Best gaming phones for 2024

If you want the best there is when it comes to a gaming phone, we strongly suggest you take a look at the Asus ROG range, the most recent of which is the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, which is an absolute powerhouse of a smartphone that’s more than capable of running any mobile game that you can get your hands on. The Snapdragon Gen 3 chipset ensures that this device can run even the most demanding of games, while the RAM and storage ensure all games run smoothly and that they don’t take up too much space.

If you’re a Hoyoverse fan who lives and breathes for Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and soon, Zenless Zone Zero, we think you might want to consider an ASUS when the time for a new phone comes.

The 5500 mAh battery means you can settle in for those long gaming sessions. Oh, and in a nice turn of events, the cameras on this device are so much better than its predecessor. However, this time the built-in gamecool thermal system isn’t quite so efficient, though it does still prevent some overheating.

Read our full Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most powerful iPhone on the market right now (until the inevitable iPhone 16 appears), allowing you to play games such as Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake, and it features Apple’s A17 Pro chip, which is more efficient than the previous A16 bionic chip found in iOS devices.

This does wonders to ensure a smooth gaming experience. Of course, there’s also no denying that the display is sublime, bringing any mobile game to new heights (you have to remember such a device comes with a premium cost).

It also has a decent battery life which means you can stay away from an outlet for a fair few hours before needing some more juice. Admittedly, while the battery life is good, there are better options out there in that regard, but that isn’t altogether surprising for an iPhone. Finally, the size of the device ensures you have plenty of room to maneuver when you use touch controls.

Read our iPhone 15 Pro Max review.

Yes, of course, there’s a Samsung device that’s capable of providing you with the ultimate mobile gaming experience. Some would argue that Samsung is the king of the Android device marker, and considering that the Samsung Galaxy S24 features some impressive processing speeds with 3.1GHz, 2.9GHz, and 2.2GHz, we can see why.

We all know how important this is – nobody wants to be stuck with a laggy phone, but ti does take away the ‘I was lagging’ excuse in Call of Duty. Better still, the 6.8-inch display ensures you have plenty of space to utilize touch controls. Outside of gaming, we also have to admit that the Samsung Galaxy S24 has the best camera on this list, making it a prime pick for people who like a bit of photography.

However, as we noted in our S24 Ultra review, what lets this device down is its tendency to get “toasty while gaming,” which is hardly ideal if you’re in a session for the long haul. Furthermore, while the device’s AI features are innovative and useful, they’ll likely cost more money, upping the amount you spend on this device.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

Though it’s no longer the current flagship, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is more affordable than a lot of other phones on the market, considering the specs it has. Although not designed for gaming specifically, it’s ideal for casual mobile gamers who want a well-designed, high-specced Android phone. Couple the 6.7-inch display with Google’s Tensor G2 chip which sets a powerful GPU benchmark, and you have a pretty solid gaming device.

The camera quality is also stunning. However, the brilliant screen and versatile processor come at the expense of battery life – which is a little disappointing when you’re out and about with no backup battery pack. While we have to admit that the Google Pixel 8 Pro does improve on some of the specs, the increase in cost isn’t worth it if you’re after a gaming device, as you can still get a quality experience with the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and save some precious pennies while you’re at it. All in all, the Pixel 7 Pro is still the way to go if you want a Google smartphone.

Read our Google Pixel 7 Pro review.

The Redmi Note Pro 5G is a great option for someone looking for a gaming phone that can do everything else capably, all without making your bank account cry. It has its issues, but its price drops on a regular basis which makes it a very appealing option to those who are on a tight budget.

While the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 is a little old, it’s still a decent mid-range chip, offering zippy gaming without decimating battery life. Casual games are a breeze, while heftier titles on medium settings are generally smooth.

The best thing about the Redmi Note Pro 5G is that it’s a good all-rounder, so if you need a cheap handset that can handle gaming but still fit into your daily life, it fits the bill. Decent cameras, battery life, and build quality come together to make an ace smartphone.

Read our Redmi Note Pro 5G review.

Here we have another device designed specifically for mobile gaming. The RedMagic 8S Pro is one of the best on the market, and given it starts at $659, it’s one of the cheaper options too, at least within this spec range.

It features a 6000mAh battery to ensure you can have longer gaming sessions, alongside 65W fast charging so you can dive back in quickly after you run out of juice. Oh, and what sort of gaming phone would the RedMagic 8S Pro be if it didn’t have a cooling system?

Luckily it does, with a built-in cooling fan and heat sink, making it an all-out gaming powerhouse. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention that it has a personalized gaming mode, a saving grace for those in this for the long haul.

Read our full RedMagic 8S Pro review.

Here we have what we consider to be the king of Android gaming phones. Honestly, there’s a lot to love about the OnePlus 10 Pro, from its lovely 6.7” display to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip it utilizes.

Oh, and then there’s the 120Hz refresh rate it possesses, which just happens to go nicely with the nearly 13 hours of battery life it has. All of those qualities help to push this gaming phone to the front of the pack, and the fact it costs $699 USD also helps.

Yes, you read that right, it’s a good $200 USD cheaper than a lot of its competitors, yet it still has many qualities that help to ensure that you can enjoy long marathon gaming sessions on a responsive screen.

Should you be on a tight budget but still want that flagship model experience, we highly recommend the Motorola Edge Plus. It just so happens to possess a decent battery to support those longer gaming sessions. Better still, the Snapdragon Gen 2 chipset gives the phone enough capability to run the likes of Genshin Impact without issue.

Moreover, with up to 512GB of storage, you don’t have to worry about running out of space for all of those games. Combine that with 8GB of RAM, and you’re well on your way to getting a win. However, while the OLED screen is nice, there are other devices on this list that offer slightly higher refresh rates, so you may want to consider that should that be important to you.