In the ongoing human pursuit of pushing machines to their perceptual and physical limits, RedMagic has introduced the 12 Pro+ in China — a gaming smartphone built around a 185Hz under-display screen, a first of its kind, and a liquid-cooling system that transforms thermal management into spectacle. Priced from roughly $980, the device pairs Qualcomm's most powerful mobile chipset with engineering choices that blur the line between tool and theater. It is, in the tradition of gaming hardware, a declaration that performance and sensation need not be separate ambitions.
RedMagic 12 Pro+ debuts with industry-first 185Hz display and RGB liquid cooling
RGB lighting responds to in-game action, making thermal management visible
Mark
So this 185Hz display—is that actually useful, or is it just a spec race at this point?
Mimi
It matters for gaming, where the higher refresh rate means smoother motion and less input lag. But you need games that actually support it. Most don't yet.
Luke
Right—and the source doesn't say how many games support 185Hz. It says "supported games," which could be a handful. That's a real gap.
Mark
What about the cooling system? Does it actually make a difference?
Mimi
The dual-loop liquid cooling with the upgraded pump is designed to keep the CPU and battery from throttling during sustained gaming. That's where it matters—keeping performance stable over time.
Luke
But we don't have thermal test data. We know it's 85% more powerful than the previous model, but we don't know if that translates to measurably better sustained performance in real use.
Mark
The RGB lighting that syncs with games—is that just cosmetic?
Mimi
Mostly, yes. It's a visual feature that responds to in-game action. It doesn't improve performance, but it does make the cooling system visible and reactive.
Luke
And the price—$980 to $1,260 for the base to top model. How does that compare to other flagships?
Mimi
It's positioned as a premium gaming phone, so it's in the high end, but the specs justify it for someone who games seriously.
Mark
Will this actually be available outside China soon?
Luke
November 3 is when they announce global pricing and availability. Until then, we don't know if it's coming to the US, Europe, or what the actual global price will be.
Il Polso
- The 185Hz under-display AMOLED screen — the first on any smartphone — sets a new benchmark that rivals will now be measured against, raising the stakes across the entire gaming phone category.
- An 8,400 mAh battery, 120W wired charging, and a five-layer thermal stack signal that sustained, unthrottled performance is the central anxiety this device is designed to resolve.
- The dual-loop RGB liquid-cooling system, with a micro-pump 85% more powerful than its predecessor, turns heat dissipation into a live visual experience synced to in-game events.
- A Steam-connected PC Emulator and a dedicated RedCore R5 gaming chip push the device toward territory traditionally occupied by portable consoles, not phones.
- Global availability under the RedMagic 12 Pro name is set for November 3, leaving international pricing and specifications still in motion as anticipation builds outside China.
In the ongoing human pursuit of pushing machines to their perceptual and physical limits, RedMagic has introduced the 12 Pro+ in China — a gaming smartphone built around a 185Hz under-display screen, a first of its kind, and a liquid-cooling system that transforms thermal management into spectacle. Priced from roughly $980, the device pairs Qualcomm's most powerful mobile chipset with engineering choices that blur the line between tool and theater. It is, in the tradition of gaming hardware, a declaration that performance and sensation need not be separate ambitions.
RedMagic has unveiled the 12 Pro+ in China, a gaming smartphone centered on a 185Hz under-display AMOLED screen — the first of its kind — paired with an RGB liquid-cooling system that responds to in-game action. The combination of raw performance and visual theatrics is characteristic of the gaming phone category, and the 12 Pro+ pushes both further than its predecessors.
The device runs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 alongside RedMagic's own RedCore R5 chip, which handles ray tracing, 2K upscaling, and frame interpolation up to 185Hz. It supports up to 16GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 Pro storage, while an 8,400 mAh battery accommodates 120W wired, 80W wireless, and 22.5W reverse wired charging.
The 6.85-inch display reaches 5,000 nits peak brightness, achieves a 96.3% screen-to-body ratio with a 0.96mm bezel, and houses a ninth-generation 16MP under-display camera developed with BOE. A 50MP main camera with OIS handles 8K video, and a 50MP ultrawide completes the rear imaging system.
The cooling architecture is a dual-loop liquid system surrounding both CPU and battery, working alongside a fan spinning at 25,500 RPM. The micro-pump is 85% more powerful than the previous generation while drawing just 20mW. Graphene, a vapor chamber, and liquid metal form a five-layer thermal stack, with RGB lighting on the rear cooling module turning heat management into a visible feature.
The phone measures 8.55mm thick, weighs 223 grams, carries IP68/IP69 ratings, and runs RedMagic OS 12 on Android 17. It includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, a 3.5mm jack, 700Hz shoulder triggers, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort output. A Steam-compatible PC Emulator is also included, with game compatibility varying by title.
In China, pricing begins at 6,999 yuan (roughly $980) for 12GB/256GB, rising to 8,999 yuan ($1,260) for the 16GB/1TB top configuration. A limited Golden Saga edition with 24GB of RAM is also planned. The phone will reach global markets as the RedMagic 12 Pro, with international details to follow on November 3.
RedMagic unveiled its latest gaming phone in China today, and it's built around a display that pushes into territory no smartphone has reached before. The RedMagic 12 Pro+ features a 185Hz under-display AMOLED screen—the first of its kind, according to the company—paired with an RGB liquid-cooling system that lights up in sync with whatever game you're playing. The combination represents the kind of hardware escalation that defines the gaming phone category: raw performance married to visual spectacle and thermal management that keeps the device from throttling under sustained load.
The phone runs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset alongside RedMagic's own RedCore R5 gaming processor, a pairing designed to handle ray tracing, 2K upscaling, and frame interpolation up to 185Hz in supported titles. You can configure it with up to 16GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 Pro storage. The battery sits at 8,400 mAh and supports 120W wired charging, 80W wireless charging, and 22.5W reverse wired charging—a full suite of power options for a device meant to be used hard and often.
The display itself is the technical centerpiece. At 6.85 inches, it spans 1216 by 2688 pixels and reaches 1,900 nits in high brightness mode and 5,000 nits at peak. It's covered in Gorilla Glass 7i and achieves a 96.3% screen-to-body ratio, with a bezel measuring just 0.96mm. Embedded beneath the screen is a ninth-generation 16MP under-display camera developed with BOE, along with an ultrasonic fingerprint reader. On the back, a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization handles 8K video recording, and a 50MP ultrawide rounds out the imaging setup.
The cooling system is where RedMagic has invested considerable engineering. A dual-loop liquid-cooling architecture surrounds both the CPU and battery, with a micro-pump that's 85% more powerful than the one in the previous RedMagic 11 Pro+ while drawing only 20mW of power. The system works in concert with a fan spinning up to 25,500 RPM and rated IPX8 for water resistance. The whole thermal stack incorporates graphene materials, a vapor chamber, and liquid metal, which RedMagic describes as a five-layer setup. The RGB lighting sits on the circular cooling module on the back and responds to in-game events, turning the phone's thermal management into a visual element.
The phone itself is compact for its screen size: 8.55mm thick and weighing 223 grams, with Gorilla Glass 7i protecting the back as well. It carries an IP68/IP69 rating for dust and water resistance and runs RedMagic OS 12 based on Android 17. The feature set includes dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an X-axis linear motor, 700Hz capacitive shoulder triggers, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, an IR blaster, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with DisplayPort output.
RedMagic also upgraded its PC Emulator, allowing users to sign into Steam and play games from their PC library on the handset, though the company notes that compatibility varies by title. The RedCore R5 chip handles the heavy lifting for frame interpolation and upscaling, making the experience smoother than it would be on the main processor alone.
In China, the RedMagic 12 Pro+ launches in three color options: Nightfreeze, Subzero, and Skyfrost, with Skyfrost arriving later in the year. Pricing starts at 6,999 yuan (roughly $980) for the 12GB/256GB model, 7,999 yuan ($1,120) for 16GB/512GB, and 8,999 yuan ($1,260) for the top 16GB/1TB configuration. RedMagic is also preparing a limited Golden Saga edition with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, though full details on that variant will come later. The phone will launch globally under the RedMagic 12 Pro name, with international pricing, specifications, and availability to be announced on November 3.
Citazioni salienti
The dual-loop liquid cooling surrounds the CPU and the battery, with a micro-pump 85% more powerful than the RedMagic 11 Pro+ while drawing only 20mW of power— RedMagic specifications
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