Best Gaming Smartphones 2025: For Real Gamers

I don’t answer calls because I’m playing!

From budget and mid-range devices to stunning flagships, foldable smartphones and the best overall smartphones, contenders for the best gaming smartphone come in all shapes and sizes.

Mobile technology has been advancing by leaps and bounds lately, meaning you can play incredibly popular 3D games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile on the go. Sorry, Doodle Jump and Angry Birds – your time is over. As you can imagine, a powerful gaming phone requires a processor that can deliver top performance, more RAM than a desktop computer, and a stunning display. There’s also no shortage of accessories that can take your mobile gaming to the next level.

Even with this knowledge, it’s still a challenge to separate the best from the rest in such a crowded market. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight some of the best gaming phones we’ve come across during our travels. Are you ready, gamer number one?

What is the best gaming smartphone?

Before we get to the full list, take a look at our top four picks:

• Best Overall Gaming Phone: Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Outstanding performance and special accessories make Asus’s latest ROG phone a clear winner for gamers who don’t like to compromise. It continues the company’s push for a more mainstream phone, ditching active cooling and an extravagant design for a more refined, elegant look and IP68 water resistance. Its cameras are also better than any other gaming phone. If you need one device for everyday tasks and gaming, this is it.

• Best iOS Gaming Phone: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple Arcade subscribers can’t do better than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. It’s incredibly powerful, has a stunning display that makes every game look its best, and a library of games on the App Store that’s as close to full-fledged gaming consoles as any Android phone can get. Plus, it’s just an all-around great phone, even considering the daunting price tag.

• Best compact gaming phone: Samsung Galaxy S24. There aren’t many powerful phones that fit in your pocket these days, and even Asus, which used to be the leader in this area, has moved away from that with its latest generation Zenfone. That makes Samsung’s most popular S24 our new top pick. Whether you opt for an Exynos or Snapdragon processor, there’s more than enough power for the most demanding games. It’s a great all-rounder with great cameras, clever AI additions, and a sleek design. It also doesn’t break the bank like its larger rivals.

• Best Affordable Gaming Phone: Nothing Phone 2. Nothing’s second attempt at a phone with a previous-generation chipset helps keep the price low enough that we’d recommend it to budget gamers. There are no dedicated buttons, official accessories, or extra USB ports, but it’ll still handle anything you throw at it in the Google Play Store and is otherwise very good.

The Best Smartphones for Gaming You Can Buy Right Now

1. Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro

At first glance, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro gaming phone may not look like a gaming phone. In the previous version, the company largely abandoned the extreme design of older models to make it more mainstream, and that trend has continued in 2024. The ROG Phone 9 Pro outperforms almost any other gaming phone you can think of in terms of photo quality.

Of course, performance is most important, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset guarantees a high frame rate in any game that you only want to name. Depending on the configuration, 16 or 24 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of built -in memory are available, so you can load hundreds of games from the Google Play Store without worrying about the lack of a place.

The frequency of update of the 6.78-inch screen reaches 185 Hz, and the Amoled panel provides bright colors and excellent contrast. Air triggers built into the frame allow you not to touch the touch screen with your fingers. If you choose the top model of the ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition, the supply set of active cooling will also be included. It connects to the additional port of the USB-C, located on the side panel of the phone, and supports it on the table, and also disperses part of the heat released by the phone, and prevents its slowdown due to the quiet fan.

2. iPhone 16 Pro Max

The new iPhone is always the best iPhone, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the newest and best of them. It can be expensive, but if you like to play iPhone, then Pro Max is what you need.

Not only a larger and brighter screen makes it indispensable. This is the A18 Pro processor, which is not in the IPhone 16 base model. Thanks to this additional power, the phone works much faster than competitors, which means that you will have a higher frame rate and you will have to less wait for the game load. In addition, additional smoothing modes are available, thanks to which the games will look more smooth.

This phone really has more power than anyone may need. But, in the end, it is gamers who load their phones to the maximum, demanding that there are no problems in games such as Total War: Medieval 2. With the iPhone 16 Pro Max is not a problem.

3. Nothing Phone (2)

The Phone 2 has everything that did the first Nothing smartphone so unique: more symbols and optimized Android, which may have been the best user interface that we have used since HTC Sense. However, it is the large 6.7-inch screen and processor Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 that make its best choice for gamers.

Not only a larger and brighter screen makes it indispensable. This is the A18 Pro processor, which is not in the IPhone 16 base model. Thanks to this additional power, the phone works much faster than competitors, which means that you will have a higher frame rate and you will have to less wait for the game load. In addition, additional smoothing modes are available, thanks to which the games will look more smooth.

This phone really has more power than anyone may need. But, in the end, it is gamers who load their phones to the maximum, demanding that there are no problems in games such as Total War: Medieval 2. With the iPhone 16 Pro Max is not a problem.

4. Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google has done a good job with the Pixel 7 and 8 series, but Pixel 9 with its more elegant design, a faster processor and artificial intelligence has become an excellent gaming phone. The Pro version is no longer top -end (it will be the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL), but with a screen of 6.3 inches it is more compact than many competitors.

The new G4 Chip Tensor copes with such tasks such as voice recognition and everything that requires processing algorithms. It is great for games thanks to a decent amount of RAM, which means that its performance is not inferior to other flagship phones. The battery with a capacity of 4700 mAh will allow you to play all day, if necessary.

5. Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphone based on Android with artificial intelligence, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal memory, a camera 50 megapixel, long-term operation for a long time, “cobalt-violet” color, expanded warranty from the manufacturer for 3 years (version for Great Britain)

Samsung Galaxy smartphones have always been good game devices, and S24 continues this tradition. The usual S24 fell into this list, because it is the smallest of this series and one of the few compact Android flagships, which are still relevant. The 6.2-inch screen is convenient for use with one hand, but is equipped with a colorful AMOLED panel with a resolution above Full HD and an update frequency of 120 Hz, which is ideal for games.

Inside you will find either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, or Exynos 2400 from Samsung, depending on which direction of the Atlantic you live. Both chipsets do a great job with the latest high -frequency games with rays tracing. 8 GB of RAM – this is a lot, and there are several options for storing data.

Due to the small size, you lose a little in the battery capacity, but this is still a phone for the whole day if you do not play games. He also has a fantastic set of cameras – maybe not the best phones in the world, but still not inferior to the best models of Apple and Google. Add to this effective software with AI support, and you will get an excellent universal phone at a reasonable price.

What to Consider When Buying a Gaming Smartphone

So, you want to buy the best game smartphone, but do not know where to start? Do not worry, we will tell you about everything you need to pay attention to …

Let’s start with the processor and graphic processor. This is very important – look for phones with the latest chipsets from Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple, etc. A powerful graphic processor is necessary to start high -class games, so make sure that it is equipped with a high -performance graphic processor such as adreno (Qualcomm) or MALI (mediaTek ).

RAM and data storage are also important. For games, at least 8 GB of RAM in the smartphone is recommended, and in more expensive models – 12 GB or even 16 GB for more smooth multitasking and performance in games. As for the data storage, it is recommended at least 128 GB of built -in memory, since the games become more and more voluminous. Of course, an additional place is required for all other applications, images, etc.). An expanded storage may come in handy here.

The display is another key component. The high frequency of update (90 Hz, 120 Hz or even 144 Hz) provides a more smooth image, and less response time reduces the delay and increases responsiveness in games. A resolution of at least Full HD+ (1080p) is recommended, although some high -class models are equipped with QHD (1440p) displays for better clearness.

Want to play for a long time without worrying that the phone will be discharged? The battery of larger capacity (4000 mAh or higher) provides longer game sessions, and the possibility of fast charging (at least 30 W) allows you to quickly recharge the device.

The software and game optimization functions are also important. Game modes or game optimization functions that give priority to game applications, block notifications and manage resources, can improve the overall impression of the game.

If you play multiplayer games, a good connection is important. Make sure the phone supports the latest standards, such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6, to reduce the delay and increase the speed of loading. If you use game accessories, such as controllers and headphones, look for the latest version of Bluetooth.

Finally, the design and ergonomics of the phone are also important. Convenient design is crucial for long gaming sessions, and some game phones are equipped with additional buttons on the housing or touch screens for more convenient control.