This gaming phone just ran Cyberpunk 2077 at playable frame rates via emulation

The Red Magic 11 Pro has achieved what seemed impossible just years ago: running the PC version of Cyberpunk 2077 at playable frame rates through emulation. YouTuber ETA Prime demonstrated the gaming phone hitting 30-40 FPS at 720p with low settings, reaching up to 50 FPS with FSR frame generation enabled.

Gaming phone breaks new ground

ETA Prime chose the Red Magic 11 Pro specifically for its gaming credentials. The phone features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset with 16GB LPDDR5T RAM, plus an internal liquid cooler and active cooling fan designed to maintain high clock speeds during extended gaming sessions.

Using GameSir's GameHub platform, which leverages Valve's Proton compatibility layer for PC emulation, the demonstration showed Cyberpunk 2077 running at 720p resolution with FSR 2.1 set to Balanced mode. The game maintained 30 FPS in most scenarios, dropping to the high 20s in demanding scenes but never becoming unplayable.

With FSR frame generation activated, performance jumped significantly. The phone achieved highs of 50 FPS and lows in the 40s, making the experience notably smoother. Even using the Steam Deck preset with higher settings, the Red Magic 11 Pro managed 27 FPS without frame generation and 40-50 FPS with it enabled.

Hardware pushed to its limits

The demonstration revealed both the potential and current limitations of mobile AAA gaming. CPU usage ranged between 60-80% while GPU usage hovered at 50-60%. Despite the phone's advanced cooling system, temperatures reached 100°C — a known issue with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 phones under heavy load.

RAM usage also peaked at around 80% of the phone's 16GB capacity, highlighting how resource-intensive PC emulation remains on mobile hardware. These figures demonstrate that while the technology works, it requires flagship-level specifications to achieve playable performance.

What this means for mobile gaming

This breakthrough represents a significant milestone in mobile gaming evolution. Just six years ago, running Cyberpunk 2077 on a smartphone would have been impossible. The combination of more powerful mobile chipsets, improved emulation software, and Valve's contributions to Android PC emulation has made AAA gaming increasingly viable on mobile devices.

GameHub's use of Valve's Proton compatibility layer — the same technology that enables Steam Deck gaming — has been crucial in bringing PC titles to Android. Valve actively sponsors several PC emulators for Android, accelerating development in this space.

For UAE gamers, this development suggests a future where high-end smartphones could serve as portable gaming machines capable of running demanding PC titles. While current performance requires compromise on settings and resolution, the trajectory points towards 60 FPS gaming on mobile devices within the next few years.

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