REDMAGIC 11S Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
REDMAGIC 11S Pro (#1, best overall) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (#5): in our Gaming Phones scoring the REDMAGIC 11S Pro totals 10/10 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 8.5/10, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro leading on Cooling and Performance.
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Side by side
| REDMAGIC 11S Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.85" BOE X10 OLED, 2688x1216, 144Hz, 1,800 nits | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Leading Version) + RedCore R4 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB | 256GB-1TB |
| Battery | 7,500mAh, 80W wired + 80W wireless | 5,000mAh, 60W wired, 25W wireless |
| Cooling | AquaCore liquid cooling, 24,000 RPM turbofan | — |
| Camera | — | 200MP f/1.4 main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP 5x + 10MP 3x telephoto |
| Price | $849 → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best gaming phones scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the REDMAGIC 11S Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra made our Top 5 Gaming Phones, at #1 (best overall) and #5. The REDMAGIC 11 Pro that previously held this spot is out of stock everywhere, including direct from REDMAGIC, so its successor takes over: a 'Leading Version' Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, AquaCore liquid cooling with a 24,000 RPM turbofan, a 144Hz OLED display, and a bigger 7,500mAh battery with 80W wired and wireless charging. It isn't sold on Amazon US, so the link below goes to REDMAGIC's own US store. All-rounder flagship running the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy: GSMArena found it runs demanding titles at higher graphics settings than the Tensor-powered Pixel 10 series can manage. Game Booster, a 6.9" display, and the S Pen for strategy games round it out; it ranks below the dedicated gaming phones because it lacks triggers and active cooling.
We score gaming phones on Performance (35%), Display (25%), Cooling (20%), Gaming Features (10%) and Battery Life (10%). On that basis the REDMAGIC 11S Pro totals 10 out of 10 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 8.5. The widest gap is Cooling, where the REDMAGIC 11S Pro scores 10 against 8 for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: thermal. Performance also separates them: 10 for the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus 9 for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Display: 6.85" BOE X10 OLED, 2688x1216, 144Hz, 1,800 nits on the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra; Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Leading Version) + RedCore R4 on the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra; Storage: 256GB/512GB on the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus 256GB-1TB on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra; Battery: 7,500mAh, 80W wired + 80W wireless on the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus 5,000mAh, 60W wired, 25W wireless on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. They match on RAM.
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro lists at $849; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's current price is on the merchant page. Owners praise the REDMAGIC 11S Pro for aquaCore liquid cooling with a 24,000 RPM turbofan and 13,116 mm² vapor chamber sustains clocks through long sessions and 7,500mAh battery with both 80W wired and 80W wireless charging; the most common complaint is camera system is the biggest compromise, per BGR's review: no telephoto lens, weak dynamic range, and noisy, soft low-light images. Owners praise the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for 200MP main camera now f/1.4 (47% more light for low-light shots) and privacy Display blocks side-angle viewing, first on any phone; the most common complaint is $1,299 list price with pricier storage upgrades.
REDMAGIC 11S Pro
- AquaCore liquid cooling with a 24,000 RPM turbofan and 13,116 mm² vapor chamber sustains clocks through long sessions
- 7,500mAh battery with both 80W wired and 80W wireless charging
- 144Hz BOE X10 OLED display at up to 1,800 nits
- Up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage
- Camera system is the biggest compromise, per BGR's review: no telephoto lens, weak dynamic range, and noisy, soft low-light images
- Only 2 years of OS updates and 3-5 years of security updates, trailing Samsung and Google
- Not sold on Amazon US; purchase is direct through REDMAGIC's own US store
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 200MP main camera now f/1.4 (47% more light for low-light shots)
- Privacy Display blocks side-angle viewing, first on any phone
- Built-in S Pen and DeX desktop mode
- 60W wired charging up from 45W
- $1,299 list price with pricier storage upgrades
- Still 5,000mAh, no silicon-carbon battery like OnePlus and OPPO
- Large camera bump
Which should you buy?
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro is the better fit for hardcore mobile gamers and sustained gaming sessions; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Cooling and Performance. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better fit for content creators and zoom photography. The REDMAGIC 11S Pro is a poor fit for camera-focused buyers; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a poor fit for compact phone seekers.
Choose the REDMAGIC 11S Pro if
- Hardcore mobile gamers
- Sustained gaming sessions
- Benchmark chasers
Skip it if
- Camera-focused buyers
- Long-term software support needs
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if
- Content creators
- Zoom photography
- S Pen note-takers
Skip it if
- Compact phone seekers
- Clean Android preference
Common questions
Is the REDMAGIC 11S Pro better than the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
In our Gaming Phones ranking the REDMAGIC 11S Pro scores higher overall, 10 to 8.5, with the biggest advantage in Cooling. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
What is the main difference between the REDMAGIC 11S Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The headline spec difference is Display: 6.85" BOE X10 OLED, 2688x1216, 144Hz, 1,800 nits on the REDMAGIC 11S Pro versus 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120x1440, 120Hz on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. In use, the gap that matters most is Cooling (10 vs 8 in our scoring): thermal.