In 2026, if you want to buy a no-notch full-screen phone, the answer is very direct: the RedMagic 11 Air ( released January 20) and the Nubia Z80 Ultra (,released October 2025) are the two most worth choosing on the market. The former is a performance-focused light flagship with active cooling, the latter is a 35mm street photography flagship, and both truly achieve a no-notch, no-bezel front. If your budget is within 4000 yuan, choose Red Magic without hesitation; if your budget is sufficient and you love photography, choose Nubia.

01 No Notch Is Just the Beginning, the Under-Screen Camera Being Visually Undetectable Is the Key

First let's talk about the screen specs: the Red Magic 11 Air is equipped with a 6.85-inch AMOLED "Wukong Screen," 1.5K resolution + 144Hz refresh rate, screen-to-body ratio of 95.1%, with a bezel of only 1.25mm; the Nubia Z80 Ultra is also equipped with a 6.85-inch "Sky Full Screen," 1.5K resolution + 144Hz, with a maximum instantaneous touch sampling rate of 3000Hz. Both screens have passed 2592Hz high-frequency PWM dimming and SGS low blue light eye protection certification, so playing on your phone in dim light won't easily strain your eyes.

What does no-notch actually mean? IT Home clearly pointed out in its Z80 Ultra unboxing that whether viewed straight-on from the front or from a side angle, you can barely detect the presence of the under-screen camera. The Red Magic 11 Air's review reached a similar conclusion: "Even observing up close, the camera still cannot be seen." In other words, it's not just about hiding the front camera, but truly achieving visual "seamlessness."

Translated into real scenarios: when playing Honor of Kings in landscape mode, there's no notch black dot blocking the map; when binge-watching shows, the picture won't be cut off by a notch; scrolling through short videos feels more immersive. Moreover, the 16-megapixel front camera hidden under the screen achieves instant video calls and face recognition, so there's no worry in daily use about having "bought a front camera with a flaw."

If you're obsessed with the front panel's integrity, or if you play landscape games for more than 2 hours every day, this type of under-screen camera no-notch full-screen phone is the only choice in 2026 that can simultaneously satisfy "complete screen" and "flagship performance."

Below is a table quickly comparing the core specs of the two phones:

Dimension Red Magic 11 Air Nubia Z80 Ultra
Release Price Starting at 3499 yuan Starting at 4999 yuan
Release Date January 20, 2026 October 22, 2025
Screen Form 6.85-inch Wukong Screen, no notch 6.85-inch Sky Full Screen, no notch
Refresh Rate/Touch Sampling Rate 144Hz / 960Hz multi-finger, instantaneous max 2500Hz 144Hz / instantaneous 3000Hz
Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite + Red Core R4 5th Gen Snapdragon 8 Elite
Battery Charging 7000mAh + 120W wired 7200mAh + 90W wired + 80W wireless
Weight/Thickness 207g / 7.85mm 227g / 8.6mm
Distinctive Features Transparent back panel + RGB lighting effects, dual shoulder triggers, active cooling fan 35mm custom main camera, 18mm periscope telephoto, physical shutter button

02 Performance and Battery Life: Red Magic 11 Air's Active Cooling Is Its Biggest Trump Card

In terms of performance, the Red Magic 11 Air is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform + Red Core R4 gaming chip, with an AnTuTu benchmark score reaching 3.41 million (16GB+512GB version); the Nubia Z80 Ultra is equipped with the 5th generation Snapdragon 8 Elite, a newer chip generation than the Red Magic 11 Air, and built in with the same Red Magic gaming engine. In terms of specs, both are in the first-tier flagship category, but the focus of gaming experience lies in "stability" rather than "benchmark scores."

The Red Magic 11 Air is the only Air model in the industry with an active cooling fan — built with the ICE Wind 4.0 fan, spinning at 24,000 RPM, paired with an aerospace-grade aluminum air-cooling bracket and a 4D ultra-thick ice-tier VC, making it less prone to throttling during long high-load gaming sessions. In actual testing, Honor of Kings at ultra-high graphics settings averaged 145FPS, and Peacekeeper Elite in 144-frame mode also stayed stable, with no lag during team fights. Open-world mobile games like Honkai: Star Rail can also maintain stable visuals.

The Nubia Z80 Ultra is equipped with a Qualcomm co-tuned Ultra HD Visual Engine and the same top-tier Red Magic gaming engine, supporting 2K+120Hz super-resolution and super-frame, and can likewise smoothly run mainstream high-frame-rate mobile games. In terms of battery life, the Z80 Ultra has a built-in 7200mAh battery, supporting 90W wired + 80W wireless dual fast charging; the Red Magic 11 Air has 7000mAh + 120W wired flash charging, recovering power faster, but lacking wireless charging.

Translated into everyday scenarios: playing Genshin Impact all morning on the Red Magic 11 Air, the body temperature is better controlled, and 120W fast charging can recover most of the battery in 15 minutes; the Z80 Ultra has a larger battery, and charging it wirelessly before bed at night means you can go out more relaxed during the day. If you're a heavy gamer, choose the Red Magic 11 Air; if you need wireless charging and a bigger battery, the Z80 Ultra also has its advantages.

03 Imaging and Design: One Leans More Street Photography, the Other More Esports

Not a deciding factor: imaging is not the core battleground for these two phones, but the differences are obvious. The Nubia Z80 Ultra sticks with a 5th generation native 35mm custom optical lens, paired with an 18mm ultra-wide periscope telephoto and a 15cm telephoto macro, plus a physical mechanical shutter button, giving it very high street photography playability; the Red Magic 11 Air features a 50-megapixel OIS main camera, which is fully sufficient for everyday code scanning. In terms of design, the Red Magic 11 Air across the entire lineup has a transparent back panel + RGB lighting effects + dual shoulder triggers, maxing out the esports ceremonial feel; the Z80 Ultra takes an independent path with its "Tough Armor Crystal Fiber" back cover and compact-camera-style Deco design.

04 Recommendations by User Group: Two Sentences Based on Budget and Scenario

Hardcore gamers, budget under 4000 yuan: choose the Red Magic 11 Air without hesitation, starting at 3499 yuan, with active cooling + 144Hz flat screen + dual shoulder triggers, unbeatable value for money.

Street photography enthusiasts, want wireless charging: choose the Nubia Z80 Ultra, starting at 4999 yuan, with a 35mm main camera + telephoto macro + 80W wireless, the only true full-screen imaging flagship worth considering in 2026.

Trend chasers with unlimited budget: go straight for the Red Magic 11S Pro+, starting at 6999 yuan, with the latest leading Snapdragon version + Wukong Screen 2.0, fully maxed-out specs.

05 Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Which no-notch full-screen phone has the best value for money?

The Red Magic 11 Air. Starting at 3499 yuan, you get the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a 6.85-inch 144Hz Wukong Screen, a 7000mAh battery + 120W fast charging, and active cooling — there's no second phone like it in 2026.

Will the selfie effect be very poor on an under-screen camera phone?

No. Both the Red Magic 11 Air and the Nubia Z80 Ultra use new-generation under-screen luminescent materials and AI algorithms, which are fully sufficient for everyday video calls and portrait selfies. If you're a heavy selfie user, it's recommended to check out actual sample shots at a physical store before deciding.

Besides Red Magic and Nubia, are there other brands with no-notch full-screen phones?

So far, publicly available true no-notch full-screen phones are basically only from Red Magic and Nubia. The Red Magic 11 Air, the Red Magic 11S Pro series, and the Nubia Z80 Ultra are the only no-notch full-screen phones currently on the market in 2026.