Nubia Responds to REDMAGIC 11 Pro Benchmark Manipulation Claims

Nubia has responded to the delisting of its REDMAGIC 11 Pro and Pro Plus smartphones from 3DMark benchmark rankings following allegations of performance manipulation.

UL Solutions, the entity responsible for the 3DMark benchmarking suite, removed the devices from several rankings, including Slingshot Extreme (OpenGL ES 3.1), Steel Nomad Light, Solar Bay and Solar Bay Extreme. The company stated that devices are delisted when a manufacturer fails to comply with established benchmark rules.

Allegations of Benchmark Manipulation

The controversy stems from findings that suggest the devices may have engaged in cheating to inflate their performance scores. A Japanese-language YouTube video published in March 2026 highlighted a significant discrepancy in results between the standard 3DMark application and a disguised or stealth version of the software.

This discrepancy suggests that the phones may identify when a benchmark is running and adjust performance parameters to achieve higher scores than they would during typical operation. Additional reports indicate that during stress tests, the devices can reach temperatures as high as 55 degrees Celsius.

Nubia’s Response and Technical Context

In response to the delisting, Nubia stated that it considers benchmarking to be an indicator of potential performance under controlled, high-load conditions.

The REDMAGIC 11 Pro is positioned as a high-end gaming device, featuring active cooling systems including cooling fans and liquid cooling. The device launched with Redmagic OS 11 based on Android 16.

Despite the integrated cooling hardware, some community discussions on Reddit have raised concerns regarding power consumption and thermal management. One report from March 5, 2026, noted a difference in wattage—6.9w versus 7.6w—suggesting that the phone may eventually overheat despite its active cooling measures.

Impact on Gaming Hardware Standards

The delisting by UL Solutions highlights the ongoing tension between manufacturer performance claims and independent verification. Gaming phones often include specialized hardware such as capacitive shoulder triggers and active cooling to maintain high clock speeds, but the use of software-level “cheating” to manipulate benchmarks undermines these hardware advantages.

By removing the REDMAGIC 11 Pro series from its rankings, UL Solutions aims to maintain the integrity of its data, ensuring that benchmark scores reflect real-world performance rather than manufacturer-optimized scenarios.