NEW GAMING TABLET INCOMING? REDMAGIC ASTRA 2 SET TO LAUNCH ON JULY 17

Redmagic has confirmed the global launch of its compact gaming tablet, the Astra 2, for July 17. The announcement follows the domestic release of the Gaming Tablet 5 Pro in China. The Astra 2 targets the same niche as the Lenovo Legion Tab: a small, powerful slate for gamers who want something closer to an iPad Mini in size but built for frame rates.

A 9-INCH OLED THAT RUNS AT 185HZ

The display is the headline. It is a 9.06-inch 2.4K OLED panel with a 185Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. Bezel thickness is 4.9mm on each side. That refresh rate is extremely high for a tablet, and it is not just a marketing number. Redmagic claims that over 200 games will support 144Hz frame interpolation at 2K resolution, meaning the screen can actually use that headroom on real titles rather than just in the settings menu. The 2.4K resolution at this size gives a pixel density that should keep text and UI crisp, which matters when you are not gaming.

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SNAPDRAGON + HELPER CHIP

Under the hood, the tablet runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 paired with Redmagic's own RedCore R4 chip. The secondary chip is designed to offload some GPU tasks and "[balance] rendering performance, touch responsiveness, and system efficiency" to improve performance. This dual-chip approach mirrors what we have seen in some gaming phones and handhelds. The idea is that the main SoC handles general workloads while the dedicated chip manages the rendering pipeline for games, reducing latency and improving frame pacing. Whether it makes a real-world difference over simply having a faster primary GPU is something we will need to test, but the architecture is at least well-conceived for the use case.

THIS THING USES INDUSTRIAL COOLANT

The cooling system is where things get interesting. Redmagic is using a liquid cooling solution that employs "industry-grade fluorinated liquid coolant" along with an active micro pump. That is the same type of coolant used in some industrial and data centre applications. Circulating it through a tablet chassis is a novel way to manage the heat from a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip pushing 185Hz at 2.4K. Most tablets rely on passive heat dissipation via vapour chambers and graphite sheets. Active liquid cooling at this scale is unusual and suggests Redmagic expects sustained gaming sessions to generate serious thermal load. If the micro pump holds up over time, this could be one of the coolest-running gaming tablets on the market.

8300 MAH AND 2 USB-C PORTS

The battery is an 8,300 mAh unit, which is large for a tablet of this size. Redmagic is also including two USB-C ports, both of which support charging. In China, the tablet charges at up to 80W, though the global spec for the Astra 2 has not been confirmed. Two USB-C ports are a thoughtful addition: one can be used for charging while the other is occupied by peripherals like a controller or external display. It is a small touch that matters in a gaming setup.

The software side is Redmagic OS 11.5, based on Android 16. There is no word on software support timelines, which is a recurring concern with smaller hardware makers. The device ships with the latest Android version out of the box, but how many major updates it will see remains unknown.

THE COMPACT GAMING SELL

The Redmagic Astra 2 competes in the same space as the Lenovo Legion Tab and shares a form factor similar to an iPad Mini. It pushes the specs further with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a dedicated RedCore R4 chip. The audience for a small gaming tablet is small but passionate, and they care about frame rates and thermal performance more than OS update promises. The lack of confirmed software support is a weak point, and Redmagic has not committed to any update timeline.

PRICING AND LAUNCH DATE

Pricing in China for the Gaming Tablet 5 Pro starts at 5,299 RMB for the 12/256GB configuration, with 16/512GB and 16/1TB variants also available. The last generation of Redmagic's gaming tablet started at $499 globally, so the Astra 2 is likely to come in above that figure given the specs and component inflation. We will get the full global pricing details on July 17, when the official launch event takes place. Until then, the Chinese launch gives a rough sense of the value proposition. It is a compact, high-performance gaming slate with active cooling and a dual-chip setup that is squarely aimed at the enthusiast who wants more than an iPad Mini can deliver for gaming. If the Astra 2 lands under $600 with these specs, it becomes a serious option for mobile gamers who do not want a giant 12-inch slate. If it creeps above $700, the value proposition gets tighter.

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The July 17 event is the next checkpoint. We will know then whether Redmagic has a winner or just another niche high-end tablet.