Nubia Red Magic 6R
Price: £429 from fave.co/2UJTP9U
The rapid rise of gaming phones has coincided with the emergence of Nubia’s Red Magic line as a real force. After 2017’s Razer Phone proved there was a market for dedicated gaming handsets, the first Red Magic phone arrived in April 2018.
It’s gone on to maintain an aggressive six-month update cycle, but 2021 is proving to be Red Magic’s biggest year yet. The Red Magic 6 series saw a regular and Pro model for the first time, even if the latter is still exclusive to China. The brand’s first wearable arrived in the form of the Red Magic Watch, but it’s the other phone that launched alongside it that’s the focus here. The Red Magic 6R is a new, affordable alternative to the 6 and 6 Pro that doesn’t sacrifice on high-end specs. But can it compete with the wealth of capable mid-range handsets currently available? Let’s find out.
DESIGN
With the Red Magic 6R, it’s clear Nubia is trying to appeal to more mainstream design tastes. It’s significantly scaled back the typical gamer aesthetic in favour of clean lines and a minimalist look and feel.
That’s reflected in the colour options, with the ‘Cosmos’ model I tested joined by a single ‘Mercury’ alternative. It’s the first Red
