REDMAGIC Astra 2 Review – Top End Gaming Tablet?

REDMAGIC are at it again, this time with the release of a sequel to its Astra tablet.

We described its predecessor as “an all round high quality experience with a lot of helpful touches” – but let’s take a look at what we think of this follow up, shall we?

Out of the box

First impressions are that it’s not the biggest tablet, but still has a solid heft. It’s larger than your biggest smartphone, but noticeably smaller (at 9.06 inches) than many of the other tablets in the space such as the iPad.

There’s a reason though, and that’s because this is a tablet that’s squarely aimed at gamers. 

Its smaller size means that it’s perfectly suited for long gaming sessions, and it’s ably supported by a speedy processing chip, improved sound, and a liquid cooling system that means it can handle extended sessions with ease.

In terms of looks it’s a fairly straightforward affair, without the usual RGB lightshow most REDMAGIC units have provided us with in the past. There is a black band across the back where the liquid cooling technology is shown via a channel of blue fluid, but that’s it for eye-catching aesthetics.

Which we’re fine with, as it feels a solid piece of kit regardless of any pointless extra bells and whistles. There’s a lovely brushed aluminium chassis, curved corners, and chunky buttons.

The smaller size, as previously mentioned, means the Astra 2 feels lovely to hold too – not the overwhelming behemoth of most gaming focused tablets. And at 363g it never became uncomfortable for us to hold for extended periods.

There’s also a helpful second USB-C port, which allows you to charge the device while also linking up to an external display or other accessory. 

How about performance?

Let’s start with the screen, which is arguably the most impressive asset of the device. The OLED panel provided us with vibrant colours and bold blacks whatever type of title we threw at it.

The Astra 2 display is 2.4k and boasts a refresh rate of 185 Hz, impressive stuff considering its 9 inch size. 

Nothing we tried on the Astra 2 made it feel like the tablet was struggling. Videos and images look incredibly defined, and they sound great too thanks to dual 1227 stereo speakers, DTS:X Ultra certification, as well as N’Bass acoustic enhancement material. 

All this worked very well on online games in particular, as we never missed a gunshot or essential sound effect at any point. We could hear everything in crystal clear clarity, via the unit’s speakers or whether toting a pair of headphones.

How is it for gaming?

It’s no surprise that this tablet created with gamers in mind felt like a pleasure to use for any title we chucked its way. Not surprising, considering it’s powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon chipset the 8 Elite Gen 5, boasting 6 cores and a clock speed of up to 4.6 GHz.

What this means in plain English is that no title currently available on Google Play can cause the Astra 2 many problems. 

We ran Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Diablo Immortal and Wuthering Waves at their highest available settings, and this didn’t show any signs of sweating. By which we mean – no noticeable slowdown.

There’s also the liquid cooling system which helps support long play sessions, 8,300 mAh fast-charging battery that lasted us for several hours on a single charge, and even a 9 MP camera on the front and a 13 MP on the rear. Not top of the line cameras, but useful for in-game video chatting. 

Then there’s the red Magic Key switch at the top of the device, which allows you to activate your “Game Space.” This is where a gaming takeover of your screen is activated, allowing you to see all the titles you have available.

Here you can create performance profiles, adjust system settings and controls, and much more. A lot is not hugely useful, but some of it will be invaluable if you’re obsessed with a specific game.

So overall the Astra 2 is definitely an upgrade on its predecessor, but we’re not sure it’s enough of a major step up for you to purchase if you already own the original.

If you’re looking for a gaming tablet and don’t already own one this is undoubtedly the best in its class though.