The best phones for gaming: Play faster and better

Mobile gaming has come a long way in recent years, and if you want to make the most of it, you’ll want to pick up a gaming phone. These come in all shapes and sizes, but choosing the best gaming phone for you will come down to a few questions:

• How far can you stretch your budget?
• Do you need hardware triggers for first-person shooters, etc.?
• How important are cameras and other features?
• iOS or Android?

Once you know what’s important to you, it isn’t too difficult to find a great phone for gaming. You can learn more in our detailed buyer’s guide, but we’ve done the hard work for you and tested nearly every phone on the market. Keep reading for the best gaming phones you can buy in 2023, starting with a phone that’s easily the cream of the crop.

The ROG Phone 9 is the best gaming phone for most

If you want top-tier performance and an excellent all-around device, the ROG Phone 9 is our top pick. At the moment it’s one of the few Snapdragon 8 Elite phones on the market, and the combination of specs and design make it a clear winner for just about anyone interested in gaming.

In our testing, the Snapdragon 8 Elite performed incredibly well on every game we threw at it. Check out our ROG Phone 9 review for all the charts and info, but suffice it to say that not only did it top the benchmark charts, it also maxed out framerates for some of the most demanding mobile games like COD Mobile and Genshin Impact. Performance isn’t leaps and bounds better than the ROG Phone 8 though, so don’t upgrade if you’ve recently picked one up. Of course, it still has built-in AirTriggers, so you don’t need to connect a controller for decent FPS gameplay.

Where the ROG Phone 9 does make big leaps forward is battery life. It has a marginally larger battery life at 5,800mAh, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite was far more battery efficient in our testing. It lasted for hours longer than its predecessor for 4K video playback, so expect a multi-day battery for all but the heaviest of use cases. It also charged up in just 45 minutes using a 65W charger.

Similar to the ROG Phone 8, the latest gaming flagship from ASUS tones down the RGB-heavy gamer aesthetic that has plagued many gaming phones in the past. It’s still there, but the design is much more sophisticated. For example, there’s a display underneath the back of the phone with a few retro-inspired games to enjoy. We didn’t find this terribly useful since most people slap a case on their phones anyway, but it’s a neat easter egg.

Apart from games, the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro have slightly improved cameras and new AI features. We didn’t find them to live up to the likes of the Pixel 9 series, but the gap isn’t as large as it used to be. The photos are perfectly serviceable, and features like AI Call Translator, AI Transcript, AI Wallpaper, and Semantic Search for Gallery and Settings make it a very well-rounded smartphone for non-gaming use.

There are two options in the lineup: the ROG Phone 9 ($999.99 at Asus) and the ROG Phone 9 Pro ($1199.99 at Asus). For our money we’d stick with the standard model, since you’re essentially getting the same performance for significantly less money. However, if you need extra storage, the Pro model is the only one with an option for 1TB of internal storage.

The only bad news is that the device is currently only available in Asia and Europe. The US launch is expected at a later date, most likely in January 2025.

What makes it stand out

• Extreme performance: The ROG Phone 9 offers the best performance of any phone we’ve tested.
• Balanced focus: This phone is made for gamers, but it’ll also appeal to everyone else.
• AI chops: It’s not a leader in AI, but it has a nice selection of useful everyday features.

The nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is a budget powerhouse

If you want raw performance at bargain prices, the nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro is worth a look. It sacrifices a lot when it comes to software features and long-term support, but the hardware is more than capable of extreme gaming.

Like other gaming phones, the REDMAGIC 8S Pro puts a heavy emphasis on cooling. It pairs 12 or 16GB of RAM with the same overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as the Galaxy S24, with a redesigned cooling system to lower temps while gaming. That means it outperformed the Galaxy S24 Ultra by a sizeable margin while costing hundreds of dollars less. However, the fans were noticeably loud under stress and while charging, so you may not want to run all games on max settings all the time.

Since it’s made for gaming, it also includes integrated shoulder triggers, and a huge 6500mAh battery. That means it will last for hours of hardcore gaming, and the speedy 80W charger can top the whole thing off in just 30 minutes. It will heat the phone up considerably though, so give it some time before hopping back into the driver’s seat.

The biggest downside here is long-term support. nubia has a spotty record with software support, so don’t expect this gaming phone to stay on the latest software for long. Still, if you want top-of-the-line performance on a budget, this phone will meet and exceed your expectations. Likewise for the cameras, which are mediocre, at best.

What makes it stand out

• Pure power: This phone pulls no punches when it comes to specs and raw power.
• Improved cooling: nubia has further improved its cooling tech, providing better performance under pressure.
• Clean display: The under-display selfie camera means uninterrupted screen real estate for gaming.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra trades triggers for a stylus

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t billed as a gaming phone. It lacks peculiar styling, LEDs, and shoulder buttons, but does have a trick up its sleeve — the S Pen. This little stylus is perfect for those who enjoy more static games, like strategy titles, that demand more precision. Beyond this, the Galaxy S24 Ultra brings even more power to Samsung’s flagship lineup.

As the best Android phone money can buy, the Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC — an overclocked version of Qualcomm’s premier chipset. It’s the same one found in the REDMAGIC 9S Pro above. This, paired with its 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of internal storage, makes it a powerful gaming companion. The new chipset also brings Wi-Fi 7 support for better network performance in competitive online titles. Thankfully, Samsung has ironed out the curved display of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so unwarranted touches are now less likely.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra excels in other facets, too. As it shares its main 200MP camera with its predecessor, you can expect excellent results in all lighting scenarios. A new 50MP 5x zoom lens also promises improved shots within that particular range. Some users will lament the lack of a dedicated 10x optical zoom lens, though.

Finally, it’s worth noting Samsung’s stellar software support policy, which now extends to seven years. That alone is a massive reason to purchase this phone, but it also demands an equally massive investment.

What makes it stand out

• S Pen goodness: The S Pen housed in the device is excellent for strategy games.
• Raw power: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy tunes an already pacey chipset.
• Unrivaled software support: Samsung offers the best Android update promise of any phone on this list.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is best for the Apple crowd

If you want to opt for Apple’s side of things, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone for gaming. It isn’t a huge improvement over last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, but we didn’t find many faults with that one, either.

Apple’s Bionic processors have always outperformed anything Android can muster, and the same is true for the Apple A18 Bionic Pro. It handily beat anything the Android ecosystem could muster in our benchmark testing, and we were happy to find that heat performance is significantly better than its predecessor.

Speaking of games, Apple’s ecosystem sports an even more robust catalog of games than the Google Play Store, and that’s expanded even further last year with the release of AAA titles like Resident Evil Village and Assassin’s Creed Mirage to the mobile platform. The device will heat up and it will chew through your battery, but it’s a level of performance that’s incredible to see on a mobile device.

Apart from that, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a top-notch smartphone. It features a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED panel to make your games pop, with a large battery to keep you gaming for longer. The switch to USB-C in last year’s iPhones is a welcome change, and charging speeds appear to have increased to 45W this time around.

We think the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best model for gamers, but if you prefer a smaller phone, the iPhone 16 Pro packs just as big a punch. However, the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus use the weaker A18 Bionic processor, which is slightly less powerful than the A18 Bionic Pro. For games, you want all the extra horsepower you can get.

What makes it stand out

• Bionic power: Apple’s Bionic A18 Pro processor is extremely powerful and energy efficient.
• ProMotion display: The large, 120Hz OLED display is perfect for games of all types.
• Ecosystem: iOS always has the latest and greatest games, and now that includes true AAA games.

The POCO F6 is the best cheap gaming phone

Want a cheap gaming phone? The POCO F6 is a fantastic option at just $379. Despite the price, it has flagship specs where it matters most for tip-top gaming performance.

Most of that power comes from the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor you’ll find in phones that cost two or even three times as much, as well as up to 12GB of RAM. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display doesn’t have the highest resolution, but that should make it easier to match the refresh rate of 120hz on most modern games.

Apart from great specs and performance, the device is in the middle of the road. The large 5,000mAh battery should keep you gaming for a long time, and the 90W charger will top the phone off in a jiffy. The cameras certainly won’t impress, and the HyperOS the phone ships with isn’t the best we’ve tested. Still, you won’t find a better gaming phone at this price.

It’s worth noting that there is also a POCO F6 Pro, but despite costing more, it’s actually a worse pick for gamers. Stick with the standard POCO F6, and you won’t be disappointed.

What makes it stand out

• Price: This is the best cheap gaming phone you can buy.
• Great performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is every bit as powerful as phones that cost much more.
• Fast charging: Battery life is great, and the charging is even better.

What to look for in a gaming phone

Not sure what makes a gaming phone good? We’ve tested lots of phones, and here’s some quick insight into what we look for:

• Powerful specs: Modern games can be very demanding, so a powerful SoC and a healthy helping of RAM are crucial to maintaining high framerates.
• Thermal performance: One of the biggest drawbacks of the latest generation of flagship processors is heat. Many gaming phones have improved thermals to enable much better sustained performance than traditional flagships.
• Hardware triggers: While not all of our picks have them, hardware triggers make a good gaming phone great. Bonus points if they offer nice haptic feedback. However, keep in mind accessories like the Razer Kishi can get around this.
• Software: Obviously, gaming features are great, but there are other things to consider as well. Chief among them are updates. If your phone will only receive updates for two years, you’ll need to upgrade much sooner than you’d like.
• Cameras: Camera performance is nearly always lacking on gaming phones, but some are still capable shooters. Likewise, many of the best camera phones, like the premium Galaxy S23 Ultra, are also excellent for gaming.

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