The RedMagic 12 Pro is a powerful gaming phone with a faster display and a much larger battery than its predecessor. But its higher starting price makes its mediocre cameras and short update commitment harder to overlook, according to TechRadar’s review.

The phone goes on sale globally on November 18, 2026, starting at $899 or £799 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That is $250 or £170 more than the RedMagic 11 Pro. Higher configurations cost $999 or £889 for 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and $1,199 or £1,059 for 16GB and 1TB.

Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, the RedMagic 12 Pro delivers top-tier Android gaming performance. TechRadar found that its GPU benchmark results improved over the previous generation, although stress tests showed less consistent performance under sustained load. The reviewer said demanding games ran smoothly at high graphical settings.

Its 6.85-inch AMOLED screen supports a refresh rate of up to 185Hz and reaches a claimed peak brightness of 1,900 nits. The display also has no selfie cutout, leaving an unobstructed surface for games and video. RedMagic has expanded the phone’s cooling system with a faster fan and a more extensive liquid-cooling setup.

Battery life is another major strength. The 8,400mAh capacity is up from 7,500mAh in the RedMagic 11 Pro, and TechRadar reported that lighter use could last up to three days. The phone supports 80W wired and wireless charging; the reviewer measured a 50% charge in 30 minutes.

The camera system is a weaker part of the package. The 50MP main camera was described as adequate in good light, but struggled with night scenes and portraits. The 50MP ultra-wide camera produced cooler-toned images, while the 16MP under-display selfie camera delivered fuzzy results. Video recording supports 4K at 120 frames per second.

RedMagic OS 12, based on Android 17, was described as fast and reliable, though it includes preinstalled apps and games. RedMagic promises two Android OS updates and up to five years of security updates in Europe; US buyers are promised three years of security updates.

The RedMagic 12 Pro is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor, while retaining gaming-focused features such as capacitive shoulder buttons and a dedicated button for its Game Space interface. TechRadar’s overall assessment is that it offers exceptional gaming capability, but the RedMagic 11 Pro may remain the better-value choice while it is available.

Sources: TechRadar.