Mobile gaming on Android and iOS is incredibly popular, and most phones can easily handle casual titles. But as developers push the boundaries of graphics and gameplay, you want a handset that can keep up. PCMag has been covering phones for more than three decades, including those with next-level processors, copious amounts of RAM, and polygon-pushing GPUs, and we’ve collected our favorites for gaming here. Among our Editors’ Choice winners are the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, both of which offer top-notch performance and big, bright screens. But you don’t need to spend exorbitant amounts of cash to get a high-quality gaming experience on the go, and one of the more affordable options below might fit your needs better. Be sure to click through to our in-depth reviews of each and scroll to the end for some helpful buying advice.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best iPhone for Gaming
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Pros & Cons
Fast, smooth performance
Excellent cameras
Long battery life
Useful Action button
USB-C connectivity opens up new features
Lighter than previous Pro Max
Why We Picked It
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out as a top-tier gaming handset for multiple reasons. Its 6.7-inch, 2,796-by-1,290-pixel display is gorgeous and has a fast refresh rate, while its A17 Pro processor ensures unparalleled performance. Long battery life and support for all the latest 5G standards round out the package.
Who It’s For
This is the best phone for Apple fans who love to play games. It has enough horsepower to handle any title without worry, along with an expansive screen to showcase them to their fullest. It’s also more than capable of handling all your other mobile needs, from photography to productivity and more.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A17 Pro
Dimensions
6.29 by 3.02 by 0.32 inches
Screen Size
6.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,796 by 1,290 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 12MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
20 hours, 15 minutes
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review
Best Mainstream Android Phone for Gaming
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Pros & Cons
Speedy performance
Beautiful screen
Terrific cameras
Useful AI features
Comes with S Pen stylus
Long support commitment
Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is simply one of the best Android phones you can buy. Its 6.8-inch AMOLED display provides lots of space for gaming, and its 3,120-by-1,440 pixels render details in sharp fashion. Inside, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor and 12GB of RAM provide plenty of muscle for the most demanding titles. The phone has 256GB of storage to start, but you can get a version with up to 1TB if you don’t want to worry about running low on space.
Who It’s For
If you seek a versatile Android phone that excels at gaming, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a fine choice. Creative types should also appreciate the built-in S Pen Stylus for drawing and taking notes.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Dimensions
6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 Inches
Screen Size
6.8 inches
Screen Resolution
3,120 by 1,440 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
200MP, 12MP, 10MP, 50MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
14 hours, 10 minutes
Learn More
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review
Best Affordable iPhone for Gaming
Apple iPhone 15
Pros & Cons
Good size and weight
Solid performance
Capable cameras
USB-C port
Dynamic Island
No always-on display
No telephoto camera
Shorter battery life than other iPhones
Why We Picked It
The standard, vanilla iPhone 15 offers exceptional performance across the board for its price. Powered by Apple’s A16 Bionic processor (the same chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max), it handles even the most demanding games with ease. Its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display features a pixel density of 460ppi, ensuring sharp and crisp details. And as usual with iPhones, the iPhone 15 is compatible with a wealth of gaming accessories made by third parties—not to mention Apple Arcade.
Who It’s For
The iPhone 15 is the right choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly iPhone that can handle both casual and intense gaming sessions without breaking a sweat.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
iOS 17
CPU
Apple A16 Bionic
Dimensions
5.81 by 2.81 by 0.31 inches
Screen Size
6.1 inches
Screen Resolution
2,556 by 1,179 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
48MP, 12MP; 12MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
16 hours, 15 minutes
Learn More
Apple iPhone 15 Review
Most Powerful Android Phone for Gaming
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition
Pros & Cons
Excellent performance
Solid battery life
Included accessory fan
Competitive cameras
Dustproof and waterproof
Expensive
No mmWave 5G
Limited update policy
Why We Picked It
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is built for gaming from the ground up. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Capacitive shoulder buttons are mappable for gaming, and a fan accessory clips onto the back to keep everything running cool. Another highlight is the 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, which has a crisp resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels and a fast maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. Asus’ gaming software layer also makes it easy to tweak settings for the absolute best performance.
Who It’s For
If you want the most gaming power possible in an Android handset, the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition is a worthy choice. The phone is pricey, but its competitive cameras, IP68 durability rating, and top performance help justify the cost.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Dimensions
6.45 by 3.02 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.8 inches
Screen Resolution
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 13MP; 32MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
12 hours, 55 minutes
Learn More
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition Review
Best Midrange Android Gaming Phone
RedMagic 9S Pro
Pros & Cons
Good value
Excellent performance
Fast wired charging
Stays cool while playing
Helpful custom software
Lackluster cameras
No durability rating
Limited software updates
Why We Picked It
The RedMagic 9S Pro packs a ton of power for a phone that starts at $649. The base model comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but you can pay more to get a version with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of space. All models feature a 3.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version processor and have capacitive shoulder buttons for performing in-game functions. For competitive play, the phone’s 6.8-inch display has a maximum touch sampling rate of 2,000Hz (average of 960Hz), which means touch input registers almost instantaneously.
Who It’s For
If gaming is the most important thing you do on your phone and you want to spend well under $1,000, the RedMagic 9S Pro is an attractive option. 80W wired charging is convenient for powering up quickly after extended gameplay, especially since the box includes a compatible adapter.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 14
CPU
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version
Dimensions
6.46 by 3.01 by 0.37 inches
Screen Size
6.8 inches
Screen Resolution
2,480 by 1,116 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
50MP, 50MP; 16MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
15 hours
Learn More
RedMagic 9S Pro Review
Best Affordable Android Gaming Phone
Nuu B30 Pro 5G
Pros & Cons
Excellent gaming performance
30W charger included
Fast Wi-Fi
Dim display
Mediocre cameras
Dated Android software
Why We Picked It
The unassuming Nuu B30 Pro 5G provides a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chip, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for under $300. Its benchmark scores might not wow you, but its real-world gaming prowess is impressive (it runs Genshin Impact at the highest settings quite well, for example). The phone even comes with a 30W fast charger that can get you back to a full battery in about an hour and 20 minutes.
Who It’s For
If you want to game on a budget, the Nuu B30 Pro 5G is your best bet.
Specs & Configurations
Operating System
Android 13
CPU
MediaTek Dimensity 7050
Dimensions
6.37 by 2.92 by 0.35 inches
Screen Size
6.7 inches
Screen Resolution
2,400 by 1,080 pixels
Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing)
108MP, 8MP, 2MP; 32MP
Battery Life (As Tested)
10 hours, 10 minutes
Learn More
Nuu B30 Pro 5G Review
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming Phones for 2024
How Much Should You Spend on a Gaming Phone?When it comes to choosing a gaming phone, your budget is a key factor. Today’s flagship handsets, such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, cost well over $1,000, but they also provide excellent non-gaming features such as superb cameras and long battery life.
Nuu B30 Pro 5G (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
The good news is that several midrange and gaming-specific phones deliver excellent performance at a fraction of the cost. The RedMagic 9S Pro and the Nuu B30 Pro 5G, for instance, cost $649 and $299, respectively.How much you should spend ultimately depends on your needs and budget. If you want a high-end phone that’s just as good at photography and productivity as gaming, prepare to spend for a flagship. But if you care most about a smooth gaming experience for marquee titles, there’s no reason to spend as much. And if you simply want to play casual games, several of our favorite cheap phones should do just fine. What Features Make a Phone Good for Gaming?Specific hardware features can enhance your gaming experience. A display that supports a high touch response rate is crucial for competitive gaming, for instance, since it reduces input lag. Some devices go further by offering capacitive shoulder buttons that you can map to in-game functions like triggers. These help prevent your hands from blocking your view of the screen and ensure that you don’t have to stretch your thumbs to tap hard-to-reach areas.A display’s refresh rate is another important factor. Some gaming phones offer adaptive refresh rates that range from 1Hz to 120Hz, which is great for everyday activities, though the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition can reach an outstanding 165Hz. Faster refresh rates make games look more fluid and reduce the effects of motion blur, though not every game can take advantage of every refresh rate.
RedMagic 9S Pro (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Generally, Qualcomm’s latest chips, like variants of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, can easily handle demanding games. Most flagship phones released in 2024 use this processor or an equivalent. Chips from the past two years or so should also still be able to keep up with modern games, though they likely aren’t quite as efficient. Keep in mind that chipmakers sometimes make a jumble of their processor names. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, for instance, is a less powerful version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. We cover all the necessary processor details in our reviews to clarify such distinctions.You should also aim to get a phone with as much RAM as possible since it helps your phone quickly access and store game data. In other words, more RAM means faster response times, less lag, and smoother multitasking. Through the years, the base amount of RAM and storage necessary for gaming has increased. In 2019, 4GB of RAM was sufficient for most everything. Today, a gaming phone should have at least 8GB of RAM.Some games require a lot of space, so it’s important to prioritize storage, too. Unless a device features expandable storage (via microSD card), the amount you choose at the time of purchase is the amount you’ll have forever. We suggest 256GB of onboard storage at a minimum. Genshin Impact takes up about 30GB of storage, for instance. And you still need space for all your photos, music, and videos.Built-in fans and advanced cooling systems can also make a difference, especially during long gaming sessions. The RedMagic 9S Pro, for instance, has built-in fans that help keep its temperature in check and the performance high.
Asus ROG Phone 8 (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Manufacturers often equip gaming phones with specialized software that enhances the gaming experience. Asus and RedMagic, for instance, include gaming dashboards that provide real-time data on metrics like frames per second and CPU usage. These dashboards give you options to tweak settings on the fly for optimal performance. Asus even offers downloadable macros that automate repetitive in-game tasks. OnePlus’ dedicated gaming mode ensures that you’re not bothered by incoming notifications. An available macro for Genshin Impact lets you unleash ultimate skills with just a single tap, as an example.
Recommended by Our Editors
Do You Need 5G for Gaming?High-speed 5G support is essential for cloud gaming and streaming on the go. High-end devices from Apple and Samsung come with the latest 5G technologies, but many gaming-centric models have more limited support. If you have spotty or slow coverage, latency could wreak havoc on your performance in online games.
Asus ROG Phone 8 (Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Otherwise, make sure the phone you choose supports at least Wi-Fi 6 since it has a theoretical maximum speed of 10Gbps, a big improvement over older versions. You aren’t likely to ever reach that max on your home router, but this protocol should still be fast enough for smooth online gameplay. If you can find a device with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, all the better.Go Beyond Gaming PhonesThe phones in this roundup are your best options for gaming today, but new and exciting models are always launching, so make sure to check back often. If you want a phone that’s more mainstream, check out our picks for the best phones we’ve tested overall. And before you buy, make sure to read our tips on how to get the best price on a cell phone.
