Updated

Updated · Android Authority · Jun 30

REDMAGIC Sets July 17 Global Launch for 9-Inch Astra 2 Gaming Tablet With PC Emulation

Updated

Updated · Android Authority · Jun 30

REDMAGIC Sets July 17 Global Launch for 9-Inch Astra 2 Gaming Tablet With PC Emulation

Q: With its extreme specs confirmed, will the unannounced price be the one feature gamers can't afford?

Probably not for its target audience, but it is very likely to be a premium-priced niche device rather than a mass-market bargain. The clearest guide is the original RedMagic Astra, which launched around $499 to $549 for lower trims and rose to roughly $849 to $899 for top configurations. With the Astra 2 adding a newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a 9-inch 2.4K OLED panel, 185Hz refresh rate, liquid-metal cooling with an 18,000 RPM fan, up to 24GB RAM and 1TB storage, and 80W charging, a price increase would be unsurprising. That said, the likely range still looks competitive within its category. Lenovo’s Legion Tab has sat around $550, while Apple’s iPad mini is about $499 without the same gaming-first hardware. RedMagic has historically undercut broader premium tablets by focusing on raw gaming value, and its strategy here appears similar: charge more than mainstream compact tablets, but justify it with top-tier performance and specialized features such as bypass charging and a built-in PC emulator. The real risk is not that the Astra 2 becomes “unaffordable” in absolute terms, but that it narrows its audience. Casual buyers may see it as overkill, especially given RedMagic’s weaker record on long-term software support. For dedicated mobile gamers, though, the expected premium is likely to be seen as the cost of buying one of the most aggressively specified small Android gaming tablets on the market.

3 articles · Updated · Android Authority · Jun 30

July 17 is the global release date for REDMAGIC’s Astra 2, a 9-inch gaming tablet that adds native PC emulation and Steam login support to its Android gaming pitch.
The device pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with a 185Hz 2.4K OLED display, dual USB-C ports, an 8,300mAh battery and 80W charging, aiming to support handheld play or monitor-connected gaming.
REDMAGIC is centering the launch on its liquid-cooling system, which uses fluorinated coolant visible through a transparent back with RGB lighting, though the tablet drops the cooling fan seen on some earlier REDMAGIC devices.
China pricing for the Gaming Tablet 5 Pro—the model Astra 2 is based on—starts at CNY 5,299, about $780, with higher 16GB/512GB and 16GB/1TB versions priced at roughly $880 and $1,030.