The REDMAGIC 9S Pro is a gaming phone. It launched in China on July 3, 2024, and reached global markets on July 16, 2024. It started at $649 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the 16GB/512GB model cost $799. It is a mid-cycle update of the 9 Pro with a faster chip and improved cooling. REDMAGIC no longer sells it, so the phone is now discontinued.
Design and display
The phone has a flat glass back, a metal frame and a fully flat front with no punch-hole. Instead, the selfie camera sits under the display. It measures 163.98 x 76.35 x 8.9 mm and weighs 229 grams. A built-in cooling fan with RGB lighting is visible on the back.
The 6.8-inch BOE Q9+ AMOLED panel has a 1116 x 2480 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness reaches 1,600 nits, and Corning Gorilla Glass covers the screen. Two 520Hz touch-sensitive shoulder triggers sit on the right edge for games.
There are four finishes. Sleet and Frost come with 12GB/256GB, while Snowfall and Cyclone come with 16GB/512GB. Because of the fan vents, the phone has no IP rating for water or dust resistance.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version, an overclocked chip with a 3.4GHz prime core and a 1GHz Adreno 750 GPU. It works with the Red Core 2 Pro gaming chip. Memory is LPDDR5X RAM with UFS 4.0 storage. There is no microSD slot.
The ICE 13.5 cooling system combines a large vapor chamber, a new cooling gel and a 22,000 RPM fan. This setup is meant to keep clock speeds high during long gaming sessions.
Cameras
The rear setup includes a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.57-inch Samsung GN5 sensor and optical image stabilization. It is joined by a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP auxiliary camera. On the front, a 16MP under-display camera handles selfies and video calls.
Battery and charging
The 6,500mAh dual-cell battery supports 80W wired charging. REDMAGIC includes a charger in the box. However, the phone does not support wireless charging.
Software and updates
The phone shipped with REDMAGIC OS 9.5 based on Android 14. REDMAGIC has not published a fixed number of Android upgrades or security update years for this model. Its formal update promise only applies to the 11 Pro and newer phones.
Connectivity includes 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC. The USB-C 3.2 port also supports DisplayPort output. In addition, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers.
Should you buy the REDMAGIC 9S Pro?
The 9S Pro suits players who want sustained performance, physical shoulder triggers and a notch-free screen. Its large battery and headphone jack are also useful for long sessions. On the other hand, it has no water resistance, no wireless charging and no fixed update promise.
Keep in mind that the phone is no longer produced or sold in REDMAGIC’s official stores. As a result, new units are hard to find, and newer REDMAGIC models are the easier choice today.
A China-only 9S Pro+ was also launched. It has a smaller 5,500mAh battery with 165W charging and up to 24GB of RAM.
