This phone currently occupies the top of our phone rating table, and I decided to make it my daily driver and see how this top score translates into daily experience. But that's yet another editorial you'll need to click away to read. I know, a rollercoaster.
Having the RedMagic 11 Pro as a daily driver produced an unexpected effect that triggered the rusty cogs of my brain to spin and also made me remember something long forgotten about smartphones and phones in general.
Your phone as a conversation starter
Over the past week, ALL of my friends have asked me the same thing: "Hey, what phone is that?" Then comes the inevitable "Can I see it?" The reactions were not completely unexpected given the striking looks of the RedMagic 11 Pro, but it all still felt a bit like participating in a social experiment.
Even strangers met me on the street to ask the same questions, something that hasn’t happened in years. And I often notice the look on people's faces when I'm talking on the phone. They look curious, surprised. And that’s when it hit me: we’ve lost this kind of interaction.
I'm not that naive to think that every single person should care about tech, or that smartphones should be icebreakers between strangers. But the fact that this used to happen (and now almost never does) says something about how uniform smartphones have become.
The current state of popular smartphones
Well... that's just boring... | Image by PhoneArena
Take the latest iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel phones. Hide the camera bump and logos, and from a distance, you’d struggle to tell them apart. This unification in design has reached a peak point in 2025, and mainstream flagship phones are more similar than ever.
Flat sides, nearly identical buttons, slightly round edges, hole-punch cameras, and painted glass backs. I won't call them boring, but let’s be honest: these phones are not sparking excitement either.
My ex-wife was a devoted Samsung user, and for the seven years we survived together, not a single person ever asked about her phone. That’s how invisible these devices have become. So why does this particular phone break through the sea of sameness?
Recommended Stories
What's so special about the RedMagic 11 Pro
The RedMagic 11 Pro looks like alien tech | Image by RedMagic
The magic is on the back. Which is kind of understandable, given the front of modern smartphones is just a rectangular display.
RedMagic leans into the transparent back trend, which is not entirely new, but what's under the glass is where it shines.
A ring exposes the blue, server-grade liquid coolant, giving it a look straight out of a sci-fi movie. Add the industrial silver metal accents, exposed screws, plates, and a faux chip in the top left corner, and you end up with a design that genuinely turns heads.
That brings us back to the key question: do we really need this or is it just for flair?
Do we need more RedMagic phones in our lives?
Phones used to look wild!
Today, most smartphones are purely utilitarian. Gone are the days of iPhones being a status symbol—they are so common now, and some are even cheaper than Androids. Nobody blinks at an iPhone 17 Pro Max anymore.
Sure, if you want to stand out, you could buy a flashy case. That works, but where does this leave us on the RedMagic 11 debate?
I really think that variety makes things interesting.
Uniformity rarely excites anyone, and this applies to smartphones as well.
There's nothing wrong with using your phone as a tool, but if you want a device that sparks curiosity, inspires a conversation, or just looks cool, phones like the RedMagic 11 are just that.
The real problem is when uniformity and trends erase variety entirely. That's why we should encourage different designs and at least not frown upon them.
Conclusion
So, in a smartphone world, where you can't tell models apart anymore, the RedMagic 11 is a breath of fresh air. To some people it might be an over-the-top, unnecessary, flashy, and weird-looking phone, but the important part is that it exists.
For all of those who don't like uniformity and for the sake of variety itself. I personally enjoy the attention and the conversations this phone sparks and will keep using it as my daily driver for the time being. For everyone else, there’s nothing wrong with the regular Galaxy, iPhone and Pixel phones.
Iconic Phones is now up for pre-order in the US!
Our new coffee table book, Iconic Phones, is a stunning visual tribute to the legends in the world of phones, featuring exclusive high-resolution photography, stories, quotes and fun trivia. Pre-order now and save 15% with code: PARENA15
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: