Redmagic’s Astra 2 pairs a bright 9.04-inch OLED with a 185Hz screen and strong gaming performance, giving the new iPad Mini a capable rival.
Apple’s OLED iPad Mini brings a welcome display upgrade, but months with Redmagic’s Astra 2 have made the Android tablet look like the more compelling pick for people who value screen speed, gaming performance, and storage.
Screen size and speed set the Astra apart
Apple’s new Mini has an 8.5-inch OLED panel in a 5.4mm-thick, 255g body, according to 9to5Mac’s report. The Astra 2’s OLED screen measures 9.04 inches, making the tablet larger and somewhat heavier, but still compact enough to compete in the same small-tablet category.
The Astra’s panel is a highlight in everyday use. Movies and games benefit from vivid color and deep blacks, while its peak brightness reaches 1,600 nits, above Apple’s stated figure. The bigger practical difference is refresh rate: Redmagic offers 185Hz, while the new iPad Mini remains at 60Hz. I don’t find 185Hz meaningfully better than 120Hz, but the jump from 60Hz is immediately useful for motion-heavy games and scrolling.
There’s a tradeoff for that gaming-first design: the Astra 2 doesn’t support a stylus. For note-taking or drawing, that omission could matter more than the faster screen.
Built for demanding games
The Redmagic Astra 2 pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with 12GB of RAM in its base configuration. That’s the same core setup found in devices such as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and the tablet’s relatively light Android software keeps performance snappy. Metalstorm ran smoothly at maximum settings throughout my time with it.
A built-in fan and liquid cooling loop help keep the tablet from getting warm during play. You can hear the fan in a quiet room, particularly at night, though it usually fades into the background. The Astra is rated IP54 despite the cooling hardware.
Its 8,300mAh battery also holds up well. An hour of gaming barely dents the charge, and standby drain was low enough that the tablet lost about 25% after sitting unused for more than a week. Two USB-C ports give you options for charging: one on the side and one on the bottom, leaving the other available for peripherals.
The aluminum body is 6.9mm thick. A small glass panel on the back and optional RGB lighting add a gaming touch without dominating the design; the lights can be turned off.
Android software and the price comparison
Redmagic’s interface is restrained for a tablet sold primarily for gaming. A changeable gamer-style font is one of the more conspicuous touches; otherwise, the software feels closer to a lightly customized Pixel experience than a heavily themed Android skin. It includes lockscreen widgets and a configurable top switch that defaults to gaming mode, which brings up a dedicated interface and performance settings. You can assign the switch other jobs, including muting the tablet or turning on the flashlight.
Price comparisons depend on configuration. Redmagic recently raised the Astra 2’s starting price to $749 for the 12GB/256GB model. Apple’s iPad Mini starts at $699, but the comparable configuration costs $799. At 512GB, the Astra is $849, while Apple’s option is $999. The Astra therefore offers more storage for less at those matched tiers, although Apple’s lower entry price remains a factor.
For a compact tablet centered on games and media, the Astra 2’s fast OLED display, sustained performance, and long standby life make a persuasive package. Its missing stylus support is the clearest reason to choose the iPad Mini instead.
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