Flip your smartphone into a transportable video games console with the perfect gaming telephones. Our picks under supply all the pieces you’ll be able to need whenever you’re taking part in cellular video games — from sharp shows and beefy processors to long-lasting batteries.
Some gaming telephones put on their id on their sleeves, bedazzling themselves with RGB lights, enhanced cooling and massive logos. Nonetheless, lots of the telephones on this listing are nonetheless common telephones. Whereas they could lack gaming-focused options like set off buttons, they’ve nonetheless received the fundamentals coated, and infrequently supply higher total versatility too.
In case you wish to dip into rounds of Fortnite or Enviornment of Valor on the go, these are the perfect gaming telephones for the job.
What are the perfect gaming telephones?
The iPhone 13 collection has stunned us all by being a greater cellphone for gaming than devoted gaming telephones. The important thing causes for this are Apple’s persevering with dominance with regards to chipset energy (due to the A15 Bionic), and the brand new 120Hz adaptive refresh fee shows on the 2 Professional fashions. Do not hit the purchase button on an iPhone 13 Professional Max simply but although, because the iPhone 14 Professional is right here, and it is most definitely going to take the crown.
After all there are nonetheless many Android telephones which might be almost pretty much as good. For an all-around high handset that additionally handles gaming nicely, flip to the OnePlus 10 Professional, although the Google Pixel 6 Professional or Galaxy S22 Plus additionally match the invoice. (In case you do not thoughts spending slightly additional, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely makes for a reasonably good stealthy gaming cellphone, too.
We have simply reviewed the Asus ROG Telephone 6 Professional, and this newest gaming cellphone stands out for its phenomenal battery life. It additionally options the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which affords a noticeable efficiency enhance over different current Android flagships. For a cheaper cellphone powered by the newest Snapdragon silicon, you’ll be able to at all times flip to the OnePlus 10T.
The most effective gaming telephones you should buy now
Apple’s newest iPhone 13 Professional Max is solely the perfect gaming cellphone you should buy. Even the perfect that Android has to supply can’t evaluate to the latest large iPhone. From the extraordinarily highly effective A15 Bionic chip to the 120Hz show and vastly improved battery life, this cellphone can deal with any cellular recreation on the market after which some.
Not solely is the iPhone 13 Professional Max the perfect gaming cellphone, however it’s additionally the perfect cellphone you should buy interval. It has incredible cameras, a lovely 6.7-inch OLED show, and a swath of options that make it a pleasure to make use of in on a regular basis life. It can also give you as much as 1TB of storage, that means that you simply’ll by no means run out of area for the finest iOS video games.
Sadly, the App Retailer would not enable for gaming emulators, so for these considering taking part in basic video games, they could be out of luck. Though, a number of the hottest titles from the SNES and PS2 eras have been ported to iPhone.
Apparently, esports gamers abroad choose to coach and play video games like PUBG Cellular and Garena FreeFire on iPhone. That is as a result of the effectivity of Apple’s chips permits for much less warmth dissipation, which makes for a extra snug gaming expertise throughout lengthy periods.
However should you’d fairly have a smaller cellphone (and save $100 within the course of), the iPhone 13 Professional is simply pretty much as good because the Professional Max. Taking part in on the extra compact 6.1-inch show could be a problem for some video games, although.
Learn our full iPhone 13 Professional Max evaluation.
The highest-performing Android telephones popping out as of late function a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system-on-chip, and that’s the silicon powering the OnePlus 10 Professional. In consequence, even essentially the most demanding video games play like a dream on this machine.
Players will even respect the 120Hz refresh fee on the cellphone’s 6.7-inch show, in addition to the lengthy battery life — almost 12 hours even with that adaptive refresh fee enabled. However maybe essentially the most enticing factor in regards to the OnePlus 10 Professional is its worth. Whereas different flagships flirt with $1,000 worth tags, the OnePlus 10 Professional is available in at $899. It’s exhausting to discover a top-line cellphone that delivers so many premium options at that value.
Learn our full OnePlus 10 Professional evaluation.
If a devoted gaming cellphone is your cup of tea, then look no additional than the ROG Telephone 6 Professional. This monster packs the brand new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, a whopping 18GB of RAM, a mammoth 6,000 mAh battery, new and upgraded AirTriggers, and enhanced cooling choices for sustained gaming durations.
The chip alone makes the ROG Telephone 6 Professional essentially the most highly effective gaming cellphone to this point — it comes near matching Apple’s A15 Bionic in our testing. Whereas 18GB of RAM is extreme, it’s one thing to brag about. This handset additionally has the perfect software program we’ve seen on a gaming cellphone.
And the battery life, wow. The ROG Telephone 6 Professional is the longest-lasting cellphone that we’ve ever examined at Tom’s Information, going for an unimaginable 15 hours and half-hour in its 165Hz mode. Knock it all the way down to 60Hz and also you get an additional hour. The ROG Telephone 6 Professional does all the pieces a gaming cellphone ought to after which some, however it has the $999 price ticket to match.
Learn our full Asus ROG Telephone 6 Professional evaluation.
The Black Shark 5 Professional is the primary devoted gaming cellphone that we are able to actually advocate. Not solely does it function highly effective {hardware}, a lovely show and glorious battery life, however it affords distinctive gaming options that we love. To not point out that the principle and ultrawide cameras are surprisingly good.
The most effective half in regards to the Black Shark 5 Professional, nonetheless, are the bodily shoulder buttons. These magnetic triggers pop up whenever you need them, providing actual, tactile suggestions throughout gameplay. In case you’ve struggled with ultrasonic triggers previously, you may like these.
Beginning at $799 / £629 / €799 for the bottom 8GB/128GB mannequin, the Black Shark 5 Professional is the perfect devoted gaming cellphone. If cellular gaming is all you care about, that is the cellphone for you.
Learn our full Black Shark 5 Professional evaluation.
You wouldn’t suppose {that a} Google cellphone would find yourself in a listing of the perfect gaming telephones, however Google delivered with the Pixel 6 Professional. Due to the superb show and surprisingly good efficiency from the brand new Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 Professional is definitely a sensible choice in your subsequent gaming cellphone.
However that’s not all. Not solely does the Pixel 6 Professional carry out nicely in video games and benchmarks, however it additionally excels at being a standard cellphone, too. It would lack a number of the fancy options different gaming telephones have, however it sports activities the perfect cameras you will get on an Android cellphone. In any case, you most likely need your cellphone to do different issues nicely, too.
If we needed to stage one grievance in opposition to the Pixel 6 Professional, it’d be the disappointing battery life. Whereas the battery is definitely massive sufficient to go for hours, the cellphone for some motive turned in a lackluster end in our battery life testing. However in our day-to-day use, the cellphone is simply effective, even with intense video games and Xbox Recreation Move.
Learn our full Google Pixel 6 Professional evaluation.
The RedMagic 7S Professional is among the most cost-effective pathways to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor in the marketplace proper now, incomes it a point out on this listing of the perfect gaming telephones. For simply $729, you’ll be able to have a tool with a high-end chipset, as much as 18GB of RAM and a 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED show with an under-display digital camera that offer you much more room for gaming. A fan inside additionally ensures the machine can run demanding titles optimally, and 65W charging makes positive you may by no means be out of energy for lengthy.
After all, if incredible software program or digital camera efficiency is a precedence for you, the RedMagic 7S Professional is not going to be the perfect match — there are definitely extra well-rounded handsets on the market. Nonetheless, all of them value extra, and so those that prioritize gaming and the ability wanted to take action however have a extra modest price range could be clever to think about it.
Learn our full RedMagic 7S Professional evaluation.
We expect the OnePlus 10 Professional is a more sensible choice should you’re on the lookout for the perfect gaming cellphone from OnePlus. However should you do not need to pay $899 for that flagship, the OnePlus 10T affords a cheaper choice. Even higher, you do not actually sacrifice efficiency for that cheaper price, because the 10T encompasses a extra superior Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset than its predecessor.
The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 delivers a efficiency enhance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which OnePlus augments by packing the cellphone with RAM. In actual fact, you will get a model of the cellphone with 16GB of reminiscence for $749, simply $100 greater than the $649 beginning worth. The OnePlus 10T additionally encompasses a new cooling system to maintain the cellphone from overheating throughout marathon gaming periods. Throw in a quick charging and an enormous show able to a 120Hz refresh fee, and you have got fairly a cellular gaming machine that is cheaper than most flagships.
Learn our full OnePlus 10T evaluation.
If you need a well-rounded Android cellphone that may additionally deal with flagship video games, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is a brilliant selection.
The S22 Plus has a 120Hz panel and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor like all of this yr’s high flagships. It might solely have 8GB of RAM, however that does not maintain it again. It is nonetheless quick in each sense of the world. Plus, its 5G assist extends to millimeter-wave networks in addition to sub-6GHz ones, which permits for the quickest information speeds on the planet for whenever you’re gaming on-line away from residence.
Though it does supply Xbox Recreation Move assist, the Galaxy S22 Plus would not supply a lot strictly in the way in which of devoted gaming options although — it is simply an all-around nice (and, sadly, sort of costly) flagship machine that additionally occurs to be the most effective gaming telephones.
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus evaluation.
Motorola’s newest flagship mannequin has a couple of flaws, however it delivers the products for avid gamers. The 144Hz refresh fee is above common for Android telephones, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, mixed with 8GB or 12GB RAM, means you are not missing in efficiency.
The primary challenge you may fear about with gaming is the Edge Plus’ disappointing battery life. You could need to maintain a plug helpful for any gaming marathons you are doing. Happily the included 30W charger will get you going once more quick, and except you are notably bothered about not having a telephoto digital camera or a glass again panel, it is a good compromise between pricey well-rounded common flagship telephones and cheaper devoted gaming smartphones.
Learn our full Motorola Edge Plus (2022) evaluation
How to decide on the perfect gaming cellphone for you
As with all issues, selecting the best gaming cellphone is a matter of priorities. In case you’re after the perfect efficiency — and also you doubtless are should you’re studying this — you may need a cellphone with a Snapdragon 8-series chipset or Apple’s A15 Bionic. Emphasis on the Snapdragon, as Qualcomm’s finest silicon for Android telephones is obtainable in units from quite a lot of producers.
However what about excessive refresh charges? That is one thing you may solely discover on the dearer finish of the market, although it is a function that may certainly descend to extra modestly-priced telephones over time. Panels rated at 90Hz and above supply smoother scrolling and total graphics than standard screens, making you are feeling as if each swipe, faucet and motion is eliciting a response with no delay. In case you’re an particularly severe aggressive gamer, larger refresh charges will make sure you will not miss any of the motion.
After all, the extra a tool is geared towards gaming with the suitable options, the extra cellphone makers ignore different issues. Whereas battery life is central to gaming (as a result of video games devour numerous energy), you may have a harder time discovering gaming telephones with nice digital camera {hardware} and software program, or maybe conveniences like wi-fi charging and water resistance. If these issues are essential to you, it’s possible you’ll need to focus your search on the extra highly effective handsets on this listing that are not strictly meant for gaming however can nonetheless very a lot maintain their very own, just like the OnePlus 10 Professional, Galaxy S22 Plus and iPhone 13 Professional Max.
How we take a look at gaming telephones
To ensure that a smartphone to make any of our greatest cellphone lists — gaming cellphone or in any other case — it must excel on a number of exams that we run on each handset. We carry out a few of these exams in our labs and a few in the actual world.
In the case of efficiency, we depend on such artificial benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and GFXBench to measure graphics efficiency. These exams enable us to check efficiency throughout iPhones and Android units. We additionally run a real-world video transcoding take a look at on every cellphone utilizing the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the consequence.
To measure the standard of a cellphone’s show, we carry out lab exams to find out the brightness of the panel (in nits), in addition to how colourful every display screen is (DCI-P3 shade gamut). In these circumstances, larger numbers are higher. We additionally measure shade accuracy of every panel with a Delta-E ranking, the place decrease numbers are higher and rating of 0 is ideal.
One of the crucial essential exams we run is the Tom’s Information battery take a look at. We run an internet browsing take a look at over 5G or 4G at 150 nits of display screen brightness till the battery provides out. Typically, a cellphone that lasts 10 hours or extra is nice, and something above 11 hours makes our listing of the finest cellphone battery life.
Final however not least, we take the perfect telephones out within the discipline to take photographs outdoor, indoors and at night time in low gentle to see how they carry out versus their closest opponents. We take pictures of landscapes, meals, portraits and extra, and likewise assist you to be the choose with side-by-side comparisons in our critiques.
In case you plan to stream video games to your cellphone, think about considered one of our picks for the finest wi-fi gaming mouse. Here is why the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 falls flat as a gaming cellphone.
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