Just like clockwork, Nubia is back with yet another generation of its gaming phones. Less than six months after the Red Magic 6S and 6S Pro hit the market, its successors were official in China.
The regular Red Magic 7 went on sale around the world a couple of weeks later, but we've had to wait a bit longer for the Pro model. But since late April, both phones have been available to buy globally - it's the first time we've seen two Red Magic phones from the same generation in the West.
However, as the video above shows, there are plenty of differences between them. Here's everything you need to know about the Red Magic 7 Series.
When will the Red Magic 7 Series be released?
- Red Magic 7 launched globally on 22 February, available since 10 March
- Red Magic 7 Pro launched globally on 12 April, available since 27 April
Nubia first revealed the Red Magic 7 and 7 Pro in its native China on 17 February, before it went on sale there on 21 February.
The very next day, the regular Red Magic 7 got a global launch. It went on sale from 10 March, but we had to wait more than a month for news of the 7 Pro's expanded release.
That device was finally unveiled to a global audience on 12 April. Both handsets are available to buy in every country Nubia sells its phones, including the UK and US.
- Buy the Red Magic 7 in the UK
- Buy the Red Magic 7 Pro in the UK
- Buy the Red Magic 7 in the US
- Buy the Red Magic 7 Pro in the US
When Nubia says 'global launch', the company really means it. Both phones are available in dozens of countries around the world, including much of Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Key areas in Asia and Latin America are also covered.
As usual, there are no UK or US carriers offering the phones on contract. However, both devices are unlocked by default, so you should be able to put any SIM card in.
How much do the Red Magic 7 and 7 Pro cost?
- Red Magic 7 from £529/$629
- Can be configured up to £679/$799 - also the Red Magic 7 Pro starting price
- Most expensive model costs £759/$899
Following its global launch, we now have full confirmed pricing for both the Red Magic 7 and 7 Pro:
- Red Magic 7 (12GB RAM, 128GB storage) - £529/$629
- Red Magic 7 (16GB RAM, 256GB storage) - £619/$729
- Red Magic 7 (18GB RAM, 256GB storage) - £679/$799
- Red Magic 7 Pro (16GB RAM, 256GB storage) - £679/$799
- Red Magic 7 Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) - £759/$899
It's worth noting there is some variation here compared to the Chinese version of the Red Magic 7 Pro, which started at 12GB/256GB and topped out with an 18GB/1TB model.
With both phones being released globally this time around, they're going head-to-head with the best gaming phones you can buy, including the Black Shark 4 Pro and Asus ROG Phone 5.
Red Magic 7 Series design & features
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset across all configurations
- Under-display selfie camera, lower refresh rate, bigger battery on Pro model
- Fast charging drops to 65W on global versions
- Global version of regular model drops charging speed from 120W to 65W
There tends to be some variation in specs between the Red Magic phones that launch in China and the versions that are released globally. However, Nubia has kept things to a minimum for the Red Magic 7 Series. Aside from dropping charging speeds to 65W (from 120W on regular model, 135W on Pro) and some RAM variation, there are no other changes.
That means all versions are powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset under the hood, which has a built-in 5G modem. It works in tandem with Nubia’s own Red Core 1 chip, which helps manage some gamer-specific features. With 12-, 16- or 18GB (the latter exclusive to regular Red Magic 7), performance is a key strength.
Display sizes are also identical. You get the same 6.8in AMOLED display on both phones, at a resolution of 1080x2400. A Full HD+ resolution is designed to help balance battery life, especially with the high refresh rates. On the standard Red Magic 7, you get the same 165Hz we’ve seen on previous generations, alongside a 720Hz touch sampling rate for ultra-smooth gaming. The 7 Pro increases this to an incredible 960Hz, but drops the refresh rate down to 120Hz in the process.
It feels like a strange move on the ‘Pro’ branded phone, but this may be due to the new under-display selfie camera. This 16Mp sensor is an upgrade on paper over the 8Mp lens on the 6S Pro, but under-display photos are usually of a lower quality. The regular Red Magic 7 sticks with an 8Mp selfie camera above the screen, while the rear cameras are unchanged on both models: 64Mp wide, 8Mp ultrawide and 2Mp macro.
It's a shame to see ultra-fast charging removed on global versions, but I still got a full charge in under 30 minutes using the 65W adapter included with the Red Magic 7. It should be a similar story on the 7 Pro, despite it's slightly larger 5000mAh battery. The 4500mAh cell on the regular model is fine, but does deplete quickly while gaming - especially at 165Hz. That's probably the main reason Nubia chose to drop the refresh rate to 120Hz on the 7 Pro, alongside the fact that not man games support 165Hz.
There have also been some refinements to the cooling system, which Nubia calls ICE 8.0 on the Red Magic 7 but ICE 9.0 on the 7 Pro. That's due to a separate metal heat dissipation plate on the 7 Pro, but none of the Red Magic phones we've previously tested get anything more than slightly warm. The bigger issue here is the fan noise, although you can add a separate Turbo Cooler or Magnetic Cooler if you’d like.
The only other feature worth mentioning here is the optical in-display fingerprint sensor. It's better than even on the Red Magic 7, so it's likely to be a similar story on the 7 Pro. There are also some eye-catching new designs to choose from, although they are only available with specific RAM/storage configurations.
We discussed the Red Magic 7 Pro in episode 110 of Fast Charge, our weekly podcast:
The Red Magic 7 already appears in our guide to the best gaming phones. Following our review of the 7 Pro soon, it could also make an appearance.
