For those who’re a devoted PC or console gamer who needs to take that high-end gaming expertise on the go, you must contemplate shopping for a gaming telephone. However with so many obtainable with various specs, that are price your hard-earned money?
Whereas the concept of high-end gaming on a telephone was as soon as a pipe dream, there at the moment are telephones which might be devoted to only that. This new wave of gaming telephones brings a bevvy of gaming-focused options, from spectacular cooling to enhanced display tech, overclocked processors and even built-in gaming controls, to ship the easiest gaming expertise potential – and we’ve hand-picked the easiest.
Each telephone we’ve included on this record has been totally examined by considered one of our knowledgeable group members, utilizing a mixture of real-world use and artificial benchmark checks to find out how every gadget stacks up in opposition to the competitors.
We’ve additionally included just a few suggestions that aren’t essentially licensed gaming telephones, however nonetheless supply excellent efficiency whereas additionally excelling in different areas, like battery life and digicam tech. These are a strong different for many who wish to recreation on a telephone, but additionally need an all-round expertise for on a regular basis use.
For those who’re after the perfect all-round telephones that excel in quite a few areas, we advocate testing our greatest telephones information. For those who’re on a tighter funds, then our greatest mid-range telephones and greatest low-cost telephones articles present a collection of extra inexpensive handsets. In any other case, carry on studying to search out out about the perfect gaming telephones obtainable in 2024.
Greatest gaming telephones at a look
How we take a look at
Each telephone we evaluate goes by a collection of uniform checks designed to gauge key issues together with construct high quality, display accuracy, battery life, efficiency and digicam prowess.
These embrace formal artificial benchmarks and scripted checks, plus a collection of real-world checks, corresponding to how a lot battery it loses per hour streaming video. For gaming telephones, we pay specific consideration as to how nicely they run among the hottest cell titles.
We additionally be sure to make use of each telephone we evaluate as our major handset for at the very least per week to make sure our evaluate is as correct as potential. You may see a extra detailed breakdown of our testing methodology in our how we take a look at telephones information.
RedMagic 9 Professional
Greatest total gaming telephone
Execs
- The quickest Android telephone we’ve examined thus far
- Stunning, vibrant and uninterrupted show
- Slick design with customisable lighting
- Aggressive pricing
Cons
- The under-display digicam remains to be horrible
- No wi-fi charging
- No IP ranking
- Minor software program bugs to iron out
In order for you a correct gaming telephone with all the RGB glam, then the RedMagic 9 Professional is our prime advice. Not like most telephones on this record, RedMagic isn’t afraid to point out off its gaming identification, with a motherboard sample on the rear and customisable vibrant lighting.
There are a selection of fantastic gaming options right here that set this telephone aside from Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy. Most notably, the RedMagic has built-in contact triggers, permitting you to make use of the rim of the telephone as makeshift triggers slightly than having to slap on a controller accent.
That is additionally some of the highly effective gaming telephones ever examined, going toe to toe with the wonderful Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version. This implies you’ll be capable of play any cell recreation with ease, with an enormous battery making certain you’ll be able to preserve gaming for hours.
The RedMagic 9 Professional does include compromises past gaming. There’s no help for wi-fi charging, and the digicam pales compared to different telephones at this value level. But when gaming on the go is your precedence, and also you need a flashy design to point out off, then there’s no more sensible choice.
Reviewer: Luke Baker
Full Evaluation: Nubia Pink Magic 9 Professional evaluate
Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version
Strongest gaming telephone
Execs
- Blazing quick gaming efficiency
- Smaller design with improved waterproofing
- Digital camera has been upgraded with 3x optical zoom
- Nonetheless full of wonderful gaming options
Cons
- Rear will get scratched very simply
- Downgraded audio system
- Digital camera nonetheless not so good as the competitors
On the subject of efficiency energy, there’s no higher possibility than the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version. It has the identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip that you just’ll discover in most new handsets, however Asus has paired this mannequin with a whopping 24GB of RAM in addition to bundling it with a cooler accent to eke out each drop of efficiency.
Just like the RedMagic 9 Professional, this telephone is brimming with gaming options such because the AirTriggers, key mapping and Macros. The software program is great too, enabling you to make tweaks on the fly, even in the midst of an intense match.
Asus has made a controversial resolution to dial down the gaming design parts. This implies there’s little or no RGB lighting right here, whereas the rear appears plain. The sunshine-up AniMe Matrix characteristic is a good addition although, utilizing a Mini LED panel to show the likes of notifications, battery standing and the time.
Regardless of the inclusion of a brand new Telephoto lens for improved zoomed-in photographs, the digicam nonetheless can’t compete with efforts from Apple and Samsung. However if you happen to’re blissful to make that sacrifice within the identify of gaming efficiency, then it is a nice possibility.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Evaluation: Asus ROG Telephone 8 Final evaluate
Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max
Greatest Apple gaming telephone
Execs
- It has USB-C (lastly)
- 5x zoom is welcome
- A lot comfier to carry and use; a lot lighter
Cons
- The Motion Button is welcome – nevertheless it might do extra
- No 128GB possibility means increased value
Despite the fact that the iPhone 15 Professional Max isn’t designed particularly with cell gaming in thoughts like among the different handsets on this record, Apple has gone to nice lengths to make the gadget an impressively highly effective machine on this class.
What’s most jaw-dropping right here is the uncooked energy that the A17 Professional chip is ready to obtain, permitting the 15 Professional Max to run triple-A video games natively, with out the necessity for any cloud software program.
On the time of writing, titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake Demise Stranding and Murderer’s Creed Mirage are all obtainable to obtain through the App Retailer. Sometimes, that is the kind of gaming expertise that wouldn’t be potential with out cloud companies like Sport Go and GeForce Now, so if you wish to take pleasure in these video games offline on an extended journey, then you definately’re greatest investing within the 15 Professional Max.
After all, this isn’t to say that Apple’s newest flagship doesn’t boast the traditional cell gaming expertise that we’re extra conversant in, removed from it. The telephone can run hits like Name of Obligation Cellular and Genshin Affect with ease, and that’s earlier than mentioning the worth proposition that Apple Arcade brings to the desk.
For those who’re the kind of one that spends a substantial amount of time enjoying cell video games then you definately’ll get tons of use out of the Apple Arcade library because of titles from big-name corporations like Sega, Konami and Disney.
Whereas the iPhone 15 Professional options the identical gaming prowess, having the additional actual property of the 15 Professional Max’s 6.7-inch OLED show is an actual deal with, exhibiting off video games of their greatest mild.
It’s additionally price taking into account that, exterior of gaming, the iPhone 15 Professional Max is among the greatest handsets available on the market. With terrific cameras, nice software program and large battery life, there’s little or no to go away you wanting right here.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full Evaluation: Apple iPhone 15 Professional Max Evaluation
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Greatest Android flagship for gaming
Execs
- Genuinely helpful AI options
- Versatile digicam setup
- All-day battery life after which some
- Seven years of OS upgrades
Cons
- Very costly
- Common ultrawide digicam
In order for you a flagship smartphone that boasts wonderful gaming efficiency as simply considered one of its many accomplishments, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is the smartphone to go for.
It may possibly simply ship among the greatest efficiency round utilizing the unique Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, with benchmarks not too removed from what you’ll see from the ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version, whereas not skimping on the remainder of the smartphone expertise.
Meaning you get a really high-end 6.82-inch Tremendous AMOLED 2X show with a 120Hz refresh charge, LTPO tech, a most brightness of 2500nits and a pixel-packed QHD+ decision. It’s arguably probably the greatest screens round, gaming telephone or not, made even higher by the inclusion of an S Pen for note-taking and doodling. There’s additionally a whopping 5000mAh cell that might go all day after which some in testing, making it a really perfect possibility for lengthy gameplay periods.
You gained’t get some purist gaming enhancements, corresponding to shoulder set off buttons, however you’re going to get some benefits that different gaming telephones might miss out on. That features a assured seven years of OS upgrades, an excellent digicam system with a set of lenses that features a major 200MP sensor and, in fact, all the advantages of the GenAI-powered Galaxy AI too.
For those who’re in search of a top-end Android gadget that may deal with video games with out breaking a sweat and far more besides, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is a simple advice.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Evaluation: Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluate
Poco X6 Professional
Greatest funds gaming telephone
Execs
- Highly effective MediaTek processor
- Vibrant 120Hz OLED show
- Nice important and selfie cameras
Cons
- Bloatware
- Commercials in some system apps
- Weak ultrawide and macro cameras
Most gaming telephones price upwards of £1000/$1000 outright, which can nicely really feel extreme contemplating that’s much more costly than a PS5 and Xbox Collection X. The Poco X6 Professional is an excellent answer to this downside, providing unbelievable efficiency and a slew of gaming options at a really cheap value.
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Extremely, it’s one of many quickest chips you’ll find at this value level. Our testing confirmed the telephone is able to operating the likes of Genshin Affect at 60fps, making certain a clean efficiency whereas maintaining temperatures cheap.
It additionally has just a few gaming-focused options to enhance the expertise, together with software program that can robotically optimise efficiency for gaming workloads, and a 120Hz refresh charge to maintain on-screen movement clean on that pretty 6.67-inch AMOLED panel.
After all, bagging this telephone at a less expensive value than the competitors does include compromises. The efficiency isn’t fairly pretty much as good because the Asus ROG Telephone 8 Professional Version, whereas the ultrawide and macro cameras will probably disappoint photographers. There’s additionally numerous bloatware and in-app adverts that cheapen the expertise. Nonetheless, these flaws are simple to forgive whenever you’re getting such a wonderful gaming expertise at a budget-friendly value.
Reviewer: Luke Baker
Full Evaluation: Poco X6 Professional evaluate
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Greatest foldable telephone for gaming
Execs
- Giant 7.6-inch foldable show
- Strongest foldable telephone round
- Higher app help than different book-style foldables
Cons
- Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- £100/$150 value enhance
- Equivalent digicam setup
In order for you one thing completely totally different to your gaming expertise, look no additional than the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. The foldable nature of the book-style smartphone means you’ve bought entry to a big, high-res 7.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED show whenever you need to play video games on a giant display whereas nonetheless folding all the way down to a measurement resembling an ordinary smartphone.
It’s not simply the sheer measurement of the foldable show that makes the Z Fold 5 the perfect foldable for gaming both; it additionally boasts Qualcomm’s customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, similar to the S23 Extremely. It’s greater than able to powering high-end AAA gaming experiences with high-level graphics enabled and constant gameplay even over longer durations of use.
Elsewhere, a 4,400mAh battery must be sufficient to get you thru even demanding gaming periods, a triple rear digicam setup gives extra versatility than an everyday gaming telephone and it has 4 OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches to sit up for.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Evaluation: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 evaluate
We additionally thought of…
FAQs
Total, we’d decide the RedMagic 9 Professional as the perfect total gaming telephone you should purchase.
We’d advocate the iPhone 15 Professional Max if you happen to love gaming however need to stick to an iPhone.
Greatest Gaming Telephones: Specs Comparability
UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Producer
Display Dimension
Storage Capability
Rear Digital camera
Entrance Digital camera
Video Recording
IP ranking
Battery
Wi-fi charging
Quick Charging
Dimension (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Working System
Launch Date
First Reviewed Date
Decision
HDR
Refresh Price
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colors
Said Energy
Greatest Gaming Telephones: Benchmark Comparability
Geekbench 6 single core
Geekbench 6 multi core
Max brightness
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming on-line)
Battery drain 60-min (music streaming offline)
30 minute gaming (intensive)
30 minute gaming (mild)
1 hour music streaming (on-line)
1 hour music streaming (offline)
Time from 0-100% cost
Time from 0-50% cost
60-min recharge (included charger)
30-min recharge (included charger)
15-min recharge (included charger)
30-min recharge (no charger included)
15-min recharge (no charger included)
3D Mark – Wild Life
GFXBench – Aztec Ruins
GFXBench – Automotive Chase