You could argue that almost every smartphone is a gaming phone of some kind, but what if you want the smoothest performance? Maybe you need physical-style buttons or a display with a high refresh rate? Either way, that’s where gaming phones come in, and there are loads of devices that fit the bill. We’ve got you covered with our list of the best gaming phones you can buy
Asus ROG Phone 3
SAsus had a strong entry into mobile gaming with the original Asus ROG Phone, and matters have only improved with the introduction of the Asus ROG Phone 3. This phone is designed for gaming first and foremost. To that end, it packs in a 6.59-inch AMOLED display for stunning visuals that can run at a blazing 144Hz refresh rate. You'll get your games with a high contrast ratio and strong peak brightness from the display.
Of course, with a display of that caliber, you need a chipset to match. Asus didn't settle for the top-tier Snapdragon 865 at the heart of many Android flagships, opting instead for the higher-powered Snapdragon 865+, letting it eke out even more performance for running games. The phone itself is one thing, but Asus also supports it with a range of accessories that can offer a Nintendo Switch-like experience or connect your phone to a TV to play your mobile games on the big screen.
ZTE Nubia Red Magic 5G
In many ways, the Nubia Red Magic 5G is a special sort of phone. It delivers the latest specs for an Android device, including the flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset with 5G connectivity, and yet it only costs a hair over $600. It doesn't make sacrifices like having a 60Hz display or IPS panel, but instead goes all in with an AMOLED display running at up to 144Hz. The storage, memory, and battery are all respectable as well.
One thing you do miss out on with this phone is water resistance. That's because there's actually an open port on the phone. Why? Becuase this bad boy actually actively cools its processors with a fan. Furthering its gaming credentials, the Nubia Red Magic 5G sports RGB lighting on the back and sports physical shoulder buttons for easier gameplay. Even your touch inputs get an upgrade, as the touchscreen has a 240Hz polling rate for extra responsiveness.
One thing you do miss out on with this phone is water resistance. That's because there's actually an open port on the phone. Why? Becuase this bad boy actually actively cools its processors with a fan. Furthering its gaming credentials, the Nubia Red Magic 5G sports RGB lighting on the back and sports physical shoulder buttons for easier gameplay. Even your touch inputs get an upgrade, as the touchscreen has a 240Hz polling rate for extra responsiveness.
iPhone 11 Pro
The world of mobile gaming has soured a little over the last couple of years thanks to the introduction of micro-transactions and timer, but Apple is trying to revolutionize mobile gaming with a subscription-based library of and the best way to experience it all is with
The iPhone 11 Pro is Apple's best smartphone in years and with all the exclusive games available only Apple Arcade, there's never been a better reason to pick up this flagship iOS device. Apple went all out on specs this year as the latest model features a super-bright 800-nit display that peaks at 1,200-nit. It doesn't feature nearly as much memory as some of the top gaming phones on this list, but Apple has always had a special way of optimizing iOS to do more with less. The iPhone 11 Pro also more than makes up for its RAM deficiency with its A13 Bionic chip, one of the fastest mobile processors you can get on a phone.
The best thing about getting an iPhone is you get access to plenty of mobile games, and it just so happens many of the best mobile experiences are available only through the Apple Arcade subscription service. Just a few of the top Apple Arcade games include Grindstone and WHAT THE GOLF?, and Exit the Gungeon.
The iPhone 11 Pro is Apple's best smartphone in years and with all the exclusive games available only Apple Arcade, there's never been a better reason to pick up this flagship iOS device. Apple went all out on specs this year as the latest model features a super-bright 800-nit display that peaks at 1,200-nit. It doesn't feature nearly as much memory as some of the top gaming phones on this list, but Apple has always had a special way of optimizing iOS to do more with less. The iPhone 11 Pro also more than makes up for its RAM deficiency with its A13 Bionic chip, one of the fastest mobile processors you can get on a phone.
The best thing about getting an iPhone is you get access to plenty of mobile games, and it just so happens many of the best mobile experiences are available only through the Apple Arcade subscription service. Just a few of the top Apple Arcade games include Grindstone and WHAT THE GOLF?, and Exit the Gungeon.
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro
The screen is one thing, but the Black Shark 3 Pro also has two mechanical trigger buttons and an additional two hotkeys, letting you make full use of your index fingers while gaming. No more fussing with a touchscreen button you can't feel when you really need to shoot your opponent. Support for 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and 65W fast charging are all just icing on the cake.
OnePlus 8 Pro
The OnePlus 8 Pro is a truly impressive phone. For $900, it offers an incredible smartphone experience that can rival the Galaxy S20, but it's delivering it in the form factor of the bigger and more expensive model. The OnePlus 8 Pro packs in a 6.78-inch AMOLED display that can run at 120Hz and shine extra bright. And, while Samsung's phones trade off resolution when they want to hit 120Hz, the OnePlus 8 Pro can hit 120Hz even at its full, 1,440 x 3,168 resolution. That'll give you sharp, smooth gaming on a sizable screen.
The OnePlus 8 Pro also has its own gaming mode that can automatically engages whenever you play mobile games. It works to improve the visual details in your games, strengthen haptic feedback, and boost performance of both the hardware and network bandwidth. And, if you're trying to game on the go or enjoy cloud gaming, you'll have access to 5G networks on this device.
The OnePlus 8 Pro also has its own gaming mode that can automatically engages whenever you play mobile games. It works to improve the visual details in your games, strengthen haptic feedback, and boost performance of both the hardware and network bandwidth. And, if you're trying to game on the go or enjoy cloud gaming, you'll have access to 5G networks on this device.
Samsung Galaxy S20
The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 865 processor that doesn't struggle under pressure, and there's a considerable battery inside that's not shy about getting used for games. Samsung's Dex mode makes it easy to hook the phone up to a monitor or TV, so you can also enjoy some games on bigger screens. And, when you're done gaming, you've still got a sleek handset with great cameras, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, an elegant design, and too many other features to mention.
What to Look for in a Gaming Phone
Choosing the right gaming phone is a little different than finding the best smartphone. With regular phones, you might be more interested in battery life, the cameras, and a plethora of other specs, but the best gaming phones are all about their screens and processors with everything else being less important.With that in mind, we’ll start with the processors. You pretty much want the latest chips available, which for Android are the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Snapdragon 855, and the newly announced Snapdragon 855 Plus chips. On Apple’s side, you should look for an iPhone with either an A11 Bionic or A12 Bionic CPU.
In terms of displays, you should pick out anything that’s a step up from your average phone screen. Often, smartphones made for gaming will feature a display with a refresh rate greater than 60Hz. 90Hz screens are what most of the top gaming phones feature, but we’re starting to see more gaming smartphones with 120Hz displays coming to market as well.
That's everything thing you need to know about gaming phones for now. We'll be updating this list periodically, especially as rumors suggest we're going to see a surge of new gaming smartphones that may include the Asus ROG Phone 2. Xiaomi has also announced that it intends to introduce the Black Shark 2 Pro by the end of the month.
