Level Up Your Mobile Games With The Best Gaming Phones

Oneplus 12R

Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display 6.8-inch, 2780 x 1264-pixel AMOLED, up to 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate | RAM: 8 GB, 16 GB | Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB | Battery: 5,500 mAh | Cameras: 50 MP wide, 8 MP ultra-wide, 2 MP macro, 16 MP selfie

Pros:

Affordable price tag
Solid main camera
Large, bright display for top gaming performance

Cons:

Average ultrawide and macro cameras
Runs on an older Snapdragon processor

Best for: Enjoying playing your most power-hungry games without spending a fortune.

The Oneplus 12R offers flagship-level performance at half the price of our top pick, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While the processor might be last year’s model, it still brings powerful performance and can run any games—and you probably won’t notice the difference between Gen 2 and Gen 3. If you’re seeking to boost the multitasking performance on this device, go with the higher-end 16 GB RAM and 256 GB storage variant (for an extra $100).

The 6.7-inch display is big, bright and sharp for gaming. Plus, the HDR10+ support means it’s more immersive when watching HDR videos, be that on your Netflix account or just catching the latest YouTube shorts. It also comes equipped with better primary camera than a traditional gaming phone. The 50 MP primary camera snaps great daylight shots and gets the job done in low light. However, the other two cameras aren’t very impressive. While the 5,500mAh battery is enough to last you an entire day, 80W fast charging support means it’s up and ready within minutes if you’re in a hurry.

What the writers say: Forbes Vetted contributor Prakhar Khanna tested the OnePlus 12R for three weeks and says, “The OnePlus 12R redefines what to expect from a sub-$500 phone. You don’t expect a phone in this price range to offer flagship performance. Despite the year-old Snapdragon processor, it’s still more powerful than its counterparts. The OnePlus 12R is comfortable to hold, packs a great display, has plenty of storage, a good battery life and super fast charging.”

Best Apple Gaming Phone

A Powerful Gaming Phone For Apple Enthusiasts

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Pros:

Large and vibrant touchscreen display
Fast processor offers great performance
Access to a vast game library

Cons:

Expensive

Best for: iOS fans seeking Apple’s most powerful phone.

Across the board, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max represents Apple’s most advanced phone yet. It runs using the powerful A17 Pro processor, with a radically redesigned CPU and GPU. This unlocks 20% added GPU performance over the last-generation design and adds hardware accelerated ray tracing that’s four times faster than the previous software solution. It also comes with a vibrant and large 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display and does a really impressive job playing audio. It’s in part thanks to the built-in Dolby Atmos, Apple Lossless Audio and Dolby Digital Plus support; these features, combined with a 120 Hz refresh rate, make it perfect for gaming.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max supports Apple Arcade, and with the right app, just about any other cloud-based gaming service out there, including Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna and PlayStation Remote Play. But it also supports big new native games, like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which is one of the first AAA games to run natively on an iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also offers excellent battery life, with up to 29 hours of video playback, and it’s actually lighter than the last-gen design too, coming in at a mere 7.8 ounces, despite being the same shape and size. It also has a universal USB-C charge port—a first for Apple’s iPhones. You can pre-order it today, and it launches September 22 in stores.

What the writers say: Apple expert David Phelan tested the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In his review, he says, “There’s also a new graphics processing unit, 20% faster than what came before, to ensure that everything onscreen looks fantastic. One of the ways that is most evident is in gaming. One big game that’s coming soon is Resident Evil Village and in a preview version I saw, the graphics looked sensational. Features like ray tracing, which have more faithful lighting effects, and improved HDR effects all help to turn an already good gaming experience into something outstanding.”

Best Android Gaming Phone

Game Without Compromise

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Price: $1,300 and up | Camera: 200 MP wide, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3x optical zoom, 50 MP 5x optical zoom; 12 MP (front-facing camera) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display: 6.8-inch, Dynamic AMOLED, 1-120 Hz adaptive, 1,440 x 3,120 resolution | Brightness: 2600 nits | Battery: 5,000 mAh | Storage: 256 GB, 512GB and 1TB | RAM: 12 GB

Pros:

A great blend of gaming and general use in a mobile device
AI-enhancements improve overall performance
Extra features, like Circle To Search, included

Cons:

No Qi2 wireless charging

Best for: Enjoying gaming with the AI-enhanced Android experience.

More often than not, “gaming phones” are a let down in terms of cameras. They offer excellent performance, air triggers and more gaming goodness but lack the flagship camera setup. If you want a no-compromise gaming phone, it’s a good idea to look at the mainstream phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. It offers nearly the same performance with better cameras and display.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is big and full of extras like S Pen and Galaxy AI. You won’t find these features on a gaming phone. Moreover, the display is better than ever, thanks to Corning Gorilla Armor protection. It offer better visibility with less reflectivity that helps when you’re gaming on the go.

It costs a premium but is worth the price. The Galaxy S24 Ultra doesn’t offer RGB backlighting or air triggers but you get a big and bright display, great performance, flagship-grade cameras, all-day battery life and a good design on a smartphone.

What the editors say: Isaacs also tested the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra when at its launch. In her review, she says, “I also tested it across three different games: The Elder Scrolls: Blades, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and my all-time favorite, Stardew Valley. The device handled Blades and San Andreas with ease, just feeling a little warm after a full 30 minutes of use. Stardew Valley handled well with the Backbone USB-C controller. Every game I threw at it, the phone didn’t lag or flinch, and I appreciated that I could add the Backbone to it and enjoy a few compatible games. The built-in 12 GB RAM and new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip duo really make this phone a gaming powerhouse.”

The Forbes Vetted tech team consists of accomplished tech experts, including executive editor Dave Johnson, who’ve (literally) written books on the subject.
In particular, this story was written by Prakhar Khanna, a mobile expert with over seven years’ experience covering the latest phones.
In addition to recommending the best gaming phones for mobile gamers, Prakhar has also reviewed some of the latest phones on the market, including the top pick for the best smartphone you can buy right now, the Oneplus Open. His bylines include Digital Trends, CNET and more.
The tech section is overseen by consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs, an expert who has extensive experience going hands-on with devices, including the Asus ROG 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on this list.
We know tech tends to become quickly outdated. To keep this piece fresh and accurate, it’s regularly updated. It was most recently published in April 2024 to add the new Asus ROG 8 phone as well as expand our buying advice.

How I Chose The Best Gaming Phones

I spoke with product experts and industry leaders to help us determine the products that made the cut. I also carefully evaluated each smartphone’s display, price, storage and more.

Both the Forbes Vetted team and I have completed hands-on testing on many of the devices on this list, and have provided insight where we can to the inner-workings of each of the best gaming phones that made the cut. In addition, I also paid attention to real customer reviews, weighing the pros and cons of each device. I also paid attention to what sets each smartphone apart from its competition.

Which Is The Best Phone For Gaming?

If you are a serious mobile gamer, you want to have air triggers on a phone to free the screen from controls. This will allow you to have the whole display for the gameplay. The Asus ROG Phone 8 is the best gaming phone overall because it combines the gaming phone design with fine-tuned user interface to deliver an immersive experience.

The Asus ROG 8 phone, the best gaming phone you can get right now, features in-depth settings to optimize your gameplay.

However, if having a great camera system is important for you, the mainstream flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are excellent choices. Both feature powerful performance, great battery life, sharp displays and a whole lot more. However, you’ll just have to play games with the regular on-screen controls.

Which Is The Best Budget Gaming Phone?

The OnePlus 12R is my choice for the best budget gaming phone. It offers flagship performance for $500—which is unmatched. It might not look like a flashy device, but packs a lot of power under the hood, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. You can throw any game at it, and it performs well, based on my own experience testing it.

The OnePlus 12R also features a display that punches above its weight. It’s big, bright and vivid. Plus, the smartphone charges super fast, one of Oneplus’ claims to fame. While you likely won’t be needing to charge it more than once a day but when required, it’s ready to go with just 15 minutes of charge.

How Much RAM Do I Need In A Gaming Phone?

The more the better. Gaming phones require a lot of power and storage, and to manage both of them smoothly you need more RAM. If your budget allows, go for the higher-end variant of all gaming phones. These days, almost every phone starts with 8 GB of RAM, and that’s enough for casual gameplay. If you’re serious about mobile gaming and want to play the top titles, go with the 12 GB or 16 GB variants.