Review: Redmagic Astra is an almost perfect compact Android tablet, complete with OLED

The Android tablet market was devoid of decent options for a long Time, but finally we are seeing new options appear. The Legion tab of Lenovo is what really attracted attention at the beginning of this year, but after spending a few weeks with the Redmagic Astra, I think it is clear that this is an almost perfect version of a compact Android tablet, thanks largely to its specifications and the OLED display.

RedMagic Astra It is, in the center, a game tablet and has the hardware to support it. Let’s start with physical design.

This compact Android tablet has a completely metal frame which, for a game focus on the game, still has a rather submerged design. The “eclipse” color of my unit seems only an iPad mini when the screen is off, and on the rear the only thought that is really distinguished is the “transparent” window that has the RedMagic logo, a little fake interior, the camera/flash and the fan. Of course, all with an RGB (controllable). However, metal is an absolute digital imprint magnet.

It’s not a design that screams “I’m a game tablet!” With you, but also not one who completely gives up what it is. The Legion tab of Lenovo still has a more submerged design, but Redmagic is not far away here.

Advertising – Scroll for more content

Redmagic Astra is also extraordinarily thin at 6.9 mm, making it even more compact than Lenovo’s tablet.

But there are two great hardware protagonists. First, there is the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor. Funally, it is not the best sensor I used, but its only existence is a reason to be happy. Too many Android tablets rely on a useless release of the face instead of using real biometry, so Astra already has an advantage over most of the competition, if only because I don’t need to type my password every time I use the tablet or a safe app.

The other big problem is the display.

The 9.06 -inch display is available at 2400 × 1504, being already a sharp panel for its size, but OLED is the real footballer. The deep blacks and the consistency of an OLED display contribute to a display that is right way Better than that in the Lenovo Legion tablet and many other tablets on the market today. And there is not even a real compromise. You are still receiving a update frequency at 165Hz, as well as up to 1,600 nits in high brightness mode. It is a stellar display, whether you are just watching movies or use this for games.

When it comes to games, you have a lot of power available.

Under the hood, this tablet is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite combined with at least 12 GB of RAM and with 256 GB of memory. Updates to that include 16 GB/512 GB and 24 GB/1TB. I spent my time with the 16 GB/512 GB of average level option and saying that I was happy with the experience is an understatement.

The games fly, with the boys of Fortnite and autumn – my usual reference parameters – go without hitches. Fortnite was able to maintain a constant 90fps even in high environments, while the autumn boys and practically everything I tested worked without hitches as I would expect from a device with these specifications.

The battery life is also very solid. You will see the battery fall during the gameplay, of course, but the 8,200 mAh battery has a lot of life to give. However, it downloads a little faster than expected sometimes. On a 10 -hour flight with the Astra used for films with Bluetooth headphones, I landed with about 30% left in the tank. It was less than I expected, but not exactly bad.

So there is the real software. I was ready to be the disappointment of Redmagic Astra, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Redmagic’s skin is quite light. Android 15 is available outside the box and is relatively clean. There are some small rhythm of homecreen and settings but, for the most part, it seems only an “normal” Android construction. There is not even very Bloatware.

On the other hand, the software policy is not exceptional. Redmagic promises “regular” updates every 1-2 months for 3 years and only one important update of the Android operating system. This is unacceptable to the limit at this point and deserves to be a dealbreaker for many.

The only place you really believe that it is a “game tablet” is when launching the physical passage in the “lobby of the game”. This is a dedicated game user interface that emerges your games. His An entire experienceAnd perhaps the only part of the software that I don’t likely like, which is why I am happy that the physical switch can be rebounded to other functions. It is full of text tickers that should not exist, tons of wasted space and Gaudy user interface design. The only purpose that really serves is to give you a quick access to other games optimization tools, such as fan controls, touch sampling speed adjustments and performance settings. I found the performance of “balance” perfectly for everything, but “Rise” puts everything on march, assuming that you can find enough hungry for Android to need it.

During this note, we will return to the incorporated fan. This cooling aspect is actually quite cute for a play tablet in my eyes and has really helped to keep the tablet fresher in the touch. Is it necessary 100%? Not at all, but it’s nice to have if you are a devoted mobile player. The fan skillfully runs through the air through the lateral mounted speakers (which, in themselves, sound quite well), so that they can literally feel the air move through the tablet.

The only thing I would like Redmagic to do better here was in the accessories department.

An area that I will certainly give to Lenovo’s tablets points is what arrives in the box. Not only do you get a free screen protector, but also an excellent case. And the The selection of cases for Astra is, at the moment, rather scarce. THE official case It will not even be available until August. Redmagic has a protector of the official screen, but it is a very dear $ 25 additional component. It’s not worth it when you can get Third -party options for a fraction of this.

But apart from some negative points, I think that Redmagic Astra is as perfect as possible in this form factor. The hardware is good, the software is clean and the display is gorgeous. The largest dealbreaker in my mind is the update policy, since spending $ 549+ on a tablet that will be obsolete for most of its life duration is not acceptable. I hope that Redmagic revisits him because, sincerely, I consider it a compact Android tablet essentially perfect in almost any other way.

If you are interested in Redmagic Astra, it is Available now through the company’s website image for as low as $ 549.

More on Android tablets:

Follow well: Twitter/X, Discussions, BlueskyAND Instagram