The Redmagic Nova gaming tablet is the latest addition to Nubia’s Redmagic brand, known for its performance-oriented smartphones. With a focus on gaming, the Nova aims to deliver top-notch performance in a compact and sturdy design. Let’s dive into a detailed review of this gaming tablet.
Design & Build
The Redmagic Nova features a compact design with an aerospace-grade aluminum chassis. The tablet is slim and lightweight, making it easy to handle during gaming sessions. The integrated fingerprint sensor on the power button adds a convenient security feature. Twin speakers on the shorter edges and a USB-C port for charging enhance the overall functionality of the device.
The back of the tablet showcases a unique transparent cover that reveals the internal components, including the fan with multi-color LEDs. This design element adds a touch of flair to the overall aesthetics of the tablet. The Nova also offers optional accessories like a magnetic keyboard, stylus, and gamepad for enhanced usability.
Screen & Speakers
The Nova sports a 10.9-inch IPS LCD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth visuals for gaming. The display offers a high resolution and responsive touch sampling rates, ensuring an immersive gaming experience. The quad speakers provide rich audio quality with DTS-X Ultra Sound support, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
However, the positioning of the speakers on the shorter sides of the tablet may lead to audio quality issues when hands cover them during use. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack may be a drawback for users who prefer wired headphones.
Specs & Performance
Powered by a 3.4GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Edge processor and paired with 12GB/16GB of LDDR5X memory and 256GB/512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, the Nova delivers exceptional performance. The tablet handles multitasking and gaming with ease, showcasing smooth operation even during graphics-heavy gaming sessions.
The ICE 2.0 cooling system ensures efficient heat dissipation, keeping the tablet cool during extended gaming sessions. The Nova excels in gaming performance, making it a suitable choice for gaming enthusiasts.
Cameras
While not the primary focus of a gaming tablet, the Nova features a 50MP rear camera and a 20MP front camera. The cameras deliver decent performance for casual photography and video recording, although they may not match the quality of dedicated cameras or smartphones.
Battery Life & Charging
Equipped with a 10,100mAh battery and 80W fast charging support, the Nova offers moderate battery life for gaming and everyday use. The fast charging capabilities ensure quick recharging times, keeping you in the game without prolonged downtime.
Software
The Nova runs on Android 14 with the Redmagic OS 9.5 overlay, offering customization options and a dedicated gaming suite called Game Space. While the software functions smoothly, the limited software support with only two years of security updates may be a concern for long-term usability.
Price & Availability
The Redmagic Nova is available starting at £439 in the UK or $499 in the US for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Additional variants with higher memory and storage capacities are also available at competitive prices.
Verdict
The Redmagic Nova impresses with its performance, design, and gaming-specific features. While it offers a great gaming experience, the limited software support may be a deterrent for some users. Overall, the Nova is a solid gaming tablet that delivers on its promises at a reasonable price point.