If you want a tablet with flagship-grade power, there aren't many options available for you. Samsung's Galaxy Tab S series will likely rank at the top, and then I'd be remiss not to mention the OnePlus Pad lineup as well. The problem is that there's an assumption that a flagship tablet must come with a massive display. Not everyone wants that.
Well, there's an option now, and it looks pretty darn good. RedMagic has just unveiled its Gaming Tablet 3 Pro in China, and that model will be released internationally as the RedMagic Astra. It's compact, has the best chip that it can have, and it focuses on making the gaming experience an absolute treat, though I see non-gamers falling in love too.
The RedMagic Astra Is One of the Few Compact Tablets in Recent Times
Smartphones can have 7-inch screens without being considered huge. The same way size standards crept up for smartphones is how they crept up for tablets. A 10-inch tablet used to be massive, but these days, it is considered regular. Anything under that, like the RedMagic Astra, is compact. For those who want a powerful tablet that is easily portable, this might be the one.
The Design
It'd be dishonest to say the RedMagic Astra has no gamer DNA. It does, but it is a lot less than you'd see with other gaming devices.
The device comes in Starfrost Silver and Eclipse Black. The tablet has a metal body, a mirrored RedMagic logo in the center on the back, and a darkened transparent window across the top edge of the back panel. That holds a bunch of design elements, text, RGB lighting, the camera, and a glimpse at the cooling fan.
The Screen
The RedMagic Astra has a 9.06-inch display, which, for a modern tablet, is small. Sure, there are a few 8.8-inch options out there, so its precise diagonal is unique. On top of that, it brings an OLED panel, unlike the IPS LCD tech that Lenovo uses in its Legion tablets. The bezels are uniform all around.
The screen has a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, a refresh rate of 165Hz (gamers rejoice), and 5,280Hz PWM dimming. It's a very solid unit, clearly.
The Hardware
When it comes to hardware, the RedMagic Astra doesn't attempt to hold back, bringing a bunch of features to make sure that your gaming performance is as amazing as it can be. Here's a rundown of the spec sheet:
| RedMagic Astra | |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Storage Configurations | 12/256GB, 16/512GB, 24GB/1TB |
| Storage Technology | UFS 4.1 Pro |
| Memory Technology | LPDDR5T |
| USB Standard | USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
That's all on paper, but what about in the real world? Well, how about Minecraft playing at 165Hz, Genshin Impact at 120Hz, or League of Legends: Wild Rift at 144Hz? The RedCore R3 Pro chip certainly helps with upscaling content, and the ICE-X cooling system helps keep things running nice and cool.
It's also important to mention that with that USB-C port, you'll get the ability to output video content at up to 8K/60, and scaling down the frame rate means higher resolutions.
The Battery and Charging
In the battery department, the Astra packs an 8,200mAh cell, which should go a long way for an OLED panel of its size. Considering the relative compactness of the tablet, its battery size is notable. On top of that, it comes with 80W wired charging, joining a very small group of tablets with charging that fast.
The Cameras
RedMagic doesn't put much of a focus on its cameras, and that's because they're just basic. You get:
- 13MP rear camera
- 9MP selfie camera
- LED flash
And that's pretty much it. It's a very basic setup and what you should expect from a gaming tablet.
The Pricing and Availability
The RedMagic Gaming Tablet 3 Pro has launched in China and starts at CNY 3,999 (~$555). However, it will only arrive on the international scene, rebranded as the RedMagic Astra Gaming Tablet, on July 1st, so you still have to wait for a bit.
