The RedMagic 11 Pro has been pulled from the rankings of 3DMark after the benchmarking firm found the gaming-focused phone wasn’t playing by the rules.
According to 3DMark, the RedMagic 11 Pro series was effectively bypassing standard thermal and power limits to push higher scores. In simple terms, the phones were allowing the processor to run harder for longer than normally permitted. This goes against benchmarking guidelines designed to reflect real-world performance.
That does not mean the phones are slow. Actually, quite the opposite, as the issue is that they can hit impressive numbers by ignoring safeguards like thermal throttling. As a result, this typically prevents hardware from overheating or drawing excessive power.
Reports suggest this behaviour isn’t limited to synthetic tests either. Some users on Reddit have flagged unusually high temperatures during demanding games. Titles like Tomb Raider (2013) are pushing the device to its limits. In extreme cases, there are claims of devices shutting down mid-session when running at very high frame rates.
Moreover, the RedMagic line is known for its aggressive performance tuning, including built-in cooling fans and advanced thermal systems. But even with that hardware in place, there’s only so much heat a smartphone can handle before stability becomes a concern. This is especially true under sustained loads.
This isn’t the first time the industry has run into benchmark controversy. Both MediaTek and Huawei have previously been called out for similar tactics. These typically involve tweaks that boost scores in controlled tests rather than reflecting everyday use.
For now, 3DMark’s decision means the RedMagic 11 Pro won’t appear in official rankings. For users, though, the takeaway is fairly straightforward. The phone is undeniably powerful, but pushing it to its absolute limits may come with trade-offs. This is significantly true when it comes to heat and long-term reliability.
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