Mobile gaming represents the greater part of the games industry in terms of sheer numbers. Creatively and culturally, mobile games have strengthened, while platform holders Apple and Google have gotten more serious about it with their own gaming subscription services.
If you’re looking to get the most out of these incredible gaming experiences, you might want to upgrade your phone. The gaming phones listed below are a mix of more gaming-focused devices and phones that can do it all. Whether looking for premium gaming phones or if you’re on a budget, we have the best choices for a gaming phone currently on the market.
Updated Jun 22, 2025, by Sai Vsr:Check out the OnePlus 11 5G, our newest addition to the list!
OnePlus 11 5G
Never settle.
Experience flagship performance with the OnePlus 11 5G. Powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and a stunning 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, this smartphone delivers an immersive gaming and multimedia experience.
Coming from the OnePlus stables, the 11 5G is a beast of a smartphone, designed with the hardcore gamer in mind. Under the hood, we’ve got a beast of a processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is capable of running the most graphic-intense mobile games you can throw at it. Plus, there’s the smooth-running Adreno 740 GPU, making sure your games never stutter or lag on visuals.
But hey, what’s power without some finesse? OnePlus here brings some serious game with its advanced cooling tech. We’re talking about a vapor chamber and graphite sheets to keep the heat at bay during those long gaming sessions, ensuring your device never slows down due to overheating. How’s that for cool?
Screen-wise, we’re looking at a 6.7-inch, QHD+ resolution AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. You can expect silky-smooth gaming with minimized input lag and an overall more responsive device. And with a peak brightness of 1000 nits, morning, noon, or night, you’re set for a great gaming experience.
Storage-wise, OnePlus gives you tons of room to juggle, up to 512GB with UFS 4.0 tech, perfect for multiple game installations and file storage. And let’s not forget the 5G connectivity for super low latency, giving you an edge in online gaming or streaming. OnePlus 11 5G is bringing some serious heat… in a cool way, of course.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
If you prefer the iOS experience.
The new iPhone 15 Pro Msx is the largest of the new series of Apple flagship phones, coming in with a 6.7-inch screen. It also boasts the new A17 Max chip, upgraded cameras, and all the features you’d expect from a premium smartphone.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a beast of a phone built for even the most hardcore on-the-go gaming. That aerospace-grade titanium body isn’t just there to look pretty, it makes this phone featherlight yet remarkably resilient, able to take a beating through intense gaming marathons.
And that display? Oh, man. We’re talking visuals so vibrant and smooth you’ll feel like you just hopped into a console game. This thing will have your favorite heavy hitters running buttery 60fps without breaking a sweat thanks to Apple’s crazy powerful A17 chip and the touch screen tech.
Connectivity is covered too with Wi-Fi 6E keeping latency low even on crowded networks. This ensures you stay locked into the action when playing online multiplayer games. And thanks to fast charging support, you can rapidly top up and jump back into matches when you need extra runtime. If you’re looking to go for a gaming device that fits into the Apple ecosystem, it doesn’t get much better than the 15 Pro Max!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Top Features Across The Board
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is not only a top-notch gaming phone, but is a class-leading performer among smartphones full stop. Powered by a Samsung specific variant of an already powerful chip, the S23 Ultra also has a large 6.8-inch screen for greater mobile gaming immersion, in a well-rounded package that makes this a great choice overall.
For even more specific gaming features, there are plenty of other choices on this list, but for the best overall option, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra ticks a lot of boxes. Especially for those who want an extremely capable daily driver, this phone has many bases covered. Using a Samsung-specific version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, this processor provides even more power for your gaming needs.
There’s a beautiful QHD 6.8-inch AMOLED screen to display it all, with a high 120Hz refresh rate, and an appropriately large battery for extended playing sessions. On top of that, the S23 Ultra has multiple high-resolution cameras, the unique S Pen, and the neat ability to connect seamlessly to monitors using the DeX feature, and you have a phone with a whole bag of tricks.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
Ultimate Mobile Gaming
The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is feature packed for mobile gaming with capabilities targeted for a super premium playing experience. It’s difficult to think of a better considered gaming phone than this Asus offering. From the Ultrasonic shoulder buttons to the 165Hz display, the thermal design and the extra bassy speakers, this phone is very probably the ultimate in mobile gaming.
Packing the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the Asus ROG Phone 7 possesses ample power, but for the peak gaming experience it is this phone’s other features that make it the premium gaming phone that it is. There’s a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, with an 165Hz refresh rate, that’s capable of reaching 1500-nits peak brightness. Such a screen will show off the hardware-accelerated ray tracing this phone is capable of. On the higher-end model there’s a generous 16GB of DDR5X RAM; customizable Ultrasonic shoulder buttons; and a thermal chamber for improved cooling that also doubles as a kind of “sub-woofer” for extra volume and bassiness from the speakers.
The huge 6,000mAh battery gives the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate outstanding longevity (although this means the phone is not the thinnest package around). There’s also special software so for the admittedly high price you’re getting many gaming-focused features. The one major knock is the USB-C port is not on the phone’s bottom center meaning its compatibility with clamp-on controllers is limited.
Motorola Edge Plus
Great Combo Of Features
The Motorola Edge+ is an excellent performer especially considering its price. It contains a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and comes with an expansive screen that refreshes at 165Hz. It has superlative battery life and even comes with 512GB of storage as standard all for a whisker under $800.
The Motorola Edge+ offers a lot of flagship features but without the flagship price. It contains the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that very nearly matches the raw graphics performance of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (we’re talking just a few frames in difference) while handily beating the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic. There’s a 6.7-inch pOLED display that can refresh at 165Hz once selected in the options. A further plus is the clean Android experience Motorola opted for.
Battery life is another standout, with only the far more expensive Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate consistently beating it. With the phone having 512GB of storage for the standard price, you might be thinking where the catch is. That would be in its cameras and photo software which doesn’t match the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 or iPhones. But overall, this gaming phone should have great performance.
RedMagic 8 Pro
Ice Cool
The Redmagic 8 Pro presents an attractive option for mobile game enthusiasts, especially if they’re looking for a dedicated gaming phone. There are features here that are well considered for its specific audience even if some corners have been cut. But for those wanting a phone with good gaming performance and features such as touch-sensitive shoulder “buttons” this latest Redmagic offering is worth considering.
The Redmagic 8 Pro comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, so you know you’re getting the latest chip, but also optimizes performance with its cooling system, which is fairly unique. In addition, there are touch-sensitive shoulder triggers (not actual buttons) that sets this phone apart from the Motorola offering above. You get a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate and a large 6,000mAh battery to provide plenty of juice.
The Redmagic 8 Pro is also competitively priced, with the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant sold for $649 and the 16GB RAM/512GB storage model for $799. Only the lackluster cameras and slightly buggy software experience make this phone a less attractive all-rounder compared to the Motorola Edge Plus.
Samsung Galaxy A54
Capable All-Rounder
The Samsung Galaxy A54 balances an all-around excellent package for the price. The standout features are the screen, which is close to something you’d find on a flagship, the dependable performance, and the all-day battery life. The Samsung is a definite contender and should be even more so once discounts and sales arrive.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 offers a lot for its price. The large 6.4-inch OLED screen is bright and vibrant, making for a fantastic display and playing surface, while the 120Hz refresh rate is a feature usually seen in flagship phones. Samsung promises years of software updates for the A54, so this phone is a good bet for long-term use.
The Exynos 1380 chipset is surprisingly competent, handling even graphically intensive games like Genshim Impact fairly well, although I do expect performance to be choppy at certain moments. For some games, you may have to lower graphics settings, but for many titles, users will find the A54 perfectly capable. While Apple’s iPhone SE has a CPU that is much stronger than the one in the Samsung, the iPhone SE has noticeably worse battery life and a smaller, less vibrant screen. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A54 represents a good value package.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers a 6.2 inch cover screen that’s perfect for everyday use. Expand your screen to expand your world by opening up to the 7.6 inch AMOLED main screen, perfect for gaming. With 120Hz and an optional stylus pen, play your favorite mobile games on a beautiful expanded screen.
If you’ve never had a foldable screen before and you’re looking to get into what this type of phone has to offer, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the perfect starting point. Unfolding the phone to a large 7.6-inch AMOLED screen will make it feel more like you’re gaming on a true tablet than a simple smartphone. Of course, the 120Hxz and Snadgraon 8+ gen one chip ensure that you’ll be gaming smoothly and efficiently.
The phone also works well as a daily driver; utilizing the outer screen alone for daily use works great. The phone is a tad heavier than some other smartphones here, but the heavier phone trade-off makes for a better gaming experience when you open the screen and enjoy the extra real estate. This phone may soon see a price drop due to the imminent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, so it may be an even better value for entry into the foldable phone space.
Bottom line
The best gaming phone will be one that’s easy to live with every day and doesn’t have any weaknesses. From this basis the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the whole package. It has the most powerful phone processor available, a fantastic screen that’s one of the biggest out there, good battery life, and a range of features that go beyond gaming. It should play even the most demanding mobile games without a hitch.
For those looking for a more gaming-focused package, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has capabilities players will find interesting. The premium gaming phone has shoulder triggers, a very high refresh rate screen, class-leading battery life, and software features targeted at serious gamers. Meanwhile, those on a budget will find the Samsung Galaxy A54 a well-balanced package that can hold its own.
FAQ
iOS or Android?
This is the great debate that will remain unsettled for some time to come. But we have a slight advantage since we’re considering this question from a gaming perspective. However, it’s still not an easy one to answer. When it comes to Android these phones have much greater variation than Apple’s iOS phones. This results in the gaming-focused designs we see in the Redmagic 8 Pro and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. Then there’s the folding phones Samsung and Google have released, which unfold into a tablet-like size (which will suit gamers looking for a much larger screen). Apple has nothing like such designs as yet.
In addition, Android is a more open platform allowing users to install programs and get files off their phone quite easily. This will be a consideration for those wanting to install emulators and tinker around. Cloud gaming is also an option on Android. Google Play Pass is the gaming subscription service on Android, offering many hundreds of games to download for a monthly fee.
The advantage with iOS phones is that Apple has tight control over both hardware and software, which tends to result in a more seamless user experience. Since there are fewer iOS devices than there are Android devices, apps also tend to run a little more stably on Apple’s phones in the general. But you do lose the versatility of Android. Apple also has a gaming subscription service in Apple Arcade, which offers a more curated experience, although you still have access to more than 240 games some of which are exclusive to the platform.
What is “120Hz” and refresh rate?
Refresh rate refers to the number of times a display updates (“refreshes”) its image every second. Refresh rates are usually expressed in Hertz (Hz). The higher the rate the faster the screen refreshes and responds. Therefore phones with a higher refresh rate, 120Hz compared to 60Hz for example, will feel and respond more fluidly. For users, this means the screen will be less jittery and smoother when you’re scrolling, for example, and when you’re gaming those games that support higher refresh rates will also respond and look smoother.
Are gaming phones worth it?
If you spend a lot of time gaming on a phone, enjoying the portable nature of the platform, then a gaming phone could very well be worth it. You’ll get screens with high refresh rates, usually more RAM, fast processors, lots of storage, and big batteries. There’s also the perks of gaming-focused features such as shoulder triggers and software enabled functions like performance modes and vibration mapping (available on the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate). However, gaming phones can often lack in areas like cameras and tend to be slightly thicker so for those who want a more general purpose phone that still has gaming chops, the likes of the Motorola, iPhone, and Samsung Galaxy S23 are good options.
