If you’re serious about mobile gaming, you know how frustrating it is when your device can’t keep up. Lag spikes, overheating, or sudden throttling can slow down sessions where speed is of the essence. To that, REDMAGIC says, “hold my beer” and introduces the Astra gaming tablet. A compact tablet that can actually handle AAA and multiplayer games, it immediately piqued my interest. I decided to go all in on a REDMAGIC Astra review.
A joy to look at and hold, the REDMAGIC Astra is compact but powerful. It packs flagship-level performance into a size that’s easy to handle. Smooth, fast, and built for marathon play, it’s the kind of tablet I actually enjoy using—and one that finally keeps pace with my gaming habits.
Small Tablet, Big Power
Don’t let the Astra’s size fool you. Its 9.06-inch OLED screen delivers stunning clarity with a resolution of 2,400 by 1,504 pixels and a 165Hz refresh rate. In-game movement is fluid, colors pop, and the high 1,600-nit peak brightness makes it easy to play indoors or near a sunny window.
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset pairs with LPDDR5T RAM and UFS 4.1 Pro storage, giving the Astra the muscle to handle heavy multitasking and high-frame-rate gaming.
For extra performance, the RedCore R3 Pro co-processor optimizes rendering, thermal output, and battery behavior. Storage-wise Astra scales up to 24GB RAM and 1TB. I love that it’s ready for massive game libraries or content projects.
A Screen That Actually Feels Alive
What really sets a gaming tablet apart is touch responsiveness, and Astra doesn’t disappoint. The 2,000Hz touch sampling rate means every swipe and tap registers instantly. Then, the multi-finger response rate of 240Hz ensures complex combos and gestures feel fluid. For perspective, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE (a popular choice for gamers) has a 10.9-inch LCD at 90Hz, which the Astra far exceeds.
The OLED panel also makes content more immersive. Games, movies, and even simple apps feel sharper and punchier thanks to the rich color depth and deep blacks. High-speed scrolling and transitions also feel smooth—exactly what you want when competing in fast-action games.
Stays Cool When Things Get Intense
Overheating can kill the fun, but the Astra handles heat like a pro. Its ICE-X 13-layer cooling system combines Liquid Metal 2.0, dual vapor chambers, and a 20,000 RPM turbofan to keep temperatures in check. Even during extended play, heat buildup is minimal, but performance stays consistent.
Play Longer, Charge Smarter
The 8,200mAh battery is more than enough for long gaming sessions or binge-watching videos. Also, Astra also supports bypass charging, so you can plug it in to play without charging the battery. This helps reduce heat and preserve long-term battery health. Even when fully active, the fast-charging setup ensures the tablet returns to 100% quickly.
More Than Just a Gaming Tablet
Astra isn’t just for games. With USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), OTG support, and DisplayPort output, you can hook it up to external displays, controllers, keyboards, and SSDs. Running REDMAGIC OS 10.5 based on Android 15, it also supports Google Gemini for productivity—so it works as smoothly for emails, streaming, or content creation as it does for gaming.
Built for Real Players
REDMAGIC designed Astra with real users in mind. Competitive mobile gamers and content creators tested it in real-world conditions—fast matches, streaming, multi-app usage—and the feedback shaped the final product. The result? A tablet that doesn’t just look impressive—it actually performs.
Snap, Stream, or Video Chat
While the REDMAGIC Astra is all about gaming, its cameras aren’t bad for everyday use. The rear 13MP camera handles quick shots and video calls well, capturing decent detail and fairly accurate colors, though don’t expect standout photography. The 9MP front-facing camera is solid for video chats or streaming on the go.
Video recording is serviceable: the back camera shoots up to 4K at 30fps, and the front tops out at 1080p 30fps. For casual content creation, social media clips, or quick snapshots between matches, it gets the job done.
Pricing and Availability
Astra is available in the US via its online store in the following variations.
12GB + 256GB – $549
16GB+512GB – $699
24GB+ 1TB – $899
Why I’m Impressed
The REDMAGIC Astra gaming tablet is a compact powerhouse that actually delivers. Smooth OLED visuals, precise touch, ICE-X cooling, all-day battery, and surprisingly capable cameras all come together in a device that fits in your hand comfortably.
For mobile gamers, creators, or anyone tired of devices that can’t keep up, Astra is exactly the kind of tablet that feels built for real-world use. It doesn’t try to be flashy. It just works—and for me, that’s exactly the kind of tech I want in my arsenal.
Pros
- ✅ Flagship-level performance in a compact size
- ✅ Excellent OLED display for gaming
- ✅ Versatile beyond gaming
Cons
- — Cameras are functional, not standout
- — Minimal AI features
Lauren has been writing and editing since 2008. She loves working with text and helping writers find their voice. When she’s not typing away at her computer, she cooks and travels with her husband and two daughters.