Best Gaming Phone - The Best Gaming Phone in 2022
The best gaming phones that won't let you down in the heat of battle
Get the fun and powerful gameplay you want with the best gaming phone. These devices show that you do not need to play on a proper console to get an amazing gaming experience.
Equipped with a powerful chipset, abundant RAM, and the best display available in the market, these phones will make your mobile games look and feel their best.
Companies like Razer and Asus -- names that gamers are all too well familiar with by now -- have used their expertise in the field to create purpose-built, gaming-focused handsets. But recent flagships from Samsung, OnePlus, and even Apple, with their class-leading specifications, are also too good for demanding titles.
The iPhone 13, revealed recently by Apple, offers a new more powerful chipset and longer battery life, while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max introduce 120Hz adaptive refresh rates for their displays. This was a big missing element compared to other gaming phones, so we may see a big change in the rankings once the new iPhones are put through their paces.
If you love circling Fortnite or Arena of Valor on the go, these are the best gaming phones for the job.
What are the best gaming phones?
At the top of our list of best gaming phones is the iPhone 13 Pro Max with the powerful A15 Bionic chip. You get top-notch performance and a 120Hz display, as well as stellar battery life.
Surprisingly, the best Android gaming phone is Google's Pixel 6 Pro. The Tensor chip outperformed the Snapdragon 888 in some benchmarks, especially gaming. However, if you want to make every little gaming feature possible, then look no further than the Asus ROG Phone 5. The combination of a 144Hz display, up to 16GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 888 chipset, and great longevity courtesy of a 6,000mAh battery means that if you only care about gaming, there's no better option than this.
Another option is the OnePlus 9 Pro, which packs a 120Hz panel as well as excellent software courtesy of OnePlus' Oxygen OS front-end atop Android 11. And if you want the cheapest path to premium performance, the Redmagic 5G offers the best. Start at a price under the $600 mark, with gaming-focused features and a screen as responsive as the ROG Phone 5.
Read on for an in-depth look at each of the best gaming phones tested by Tom's Guide, from their performance specifications to the pros and cons.
The best gaming phones you can buy now
1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
The best gaming phone for iPhone users
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Strong battery life
- Bright and colorful 120Hz display
- A15 Bionic CPU more powerful than competition
- Excellent photography abilities
Cons
- 128GB of storage on entry model
- Expensive compared to rivals
| iPhone 13 Pro Max Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage / Expandable | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No |
| Cameras (back/front) | 12MP main, ultrawide, telephoto / 12MP |
| Weight | 8.5 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 12:16 |
Apple's latest iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best gaming phone you can buy. Even the best that Android has to offer can't be compared to the new big iPhone. From the extremely powerful A15 Bionic chip to the 120Hz display and vastly improved battery life, this phone can handle any mobile game and then some.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is not only the best gaming phone, but it is also the best phone you can buy. It has great cameras, a beautiful 6.7-inch OLED display, and a slew of features that make it a pleasure to use in everyday life. It can also come with up to 1TB of storage, which means you'll never run out of space for the best iOS games.
But if you have a smaller phone (and save $100 in the process), the iPhone 13 Pro is just as good as the Pro Max. However, it can be a challenge for some games to play on the more compact 6.1-inch display.
2. Google Pixel 6 Pro
An Android gaming phone that does so much more
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Incredible cameras
- Tensor performs well
- Beautiful new design
- More affordable than other flagships
Cons
- Shorter battery life than competitors
| Google Pixel 6 Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED (3120 x 1440; 10-120Hz) |
| CPU | Tensor |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage / Expandable | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main (ƒ/1.85), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (ƒ/3.5) with 4x optical zoom |
| Front camera | 11.1MP (ƒ/2.2) |
| Weight | 7.4 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 7:49 |
You might not have thought that Google Phone would end up on the list of best gaming phones, but Google delivered this year. Thanks to the excellent performance and surprisingly good performance from the new Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 Pro is a good choice for your next gaming phone.
but that's not all. Not only does the Pixel 6 Pro perform well in games and benchmarks, but it also excels at being a normal phone. It may lack some of the fancy features found in other gaming phones, but it sports the best cameras you can find on an Android phone. After all, you probably want your phone to do other things well too.
If we had to make one complaint against the Pixel 6 Pro, it would be the disappointing battery life. While the battery is certainly big enough to last for hours, for some reason the phone turned in a weak result in our battery life test. But in our daily use, even with intense games and Xbox Game Pass, the phone is fine.
3. Asus ROG Phone 5
The ultimate gaming phone
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Beautiful AMOLED display
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Excellent battery life
- Powerful front-facing speakers
Cons
- “Gamer” aesthetic is not for everyone
- Disappointing night mode camera
- Bulky and heavy
| Asus ROG Phone 5 Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display size (Pixels) | 6.78-inch AMOLED (2448 x 1080) |
| Peak refresh rate | 144Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB,12GB, 16GB |
| Storage/Expandable | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro / 24MP |
| Weight | 8.4 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 10:27 (144Hz), 12:23 (60Hz) |
If you're serious about your mobile game, and if you don't want to settle for anything less than the highest frame rate, best graphics, and longest battery life, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is one of the best gaming phones out there. Is.
Sporting a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz maximum, the screen of the ROG Phone 5 is almost flawless. With a powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 16GB of RAM, it will take on any game you throw at it. There's also a big 6,000mAh battery with 65W charging that will keep you playing for a long time without a break to recharge.
Although the focus on gaming is a boon and a curse. That means you have customizable RGB lights on the back, virtual trigger buttons on the side, and some powerful stereo speakers that all add to the experience. However, the lackluster cameras and lack of wireless charging mean the phone doesn't have some significant versatility. Plus that loud design may not be to your taste.
If that's not enough performance for you, there's also the limited edition Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate which adds more RAM and storage. But for most users who want to focus on gaming above all else, the usual ROG Phone 5 is the phone one should go for.
4. OnePlus 9 Pro
An excellent Galaxy Note 20 Ultra alternative
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Bright and beautiful 120Hz display
- Solid quad cameras
- Superfast wired and wireless charging
Cons
- Expensive
- The curved display could cause accidental taps
| OnePlus 9 Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display size (Pixels) | 6.7-inch AMOLED (3168x1440) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 48MP wide, 80MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto, 2MP monochrome sensor / 16MP |
| Weight | 6.95 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 10:40 |
If you want a high-end Android phone that costs a little less than most high-end handsets, and you want extreme performance for gaming without sacrificing other features like design and camera quality, then the OnePlus 9 Pro is a must-have. Well-rounded proposition and a worthy member of the best gaming phone list.
The OLED display on OnePlus' latest flagship measures 6.7 inches and packs a 1440p resolution, making the screen sharp as well as colorful. But the OnePlus 9 Pro rises to the top of our best gaming phone list due to its dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, which makes for a remarkably smooth experience for the games it supports, like Fortnite. Even the touch sampling rate has been bumped up to 360Hz, thanks to OnePlus' new HyperTouch technology, which gives you instant feedback to claim victory.
Of course, the OnePlus 9 Pro succeeds in many other ways. It lasts longer on a charge and supports faster wired and wireless charging than other devices. It has four cameras on the back that are now a real rival to an iPhone or Galaxy phone, thanks to the help of Swedish camera maker Hasselblad. And the OnePlus 9 Pro has phenomenal software that adds some utility to Android 11, as well as a beautiful and easy-to-navigate user interface.
All of this will set you back $1,079, which is unfortunately quite expensive, costing more than many of its rivals, while only offering a modest set of gamer-friendly features. If you want a well-rounded phone then it is definitely worth the price.
5. RedMagic 6S Pro
Best gaming phone value
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Stellar battery life
- Excellent 165Hz display
- Best Android performance we’ve seen yet
- Great value
Cons
- Disappointing cameras
| RedMagic 6S Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080) |
| Peak refresh rate | 165Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 Plus |
| RAM | 12GB, 16GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 64MP (f/1.8) main, 8MP (f/2.0) ultrawide, 2MP macro / 8MP (f/2.0) |
| Weight | 7.6 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 12:50 |
The RedMagic 6S Pro is one of the cheapest avenues of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 Plus processor on the market right now, making it a mention in this list of best gaming phones. For just $599, you can have a device with a high-end chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 6.8-inch 165Hz AMOLED display with a flat design and slim bezels that are well suited for gaming. A fan inside also ensures that the device can play demanding titles optimally, which is extremely important if you are gaming for a long duration.
Of course, if great software or camera performance is a priority for you, the RedMagic 6S Pro won't be the best fit - there are certainly more well-rounded handsets out there. However, they all cost more, and so those who prioritize gaming and the power required to do so, but have a more modest budget, would be wise to consider it.
6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
A well-rounded Android gaming phone
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED display
- The effective feature set for multi-purpose use
Cons
- Expensive
- Below-average battery life
| Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display (Pixels) | 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED (2400 x 1080) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide / 10MP |
| Weight | 7.05 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 9:41 |
If you want a decent Android phone that can handle even the flagship game, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is a smart choice.
The S20 Plus packs a 120Hz panel and a Snapdragon 888 processor, just like all other flagship smartphones from this year. It may only have 8GB of RAM, but that doesn't hold it back. It's still fast in every sense of the world. Plus, its 5G support extends to millimeter-wave networks as well as sub-6GHz ones, allowing for the fastest data speeds on the planet while gaming online away from home.
Although it does offer Xbox Game Pass support, the Galaxy S21 Plus doesn't offer much strictly in the way of dedicated gaming features—it's just a great (and, unfortunately, kinda expensive) flagship device that just happens to be the best. One of the gaming phones.
7. Oppo Find X3 Pro
Great for gaming — if you can get a hold of it
Pros
- Good Performance
- Stunning dynamic 120Hz display
- Attractive unibody design
- Snapdragon 888 performance
- Flexible and powerful cameras
Cons
- Not available in the U.S.
- The shiny finish is a fingerprint magnet
- The microscope lens is a bit of a gimmick
| Oppo Find X3 Pro Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display (Pixels) | 6.7-inch OLED (3216 x 1440) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 13MP telephoto, 3MP microlens |
| Weight | 6.81 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | Not tested |
If your ideal gaming phone is as capable of other flagship-level activities as it is for games, then the Oppo Find X3 Pro could find its way onto your shortlist.
The 6.7-inch display on Oppo offers a QHD panel, while its 5Hz-120Hz refresh rate means you'll get smooth performance only when you need it. This means you'll get the best phone possible while gaming, but save power when you're scrolling through menus or viewing photos.
Talking about which, Find X3 Pro is also great for cameras. There are two 50MP cameras - one for normal images, the other for ultrawide. You also get a 13MP telephoto camera with 5x hybrid zoom and a 3MP microscope lens for long-range and extreme close-up shots respectively.
Add to this the mix its Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM, the Find X3 Pro can easily keep up with the best gaming phone in terms of performance. Plus its unique design, with the camera bump flowing into the body of the phone, means it's a lot easier on the eyes than a device covered in bright colors and flashing lights.
The only problem is that it's currently available in the U.S. Not on sale in the UK – This is an option for our readers in the UK and beyond. It's also a pretty expensive phone at £1,099, which is cheaper than some rival devices, yet still, a lot of money to spend.
8. OnePlus 9
An all-rounder with strong specs for the price
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Ridiculously fast charging
- Leading performance
- Solid battery life
- 120Hz screen-refresh rate
Cons
- Some color inconsistencies remain with cameras
- Minimal gaming features
- No IP water resistance rating
| OnePlus 9 Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display (Pixels) | 6.65 inches (2400 x 1080) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front) | 48MP main (f/1.8); 50MP ultrawide (f/2.2); 2MP monochrome/16MP |
| Weight | 6.77 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 10:51 |
At a surprisingly low price, the OnePlus 9 offers a premium experience for gamers who want an affordable best gaming phone option that covers all the bases.
The display offers the high refresh rate required for smooth gaming, and a decent battery life to let you play without the fear of the phone turning off. You get the best silicon available in the form of Snapdragon 888, which also gives you 5G compatibility for gaming on the go.
Within the well-designed OxygenOS skin for Android 11, the OnePlus Pro offers Gaming Mode, which maximizes performance and turns off your notifications to keep you focused. And the sound of the stereo speakers helps you keep track of the action if you're playing without headphones. Apart from gaming, you also have fast 65W charging and Hasselblad-tuned cameras on the back.
You may prefer one of the other phones on this list with more gaming-focused features or better overall features. But at $729, it's impressive how much you get especially for both overall features and gaming.
9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The best foldable for gaming
Pros
- Good Performance
- Giant internal display
- 120Hz refresh rate inside and out
- Stylus support
Cons
- Short battery life
- Heavy and bulky
- Very expensive
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Specification | |
|---|---|
| External display (Pixels) | 6.2 inches (2268 x 832) |
| Internal display (Pixels) | 7.6 inches (2208 x 1768) |
| Peak refresh rate | 120Hz |
| CPU | Snapdragon 888 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB |
| Cameras (Back/Front/Internal) | 12MP wide; 12MP ultrawide; 12MP telephoto/10MP/4MP (under display) |
| Weight | 9.55 ounces |
| Battery Life (Hrs: Mins) | 7:01 |
If you have a lot of money to burn, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 could arguably be the best gaming phone of them all. No other phone on this list compares to the massive 7.6-inch display within the Z Fold 3, which along with the newly introduced S Pen stylus compatibility makes this phone uniquely immersive and practical. Of course, if you're struggling for space, you still have the smaller external display, which still has the same 120Hz refresh rate on the inside for smooth frame rates.
Of course, you pay both literal and metaphorical prices for this. It's the most expensive phone on this list at several hundred dollars, and also the heaviest and smallest, especially when folded. It also has very poor battery life, which isn't ideal if you want to run a long multiplayer session. This is not a phone to buy, but it could be well suited for you if you won't settle for anything less than the most impressive performance.
10. Google Pixel 5a
The best camera phone under $500
Pros
- Amazing Performance
- Spectacular cameras
- Big, bright display
- IP67 water resistance
Cons
- Older chipset
- Limited to US and Japan
| Google Pixel 5a Specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.43-inch OLED (2400 x 1080) |
| CPU | Snapdragon 765G |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Rear cameras | 12.2MP (f/1.7), 16MP (f/2.2) ultrawide |
| Front camera | 8MP (f/2.0) |
| Weight | 6.5 ounces |
| Battery life (Hrs: Mins) | 9:45 |
Google's Pixel 5a is, by far, the best camera experience under $500, as our Google Pixel 5a vs. iPhone SE shoot-out proves. A new 16MP ultrawide camera has been added to Google's phone this year. Last year's Pixel 4a only had a 12.2MP camera, though that alone was pretty good.
But the Pixel 5a also gets a serious hardware upgrade, which helps it process photos faster and better. The Snapdragon 765G in the 5a is the same processor you'll find on the Pixel 5 or Pixel 4a 5G. While it's not the best or latest Snapdragon (and it's easily beaten by the A13 Bionic in the iPhone SE), it's still powerful enough to do some serious photography magic.
The $100 price hike from the Pixel 4a stings a bit, but the hardware upgrade, bigger battery, and bigger screen all make up for it. But Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have arrived and we are getting ready to test the cameras. They may appear on this list.
How to choose the best gaming phone for you
Like everything else, choosing the right gaming phone is a matter of priority. If you're after the best performance — and you're probably reading this — you'll want a phone with a Snapdragon 8-series chipset or Apple's A14 Bionic. The emphasis on Snapdragon, like Qualcomm's best silicon for Android phones, is available in devices from many manufacturers.
But what about higher refresh rates? It's something you'll only find at the more expensive end of the market, though it's a feature that will certainly take off in more moderately priced phones over time. Panels rated 90Hz and above offer smoother scrolling and overall graphics than traditional screens, making you feel like every swipe, tap, and action is getting feedback without any delay. If you're an especially serious competitive gamer, the high refresh rates will ensure you don't miss any of the action.
Of course, the more a device is geared for gaming with more suitable features, the more phone manufacturers tend to neglect other considerations. While the battery life is central to gaming (since games consume a lot of power), you'll have a hard time finding gaming phones with great camera hardware and software, or perhaps even conveniences like wireless charging and water resistance. If those things are important to you, you may want to focus your search on the more powerful handsets on this list that aren't strictly intended for gaming but can still hold a lot, like the Galaxy Note. 20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
How we test gaming phones
To make any of our best phones list for smartphones - gaming phones or otherwise - it needed to excel in the many tests we run on each handset. We do some of these tests in our laboratories and some in the real world.
When it comes to performance, we rely on synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench 5 and GFXBench to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhone and Android devices. We also ran a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and timed results.
To measure the quality of a phone's display, we run lab tests to determine the panel's brightness (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, a higher number is better. We also measure the color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and a score of 0 is correct.
One of the most important tests we run is the Proowix battery test. We run the web surfing test on 5G or 4G at 150 nits screen brightness until the battery runs out. In general, a phone lasting 10 hours or more is good, and anything above 11 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.
Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field for taking pictures outdoors, indoors, and in low light at night to see how they perform in comparison to their closest competitors. We take shots of landscapes, food, portraits and more, and allow you to be the judge with the side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.