A Gaming Phone Built Around Cooling Hardware
The RedMagic 11S Pro is unapologetically a liquid cooling gaming phone, designed from the inside out for sustained performance. At its heart is an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “Leading Edition” that can boost CPU clocks up to 4.74GHz, backed by up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. To keep that silicon in check, RedMagic deploys its AquaCore Cooling system, a hybrid thermal management smartphone design that mixes passive and active elements. There’s a larger vapor chamber, the industry’s first flowing fluorinated liquid loop according to the company, and a 24,000-RPM RGB fan that actively pulls heat away from the chipset and battery. A 7,500mAh cell, plus 80W wired and wireless charging, rounds out the performance package. All of this sits beneath a 6.85-inch AMOLED display running at up to 144Hz, with shoulder triggers and haptics clearly aimed at serious mobile gamers.
What’s New Versus the Previous Generation
Compared to the earlier 10S Pro, the RedMagic 11S Pro makes cooling the headline upgrade rather than an afterthought. The last-generation model had an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chip but no true liquid cooling loop. RedMagic now claims up to 50% better heat transfer efficiency thanks to the enlarged vapor chamber and circulating fluorinated liquid, on top of the high-speed fan. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 inside also runs faster, with RedMagic quoting CPU, GPU, and NPU gains of 19%, 24%, and 39% respectively over the 10S Pro. Battery capacity rises by 450mAh to 7,500mAh, and the phone adds 80W wireless charging alongside 80W wired. These gains in power and endurance, plus the upgraded cooling system, come with a USD 799 (approx. RM3,750) launch price, roughly USD 100 (approx. RM470) more than the previous generation, positioning the 11S Pro as a premium step-up for dedicated gamers.
Benchmarks: Cooling Keeps Performance High, Temperatures Higher
Synthetic benchmarks reveal both the strengths and compromises of the RedMagic 11S Pro cooling design. In CPU tests like Geekbench 6, the phone not only edges out rivals running the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 but even outperforms the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s tuned variant, making it one of the fastest Snapdragon phones tested. GPU-focused 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress runs tell a similar story: the 11S Pro maintains around 77% of its peak score by the end of the test, while competing flagships slump to 60–49%. That stability is exactly what a liquid cooling gaming phone promises. However, the cost is extreme surface heat. During these runs, the handset hits peak temperatures around 59°C with averages just under 50°C, far above the sub-45°C targets most flagships aim for. In other words, RedMagic prioritises sustained performance over comfort under maximum synthetic load.
Real-World Gaming in a Heatwave
Benchmarks are brutal, but what about actual games? To test RedMagic 11S Pro cooling in a more realistic setting, extended sessions of Call of Duty Mobile Battle Royale, Asphalt Legends, and even Mario Kart Wii via Dolphin emulator were run for 20 minutes each during a sweltering 33°C heatwave. Graphics settings were maxed and the phone was left to manage its own thermals. The results are impressive from a frame-rate standpoint: Call of Duty Mobile hit and sustained a 120fps target with virtually no frame drops or hitching. Temperatures were notably lower than the synthetic torture tests, topping out at around 43°C. That’s still warm and edging toward uncomfortable, but not scalding. The takeaway: in demanding real-world games, the RedMagic 11S Pro cooling system delivers consistently high performance, especially in hot ambient conditions, while keeping heat levels just about manageable for bare-handed play.
Is the RedMagic 11S Pro’s Liquid Cooling Worth the Premium?
The RedMagic 11S Pro cooling system clearly isn’t just a gimmick. The combination of liquid loop, enlarged vapor chamber, and 24,000-RPM fan allows the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Edition to run closer to its limits for longer than most rivals, especially under graphics-heavy loads. The 7,500mAh battery also benefits, staying cooler under charge and discharge, which should help maintain performance across marathon sessions. However, the trade-offs are equally clear. Under synthetic stress, surface temperatures can climb to uncomfortable, almost alarming levels, showing that the phone is tuned to protect frame rates before fingers. And with a USD 799 (approx. RM3,750) asking price, about USD 100 (approx. RM470) higher than the last-gen model, you’re paying a tangible premium. If you prioritise sustained high fps and don’t mind some heat, the RedMagic 11S Pro is one of the most capable thermal management smartphones you can buy.
