The subject of our test today is the new RedMagic Astra 2: a very powerful compact tablet equipped with a very fast 9-inch Oled screen. RedMagic Astra 2 is also the first tablet with a liquid cooling system, visible on the back. Model easily connectable to monitor, TV, mouse and keyboard. Tablet evolution of the previous RedMagic Astra presented last year.
Design and packaging
The new RedMagic tablet retains the stylistic approach of the previous model, with an aluminum body with rounded corners, decidedly thin edges (only 4.9 mm) around the screen and a completely flat back. Back side characterized by the company logo and a black back band. Here there is the advanced liquid cooling system, which we will deal with later, with customizable backlighting. Band showing the coolant, with numerous air bubbles, flowing inside ducts of various shapes. Rear band which also houses the camera flush with the body. The fan dedicated to the cooling system, present on the previous model, is absent.
Let’s continue with the sides. On the left (tablet horizontally) we find the power button with the integrated fingerprint recognition sensor. The volume rocker is, however, on the upper side where the red Magic Key selector is also located, which can be customized by the user (start games menu, silent mode, camera and more). We also remember the 2 speakers, one on each side, and the double USB-C port: the one on the short side supports up to 75W, while the one on the long side reaches up to 40W.
Finally, the package includes a USB-C cable.
Technical characteristics
The Astra 2 stands out for the presence of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a very powerful processor also present on very high-end smartphones. According to data declared by RedMagic, compared to the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite, the new chipset guarantees 35% less energy consumption, a 23% increase in graphics performance and 20% in overall speed.
On board we also find the new proprietary RedMagic RedCore R4 coprocessor, which improves the resolution of games, customizable in-game effects and energy consumption management. Coprocessor supported by the Energy Cube 3.0 x Snapdragon Elite Gaming software optimization engine, which according to the company optimizes CPU, GPU, memory, cooling and touch resources in real time based on the gaming scenario, improving performance and autonomy and reducing the heat produced.
As previously mentioned, the RedMagic Astra 2 is the first tablet in the world equipped with liquid cooling. The system, called AquaCore 2.0, consists of a piezoelectric ceramic micro pump which circulates a refrigerant (fluorinated liquid) inside microscopic laser-cut ducts which allow the most sensitive areas of the components such as the battery and processor to be cooled. Drop-resistant system, compact and suitable for even the most extreme climates. AquaCore 2.0 technology sits on top of a layer of liquid metal and a large, patented vapor chamber.
Also new for the screen with a frequency that goes from 144 to 185 Hz. Furthermore, Astra 2 is the first tablet to adopt the new Synaptics chip for touch screen management, which allows faster response times and greater precision even with sweaty hands.
We also mention the USB on the short side with the On-The-Go function, to directly connect external peripherals such as flash drives, keyboards or mice, and with support for video streams up to 8K at 60fps or 4K at 144 Hz.
Let’s not forget the decidedly compact dimensions with a thickness of 6.9 mm and a weight of only 363 g.
Below are the complete technical specifications of the new RedMagic Astra 2:
- Display: Oled, 9.06″, 2,400 x 1,504, 16:10, refresh rate up to 185Hz, 2,000Hz touch sampling, 313ppi, 1,600nit peak, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Sgs certification (Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free), screen-to-body ratio 90.1%
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 + RedCore R4 chip
- Memory: 12/16 GB of LpDdr5T RAM + 256GB/512GB of Ufs 4.1 Pro storage
- Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 6, two USB-C
- Audio: Dts:X Ultra, stereo speaker
- Front camera: 9MP, f/2.2
- Rear camera: 13MP, video recording up to 4K at 30fps
- Battery: 8,300 mAh with 75W fast charging
- Dimensions and weight: 134.2 x 207.1 x 6.9mm, for 363g
- Water and dust resistance: IP54
- Colors: Starfrost (grey), Eclipse (black)
- Operating system: Redmagic Os 11.5 based on Android 16, with updates guaranteed for 5 years
Software analysis
On board the Astra 2 we find the RedMagic Os 11.5 operating system based on Android 16 (May 2026 security patch). Let’s start with the user interface which includes Google news accessible with a swipe to the right. Customizable interface with various themes and graphic options. There is also the classic bar for quick access to various applications: user-defined and the latest ones opened. We also remember the app duplicator to use two accounts at the same time, for example on Facebook.
The Astra 2 also supports charge separation function which allows you to directly power the tablet while bypassing the battery; functionality that allows you to prolong the life of the accumulator and reduce the heat produced. We continue with the sidebar, for quickly launching apps, and the complete section dedicated to battery optimization, but with an overly invasive management that can block the receipt of notifications from various applications. We also mention the “Private Space”, to protect personal information, images, files, videos and apps.
Furthermore, there is no lack of HD compatibility with Netflix and other streaming platforms. There are also some functions managed by AI such as real-time translation and text writing. Too bad for the presence of various pre-installed apps, which can however be removed by the user.
Finally, the camera management software which includes various features: Night mode, HDR, Document Scan, Panorama, Slow motion and Time Lapse.
Game Space
On board the tablet we find the “Game Space”: app dedicated to managing video games, accessible via the Magic Key selector. Let’s start from the section of plug-ins that add various features to video games. Among these we remember “Trigger AI” which allows you to automatically perform various functions such as: commands, macros, screenshots or video recordings, based on the content of the screen. You can also enable a large crosshair (useful in FPS), use a magnifying glass and more. We also mention the “Diablo Mode” which pushes the tablet’s performance to the maximum.
Inside each video game there are two side panels that can be activated by swiping towards the center of the screen. Menus that allow you to choose the most useful plug-ins, manage the tablet’s performance, record videos and more. Let’s not forget the numerous options for managing game graphics, touch screen and tablet performance.
Finally we remember the virtual mascot “Mora” which comes directly from the world of manga, which can also be used as an interactive background for the tablet.
User experience and price
From RedMagic comes the best gaming tablet currently on the market. Excellent compact model, equipped with latest generation hardware that allows very high performance with apps and video games of all kinds. Tablet with a very powerful processor, very fast memory and an interface that is always fluid and responsive.
High build quality and excellent ergonomics. Positive opinion also on the refined design. The display is excellent, very fast, bright, with bright colors and thin edges and, obviously, with absolute blacks.
Let’s move on to the battery which allows 8 – 9 hours of use with traditional apps, which is reduced to 7 – 8 hours with games. Recharge 0 – 100% in 57 minutes.
No problems in the audio sector, with powerful and quality stereo speakers, a little lacking in bass. Fast fingerprint and face recognition. The cooling system is excellent which allows long gaming sessions without any slowdown of the processor.
As for the performance of the rear camera, during the day you get shots of decent quality, detailed and with fairly natural colors. Similar rating for 4K videos. The performance of the front camera is sufficient, with videos up to 1,080p. Similar rating for photos and videos in low light conditions.
Compared to the previous model, performance, battery life, screen and cooling system improve.
The many software features of the “Game Space” and the various plug-ins capable of satisfying even the most demanding players are very useful. The various menus dedicated to gaming can be improved, crowded with many items and not always very clear. We also point out some menus not yet translated into Italian.
Availability and price
Astra 2 will be available for purchase on RedMagic store with prices starting from 699 euros. Sales will begin on August 26th with various launch promos scheduled starting from August 10th.
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