The cell phone is no longer a humble place for digital entertainment and today it is as good as a console or a computer. This has been demonstrated by the gigantic advances in the mobile gaming market in recent years, with titles such as Hearthstone , PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Mobile or Fortnite. But it’s also reflected in the best gaming phones available in this guide.
A powerful processor, a powerful camera, or an attractive design are elements that most consider when choosing a smartphone, but the most staunch gamers stop at more specific aspects, such as the refresh rate of the screen. In addition, with the growth of video game streaming services, with which you can continue your game anywhere, having one of the best gaming phones will be a necessity. And these are our recommendations.
iPhone 11 Pro
Why wouldn’t we choose the iPhone 11 Pro? If you want to play on an iPhone, Apple‘s latest and greatest should always be your starting point. Stick to the same basic rules set by the iPhone XS, keeping the stunning, bezel-less design, but updating its powerful interior. Apple’s new Bionic A13 processor is, in a nutshell, the most powerful mobile processor we’ve ever seen. Gaming performance is excellent, even with the most demanding 3D titles.
OLED “Super Retina” technology means you get a beautiful, clear, and colorful image in any application. Being the smallest in the iPhone 11 range, the 11 Pro is the perfect size to hold in your hand for long periods. The 5.8-inch screen offers plenty of room for even the most demanding gaming interfaces. And hey, for those times when you need to use the phone for other things, the iPhone 11 Pro also comes with an amazing triple-lens camera, to document other exploits beyond gaming.
However, it does have some downsides. The 3,046 mAh battery safely lasts a day in normal use, but long gaming sessions will likely drain it much faster. It is also extremely expensive, at $ 999. Still, for iOS games, you won’t find a better alternative.
However, the iPhone 11 Pro is not your only Apple alternative. If you’re looking for a bigger screen with the same hardware, the iPhone 11 Pro Max features a 6.5-inch one. Otherwise, the iPhone 11 will cost you $ 700 for the same processor and a 6.1-inch screen, even though it’s just an LCD.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
The Galaxy S10 Plus is the culmination of years of work for Samsung, and it is – quite simply – one of the best phones in the world right now. It brings together a whole galaxy of wonderful features in its sleek, beautifully designed body.
But what really matters to the players is their power. The Galaxy S10 Plus comes with the Snapdragon 855, which gives the phone a huge amount of processing power. It handled all the games we tested with ease. We chose the Galaxy S10 Plus over the standard S10 because the Plus version features a larger screen, but since both come with the Snapdragon 855 and 8GB of RAM, either model will play most modern games without issue.
Its Amoled display is another great job, with deep, vibrant colors and dark blacks. It’s also super sharp, and the Quad HD + display should have no problem seeing, even in direct sunlight. Storage starts at 128 GB, but there is the option to increase it with a MicroSD card, and beware, Samsung continues to include the 3.5 jack connector, so it can be charged while using wired headphones. There is also a large battery in this phone, although you can expect that the games will have a high consumption. A versatile triple-lens main camera and dual-lens front selfie complete a fantastic phone.
Is not perfect. Sound during games is good thanks to its stereo speakers, although the location and bass are not the best. It is also too easy to accidentally touch and activate the screen, and it is expensive. But if you are looking for the best Android gaming phone, here you have it.
Asus Zenfone 6
A Snapdragon 855 processor with 8GB of RAM ensures the Zenfone 6 is fast and powerful enough to run any title you want to play. There is ample 256 GB storage space and for expansion with a MicroSD card. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone port, so you can listen and charge at the same time. The Zenfone 6 is a large phone, which allows you to save a 5,000mAh battery, ideal for longer gaming sessions.
By adopting an unusual flip camera, Asus managed to deliver a 6.4-inch screen with no notches or holes, although unfortunately it is an LCD and not an OLED screen. It’s good enough, but it’s not the brightest in the world. However, its cameras respond very well.
Some things are missing, like wireless charging and water resistance, and the design looks a bit dated – apart from that motorized flip camera – but the big draw with the Zenfone 6 is its low price.
Asus Rog Phone 2
Directly from Republic of Gamers (ROG), as Asus calls its gaming division, the Asus ROG Phone 2 does not hide its intentions. A simple glance is enough to realize that it is a device intended for gamers, with well-marked lines, cut-out cuts and an illuminated logo. It is loud and we love it for that. If you want subtlety, this is not the phone for you.
It has the powerful Snapdragon 855 Plus processor. Asus tweaked it to offer an X Mode, giving you maximum processing power. It is a fast phone in and out of games. As expected it absolutely tops gaming performance and offers some cool features like configurable Air Triggers on the top left and right. Other features and a variety of accessories transform the ROG Phone 2 into a more powerful gaming device.
The 6.59-inch, 10-bit AMOLED HDR display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, ranking in its own category. The dual-lens camera won’t beat others on the market, but it should be enough for most. And the generous 6,000 mAh battery has the potential to last a couple of days, though with heavy gaming it will crash.
Unfortunately, it will cost you $ 900. The entry model comes with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. It also has a version with 512 GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM. The Asus ROG Phone 2 improves on its predecessor in every way and is one of the best gaming phones.
Razer Phone 2
The first Razer Phone was responsible for the gaming phone revolution, so it makes sense that its successor, the Razer Phone 2, appears on this list. Razer redesigned its device to address some major issues, like its poor camera. Was it successful? Not at all. The camera is on the lower end for a flagship phone at this price level. But it’s still a great option for gaming.
The main reason is its display technology. Like the first version, the Razer Phone 2 comes equipped with the Ultramotion 120Hz display. That means that images update faster than almost any other device, providing a noticeable improvement in smoothness in both gaming and outdoor use. The display technology is backed by a Snapdragon 845 processor and 8GB of RAM, giving you the power to be a relevant actor. The speakers are also among the clearest and strongest we’ve ever tested.
The design was also renewed. A glass layer was added on the back, allowing wireless charging. The 4,000 mAh battery should allow you to reach the full day quite easily, even with moderate gaming use. QuickCharge 4.0+ support also means that you will need to be connected to the outlet for long periods of time.
It’s not perfect and lacks a camera capable of competing with other flagship phones, but at a reduced price, the Razer Phone 2 is worth checking out.
OnePlus 7 Pro
One Pro 7 Plus | Better Gaming Phones The OnePlus 7 Pro has all the features of a great gaming phone, yet still manages to be cheaper than much of the competition.
It is equipped with a huge 6.67-inch Amoled screen, which is free of notches or holes. It offers a sharp resolution of 3,140 x 1,440 pixels with HDR10 + support and provides a 90Hz refresh rate. Additionally, its Oxygen operating system was tweaked to take full advantage of these features.
With the Snapdragon 855 processor as standard for all its levels, you can choose between three options: 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage; 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB; o 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Based on our benchmark tests, the OnePlus 7 Pro is the fastest phone.
The battery has a capacity of 4,000 mAh, enough to enjoy many games. Plus, it’s compatible with Warp Charge , which takes its charge from zero to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. Its features are complemented by a triple-lens main camera and a 16-megapixel selfie pop-up, although some problems in the application prevent it from reaching higher levels of performance.
Anyway, if you want a solid and versatile phone, the OnePlus 7 Pro is a great option.
Red Magic 3
The Red Magic 3 is a large gaming phone that has it all. Its angular, metallic Nubian design includes an RGB lighting strip on the back, air vents for the fan, and a pair of programmable touch-sensitive buttons. Its 6.65-inch Amoled screen offers a 90Hz refresh rate, and while the resolution is only 2,340 x 1,080 pixels, it offers excellent lighting .
Performance is perfect, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor backed by 8GB of RAM. It also has a dedicated game mode, activated by a switch on the side. This button turns on the fan, to prevent overheating, allowing you to increase the performance of the CPU, GPU, or both. 4D Shock mode adds vibration for some games, like PUBG Mobile . Other titles like Shadowgun: Legends , Asphalt 8, Galaxy Reavers and Injustice 2 also had the best graphic quality.
The 5,000 mAh battery provides more life, though the big screen and fan, along with demanding gaming, will quickly drain you. Dual front speakers are powerful, giving you immersion quota. Anyway, if you want to connect your own headphones, it has a 3.5mm audio jack.
The Red Magic 3 also has a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 16-megapixel front camera. The basic version has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but the special model has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
