Gone are the days when gaming phones were exclusive to a privileged few, boasting eccentric designs and cumbersome software. Nowadays, you can easily find a phone that excels in gaming without compromising on style or performance. These devices are equipped with great hardware: bright displays featuring high refresh rates, and impressive speakers that are literally music for your ears.
Even if you're not a dedicated gamer, these phones offer a plethora of features. Moreover, as standard high-end phones continue to increase in power, they also deliver exceptional gaming experience.
Whether you're a hardcore gamer looking to elevate your multiplayer shooter skills or simply seeking a top-notch gaming phone, you've come to the right place! Here's the list of the best gaming phones you can get in 2024, including dedicated gaming models, as well as more popular and mainstream flagship phones.
How we rate phones
We have a brand-new phone rating in place and it takes into account 12 different aspects of the smartphone experience, such as Battery Life, Photo Quality, Design, Performance, etc. We tried to make it as objective as possible, so the weight of each category is different, for example, battery life is more important than design, and so on. When we talk about gaming phones, however, there are other considerations in play.
You will find dedicated gaming models occupying the first few spots on this list, even though their rating may be lower than the other "normal" flagship phones included. That's because when gaming on a phone, there are other things that matter, such as touch sampling rate and latency, capacitive trigger buttons, screen refresh rate, and so on. Of course, you can game on almost any flagship phone in 2024, but the experience will be different.
Dedicated gaming phones also come with neat hardware accessories such as joypads, cooling fans, as well as features build in the software to allow competitive gaming. With this in mind, we've split the article into two parts.
Speakers are loud and meaty (but not as good as before)
Fast and buttery performance
What we don't like
Speakers are no longer front-firing
Gripping the device for gaming is a bit less comfy (lack of bezels)
The camera is OK, but not as great as the big bump suggests
7.1
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
8.6
7.6
Photo Quality
5.6
7.1
Video Quality
5.1
6.3
Charging
8.2
7
Performance Peak
8.2
6.8
Performance Daily
8
7.3
Display Quality
8
8.3
Design
8
7.6
Wireless Charging
3.7
6.9
Biometrics
7
7.6
Audio
8
7.9
Software
4
8
Why the score?
This device scores 4.1% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic 6 Pro, OPPO Find X7 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the latest and greatest in the dedicated gaming phone category. The Taiwanese company kind of departed from the normal flashy LED models, and adopted a more understated approach, aiming to attract a broader audience.
The phone features a discreet design for a gaming device, showcasing a stealthy LED matrix on the back, rounded corners, and a contemporary-looking camera bump. Underneath the surface, it maintains high-quality specs, including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 24GB of RAM, a huge 6,000mAh battery, and a very bright 165Hz display in line with current trends.
However, the only trade-off to consider is a financial one. With a starting price of $1,200, the phone falls on the higher end of the price spectrum. Opting for the top-tier 24/1TB model will require a more substantial investment of $1,500.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro key specs:
New design with slimmer bezels, thinner body
Ultrasonic shoulder buttons
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
24GB RAM
New camera system with physical gimbal stabilization
We were genuinely impressed by the Nubia RedMagic series ever since we tried the RedMagic 7 with the active cooler inside. Well, the 9 series improves upon that to offer one of the fastest phones on the market. The phone topped the AnTuTu charts for August, 2024 and by the looks of it, it will stay there until the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 hit the shelves.
The RedMagic 9S Pro comes with a lot of goodies onboard. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside is actually an overclocked version called "Leading Version" boosting CPU to 3.4GHz and GPU to 1GHz. The design is also unique with the main camera module absolutely flushed with the body and under the back glass of the phone.
There are 520Hz super-responsive capacitive triggers onboard, a sweat resistant glass, a new big vibration motor for haptic feedback, and a redesigned audio system, all resulting in a great gaming experience. The front camera is under the main display, so you can game uninterrupted. The battery is a huge 6,500mAh cell, and the phone supports up to 80W wired fast charging speeds. Last but not least, the price of €649 for the base 12/256GB model is quite impressive.
Incredibly good speakers, plus subwoofer in the cooler accessory
What we don't like
The edgy gamer design is a taste thing
Camera is adequate, but is outclassed by other flagships
No wireless charging
6.8
PhoneArena Rating
7.1
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.3
7
Photo Quality
6.2
7
Video Quality
5.1
6.1
Charging
8.3
6.5
Performance Peak
7
6.3
Performance Daily
7.5
7.2
Display Quality
8
7.9
Design
8
7.5
Wireless Charging
0
6.7
Biometrics
7
7.5
Audio
9
7.5
Software
4
7.8
Why the score?
This device scores 4.2% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra and Motorola razr Plus (2024)
And here we are with the next iteration of the ROG Phone Ultimate. It's the seventh generation, and currently, this is the phone to beat if you like playing mobile games. It has an excellent 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with HDR10+ support and a 165Hz refresh rate, one of the best in the industry for super smooth gaming.
Being the best in the ROG lineup, this phone also features the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, supported by upgraded internal cooling and some external cooling accessories to keep the phone cool during extended gaming sessions. The stereo speakers are some of the best we've ever heard, and there's also a subwoofer accessory to elevate your gaming FX even higher.
The package is rounded off by a massive battery for prolonged gaming, a very sturdy build, and your typical ROG styling.
The Black Shark 5 Pro is another take on the dedicated gaming phone and it does a lot of (gaming) things really well. From the mechanical shoulder buttons (essential in any gaming phone) to the pressure sensitive areas on the display—it's all tailored to give you maximum gaming comfort and efficiency.
The battery is pretty chunky, and the fast charging is insane, with up to 120W of juice filling the said battery in just 15 minutes! The phone is no slouch when it comes to pure hardware performance, either - courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It's also fair to say that you can get a more "basic" Snapdragon 870 version that will cost you only $549, which is an insane deal.
This device scores 2.8% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Motorola razr Plus (2024) and Google Pixel 9 Pro
Asus decided to join the "Ultra" race and launched the Zenfone 11 Ultra. This kind of controversial device shares a lot of its DNA with the ROG Phone 8, barring the gaming bells and whistles, but for the purposes of this article, it's a solid choice for a gaming phone.
First of all, it comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It also sports a very bright (currently sitting at the top of our brightness chart) display, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate (and 144Hz while gaming).
The phone also comes with a big 5,500mAh battery, some AI magic onboard, and a solid camera system. You can think of the Zenfone 11 Ultra as an understated ROG Phone 8 Pro, you're getting most of the features but without waving your gaming preferences in the face of everyone around you.
Screen has great brightness range, reduced reflections
What we don't like
No improvement in charging speeds
Pricey, if you don't catch a deal
7.7
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
7.6
7.3
Photo Quality
7.8
7.1
Video Quality
6.9
6.4
Charging
6.8
6.1
Performance Peak
7.2
6.7
Performance Daily
7.5
7.5
Display Quality
9
8.2
Design
8
8.2
Wireless Charging
6.4
6.6
Biometrics
8
7.8
Audio
8
8
Software
8
8
Why the score?
This device scores 3.9% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic6 RSR Porsche Design, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Sony Xperia 1 V
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung's newest flagship smartphone and as such, it sports some of the best specs you can get on an Android phone right now. It's not about the S Pen this time, although it's a nice bonus. This phone is a powerhouse!
It features a flat screen now, which is a needed improvement and one that will please gamers, as there's no image distortion toward the edges. The new anti-glare coating is also top-notch, we tested it in real-life scenarios, and indeed, there's less glare under direct sunlight and other direct sources of light.
Other than that, it's the usual high-end stuff. You're getting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 2,600-nit 120Hz LTPO display. There is nothing to complain about. The battery is a hefty 5,000 mAh cell, so you won't run out of juice during prolonged gaming sessions. And you can use this flagship phone as a normal phone, snap amazing photos, and use it for productivity with the S Pen.
If you're leaning towards iOS gaming and the Apple Arcade subscription service, the most powerful phone for gaming from Apple you can get right now is the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The recently announced flagship has it all - new hardware gimmicks, a fast refresh rate display, the Dynamic Isle feature to enhance your gaming experience, and a titanium frame that makes it lighter and more comfortable during prolonged gaming sessions.
Its high performance, thanks to the latest and greatest A17 Pro chipset, will crush any games at their highest settings without breaking a sweat, while its solid battery life will ensure that you'll be comfortable playing for hours on end without needing to recharge. It also sports the largest display ever put on an iPhone, and if you enjoy other activities beyond gaming, the state-of-the-art tetraprism zoom lens will allow you to snap 5X optical zoom pictures with great quality.
Note to Fortnite gamers: Fortnite is currently unavailable on iOS, so you may be better off buying an Android phone.
This device scores 2.9% better than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, vivo X Fold 3 Pro and Google Pixel Fold
If you're ready to go to the next level with your smartphone gaming, there is nothing like playing mobile games on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. It's a candy bar-shaped phone when you need it to fit in your pocket, but it can unfold into an extremely powerful tablet when it's time to play.
Games like PUBG play fantastic on it, plus its stereo speakers are superb in volume and richness. The phone feels great in the hands and is easy to game on; it is not as large or unwieldy as a tablet might be. Any game looks gorgeous on the Z Fold 6's large, foldable, smooth 120 Hz AMOLED display.
The battery life is really solid on this last generation, and there's also stylus support for any strategy games that require precision.
Plethora of manual camera modes for fine-tuning video and photos
Eye tracking autofocus is super-fast and responsive
What we don't like
Price is well above any other premium phone (sans foldables)
For all its focus on camera, its image quality is not ahead of the competition
Two years of Android updates?
5.7
PhoneArena Rating
7.4
Price Class Average
Battery Life
4
7.3
Photo Quality
5.7
7.1
Video Quality
5.3
6.4
Charging
5.5
6.1
Performance Peak
5.2
6.7
Performance Daily
6.5
7.5
Display Quality
7
8.2
Design
7
8.2
Wireless Charging
3.5
6.6
Biometrics
7
7.8
Audio
7
8
Software
4
8
Why the score?
This device scores 23% worse than the average for this price class, which includes devices like the Honor Magic6 RSR Porsche Design, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Sony Xperia 1 V is not a dedicated gaming phone but Sony has an immense gaming pedigree when it comes to consoles and handhelds. And it has shown up in every Xperia model in the last couple of years. The Xperia 1 V is no exception.
This phone comes with a gorgeous 6.5-inch 4K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate—a gamer's dream. It's a 21:9 screen in typical Sony fashion, and there are no notches, cutouts, or other eyesores to hamper your gaming experience.
The Xperia 1 V uses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, coupled with 12GB of RAM, and the phone also comes with a microSD card slot—that's definitely a plus when it comes to gaming. Last but not least, Sony offers great gaming software in the form of Game Enhancer - a tool to tweak all the settings, including things like touch sampling rate, display refresh rate, notifications, audio settings, and more.
The only downside to this phone is its price. You need to cough up $1,399 to get it, and for that kind of money, you can buy a PS5 (if you can find one) with an extra controller and a couple of games. But then again, the Xperia 1 V is also a phone, a camera, and a computer—you know, your daily personal communicator. Your choice.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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