Smartphones across almost all price segments are now capable of running high-end games. However, not all of them offer the best experience.
Games generally run better on phones with top-of-the-line chipsets. But that’s not enough for superior mobile gaming sessions.
A number of other factors matter, such as cooling system, display, battery, and more. Smartphones designed specifically for gaming address all of these important factors.
Unfortunately, ‘gaming smartphones’ failed to lure in customers over the years. Thus, the number of options is now limited.
Phones are now an extension of our hands. So people use them for many tasks. Earlier, handsets designed for gaming unsurprisingly solely focused on the gaming aspect. So they were bulky, flashy, and were known for terrible cameras.
They had many shortcomings despite costing as much as regular premium smartphones. Brands have now fixed most of these issues but unfortunately, only a few players remain.
To be precise, there are only two gaming smartphone brands in 2024. These are Asus and Red Magic. Of course, they offer some of the best phones for gaming.
Apart from these two, there are two more brands that deliver on this front. Let’s check out all of these devices.
Best Smartphones for Gaming in 2024
1. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
Asus is the oldest surviving gaming smartphone brand. The PC maker continues to release its annual gaming phones powered by Qualcomm’s flagship chips.
The top-end 2024 model, dubbed as ROG Phone 8 Pro featuring Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, was unveiled in January. Despite being nearly a year old, it continues to be the best gaming smartphone in the world.
There are two primary reasons for this. First of all, it is the only widely available gaming smartphone. Secondly, the hardware and software look and feel like a regular smartphone.
As it is a niche product, Asus charges a premium of $1199.99 but still only guarantees 2 Android updates. The device costs about the same across all markets. But now that it is older by months, you may find it at cheaper prices.
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the only gaming smartphone with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Though it looks like a standard phone, it retains quirks like pressure-sensitive zones, 341 mini LED programmable matrix, and two USB Type-C ports.
Other notable features include a proper three-lens camera system (wide, ultrawide, and zoom), a 165Hz LTPO AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and wireless charging support
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ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Unlocked Android Phone, US Version, 6.78″ 165Hz AMOLED Display, 512GB, 16GB… | Check Price on Amazon |
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2. Red Magic 9S Pro
The Red Magic 9S Pro costs almost half the price of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro despite housing an overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It starts at $649 but can be availed at lower prices.
However, its availability is limited. Additionally, as a China-focused product, the software can be a hit or miss for the Western audience.
Nevertheless, it is the only gaming smartphone in 2024 that retains some of the yesteryear features. It not only comes with an RGB light strip but also a built-in cooling fan. There are also pressure-sensitive zones and a whopping 6,500mAh battery.
Despite packing some extra goodies, the Red Magic 9S Pro has almost the same thickness and weight as the ROG Phone 8 Pro. The flushed cameras and optional transparent back make it stand out as well.
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REDMAGIC 9S Pro Smartphone 5G, 120Hz Gaming Phone, 6.8″ Full Screen, Under Display Camera, 6500mAh… | Check Price on Amazon |
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3. iQOO 12
The iQOO 12 is not a gaming smartphone but a flagship phone from Vivo’s sub-brand. However, it has gaming chops.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside the handset is well-optimized for gaming, unlike any other in its segment. It is also less expensive (~$600) than the previously mentioned ‘gaming smartphones’. Also, its availability is better than that of the Red Magic 9S Pro.
The device comes with a capable three-lens camera system, which could come in handy. Though the battery is only 5,000mAh, there’s support for 120W wired charging.
The iQOO 12 houses a dedicated chip for its 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display to handle refresh rates efficiently while gaming. It also offers customizable vibrations and sound effects for an immersive gaming experience.
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iQOO 12 5G (Legend, 12GB RAM, 256GB Storage) | India’s 1st Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform |… | Check Price on Amazon |
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4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The Apple A18 Pro inside the iPhone 16 Pro Max is currently the most powerful mobile chip on the market. Also, it is a known fact that iOS apps and games are better optimized compared to their Android counterparts.
Thus, gaming on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is better than on any smartphone despite it being a regular premium phone. It can also run limited AAA titles from consoles, which is not possible on any Android handset.
In fact, you can get a somewhat similar experience even from the vanilla iPhone 16 featuring an A18 chip. But it cannot offer the best experience with its slower 60Hz display and smaller battery.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max does not have the characteristics of a gaming smartphone. Additionally, you cannot sideload games that are not available on first-party app store like on Android. These can be a letdown for pure gamers.
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Anyways, propper gaming smartphones are now more expensive and still come with shortcomings. This makes the iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1199 a better deal. In addition to a solid gaming experience, you get one of the best cameras, a battery, long software support, and much more.
