RedMagic 11S Pro Shows Off Liquid Cooling on Every Model, but With a Price Bump

Gamers who push their phones to the limit will appreciate the RedMagic 11S Pro's standard liquid cooling — but they'll also notice a steeper price. RedMagic, the gaming arm of Nubia, has unveiled the 11S Pro, a mid-cycle refresh of its flagship gaming phone that makes liquid cooling standard across all configurations. The RedMagic 11S Pro price starts at $799, a $100 increase over the RedMagic 11 Pro launched last fall, reflecting the cost of integrating more advanced thermal management. The device is expected to ship globally starting in April, with pre-orders opening later this month.

Liquid cooling has typically been reserved for premium or limited editions in the RedMagic lineup, but the 11S Pro brings it to every model — a first for the brand. This change addresses a persistent pain point for mobile gamers: sustained performance under heavy loads. The RedMagic 11S Pro liquid cooling system uses a vapor chamber and heat pipes to dissipate heat from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, allowing sustained clock speeds without throttling.

To understand why this matters, it helps to look back. RedMagic built its reputation on phones with built-in active cooling fans. The RedMagic 11 Pro introduced a revamped cooling system but fans remained optional on some variants. With the 11S Pro, the company has decided to drop the fan-based approach as standard and instead rely entirely on passive liquid cooling, which is quieter and more power-efficient. This shift follows trends in the gaming PC market, where liquid cooling has become mainstream.

Key details include a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 6500mAh battery supporting 100W fast charging. The rear camera setup remains similar to the 11 Pro, with a 64-megapixel main sensor. The phone runs RedMagic's own UI based on Android 15. The RedMagic 11S Pro price bump is the most talked-about change: the base model costs $799, compared to $699 for the previous generation. Higher tiers with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage reach $949.

Industry analysts point out that RedMagic is walking a tightrope. "The RedMagic 11S Pro liquid cooling is a genuine improvement, but gamers are price-sensitive," says mobile tech analyst Aisha Patel of TechInsight Research. "A $100 increase could push some buyers toward competitors like the Asus ROG Phone 9 or Lenovo Legion Tab." Indeed, the ROG Phone 9 starts at $899, making the RedMagic 11S Pro price slightly more aggressive, but the gap has narrowed.

Looking ahead, RedMagic will need to justify its premium with robust real-world performance and a strong marketing push. Pre-orders begin March 15, with a global release on April 2. Early reviews will be critical in determining whether the liquid cooling standard is enough to offset the higher cost. If successful, this could become the new baseline for gaming phones, forcing rivals to follow suit. If not, RedMagic may have to reconsider its pricing strategy for the next generation.