Since nearly all of the best Android phones pack more than enough power to handle even the most demanding games, you may wonder what makes a “gaming” phone stand out from the pack. While the lines are blurring, serious gaming still demands things that not every smartphone can deliver. After all, there’s more to enjoying modern games than just raw performance.
Dedicated gaming phones include features like side-mounted touch controls, high refresh and touch response rates, built-in gaming optimization software, and even cooling systems, which dramatically improve the gaming experience. However, if you’re planning on pairing your phone with a game controller, you may not need fancy hardware features.
See, modern general-purpose flagships also offer stunning AMOLED screens with high refresh rates, while also packing in excellent camera systems and other everyday features that will help you be a productivity machine by day and a gaming champion by night. We’ve tested dozens of smartphones to see how well they play the latest game titles and rounded up our top picks so you can get the phone that plays the games you want.
Top gaming phones available
Best overall
Nubia Redmagic 9S Pro
Stylish flagship performance without the price tag
Nubia’s mid-year refresh of the Redmagic 9 Pro is a more notable upgrade over previous S models. The Redmagic 9S Pro boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version chipset, which reduces power consumption and increases performance. While you won’t notice the practical impact of many of these upgrades, the 9S Pro is the same price as the 9 Pro, making the former a no-brainer pick over the latter.
- Capable of running every Android game
- Eye-catching and stylish design
- Long-lasting battery
- Glass pack interferes with photography
- Buggy software with a short shelf life
- Terrible front camera
Nubia launches a new Redmagic gaming phone worldwide in winter, then follows up in summer with an upgraded model for the same price. While we can certainly criticize Nubia for a wasteful production strategy that sees their phones removed for sale months after their debut, there’s no denying that the Redmagic 9S Pro is the best gaming phone you can buy right now. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version chipset is just the tip of the iceberg. This phone offers a comprehensive gaming platform with genuinely useful features without compromising on style.
The Redmagic 9S Pro is a perfectly rectangular glass brick; there’s not even a camera bump. This gives the phone a uniform and stylish profile while still managing to pack in all the features we want in a gaming phone. The aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is the powerhouse behind the phone, but it’s supplemented by an AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, two touch triggers with a 520Hz touch-sample rate, and an internal fan to keep it all cool.
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The battery is an impressive 6500mAh, so you can game all day without a break. If all this seems too good to be true for $650, there are a few notable drawbacks. The biggest of these is the software, which is both buggy and comes with a measly two years of software support. The rear camera produces adequate shots while taking selfies will produce hazy shots at best. But if you’re willing to accommodate these shortcomings, the Redmagic 9S Pro will keep you gaming on the go for years.
Premium pick
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
Serious gaming performance and more
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is a powerhouse gaming phone, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the ability to get up to 24GB of RAM. However, Asus made some controversial choices this year to produce a more well-rounded phone, including a hole-punch camera on the front of the screen.
- Power to spare
- Packs in up to 24GB RAM
- Solid cameras and great battery life
- Hole-punch camera mars an otherwise excellent display
- Only one front-facing speaker
- Expensive
Asus has made some of the best gaming phones for years now, and while the ROG Phone 8 Pro is no exception, it’s changed the formula slightly to produce a more well-rounded flagship. While we think that detracts from some of what made the company’s ROG lineup unique, it still has some strong hardware and software features that will appeal to gamers without painting them into too much of a corner in other areas.
For starters, you get Asus’ gaming-flavored Android 14, plus Armory Crate to launch your games and manage settings and performance for each one. The ROG Phone 8 Pro also still features ultrasonic Air Triggers for in-game control, plus the ability to power the device without charging so that you won’t need to worry about excessive heat putting a strain on your battery during demanding gaming sessions.
Additionally, if you opt for the 1TB configuration, Asus throws in its AeroActive Cooler X. A second USB-C port on the long edge also lets you avoid having a cable awkwardly sticking out the side while gaming.
Nevertheless, the ROG Phone 8 Pro isn’t all sunshine and roses. We found Asus’ decision to put a hole in the screen somewhat off-putting for a phone that’s supposed to let you immerse yourself in your games. This was a necessary compromise for Asus to get an edge-to-edge screen without eliminating the front-facing camera entirely, but we think some would have preferred to see Asus stick with the bezels of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.
It’s worth noting that Armory Crate can help you dial that out by pillarboxing your games, which effectively adds the bezels back virtually, so it’s not a problem that’s going to bother everyone.
Read our Review
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review: I’m not sure this is a gaming phone
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The ROG Phone 8 Pro still has plenty of power to spare since it’s driven by Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. If you’re willing to splurge, you can get the 1TB model with a generous 24GB of RAM. That beats nearly everything else on the market and makes it more than capable of handling anything you can throw at it.
You’ll also find programmable LEDs on the back that can be used to show animations and text, which are cute but largely cosmetic. They can do things like show a countdown when taking selfies or change colors when charging, but they don’t really do much for the gaming experience.
Speaking of charging, Asus continues to deliver stellar battery life on the ROG Phone 8 Pro, which should easily get you through two days, plus 65-watt wireless charging to help you top up more quickly and standard Qi wireless charging if you’d prefer to just drop your phone on a pad overnight.
Best value
OnePlus 12R
A budget phone with flagship ambitions
$430 $500 Save $70
The OnePlus 12R is an amazingly affordable phone for what it offers. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip delivers fantastic performance, the gorgeous screen rivals that of phones at twice the price, and the battery life and charging speeds are outstanding.
- Excellent performance
- A gorgeous display
- Outstanding multi-day battery life and fast charging
- OxygenOS isn’t for everyone
- Middling cameras
- Only IP64-rated
This year, OnePlus surprised us with a very affordable phone that could easily pass for a flagship, making it one of the best picks for gamers on a budget. The OnePlus 12R packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and while that may not be the latest and greatest, it’s a proven workhorse that delivers more than enough power for even the most demanding games.
There’s also an expansive 6.78-inch display that rivals that found on phones at twice the price, featuring vibrant colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an eyeball-searing 4,500 nits of peak brightness.
It also oozes the slick design that OnePlus is known for, with a prominent circular camera array around the back that’s offset against the Cool Blue or Iron Gray finishes. Plus, there’s the Genshin Impact edition; that alone could make this phone a must-have for serious fans of that particular title.
There’s more to that special edition than just the skin and pack-ins, too, as OnePlus has also optimized its Trinity Engine for the game with its HyperRendering and HyperBoosting technology that kicks in automatically as soon as you open it.
That’s not to say that the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition won’t play nice with other games, but if you’re not a Genshin Impact fan, you’ll probably be fine with the standard OnePlus 12R, which still features OnePlus’ standard Trinity Engine and other buzzword-laden gaming technologies that should enhance the experience.
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OnePlus 12R review: A real flagship killer for $500
A phone that packs all the power you need for the price you want to pay
There’s also battery life to spare here, thanks to the power efficiency of the older Snapdragon chip and the 5,500mAh cell inside. You should be able to get well over a day with even heavy use, and it’s not hard to see it go two or even three days between charges. The 80W SuperVOOC charging in the box will also let you go from zero to full in about 30 minutes, so it’s pretty hard to run this thing dry unless you go on a long trip and forget your charger at home.
The well-rounded flagship
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Great for gaming and just about everything else
$1100 $1300 Save $200
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is every bit the flagship powerhouse we expect from the company’s top-tier smartphone. While this year’s changes are iterative, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip and stunning AMOLED 2X display put it at the top of its performance class for gaming and just about anything else you want to do with it.
- Gorgeous display
- Top-notch performance
- Gorilla Armor glass provides a brighter and less reflective screen
- Cameras struggle with motion
- Expensive
- Bulky
Although it’s not the first smartphone that comes to mind when you think of “gaming” phones, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra should be the go-to choice for folks who want a premium smartphone that’s great at just about everything. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is Samsung’s bespoke “for Galaxy” version which gives it a performance edge over other similarly-equipped smartphones. It also continues to have the best display you’ll find on any smartphone today, since Samsung makes its own AMOLED panels and naturally reserves the best of those for its own phones.
What you’ll arguably be missing on the Galaxy S24 Ultra compared to more dedicated gaming phones are special controls and gaming optimization modes, but with Qualcomm’s top-tier silicon having long passed the point of diminishing returns, many of these special modes aren’t that necessary anymore. The Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t need to do anything special to handle the latest games at maximum settings; it just does it flawlessly without skipping a beat. You can also pair up just about any game controller, so the lack of gaming buttons shouldn’t really be a deal-breaker.
Where the Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out is that it’s great at so many other things. It’s a solid gaming phone that also packs powerful cameras and advanced productivity features thanks to its S Pen. Samsung has even added some new generative AI features to the mix this year with Galaxy AI. The new titanium frame feels great in the hand, and Gorilla Armor glass makes it more durable than ever while also cutting the glare so your games and everything else can shine through.
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The 200MP main camera also takes some incredible photos under the right conditions, although we found it still disappointingly fails to handle moving subjects as well as it should. However, it’s among the best you’ll find among powerful gaming phones, and the 10X optical and 100X digital zooms will let you capture images that aren’t possible with most other phones. The battery can also easily handle a day of heavy gaming with juice to spare, and it’s not hard at all to get two full days of lighter use.
Apple iPhone 16
The iPhone 16’s A18 processor is capable of handling console-quality games with ease. If you’re looking to play exclusive iOS titles like Resident Evil Village or Assassin’s Creed Mirage, this phone is the best you can buy for under $1,000.
- A18 chip handles console-quality games with ease
- Access to exclusive iOS games
- All-day battery life
- iOS 18 is buggy
- Small screen results in cramped gaming
While Google’s Play Pass subscription is a cheap way to access thousands of games, iOS’s Apple Arcade is a better-curated library that contains some of the best mobile games out now. What’s more, Apple has exclusive rights to publish mobile ports of AAA console games like Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. These aren’t stripped-down mobile spin-offs, either, but full-featured ports.
What’s more, the iPhone 16’s A18 chip is able to handle them with ease with minimal framerate drops and performance issues. This processor handily beats the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3; for console-quality AAA gaming, the iPhone 16 can’t be beat.
Admittedly, you do get access to a smaller selection of games through the App Store than the Play Store, unless you live in the European Union. While you’ll have access to most popular titles, notable omissions like Fortnite mean you should carefully consider the respective libraries if you’re making the switch from Android to iOS.
Read our review
The iPhone 16 is the iPhone you should be tempted by
There are few reasons to go Pro
Access to AAA games isn’t the only reason to get an iPhone 16 for mobile gaming. The battery life has been significantly improved over previous models; you should get about five hours of gaming with the iPhone 16, and with a 30W wired charging speed, you can fully charge it in just over an hour.
Finally, the iPhone 16, like its predecessor, uses USB-C, meaning it’s compatible with more snap-on controllers, which are crucial for the best mobile gaming experience.
Power to spare
OnePlus 12
Long battery life and superfast charging
$650 $800 Save $150
The OnePlus 12 packs in Qualcomm’s leading edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip for top-notch gaming performance, along with an excellent and insanely bright screen and an impressive Hasselblad-tuned camera system. Yet it still manages to deliver incredible battery life and ultra-fast charging.
- Top-notch performance
- Fantastic display
- Great battery life
- OxygenOS has some irritating inconsistencies
- Optical fingerprint reader should be retired
The OnePlus 12 is another versatile smartphone that’s ready to tackle everything from the latest games to your daily productivity, photography, and social media needs. Like the other most powerful phones on this list, you’re getting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip that will let you slice through the most demanding games with aplomb.
The OnePlus 12 pairs this with an incredibly bright 4,500-nit LTPO AMOLED display that sports a 120Hz refresh rate and all the usual HDR modes, meaning your games will look great, even when playing outside on bright days.
But OnePlus has another trick up its sleeve with 2,160Hz pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming, which is an order of magnitude better than other smartphones, which tend to peak just under 500Hz, and could make this the phone to buy if you get eye strain or headaches from long gaming sessions.
You can also get the OnePlus 12 in configurations of up to 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, which should offer plenty of headroom for gaming, and we found that it handled everything we threw at it without stuttering or slowing down in the slightest. OnePlus also has its Trinity Engine in play here to give it an extra boost by optimizing performance and power requirements. The result isn’t necessarily faster gaming, but it definitely reduces the load on the battery and, more importantly, keeps things running cool.
The cameras here are also excellent by gaming phone standards, thanks to its partnership with Hasselblad, which provides tuning algorithms for proper color balance and saturation, as well as natural bokeh effects that simulate shots taken from Hasselblad cameras. While they don’t beat out pricier flagships in every way, they definitely hold their own.
Read our review
OnePlus 12 review: All flagship, no AI
This phone leaves nothing on the table, making for a truly complete package
However, where the OnePlus 12 really leads the pack is in battery life and charging speeds. It has the same ability to get through a full day of heavy use as other flagships, but it can also charge from zero to 100% in about 30 minutes, thanks to its bundled 80W charger. It also offers 50W wireless charging speeds if you opt for the AirVOOC wireless charger.
Those charging speeds will change the way you think about using your smartphone, as you’ll never really need to set aside time for charging or even worry about plugging it in at night. Even in the unlikely event you overdraw the phone during a heavy gaming session, you can be back up and running in only a few minutes.
Best for casual gamers
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra
Asus’ best smartphone for casual gamers with plenty of power
You might be surprised to see two Asus devices on this list, but the Zenfone 11 Ultra has a well-earned spot. While the device has fewer gamer-oriented features than its sibling, it has the same superb performance. It has a massive, colorful, and bright display, a decent camera setup, and a minimalist user interface that doesn’t shout “gamer,” making it ideal for casual players.
- Gorgeous, bright, and colorful display
- Superb performance
- Long-battery life and fast charging
- Slippery back panel
- Camera can struggle in bright conditions
- Only two years of OS updates
The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is practically identical to its gamer sibling, the ROG Phone 8 Pro. What sets it apart from its gamer-oriented counterpart is the design and more minimalist take on the user interface. The Zenfone 11 Ultra is nearly stock Android, featuring a few additional features from Asus that offer the whole package in a still relatively compact form factor.
The phone sports a large 6.78-inch LTPO Amoled display with a 120Hz refresh rate that can reach 144Hz while gaming, providing an even better and more responsive experience. Browsing the web, social media apps, and chatting with friends is a breeze, and the colors and brightness look good, whether you’re indoors or outside in the sun.
The performance is excellent too, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of memory. All graphics-intensive games run without a hitch, and they can sustain demanding games for long sessions without throttling or heating up. There are also a few additional gamer-focused settings, helping users add crosshair, and set up some macros for a more elevated gaming experience.
Read our review
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra review: They grow up too fast
A solid all-rounder that only comes in a large
Photos are fine, though, they’re nothing to brag about. And the battery can last more than a day on a single charge. When you do eventually need to top up, the 65W wired, or 15W wireless charging options will offer enough versatility to keep you going. A full charge takes less than 45 minutes, making the Zenfone 11 Ultra an ideal companion for casual gamers seeking a more affordable, high-end device with plenty of capabilities.
Foldable fun
OnePlus Open
The new standard in foldable phones
$1300 $1700 Save $400
The OnePlus Open is a serious competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup thanks to its clever software and lightweight design. It’s also a media powerhouse, capable of handling the most demanding Android games on its stunning inner screen.
- Excellent battery life and performance
- Some solid big screen customization
- Outstanding camera for a foldable
- The foldable shows OxygenOS’ lack of polish
- Lacks wireless charging
Even the largest phablet phones can’t compete with a foldable when it comes to screen real estate, and last year, OnePlus surprised us by hitting a home run with its first foldable, the OnePlus Open. It’s changed the game by bringing a much-needed new entry into the space, and while there’s always room for improvement, OnePlus got a lot of things right here. Even OxygenOS, although still in need of some polish, has nailed the important aspect of navigating through the multitasking needs of a foldable.
What makes the OnePlus Open an ideal foldable for gaming is not only the expansive 7.82-inch AMOLED screen, but also the fact that OnePlus has managed to work a near-miracle by hiding the crease as much as possible; it’s the least obtrusive of any book-like foldable we’ve used, and definitely won’t distract from your gaming experience.
Naturally, you also get a 120Hz refresh rate, and it’s also plenty bright at a 2,800-nit peak level. Plus, if you feel like keeping it closed while you play, the outer 6.3-inch display has the same refresh rate and brightness with an aspect ratio that works so well that you could almost forget you’re using a foldable.
Read our review
The OnePlus Open is what every foldable should be
OnePlus supplies the competition Samsung needs
Combine all that with an excellent camera system — by foldable standards, at least — including OnePlus’ signature Hasselblad tuning, plus battery life to spare, and the OnePlus Open is the clear gaming winner if you want the biggest screen possible on a smartphone. You get OnePlus’ typical fast charging for quick top-ups, and while this one feels like a throwback to the OnePlus 11 in omitting wireless charging, we really don’t think you’ll miss it as the battery is so hard to kill that you don’t need the kind of casual top-ups that many other smartphones seem to demand.
Gaming phones aren’t budget devices, but some, like the Nubia RedMagic 9S Pro, show you don’t need to spend $1,000 or more to play great Android games. Flagship phones work just as well, too; the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has everything you need while also working as your daily driver, and if you’re considering stepping into the fruit garden, Apple’s iPhone 16 has exclusive access to multiple AAA games it can play at console quality.
For the best gaming experience, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro stands head and shoulders above the competition. It has stellar battery life, a generous RAM allowance, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and a battery that should get you through two days of use. Unlike Redmagic’s phones, its software is easy to use and packed with useful features.
However, you also don’t need to splurge to get top-notch performance. The $500 OnePlus 12R delivers fantastic value for the price, with a vibrant display and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip that’s more than capable of handling any of the latest Android games you can throw at it, and its Genshin Impact Edition is a seriously cool pick for fans of that genre.
Best overall
Nubia Redmagic 9S Pro
Stylish flagship performance
The Redmagic 9S Pro offers the same performance as phones at twice its price, while still offering gaming features like an internal fan and touch triggers. While the cameras and software are poor, they aren’t big enough drawbacks to hold the 9S Pro back from the position of the best gaming phone.