RedMagic 10 Air Unboxing: First Look at Gaming Phone Features & Specs

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

• 📦 The ZTE Nubia RedMagic 10 Air is unboxed, revealing a device that feels noticeably lighter and has a design that is immediately appealing.
• ✨ The phone feels nicer in hand with a different build quality compared to previous models, despite a slightly smaller display size.

Key Specifications and Differences

• 📉 Downgrades from the Pro version include a 1,000 mAh smaller battery and the use of the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor instead of the Elite.
• 🔌 The box includes an 80W charger and a type-C to type-C cable, offering a good package for a device potentially priced under $500.
• 💰 The phone is noted to be more expensive than the Pro version on platforms like AliExpress, making the Pro a more compelling option due to its better specs and lower price.

Display and Build Quality

• 📱 The RedMagic 10 Air features an edge-to-edge, unobstructed display with minimal bezels on the sides, though top and bottom bezels are more noticeable than on the Pro version.
• 📏 It boasts a 6.8-inch display with a 1080p resolution, 1 billion colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,600 nits peak brightness, covered by Gorilla Glass 5.
• ⚠️ The screen-to-body ratio is 88.7%, slightly lower than the Pro's 91.4%, and the peak brightness is less than some competitors and even the Pro model.

Internals and Gaming Features

• 🚀 Internally, it offers 12GB or 16GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, with no expandable storage.
• 🔋 A substantial 6,000 mAh battery is included, though it's smaller than the Pro's 7,500 mAh battery.
• 🚫 Unlike the Pro, this model lacks an active cooling fan but retains capacitive touch buttons on the side for gaming.

Camera and Software

• 📸 The dual rear camera setup consists of two 50-megapixel sensors (wide and ultra-wide), omitting the 2MP macro sensor found on the Pro.
• 🤳 The under-display selfie camera is present, though it can show a slight discoloration or pixelation at certain angles, more noticeable than on previous models.
• ⚙️ The software experience is described as very stock with minimal bloatware, providing a fast and smooth performance.

Value Proposition and Comparisons

• ⚖️ Currently, the RedMagic 10 Air is priced higher than the Pro version on AliExpress, making the Pro the clearer choice due to its superior battery, faster charging, better display, and active cooling.
• 📉 It's expected that the price of the 10 Air will decrease soon, especially as it uses an older flagship processor and has a better alternative from the same company.
• ⚠️ A temporary issue with pixel sticking was encountered during data transfer from a Samsung device, highlighting potential software quirks when dealing with specific apps and display modes.