads cheaper than the newer ROG telephones and nonetheless delivers severe efficiency. If gaming is your prime precedence, you’ll be able to’t go incorrect right here.
Still reigning supreme
The RedIllusion 9S Pro is certainly one of many prime gaming smartphones of 2024. With its spectacular show, highly effective internals, and funky further options, it’s a dream for avid gamers. That mentioned, it does carry over among the flaws from the earlier mannequin, so it isn’t good.
