Which Phones Are Best for Gaming?

Every gamer has a different gaming style and preference. Therefore, the best gaming phone will depend on your specific needs.

For hardcore gamers, a phone with dedicated gaming features is the best option. These phones usually boast a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/ and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, high refresh rates, good battery life, cooling systems, and vivid OLED or AMOLED displays.

If you love Android gaming, the latest releases from top brands like Samsung or Xiaomi are a good choice. They boast impressive specs and long battery life, making them ideal for long gaming sessions.

These best are also worth checking out for their powerful specs and gaming features.

Which Phones Are Best for Gaming?

You’ll find Asus ROG, Redmagic, and Black Shark gaming phones here, and Samsung, Apple, Motorola, and Poco all make decent phones. They’ve also tried to appeal to a variety of budgets.

1. RedMagic 9S Pro

If gaming is your main priority on your phone and you want to spend less than $1,000, the RedMagic 9S Pro is a compelling option. The 80W wired charging is handy for powering up after long hours of gaming, especially since a compatible adapter is included in the box.

The RedMagic 9S Pro offers a ton of performance for a phone that starts at just $649. The base model comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but you can pay more for a version with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

All models feature a 3.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version processor and feature capacitive shoulder buttons for performing in-game functions. For competitive play, the phone’s 6.8-inch display has a maximum touch sampling rate of 2,000Hz (960Hz average), so touch inputs are registered almost instantly.

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2. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition

Performance and Power-wise, there’s no better option than the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition. It has the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip you’ll find in most new handsets, but Asus has paired this model with a whopping 24GB of RAM and bundled in some cooler accessories to help offset any performance hit.

Like the RedMagic 9S Pro, this phone is packed with gaming features like AirTriggers, key mapping, and macros. The software is also excellent, allowing you to tweak things on the fly, even during intense matches.

Asus has made the controversial decision to pare back on gaming design elements, meaning there’s very little RGB lighting here and the back looks plain. The illuminated AniMe Matrix feature is a nice addition, though, using a Mini LED panel to display things like notifications, battery status, and the time.

Despite the inclusion of a new telephoto lens to improve zooming, the camera still can’t compete with the efforts of Apple and Samsung. But if you’re willing to make that sacrifice for gaming performance, this is a good choice.

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3. OnePlus 12

Another great gaming phone that doesn’t make a big splash, the OnePlus 12’s standout feature is its price. It’s a competitor to the Galaxy S24 Ultra/iPhone 15 Pro Max, which sells for the same price as their entry-level counterparts, and boasts more storage and/or RAM than both.

In addition to using the same chip as the current top-of-the-line Samsung phones, the OnePlus 12 does a decent job of challenging OnePlus’ photography credentials with its best camera system to date.

It’s not quite on par with the best camera phones out there, and OnePlus doesn’t offer as many software and AI-driven features as its rivals, but if you’re willing to shell out a few hundred dollars or local currency for the OnePlus 12, you’ll be happy to forgive it.

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4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

If you want something completely different for your gaming experience, then nothing beats the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

The foldable nature of the book-style smartphone means that it folds down to a similar size as a standard smartphone, but still has a large, high-resolution 7.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display for when you want to game on a larger screen.

It’s not just the sheer size of the foldable display that makes the Z Fold 5 the best foldable for gaming. It’s also the most powerful device you’ll find today, boasting Qualcomm’s custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the Galaxy, just like the S24 Ultra.

It has a built-in vapor chamber for extra cooling, so it should be able to deliver high-end AAA gaming experiences with high-quality graphics and consistent gameplay, even over long periods of use.

Elsewhere, the 4,400mAh battery should be more than enough to withstand demanding gaming sessions, the triple rear camera setup offers more versatility than your average gaming phone, and you can expect a whopping seven years of battery life.

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5. Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+

This phone excels at handling heavy games thanks to its internal fan that spins at 20,000 rpm to effectively dissipate heat. It also has a pressure-sensitive zone that responds at 520Hz to increase responsiveness and improve your chances of success in competitive games.

Powered by one of the most advanced processors of 2024, the phone is coupled with cutting-edge LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage to improve both speed and storage efficiency.

It is also impressive in terms of battery life and charging speed. The 5,500 mAh battery can last all day and can be fully recharged in just 16 minutes with its 165 watt charging capability.

The 6.8-inch display of this phone offers immersive viewing not only due to its size but also thanks to its discreet front camera, ensuring an uninterrupted screen experience.

The cooling system is solid, capable of lowering temperatures by up to 18 degrees Celsius during intensive use. The design includes multiple vents that improve heat dissipation by 30% more effectively than the previous model.

Despite its powerful features, the price is quite affordable. However, one of the notable drawbacks is the limited video capabilities of the front camera, which does not support 4K and only offers 1080p recording at 60FPS.

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6. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best Android phones you can buy. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display offers plenty of room for gaming, and the 3,120×1,440 pixels render details crisply.

Inside, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor and 12GB of RAM, which should give you plenty of power for even the most demanding titles.

The phone starts at 256GB of storage, but if you don’t want to worry about running out of space, you can get a version that offers up to 1TB of storage.

If you’re looking for a versatile Android phone that’s great for gaming, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a great choice. Creative types will love the built-in S Pen Stylus for drawing or taking notes.

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7. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro Max isn’t specifically designed with mobile gaming in mind like the other handsets on this list, but Apple has gone to great lengths to make it an impressively powerful device in this category.

What’s most surprising here is the sheer performance that the A17 Pro chip can deliver, allowing the 15 Pro Max to run triple-A games natively, without the need for cloud software.

As of this writing, titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage are both available for download via the App Store.

Typically, this kind of gaming experience wouldn’t be possible without cloud services like Game Pass and GeForce Now, so if you want to play these games offline while traveling long distances, you’re best off investing in the 15 Pro Max.

Of course, that’s not to say that Apple’s latest flagship doesn’t boast the classic mobile gaming experience we’re used to. The phone can easily run hits like Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact, and that’s before we even mention the value proposition that Apple Arcade offers.

If you spend a lot of time playing mobile games, you’ll be able to take advantage of the Apple Arcade library, thanks to titles from big names like Sega, Konami, and Disney.

The iPhone 15 Pro offers the same gaming performance, but the extra real estate of the 15 Pro Max’s 6.7-inch OLED display makes it a real pleasure to play games at their best.

It’s also worth noting that, aside from gaming, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is one of the best handsets on the market. With a great camera, great software, and incredible battery life, there’s not much you can want here.

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8. Google Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the best gaming phone for Google enthusiasts, thanks to its Google Tensor G3 chipset, which offers a slight performance boost over its predecessor. However, it still lags behind competitors like Apple and Qualcomm, which have some of the most powerful chipsets on the market.

That said, it’s a cheaper flagship than Apple and Samsung, and offers a 120Hz refresh rate that our review says provides a “smooth experience.” Games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail should be playable without a hitch, but don’t expect to see games like Resident Evil Village here. Google has some catching up to do to make that happen.

The Google Pixel 8 Pro has a slightly better battery than the 7 Pro at 5,050mAh, which should give you around 6-8 hours of screen time. With a 30W charger, you can fully charge the battery in 90 minutes, which is longer than the others on this list.

However, if you’re looking for a smartphone with a great camera but don’t want to pay the price of a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, this is the winner. It boasts a 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, and 48MP telephoto cameras that can take sharp photos.

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9. Poco X6 Pro

The Poco X6 Pro is available for under $500 in the USA, making it really great value for money. If you’re looking to get your feet wet in the world of mobile gaming, this is a great place to start.

Performance isn’t quite up to par with the phones above, but it’s the X6 Pro’s key strength. MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 Ultra, coupled with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, delivers impressive gaming performance, running games like Genshin Impact on the highest graphics settings without a hitch.

The 120Hz OLED display is also a joy to use, and the subtle design improvements make it feel a little more like a premium phone. Battery life is solid, but you won’t need to keep it plugged in for too long thanks to the fast 67W charging (with an adapter included in the box).

The inevitable compromises come in the form of the inconsistent camera and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS Android skin, which still bears many similarities to its polarizing predecessor, MIUI.

But you won’t find another phone better suited to gaming at this price point. If you want to save a little money, consider the cheaper, more mainstream Poco X6.

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10. ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is ASUS’ latest high-end gaming phone. It is equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is recognized for its performance, combined with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

This large amount of memory allows the chipset to perform at its best. A unique feature of this model is the AeroActive Portal on the back, a signature feature of the ROG Phone series that connects internal cooling components to the outside to improve thermal management.

The phone also excels in gaming performance thanks to its 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and a touch sampling rate of 720Hz, which greatly improves responsiveness in games.

ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is equipped with a 6000mAh battery that ensures long gaming sessions while maintaining high performance. It also supports 65W fast charging so you can power up quickly.

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11. OnePlus 12R

As you may know, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset is powerful, but it lags behind the latest chipsets. The OnePlus 12R also boasts 16GB of RAM.

This not only ensures an incredibly smooth gameplay experience, but also means that the phone runs smoothly. Switching between apps is easy, and you can store a lot of apps with up to 256GB of storage.

During our testing, demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile ran without any issues and there were no frame rate drops. And the main selling point of the OnePlus 12R is that games look great thanks to its 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with an adjustable 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate thanks to LTPO technology. This also optimizes the battery so that you can use it more.

However, with its 5,500mAh battery, you can expect the phone to last all day, but long gaming sessions will drain your battery.

Fortunately, the OnePlus 12R has 80W SuperVOOC charging, which can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in just 30 minutes, making it one of the best gaming phones in this regard. Outside the US, the charging speed can go up to 100W.

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12. Red Magic 8S Pro+

The Red Magic series continues to challenge high-end gaming phones like the ASUS ROG Phone. The latest model, the Red Magic 8S Pro+, takes gaming to the next level with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 chipset, which is a step up from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the ASUS ROG Phone 7 series. This can be seen at a maximum clock speed of 3.36GHz.

The Red Magic 8S Pro+ also comes with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 internal storage for a significant performance boost. The phone also has an internal fan that complements the vapor chamber and graphite layer of the cooling system.

The unique feature of the Red Magic 8S Pro+ is its screen, which has boxy corners and thin bezels, making it almost entirely screen-on.

The device sports a 6.8-inch AMOLED display. The 120Hz refresh rate isn’t as high as some of its rivals, but the 960Hz touch sampling rate is impressive, which is essential for responsive gameplay in fast-paced games.

The battery department is also notable. The 5000mAh battery capacity is fairly standard, but the fast charging capabilities are excellent. The phone supports 165W fast charging, which can fully charge the phone in just 14 minutes.

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13. Xiaomi 14T Pro

The Xiaomi 14T Pro is an impressive little powerhouse from the growing Chinese tech giant that really impressed us. Thanks to the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, it delivers fantastic performance and can handle all your everyday tasks with ease.

But we’re here to game, right? Well, you’ll have a great time there too. In fact, in my Xiaomi 14T Pro review I said, “I’m not saying this lightly, but this could be the best candybar phone I’ve used for gaming this year, and I’ve used a lot of dedicated gaming devices in 2024.”

Playing Honkai Star Rail with high visual settings, I was really impressed with how smooth the in-game graphics and animations looked, handling transitions that even expensive flagships struggled with in the past.

The shining star here is the Xiaomi 14T Pro’s stunning 6.67-inch AMOLED display.

It’s probably the best display we’ve seen on a mid-range phone, and it makes streaming, gaming, and even doomscrolling a breeze. It’s super bright, has a 144Hz refresh rate, which is the highest you’ll find on a smartphone, and everything feels incredibly smooth.

The battery didn’t wow us, but the Xiaomi 14T Pro can last you a full day on a single charge, and even longer if you use it occasionally. Plus, the 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging are as good as you can get on a current-generation phone.

In fact, you can charge from 0% to 100% in just 20 minutes using a wired charger, which is faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24.

Overall, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a solid all-rounder with a great display and competitive performance, earning it a solid spot on this list. Alternatively, you can check out our list of the best Xiaomi phones to see what else is out there.

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14. Samsung Galaxy S23+

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is a great choice for gaming, especially since this model and other S23 models actually use a very slightly overclocked version of the 8 Gen 2 chip, giving them a slight boost in single-core performance over the competition.

This makes it one of the fastest Android phones around, and it also benefits from a top-of-the-line flagship with a great display, long-term software support, and a fantastic camera.

You might like the regular S23, but the Plus model’s larger display naturally lends itself to gaming. The S23 Ultra is larger, but costs significantly more, and since you’re paying for the improved camera features and S Pen stylus support, the Plus is a good choice for most gamers.

The biggest downside is the slow wired charging, which means if you drain the battery during a long play session, it’ll take a little longer to recharge.

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15. Black Shark 5 Pro

The Black Shark 5 Pro phone still ticks most of the boxes for gamers, with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, top-notch performance, and gaming-specific features like magnetic triggers and gesture-activated shortcuts.

The 120W charging remains the fastest, but it does offer the fastest charging time, reaching 100% in under 30 minutes. The downside, however, is that the battery is smaller than some of its competitors.

Unlike some of the competitors’ touch-based triggers, the Black Shark 5 Pro features magnetic triggers that pop out of the phone’s body for a more traditional controller experience, making for a great portable gaming experience without the need to carry around any additional accessories.

While not usually the focus of a gaming phone, the Black Shark 5 Pro does have an impressive 108Mp rear camera that can take decent snaps.

However, the decision to include autofocus on the macro lens rather than the more popular 120-degree ultra-wide is an odd decision that leaves some of the ultra-wide shots looking a little soft. The Black Shark 5 Pro is a little old, but if you can get it for a discounted price, you won’t be disappointed.

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FAQs

What is a gaming phone?

To put it simply, a gaming phone is a phone designed for gaming. They are typically focused on performance, with powerful chipsets and lots of RAM to play the latest mobile games smoothly. Most gaming phones feature large, responsive displays and powerful speakers or headphone jacks.

However, some go a step further with unique designs built for gaming. That can mean tricks like extra cooling and a larger battery to ensure performance during long gaming sessions, built-in buttons and triggers to complement the touch controls, and even side-mounted selfie cameras and charging ports to better suit the phone when used in landscape mode.

The biggest downside is that gaming phones are larger, bulkier, and heavier than most other options. They also typically have a unique ‘gamer’ design, including RGB lighting or additional displays, which may not be to your taste.

Can I use a normal phone for gaming?

Of course. Dedicated gaming phones have their place, but the actual performance difference between a gaming phone and a top ‘normal’ flagship is pretty small.

Gaming phones use the same chipsets as other high-end devices, simply beefing them up with improved cooling, larger batteries, and usually more RAM. This can give them a slight edge when it comes to gaming, but in reality, any high-end iPhone or Android device will catch up.

So if you don’t like the look of most gaming smartphones or can’t imagine giving up your Pixel camera for CoD, you don’t have to.

Do you need 5G for gaming?

High-speed 5G support is essential for cloud gaming and streaming on the go. High-end devices from Apple and Samsung come with the latest 5G tech, but many gaming-focused models have limited support.

If coverage is spotty or slow, lag can cause poor online gaming performance. If not, make sure your chosen phone supports at least Wi-Fi 6. With theoretical maximum speeds of 10Gbps, this is a significant improvement over previous versions.

While your home router is unlikely to hit that max, the protocol should still be fast enough for smooth online gaming. If you can find a device with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, that’s even better.

What specs do you need for gaming?

There are a few key specs to look for in a modern gaming phone. The most important one is the core chipset. Look for a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip that starts with an 8. The latest is the 8 Gen 3, but the older 8 Gen 2 will still work just fine. Or, look for a similarly powerful MediaTek Dimensity chip, like the latest 9300.

You’ll also want at least 8GB of RAM to get the most out of the chip. The more the better, but the returns are diminishing beyond 12GB.

The display is also important. If you’re going to be gaming, you’ll need a fairly large screen (at least 6.5 inches), and look for one that offers a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher and the fastest touch response rate you can find.

Spending more on AMOLED technology over LCD will give you better contrast and colors, but don’t worry too much about resolution. Gaming phones rarely go above Full HD.