REDMAGIC 12 Pro: what we know so far

Updated: 28 September 2026. REDMAGIC confirmed the 15 October China launch, the chipset and Dolby Atmos. The phone launches in China as the 12 Pro+ and globally as the 12 Pro.

REDMAGIC launches the 12 Pro+ in China on 15 October 2026 at 14:30 local time. The global version is the REDMAGIC 12 Pro, and REDMAGIC hasn't announced when it reaches other markets. The phone runs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and pairs a 0.96mm bezel with a ninth-generation under-display camera. Battery, memory, cameras and price are due at the China launch.

The specs below come from REDMAGIC's China teasers for the 12 Pro+. REDMAGIC hasn't said whether the global 12 Pro differs.

REDMAGIC 12 Pro specs: confirmed vs rumoured

12 Pro or 12 Pro+?

Same phone, two names. REDMAGIC sells it as the 12 Pro+ in China and as the 12 Pro in global markets. China's teaser campaign uses the 12 Pro+ name, which is why you'll see both in coverage before launch.

Launch date: 15 October in China

The 12 Pro+ China event starts at 14:30 local time on 15 October 2026. The global 12 Pro should follow. REDMAGIC has not given timing for other markets, including the US or Mexico.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6

REDMAGIC confirmed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, the higher-end chip in Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 family, and says the phone will be among the first to use it. ZTE and Nubia executives pitch the upgrade on faster response, better efficiency and steadier performance through long gaming sessions.

Design: lighter, thinner, narrower, rounder

REDMAGIC calls the 12 Pro its best-feeling flagship yet, built around four design priorities: lighter, thinner, narrower and rounder. Teaser images show refined corners, slimmer proportions and tighter display borders. A gaming phone also needs room for high-performance hardware and active cooling, which makes that direction harder to deliver.

A new benchmark for bezels

The 12 Pro pushes REDMAGIC's full-screen design further with a 0.96mm bezel, continuing the progression across recent generations.

REDMAGIC made that cut while keeping its uninterrupted, hole-less screen, now with a ninth-generation under-display camera. You get a more immersive display for gaming, streaming and everyday use, and the phone keeps the clean front that has long separated REDMAGIC from conventional flagships.

Sound

REDMAGIC calls the phone its best-sounding flagship to date and confirms Dolby Atmos support.

Patent points to a new cooling design

Alongside the design teasers, a newly surfaced ZTE patent application describes a cooling architecture that combines active fan cooling, a liquid-cooling circulation loop and a semiconductor thermoelectric cooling assembly.

The patent describes a sealed liquid-cooling circuit made up of interconnected channels. A coolant-driving assembly circulates liquid through the loop. One portion of the system sits near the cooling end of a semiconductor thermoelectric refrigeration component, while another corresponds to the device's heat-generating components and carries heat away through the coolant.

The 11 Pro and 11S Pro already pair a fan with liquid cooling, but REDMAGIC placed the liquid section closer to the battery. The patent routes the loop toward the heat-source assembly instead, which may include the processor. Sustained gaming loads build the most heat around the chipset, so cooling that area could help the phone hold its frame rates longer.

A patent filing doesn't confirm a product feature. Treat this as ZTE's direction of travel until REDMAGIC shows the internals on 15 October.

Built for long gaming sessions

REDMAGIC product line manager Jiang Chao describes the phone as built for real gamers. His priorities: sustained performance, cooling for long sessions, a lighter and thinner body, a distinctive design and a complete hole-less display.

Rumoured battery and charging

Leaks after the chipset reveal point to an 8,400mAh battery, 120W wired charging and 80W wireless charging, plus further refinement of the under-display camera. None of these figures are confirmed.

What Heyup readers want to know

Your comments on this article raised two questions REDMAGIC hasn't answered yet. Several of you want a clearer commitment on software updates, and 11 Pro owners say cases and accessories are hard to find. We'll update this article if REDMAGIC addresses either at launch.

What to watch on 15 October

REDMAGIC still has to confirm the specs that decide whether the phone delivers on its "lighter, thinner" promise: battery size, charging speeds and weight. Watch for the cooling reveal too. If REDMAGIC shows a liquid loop routed to the processor, the ZTE patent moves from research to product.

Pricing, RAM and storage options, rear cameras and display refresh rate are also due at the China event. Global 12 Pro timing, including the US and Mexico, may come later. We'll update this article after the launch. Until then, browse more REDMAGIC news and smartphones on Heyup, or check the current Tryouts.

FAQ

What is the difference between the REDMAGIC 12 Pro and 12 Pro+?

The name. REDMAGIC sells the phone as the 12 Pro+ in China and as the 12 Pro globally. REDMAGIC hasn't said whether specs differ between the two.

When does the REDMAGIC 12 Pro launch?

The China version, the 12 Pro+, launches on 15 October 2026 at 14:30 local time. REDMAGIC hasn't announced global dates for the 12 Pro.

When will the REDMAGIC 12 Pro launch in the US or Mexico?

REDMAGIC hasn't announced dates outside China. The global 12 Pro is expected after the China event.

What chip does the REDMAGIC 12 Pro use?

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.

How thin are the REDMAGIC 12 Pro bezels?

0.96mm, down from 1.25mm on the 11 Pro and 1.48mm on the 9 Pro.

Does the REDMAGIC 12 Pro have liquid cooling?

REDMAGIC confirms new cooling technologies without details. A ZTE patent describes a liquid loop aimed at the processor area, combined with a fan and a thermoelectric cooler.

What battery will the REDMAGIC 12 Pro have?

Not announced. Leaks point to 8,400mAh with 120W wired and 80W wireless charging.

How much will the REDMAGIC 12 Pro cost?

REDMAGIC hasn't announced pricing.