Best Gaming Phones in 2026
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Gone are the days when gaming phones were exclusive to a niche group of enthusiasts, often sporting eccentric designs and heavy software skins. In 2026, you can easily find a phone that excels at gaming without sacrificing style, camera performance, or everyday usability.
Modern gaming phones combine powerful chipsets, bright displays with high refresh rates, and excellent speakers that make games feel immersive whether you're using headphones or not. Thermal management has also improved significantly, meaning these devices can sustain high performance during long gaming sessions.
Even if you’re not a dedicated gamer, these phones offer plenty of advantages. Many flagship smartphones today are powerful enough to run demanding mobile titles smoothly while also delivering great cameras, battery life, and premium design.
Whether you're a competitive player trying to squeeze every frame out of your multiplayer matches or simply looking for a phone that handles games effortlessly, this guide covers the best gaming phones you can buy right now. The list includes dedicated gaming devices as well as mainstream flagship phones that deliver excellent gaming performance.
Whether you're a competitive player trying to squeeze every frame out of your multiplayer matches or simply looking for a phone that handles games effortlessly, this guide covers the best gaming phones you can buy right now. The list includes dedicated gaming devices as well as mainstream flagship phones that deliver excellent gaming performance.
Jump to:
Also read: The best phone displays this year
Best Gaming Phone Overall
Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
The ROG line of phones sits at the top of the smartphone gaming food chain | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
The next chapter in Asus' gaming story has been written and its name is the ROG Phone 9 Pro. The long-awaited successor is finally here, and it's the first phone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Boy oh boy, does it deliver.
The phone obliterated the competition in the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, stood neck-and-neck with the A18 Pro in single-core, and ate everyone else for breakfast in 3DMark without ever throttling. Seriously, the results stayed almost identical throughout the stress test.
The design of the phone is rather similar to what we had last year, and the camera system is not that different either. But you don't buy a gaming phone for those features. What the ROG Phone 9 Pro has up its sleeve is a bright AMOLED that can go up to 185Hz, a great battery and fast charging support (with a charger in the box), huge amounts of RAM on tap, and a very hip LED dot design on the back.
The ultrasonic shoulder triggers are also present, so you can game with minimum display touching and maximum headshots. Overall this is the best gaming phone at the moment, and the only downside is that you have to pay a hefty sum for it.
Who's It For?
If you're into competitive mobile gaming, or gaming in general, you're familiar with the Republic of Gamers brand. I think there's no denying that the ROG brand gives the best gaming experience on a smartphone, with the only big drawback being the price.
If you don't care about RGB lights, capacitive shoulder triggers, or want a good camera system to complement your gaming hardware, you should reach for a more conventional smartphone.
Deals
Specs & configurations
- Ultrasonic shoulder buttons
- Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
- 24GB RAM
- 185Hz AMOLED screen
- Better physical gimbal stabilization on the camera
- Charger and case in the box
Read More: Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro review
Best Android Gaming Phone
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Galaxy S26 Ultra in its full glory | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung's newest flagship smartphone and as such it packs some of the best hardware you can currently get on an Android device. While the overall formula remains familiar, Samsung did bring a few meaningful upgrades that help the phone remain one of the best gaming choices among mainstream flagships.
At the heart of the phone sits the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, tuned “for Galaxy”. This chip delivers a noticeable jump in GPU performance and sustained power compared to the previous generation, which is exactly what you want when running demanding games for long sessions.
The large AMOLED display is another reason the S26 Ultra works so well for gaming. It’s a 6.9-inch panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and extremely high brightness, which helps keep games visible even when playing outdoors or in bright environments. Samsung’s anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass also reduces glare significantly, making the screen easier to read during intense gameplay.
Samsung also improved the camera hardware this year with brighter lenses on both the 200MP main camera and the 5x telephoto, but those upgrades are more of a bonus than a reason to buy the phone for gaming.
In the end, what makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra a great gaming phone is the balance it offers: flagship performance, a huge and bright display, strong speakers, and excellent overall software polish.
The large AMOLED display is another reason the S26 Ultra works so well for gaming. It’s a 6.9-inch panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and extremely high brightness, which helps keep games visible even when playing outdoors or in bright environments. Samsung’s anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass also reduces glare significantly, making the screen easier to read during intense gameplay.
Samsung also improved the camera hardware this year with brighter lenses on both the 200MP main camera and the 5x telephoto, but those upgrades are more of a bonus than a reason to buy the phone for gaming.
Who's It For
If you don’t want to buy a dedicated gaming phone but still want one of the most powerful Android devices available, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a fantastic choice. It has the raw power to handle even the most demanding mobile titles while also delivering one of the best camera systems on any phone.
If you want specialized gaming features such as shoulder triggers, ultra-high refresh rates above 120Hz, or dedicated gaming software modes, you’ll still want to look at phones like the ROG series or RedMagic lineup. But if you want a traditional flagship that also excels at gaming, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best options you can buy.
If you want specialized gaming features such as shoulder triggers, ultra-high refresh rates above 120Hz, or dedicated gaming software modes, you’ll still want to look at phones like the ROG series or RedMagic lineup. But if you want a traditional flagship that also excels at gaming, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the best options you can buy.
Deals
Specs & configurations
- Armor Aluminum 2 frame, Gorilla Armor 2 front
- 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, 120Hz, up to 2600 nits
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (all regions)
- 12GB RAM (256GB / 512GB) or 16GB RAM (1TB)
- 200MP main camera (f/1.4)
- 50MP 5x periscope telephoto + 10MP 3x telephoto
- 50MP ultra-wide camera
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 60W wired charging, 25W wireless charging
- Android 16 with One UI 8.5 (7 years of updates)
- S Pen support
- IP68 water and dust resistance
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra hands-on
Best iPhone for Gaming
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The best Apple has to offer is also a great gaming device | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
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 17 Pro Max.
The recently launched flagship has it all - new hardware gimmicks, a fast refresh rate display, the Dynamic Isle feature to enhance your gaming experience, and an aluminum unibody that makes it lighter and more comfortable during prolonged gaming sessions.
The new anti-glare coating on the screen, in my opinion, is a great gaming quality of life improvement, as it filters glare and reflections which can sway your match in the wrong direction.
Its high performance, thanks to the latest and greatest A19 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.
Its high performance, thanks to the latest and greatest A19 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 close-up pictures with great quality.
Who's It For?
Everyone in the Apple ecosystem with aspiration for competitive gaming should in my opinion go for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. There's the iPad Pro, of course as a gaming option, but with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you're getting the best iPhone that you can use as a phone.
Logically, if you're not into gaming, or prefer Android phones, there are better options out there. In the Android realm, you have dedicated gaming phones with great features, such as dedicated gaming buttons, special software, high touch sampling rate, high-performance cooling, etc.
Deals
Specs & configurations
- 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) (460ppi)
- Anti-glare coating on the screen
- Apple A19 Pro chipset
- 8GB RAM
- Storage: 256, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB
- 5,088 mAh battery
Read more: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review
Best Budget Phone for gaming
RedMagic 11 Pro
Liquid cooling and dedicated gaming features on a budget - the RedMagic 11 Pro | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
The RedMagic 11 Pro currently occupies the top spot in our phone rating list, which speaks volumes. A dedicated gaming phone that beats the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Galaxy S25 Ultra? There's a lot going on with the RedMagic 11 Pro, starting with the liquid cooling system and finishing at the huge 7,500 mAh battery. And the most important thing? You can get the base model for as low as $749, so in my opinion, it's the best budget gaming phone out there.
Even as a daily driver, this phone excels in so many areas. But as a gaming phone, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 tops the benchmark charts and stays cool under load thanks to the sophisticated cooling system, including the aforementioned liquid cooling, a 24,000 RPM active fan, and a big vapor chamber.
The RPG lights are also there but are pretty stylish and understated. You've got a fast touch sampling rate, capacitive shoulder triggers, a 144 Hz screen, a dedicated gaming mode button, and an uninterrupted front display with an under-screen selfie camera.
The RedMagic 11 Pro is almost perfect; the only drawback is the main camera system, consisting of just wide and ultrawide cameras, which, while getting the job done, are lagging behind other flagships. But if you want the absolute best in terms of raw power with all the gaming tools, the RedMagic 11 Pro is one of the best choices out there at the moment.
Even as a daily driver, this phone excels in so many areas. But as a gaming phone, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 tops the benchmark charts and stays cool under load thanks to the sophisticated cooling system, including the aforementioned liquid cooling, a 24,000 RPM active fan, and a big vapor chamber.
The RedMagic 11 Pro is almost perfect; the only drawback is the main camera system, consisting of just wide and ultrawide cameras, which, while getting the job done, are lagging behind other flagships. But if you want the absolute best in terms of raw power with all the gaming tools, the RedMagic 11 Pro is one of the best choices out there at the moment.
Who's It For?
I think everyone could benefit from the great hardware inside the RedMagic 11 Pro, not just gamers. Of course, if you game competitively on mobile, the 144 Hz screen, the capacitive shoulder triggers, and the dedicated gaming software are gonna make a huge difference.
If you're into mobile photography, though, there are better phones out there that will give you a lot of the pros of the RedMagic 11 Pro but without the camera system drawbacks. That said, there's no other model on the market currently that offers liquid cooling, so in my opinion this fact alone is worth swaying you into considering this phone.
If you're into mobile photography, though, there are better phones out there that will give you a lot of the pros of the RedMagic 11 Pro but without the camera system drawbacks. That said, there's no other model on the market currently that offers liquid cooling, so in my opinion this fact alone is worth swaying you into considering this phone.
Specs & configurations
- Ultrasonic fingerprint reader
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
- 24GB RAM
- 144Hz AMOLED screen
- 7,500 mAh battery
- Liquid cooling system
- Wireless charging
- Starting at $699 ($749 in the US)
Red More: RedMagic 11 Pro Review
Best Foldable Gaming Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a tablet-like gaming experience but at a price | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
To put it simply, I think the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the best foldable Samsung has ever made, and this extends to the gaming capabilities of the device. The ultrathin and light design of the Z Fold 7 won't burden you throughout your gaming sessions and what you get in return is a tablet-like gaming experience.
The 8-inch Super AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz is just gorgeous for gaming, and it is coupled with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. This chip is now one year old, but it's very potent and can tackle everything you throw at it.
At to this the long support cycle that Samsung has been offering for the past couple of generations, the OneUI interface and the polished flagship experience, and you'll end up with an absolute winner.
Who's It For
I think people who are into foldables in general and like to game from time to time, are the perfect target group for this phone. You don't need to be an avid gamer to take advantage of that huge 8-inch screen.
On the flip side, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is quite an expensive phone, and if you just want the best gaming phone, there are better choices at lower prices too. That said, if you're prepared to pay the premium price, you can game on this phone and it will feel amazing.
Deals
Specs & configurations
- 8-inch SuperAMOLED flexible screen, 120Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- 12GB RAM, 16GB on the 1TB model
- Storage: 256, 512GB or 1TB
- 4,400 mAh battery
- 25W charging
Honorable Mentions
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
The ROG Phone 8 Pro is still a very powerful phone that you can get on a deal | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is last year's 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.
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.
Who's It For
Well, given how gaming phones depreciate, the ROG Phone 8 Pro launched at nearly $1,500 but now can be found on a deal under a grand. This makes it a great deal for people who don't need the latest and greatest but still want a solid gaming phone on a good deal.
Specs & configurations
- New design with slimmer bezels, thinner body
- Ultrasonic shoulder buttons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
- 24GB RAM
- New camera system with physical gimbal stabilization
- AeroActive Cooler X accessory
Read More: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro review
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra
The Zenfone 12 Ultra is just a gaming phone in disguise | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
Asus decided to join the "Ultra" race and launched the Zenfone 11 Ultra last year, and this experiment evolved into a full-fledged model lineup. The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is here and it's an evolution of the big mainstream flagship (that's really an understated gaming phone for the masses).
The phone comes with a brighter display, the fastest Qualcomm chipsets available at the time - the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and one of the best stereo speakers in the industry. The overall design hasn't changed that much, giving people the option to get a gaming phone in disguise, without flashing RBG LED lights, gaming triggers and other game-centric stuff.
Sadly, the camera system being largely the same as the one inside the ROG Phone 9 Pro. There's a neat gimbal-like stabilization tech on board but overall, the camera quality in not on par with regular flagships.
And then there's the price. The Zenfone 12 Ultra starts at €1,099 which is not cheap.
Who's It For
Simply put, I think the Zenfone 12 Ultra will appeal to people who're actually into gaming phones but want something a tad more understated. No flashy RGB lights, no active fans, gaming decals and aggressive looks. You can think of the Zenfone 12 Ultra as a toned down ROG phone.
Specs & configurations
- 6.8-inch display, 144Hz refresh rate
- 12GB RAM
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 5,500mAh battery
- 65W wired charging
Read More: Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review
OnePlus 15
The OnePlus 15 is a surprisingly powerful phone | Image by PhoneArena
Why I Picked It
Modern smartphones have the processing power to launch space shuttles (if only shuttles weren’t grounded), and this power is largely attributed to the main chipset of the device. The latest such super-powerful silicon is found inside the OnePlus 15, the recently launched flagship from the Chinese brand.
Mobile games have come a long way, with some AAA console-grade titles now capable of taking full advantage of the raw power offered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. However, the OnePlus 15 isn’t just about fancy, fast silicon. It’s a true flagship phone, boasting a super-bright OLED screen and a versatile camera system. Additionally, it features an exceptionally bright display that offers adaptive refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.
The phone is equipped with a massive 7,300 mAh battery, comparable to those found in dedicated gaming phones—minus the added bulk. This feat is achieved using silicon-carbon battery technology, which incorporates silicon into the graphene anode to boost capacity. Combined with super-fast charging that takes the phone from 0 to 100% in about 40 minutes, the OnePlus 15 is a very good gaming choice that will take you through 12 hours of non-stop gaming easily.
When you factor in its starting price of $899, the OnePlus 15 start looking as a very good phone for gaming and a very good flagship phone.
Mobile games have come a long way, with some AAA console-grade titles now capable of taking full advantage of the raw power offered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3. However, the OnePlus 15 isn’t just about fancy, fast silicon. It’s a true flagship phone, boasting a super-bright OLED screen and a versatile camera system. Additionally, it features an exceptionally bright display that offers adaptive refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.
When you factor in its starting price of $899, the OnePlus 15 start looking as a very good phone for gaming and a very good flagship phone.
Who's It For
If you wanna stray away from your popular flagship phones from Samsung, Apple, and Google, the OnePlus 15 is a great undercover gaming phone. No flashy lights, no gaming decals, and yet - one of the fastest chipsets out there, one of the brightest screens, and one of the best battery life figures too. You can't go wrong with this phone, and the only drawback is again the price.
Deals
Specs & configurations
- Screen: 6.82-inch AMOLED, 1440 x 3168 pixels, 1-120Hz refresh rate, 165Hz in gaming mode
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3
- Camera: 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 3x telephoto, 32MP front-facing
- Versions: 12/256GB, 16/512GB
- Battery and Charging: 7,300mAh, 80W wired, 50W wireless
Read More: OnePlus 15 review
Benchmark Data
What to consider when choosing the Best Gaming Phone?
The first factor is pure raw performance. Your gaming experience depends on the fast chipset - the better the performance, the faster the game will run and the better the graphics will be. Next I would put the quality of the screen. This includes the resolution, color accuracy, brightness and refresh rate as well. You perceive the game through the screen of your phone, so having a bright, fast and color accurate one is paramount.
Then it comes battery life - there's no point in having an amazing phone that dies after 2 or 3 hours of gaming, and turns into a paperweight. You should aim for at least 10 hours of non stop gaming, and our battery benchmark can help you with that.
Dedicated gaming features are also important - shoulder triggers can give you a competitive advantage, dedicated gaming software with crosshairs, high contrast modes to see your enemies, etc. Finally, a good stereo speaker system can also elevate your gaming experience, although most people use headphones for gaming, especially in public and crowded places.
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 2025, but the experience will be different.
FAQ
What makes a phone a gaming phone?
If I have to put my finger on one thing - it would be performance. This is the most important feature, as it ties to your gaming experience directly. Yes, things such as gaming software, capacitive triggers, and other specific gaming aids are important, but if your device isn't fast enough, lags and can't run the latest games at their highest settings, your gaming experience will suffer.
Do I need a gaming phone to play games?
Absolutely not. You can play all the latest and greatest mobile games on almost every modern smartphone. It actually doesn't have to be a flagship even. The faster it is, though, the better your game will look and feel.
Dedicated gaming phones have other benefits, such as specific software tailored toward gaming, hardware buttons you can assign for additional control and precision in your mobile games, sophisticated cooling systems to alleviate thermal throttling, and so on. But you can game on a good high-end phone with no problems.
Dedicated gaming phones have other benefits, such as specific software tailored toward gaming, hardware buttons you can assign for additional control and precision in your mobile games, sophisticated cooling systems to alleviate thermal throttling, and so on. But you can game on a good high-end phone with no problems.
Do I need a controller for my gaming phone?
The short answer is no. You can game using screen controls or the dedicated capacitive shoulder triggers if the phone has those. Getting a controller, though, can help with precision and in specific situations where you need more control over the input.
Before for lag, though, as many Bluetooth devices can introduce lag and make gaming really hard, especially in fast-paced games. Be sure to check the specifications of the controller, its interface, and its input lag in milliseconds.
Before for lag, though, as many Bluetooth devices can introduce lag and make gaming really hard, especially in fast-paced games. Be sure to check the specifications of the controller, its interface, and its input lag in milliseconds.
Is the iPhone a good gaming phone?
It is with a caveat. You can play games smoothly and with great graphics details, provided there's an iOS version of the said game. Apple Arcade is a great subscription service for iOS that can get you into the world of gaming on your iPhone (and iPad for that matter), but Android has more flexibility when it comes to emulators, game ports, etc.
Which phone is best for gaming?
This is a complicated question. To put it simply, dedicated gaming phones will always have an edge over conventional flagships when it comes to pure gaming. They have additional features and controls that are designed to boost the gaming experience.
On most gaming phones you get dedicated buttons to map for additional gaming controls, and this alone can give you a competitive advantage. Then there are different gaming modes, crosshairs on the screen, high contrast modes, better cooling, etc. If gaming and only gaming is your goal, then search for a dedicated gaming device.
What is the best gaming chipset?
Most modern chipsets will tackle gaming pretty well, with flagship Qualcomm silicon and also Apple's A-series chips being the benchmark. You can game on older silicon and also on midrange chips, but for the best experience, you should aim for the latest flagship chips from Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek. Prime examples of the above are the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, the Apple A19 Pro, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipsets.
Is the iPhone the best gaming phone?
I've been through this already; it's hard to say that the iPhone is the best gaming phone, as things are more complicated. The A-series chipsets inside iPhone devices are mighty and very powerful, but the list of games for iOS is somewhat limited. You can get an Apple Arcade subscription and play a lot of cool games, but I still think that Android is more flexible with game titles than iOS.
Follow us on Google News
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: