Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+

Review

Today I have something exotic for you - it is Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+, a smartphone that is only available in China.

Many of my industry colleagues have already tested the Red Magic 9 Pro model, so I decided to focus on the plus version to see if it's worth buying this phone from China. Most of my opinions can also be applied to the model without the "plus", because these phones differ only in software, battery and charging power.

Unique design

Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ stands out from other smartphones with its unique appearance. It is large, relatively heavy and has angular shapes, which gives it an elegant look. The back of the phone in this version is transparent, which looks really impressive. Various elements can be seen under the Gorilla Glass 5, which creates the illusion of insight into the interior of the phone. A version with an opaque back in a different color is also available. One of the disadvantages of this model is the lack of waterproofness. This is due to the presence of a fan that requires air inlets and outlets.

Still, I forgive this omission given its unique appearance. The display is amazing, with a very narrow and almost symmetrical bezel, especially at the bottom. The frame is really narrow and is not disturbed by any holes. The phone is equipped with a new generation camera - under the screen. This solution is so subtle that it is practically invisible. Even with the screen backlit in white, the camera is invisible. This is a truly impressive effect. What photos does this camera take? I will answer this question in a moment, but I can already say that you should not expect miracles.

Flagship display

Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ has an AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Although some smartphones offer up to 165 Hz, the presence of the camera under the screen probably influenced the choice of a lower frequency. This screen offers an image with a resolution of 1116 x 2480 pixels and a diagonal of 6.8 inches. The maximum brightness of 1,600 nits makes using the screen in bright daylight extremely comfortable. I can't say a bad word about this - the display is really great.

The device is equipped with an under-screen reader that works very efficiently and is placed in a convenient place. Although I'm usually not a fan of this solution, it works so well in this model that it deserves praise. Of course, facial recognition is also available, but I personally prefer using the fingerprint reader.

Specific ergonomics

The power and volume buttons are placed slightly lower than in typical smartphones. This is due to the presence of an air inlet for cooling the interior of the device, located higher. Additionally, the phone is equipped with triggers for players and a slider that turns on the game mode. This slider can be annoying because it sometimes toggles accidentally when I take my phone out of my pocket or put it in my car holder. The location of the buttons requires some adaptation.

While this may be uncomfortable at first, you get used to it after a while. Considering the size of the phone, their location is not that tragic. Each model has its own specific features that need to be adapted to. Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ has a unique design, but its shiny casing quickly collects fingerprints, which is a common problem with such surfaces. Despite this, the camera is completely hidden in the housing, which makes the back of the phone smooth and elegant. Although the camera requires regular cleaning because it easily attracts fingerprints, the lack of a protruding lens is a definite plus.

Minijack and infrared

The phone offers both a minijack socket and an infrared transmitter, which is rare in modern smartphones. The built-in IR app works well, but you may want to consider downloading apps from Google Play that may offer additional features. Unfortunately, Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ does not have a microSD card slot, which means we have to rely on the built-in memory.

Therefore, it is best to choose the version with the most memory to avoid problems with lack of file space in the future. An interesting addition is the LED backlight, which gives the phone a unique character. The lights around the fan and other illuminated elements can function as notifications, which is especially useful when the phone is lying face down.

Top processor parameters

Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ is equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and a large amount of RAM up to 24 GB and up to 1 TB of built-in memory. Even the version with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB of internal memory should satisfy the most demanding gamers. The phone has exceptional performance without overheating problems, thanks to the built-in fan. It maintains consistently high performance, which is crucial for gamers.

First complications

Importing Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ from China involves several significant limitations. First of all, unless you know Chinese, you will have to use the English interface. Moreover, this model will be filled with Chinese applications that you will have to remove. Installing Google services is relatively simple and quick, so most users should be able to cope with this task without major problems.

Problems with mobile payments

One of the more serious problems is the lack of security certificates, which means that mobile payments may not work. Even if you manage to add a payment card, the terminals may not recognize it. This problem will probably not be solved in models imported from China, although it is hoped that the versions officially available in the EU will be free of this limitation.

The phone offers several useful personalization functions and gestures. An example is the ability to turn on the flashlight by shaking the phone, which is known from Motorola phones. The smartphone also has options to prevent false touches on the screen, which makes its operation more comfortable.

Network and compatibility issues

Another limitation is the lack of support for some network functions, which may not work with all operators. The phone may also have trouble supporting all 5G bands, which may result in connection issues in some locations. In my case, 5G worked flawlessly, but it's worth bearing in mind that this may vary depending on location.

Unusual sound problem

One of the main problems of Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ is the sound quality during phone calls. My interlocutors often complained that they couldn't hear me well, and sometimes my voice disappeared completely. I'm not sure if this is due to encoding issues or perhaps the microphone placement. It's possible that I accidentally covered the microphone during a call, which affects the quality of the call.

On the other hand, the sound quality from the phone's speakers is very good. The phone is equipped with excellent speakers that are perfect for both calls and multimedia. The speakers are stereo and even the bass is quite audible. The only problem is that when gaming and holding the phone horizontally, it is easy to cover the speakers, which can affect the sound.

Player menu

The phone offers a special menu for gamers, which allows you to adjust many options, such as cooling management, backlight management, and additional facilities for gamers, such as aiming assistance. Options for managing touch triggers are also very useful. They have a refresh rate above 500 Hz and work very well.

Unfortunately, the phone menu contains inserts in Chinese. They concern, for example, the purchase of additional accessories that are not available for purchase anyway, or advertisements. This is a problem of a phone imported unofficially. Knowledge of English is enough to fully use the phone, and the Chinese inserts can be ignored. In any case, this is something you should be prepared for if you decide to import your phone from China.

The set with the phone includes a charger, cable and even a cover. If you decide to purchase the Pro model available in the EU, you will also receive a charger, case and red cable.

Cosmic charging speed

The main difference between the Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro model and the Pro+ version is the battery capacity and charging speed. The Pro model is equipped with a larger battery with a capacity of 6,500 mAh, while the Pro+ version has a smaller battery with a capacity of 5,500 mAh. However, the Pro+ version offers much faster charging, reaching a power of 165 W, while the Pro model charges at 80 W.

While I didn't have the opportunity to fully test the 165W charger, my experience with the 120W charging was very positive. The phone charged from zero to full in about 15 minutes, which is impressive. Nevertheless, the lack of inductive charging in such an advanced phone may be a disappointment for some users. Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ easily withstands a whole day of intensive use. Of course, battery life depends on individual usage style, but even with intense gaming the phone performs well. There is also a charging bypass function for gamers, which means that energy is supplied directly to the phone and the battery level remains unchanged.

An exceptionally good set of cameras

The camera on the back, apart from fitting very well into the back of the housing, also takes quite good photos! I have never been a particular fan of Nubia gaming cameras - they were sufficient, but nothing spectacular. This one is definitely better than last year's model.

The basis of the photographic set is a 50-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization. Next to it we have a wide-angle camera with a resolution of 50 Mpx and a 2-megapixel macro. For the first time in the case of this manufacturer, there is probably nothing to complain about. After dark, the camera isn't stunning, but the photos are really acceptable. Night mode sometimes exaggerates the exposure, so it's better to switch to a regular automatic mode. Of course, after dark you can notice noise and susceptibility to flares, which is probably due to the uniform glass used for the lenses. You should also avoid the wide-angle camera in the evenings, because it works less well in poorer lighting, but there is no tragedy.

The camera has a lot of additional modes, which is called a camera family. There are, among others: artistic filters or transforming a portrait into an anime. There is also a document shooting mode, light painting, freeze frame options and double exposure. We also have slow motion videos. You can see that there is a lot to play with in the camera, so you should be happy with the photos.

Valid videos

There is nothing much to criticize about the films. Of course, those taken after dark may irritate us with grain, but it is only visible when put on a large screen. This is quite a common problem with mid-range and even high-end phones, so there is nothing to worry about. Moreover, the smoothness, image quality and sound are really pleasant.

Poor front camera

When it comes to the front camera, its main and basic advantage is that it is invisible. In terms of quality, it is still inferior to cameras visible on the screen. It's easy to spot the problem, although post-production tries to deal with it somehow. The photos are suitable for publication on social media, but it is clear that something strange is happening with this camera, which is a bit difficult to explain. It's better not to bother taking photos with it after dark, because the quality is poor.

Don't film with the front camera - at all. The image is poor and clearly drops frames. Additionally, the sound is completely at odds with the image. It's OK for photos, but I absolutely don't recommend it for filming. On the other hand, the rear camera is already worth recommending.

To buy or better not?

Is the game worth the candle? Honestly, I don't think so. Considering that you can buy a phone in the EU and not mess with the charger and adapters, get Google services, not clean the phone of Chinese applications and enjoy some form of Polish version, it is probably worth buying the Pro version, especially since it is not known what will happen with mobile payments. Still, if you want a phone that looks great, takes good photos, offers very high performance, fast charging, and also has a great screen and really decent speakers, then why not? I think you can try.

The price of the Red Magic 9 Pro model, officially available in the EU, is EUR 650-800, depending on the selected memory. The Pro+ model, which is not officially available in the EU and must be imported from China, costs EUR 720-920, but tax must be added. You can see that it's not cheap. Despite some drawbacks, this phone may be an attractive option for people looking for a device primarily for gaming. However, if you are looking for a phone mainly as a communication tool, it will not necessarily be a good choice.