Red Magic 10 Air Review (2025): Lighter Gaming Powerhouse with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The smartphone industry in 2025 is following a noticeable trend: “do it again, but make it slimmer.” The Red Magic 10 Air embraces this philosophy, offering a lighter and sleeker version of the Red Magic 10 Pro while keeping most of its core gaming features intact. But does this lighter design come at a cost? Here’s a full breakdown of what to expect from the Red Magic 10 Air and how it stacks up as a gaming powerhouse.

A Design That Balances Gamer Flair and Everyday Appeal

The Red Magic 10 Air is probably the most subtle-looking gaming phone we’ve seen in a while. It doesn’t scream “gamer” until you activate the RGB lighting. Even then, it’s toned down compared to the loud aesthetic of typical gaming phones. The device weighs in at 205g and is under 8mm thick, striking a nice balance between premium feel and portability.

You’ll find the usual Red Magic details like the signature red “magic key” and touch-sensitive shoulder triggers. The front features a full-screen display with an under-display selfie camera that’s almost invisible unless you squint.

Three color variants are available: Hailstone (white), Twilight (black), and Flare (a bold orange that’s not yet available in some regions). There’s no transparent model this time around, but the matte finish on the back resists fingerprints and smudges, while the subtle branding keeps things sleek.

Display and Build Quality

The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is a stunner. With a resolution of 2480×1116, the visuals are crisp and vibrant. The refresh rate maxes out at 120Hz—not quite 144Hz, but still fast enough for fluid gameplay and scrolling. Brightness is decent, though visibility can take a hit in darker games if there’s glare.

There’s no mention of PWM dimming in the official specs, so users sensitive to OLED flicker may want to investigate further. The phone also lacks full waterproofing, with only an IP54 rating—good for rain, but not full submersion.

Gaming Performance and Software

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and backed by 16GB of RAM, the Red Magic 10 Air handles modern games with ease. While it doesn’t use the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite like the 10 Pro, performance remains top-tier. Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly at high settings with frame rates staying near 60 FPS.

Red Magic OS 10, layered over Android 15, gives you the same robust customization options as the Pro model. There’s a dedicated game space, performance modes, and even features like charge bypass and frame rate boosting. The Game Toolbar is densely packed with tools—from sensitivity adjustments to visual enhancements like crosshairs and scout mode.

You’ll also meet Moa, Red Magic’s AI assistant. Think of Moa as a hyper-animated voice assistant with quirky charm. She offers everything from charging animations to live streaming overlays and even an alarm clock to wake you up with flair.

Cooling System and Heat Management

The 10 Air includes Red Magic’s advanced cooling setup with a large vapor chamber and liquid metal—but notably, no built-in fan. This helps keep the form factor slim, but the trade-off is that the phone gets hot during extended gaming sessions. Fortunately, performance doesn’t seem to throttle even after hours of heavy play.

Bypass charging is a must if you’re gaming while plugged in, as it prevents the battery from heating up by powering the phone directly.

Audio and Other Features

Audio is impressive with dual stereo speakers (DTS:X Ultra support) and strong Bluetooth performance. However, there’s no headphone jack, so you’ll need wireless earbuds or a USB-C adapter. Haptics are handled by an X-axis linear motor and those 520Hz shoulder triggers remain a standout feature, adding a tactile edge to gameplay.

Battery and Charging

Battery life is a mixed bag. The Red Magic 10 Air packs a 6000mAh battery, slightly smaller than the Pro model. Under full load—like playing Genshin Impact at max settings—it lasts about 3.5 hours. Less intensive games will get you closer to 10–11 hours.

Thankfully, fast charging is excellent. The 80W charger can juice the phone to 100% in around 40 minutes. But there’s no wireless charging option.

Cameras

As with most gaming phones, the camera setup is basic. It appears unchanged from the Red Magic 10 Pro. That means you shouldn’t expect flagship-tier photography, but it’s enough for casual snaps and social media use.

Final Verdict: Who Is the Red Magic 10 Air For?

If you’re a gamer looking for a powerful smartphone that doesn’t feel like a brick in your pocket, the Red Magic 10 Air delivers. It keeps most of the Red Magic 10 Pro’s strengths, including excellent gaming performance, a beautiful display, and deep customization. Sure, the lack of a fan, wireless charging, and top-tier camera might be deal-breakers for some. But for the price, it’s one of the most balanced gaming phones you can buy in 2025.