Mobile devices have become extremely powerful thanks to advancements in CPU and GPU technology. The latest mobile SoCs from Snapdragon are incredibly efficient, and they can not only breeze through regular day-to-day tasks but also deliver excellent gaming performance on the go. Because of this, the industry has become bigger than ever and is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Modern smartphones are basically handheld computers. Naturally, with all this power, gaming on the go has reached new levels as well, with console-level games coming to mobile phones. In the current market, a slew of powerful Android phones can deliver high-performance gaming.

As efficient as the new Snapdragon chips inside modern Android phones are, users don’t necessarily need the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen3 SoC to have a great gaming experience. Android phones that are even a generation or two older can deliver a solid gaming experience at a relatively lower cost. Of course, the number of hours people spend gaming on their Android phone and the types of games that they play will determine the quality of the gaming experience, which is why there are a few factors to consider before investing in an Android phone for gaming in 2024. More on that later.

Updated on June 6, 2024 by Vineet Washington: 2024 has been a year of maturity for the smartphone space, with every manufacturer rounding off their latest flagships. An alternative to the OnePlus 10T has been mentioned - OnePlus 10 Pro - as it can now be found in the sub-$400 range at some retailers and comes with better specifications than the OnePlus 10T.

  • Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro gaming phone
    Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro
    Best Overall Android Phone for Gaming
    $1100 at Asus
  • Redmagic 9 Pro Colors
    Nubia RedMagic 9 Pro
    Best Battery in an Android Phone for Gaming
    $749 at Amazon
  • OnePlus 10T
    OnePlus 10T
    Best Mid-range Android Phone for Gaming
    $298 at Amazon
  • best gaming smartphone deals
    Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G Smartphone
    Best Budget Android Phone for Gaming
    $250 at Amazon
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
    Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
    Best Premium Android Phone for Gaming
    $1169 at Best Buy
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Game ZXC’s Picks for the Best Android Phones for Gaming in 2024

While the previous ROG Phones had designs that stood out a bit too much, the latest series has taken a different route by combining extreme performance with a more subtle design. It now looks closer to a standard Android smartphone, even outside of those sweaty gaming sessions.

Coming to the specifications, the ROG Phone 8 Pro brings the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 beast of a processor with the Adreno 750 GPU, 16 GB + 512 GB or 24 GB + 1 TB models, and a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display that boasts up to 2500 nits peak brightness. The display supports a maximum of 165 Hz refresh rate which can conditionally scale down to 1 Hz thanks to the LTPO tech. Backing all this tech is a 5,500 mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 5.0. While this is not the largest battery you can find on an Android phone, it is among the largest.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro is not known for its camera performance, but it is known for the dedicated gaming features that have been implemented to allow hardcore gamers to take full advantage of the phone's power. There are AirTriggers that act as capacitive shoulder buttons, mimicking the triggers of a controller. To keep things cool, Asus uses a combination of graphite sheets, a rapid-cooling conductor, boron nitride, and a vapor chamber in a device that is only 8.9mm thick and weighs 225 grams. The top-tier model also ships with an AeroActive Cooler X accessory that attaches to the back of the phone and takes cooling to the next level.

Another feature that makes the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro the best Android phone for gaming is the secondary USB Type-C port located at the side (at the bottom when playing in landscape mode) for easy access to charging while gaming. Since the Pro and non-Pro models are functionally the same, find out more about the XSense AI software and more in GameZXC’s in-depth review of the ROG Phone 8.

Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro, while looking more gamer-esque than the ROG Phone, has a sleek flat rear panel with no camera bump. The Sleet variant looks relatively standard, while the Snowfall and Cyclone variants have unique design elements on the back.

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Featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chip with up to 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB storage, the Redmagic 9 Pro can deliver top-tier gaming performance. To cool all this hardware, the company has gone with its ICE 13 multidimensional cooling system that includes a tiny 22,000 RPM built-in fan and a large vapor chamber. While the ROG Phone 8 Pro has an added fan accessory, the Redmagic 9 Pro incorporates the fan within the phone without compromising on size and weight. The phone is just 8.9mm thick and weighs 229 grams.

At the front, there is a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 1600 nits peak brightness, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 960 Hz touch sampling rate for a buttery smooth touch experience. The Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro also features shoulder trigger buttons and fully customizable RGB lighting. Even though gamers will not be doing a lot of photography and videography, Nubia has included two 50MP cameras with an optical anti-shake system, but don't expect Google Pixel or iPhone-level shots with this camera system.

All this is backed by a massive 6500 mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging, so you can really savor your gaming sessions. This is the largest battery in any mainstream Android phone. Plus, thanks to fast charging, it can be topped up in just 35 minutes.

Now a couple of generations old, the OnePlus 10T presents a mid-range option that is still very capable when it comes to gaming. It is a more standard-looking phone compared to the likes of ROG and Redmagic phones. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 SoC and up to 16 GB of RAM, the OnePlus 10T can handle any and all games without breaking a sweat. While it does not have those sought-after gamer aesthetics (since that was not its main intended use case), you can still expect an enjoyable and stable gaming experience, be it casual or competitive games.

While there are no shoulder buttons or dual USB Type-C ports, there is a Cryo-velocity vapor cooling system for better thermals while gaming. Furthermore, what the OnePlus 10T brings to the table is a 120 Hz Fluid AMOLED display with a 360 Hz touch response rate and a 203-gram sleek construction, making it comfortable to hold in portrait and landscape mode. The cherry on top is the rapid charging up to 125W, which means when the 4800 mAh battery runs out, the phone can be charged quickly while continuing gaming at the same time.

The OnePlus 10T comes with stereo speakers and a slew of sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, and flick-detect sensor to improve its usability and functionality. At a sub-$400 price point, it is the perfect phone for gaming. If you want a slightly bigger battery, better cameras, better display, and wireless charging - and are willing to spend some extra cash - check out the OnePlus 10 Pro which can be found for under $400 as well when on sale.

Other than the built-in stylus, there are no extra bells and whistles with the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G, and it’s not like a stylus will improve the gaming experience. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen1 processor, which is sufficient for casual gaming and even playing some more demanding titles. It is an older generation SoC but can easily drive your day-to-day tasks and perform fairly well under heavier operations.

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It comes with 6 GB of RAM and is one of the few phones that offers expandable storage via microSD (up to 2 TB). The 6.6-inch display delivers a 120 Hz refresh rate in games that support it. It also has an LTPS display to get better battery life, though not as efficient as an LTPO display. Speaking of battery, it is backed by a 5000 mAh battery that supports up to 20W charging, which is not the fastest, but that’s the compromise one must make with a relatively cheap phone.

Another uncommon feature about the Moto G Stylus 5G is that it retains the 3.5mm headphone jack like the much more expensive ROG Phone 8 Pro. This provides two main advantages. Gamers can use their headset of choice if they are not going the wireless earbuds route, and the phone can be charged via USB Type-C while the headset is being used without having to attach a dongle.

If budget is of no concern and gamers want a phone that can do both gaming and productivity, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra should do the job. It is a premium offering that delivers amazing performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen3 SoC and a beautiful 6.8-inch AMOLED display that can reach 2600 nits of peak brightness. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung has doubled the size of the vapor chamber for better cooling, which leads to longer gaming sessions without having to put the phone down.

The combination of the high refresh rate screen, vapor chamber cooling, and the large 5000 mAh battery, make the Galaxy S24 Ultra a premium gaming smartphone. It can and will run any game thrown at it and will do so at the highest visual settings. The large size and manageable weight make it ergonomic to hold in landscape mode with both hands and still have a lot of screen real estate. Even though it is not designed with gaming as a top priority, the phone can deliver excellent gaming performance while still looking like a regular smartphone and excelling in those areas as well.

On top of that, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has arguably the best camera system on the market that can take photos and videos that match the latest Pixel or iPhone models. You also get an S Pen in tow which conveniently slots inside the phone. While the S Pen will not do anything for gaming, it is a good add-on for taking notes or using shortcuts in the camera app.

When it comes to folding phones, OnePlus is the new kid on the block. That’s not to say that the phone is lacking by any means. In fact, OnePlus has learned from its competitors and delivered a refined and prominent first gen product. The Open is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 but is lighter, has a larger and sharper display, and a bigger battery. Not to forget, it costs less than the Z Fold 5.

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In its folded form, there is a 6.31-inch 120 Hz Super Fluid AMOLED display. Opening the device reveals a 7.82-inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED display also clocked at 120 Hz sporting a 2K resolution. The massive screen offers an immersive gaming experience that is complemented by the slim form factor and light weight of just 239 grams. With 16GB RAM, gaming as well as multi-tasking is not a problem for the OnePlus Open. The 4805 mAh battery coupled with cross-channel thermal conductivity will keep the phone running consistently for hours, after which it can be charged to 100% in under 45 minutes.

While there are no dedicated gaming features in the OnePlus Open, its size, SoC, battery life, and high-quality display are more than capable of delivering an immersive gaming experience that outclasses other folding phones.

Phones have reached their peak when it comes to screen size, and that form factor is not the most comfortable for people with smaller hands. This is where the Zenfone 10 from Asus comes in, as it packs great performance in a compact and lightweight form factor. It features a 5.9-inch 144 Hz Samsung AMOLED display, which makes it perfect for one-handed use. It is also plenty bright at 1100 nits peak, though outdoors you may feel the need for an even brighter display. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 SoC and up to 16 GB of RAM, the Zenfone 10 can and will run any game thrown at it.

There are dual stereo speakers and Asus has managed to fit a 3.5mm headphone jack into this compact phone. It sports a 4300 mAh battery that supports fast 30W wired charging as well as 15W wireless charging. Compared to other bigger phones on the market, the Zenfone 10 has relatively large bezels around the display and only two cameras on the back. It is also IP68 water-resistant.

Those interested in using their phones without a cover or a clear cover would be pleased to know that the Zenfone 10 comes in five fun colors with a matte finish. Furthermore, this could be the last Zenfone lineup device with this compact form factor, as the newer Zenfone 11 Ultra has a massive 6.78-inch display. It is still possible that the company will release a standard version of the Zenfone 11 that retains the compact form factor, but till then, the Zenfone 10 is the best option.

How To Find The Right Android Phone For Gaming

Types of Games

There are three main broad categories of mobile games: casual, hardcore, and esports. Most of the casual games are less stressful on the SoC and will run perfectly well on all modern Android phones across different budgets, though the more gaming-focused and more expensive phones can deliver consistent performance. Similarly, more intensive games such as Genshin Impact, PUBG, Call of Duty: Mobile, Life is Strange, and others, will perform better on Android phones with the latest SoCs and dedicated gaming features. The Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chips are the latest in the lineup, but the older Gen2 and even Gen1 chips are very capable for gaming. Budget-focused shoppers can opt for the Snapdragon 7 series or even the Snapdragon 6 series of chips.

Battery Life and Charging

Gaming on a smartphone can be quite taxing on the battery. Of course, it depends on the type of game and the duration of the gaming session, but more intensive games will drain the battery much quicker, and getting a low battery notification during a gaming session is the worst. There are a few battery kings when it comes to the best Android phones for gaming and different manufacturers have different tactics to maximize battery life on their phones.

However, when users reach their phone’s low battery mode, the ability to recharge the battery quickly is also key. Most modern phones, including mid-range offerings, offer fast charging speeds. Outside of gaming, having wireless charging is a neat add-on, and in some cases, even budget-friendly phones have support for wireless charging. It should be noted that rapid charging takes a toll on battery health and longevity, so manufacturers have started splitting the battery packs into two for better thermal performance.

Features

There is a fine line between feature and gimmick. The best Android phones for gaming are the ones that implement gaming-related features that improve the gaming experience. One such useful feature that some dedicated gaming phones such as the Asus ROG Phone 8/ 8 Pro and Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro offer is shoulder buttons that act as extra inputs for all kinds of games. The trigger-button-like feel is most helpful in shooters and racing games.

Features like a high refresh rate screen and HDR support are only useful when the games support them, and there are not too many that do. However, a high refresh rate makes the overall phone experience smooth and responsive. Similarly, high peak brightness levels are only useful sometimes in the gaming realm. Keep in mind that the more “feature-rich” a phone is, the more expensive it will be.

The cooling tech can also be considered gimmicky if it fails to keep the device cool. The Redmagic 9 Pro comes with a built-in fan which, fortunately, keeps the device relatively cool or can bring the temperature down faster.

Budget

The Android phone market has great performers on all budgets. Once the budget is finalized, one can start looking at the feature set. Sticking with one brand will limit the available options and, in a lot of cases, brands that are not that popular produce phones that offer significantly better value than the phones by the popular brands. If budget is not an issue, the ROG Phone 8 Pro or the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro will offer the best Android gaming experience. For budget-focused shoppers, the OnePlus 10T and the Moto G Stylus 5G are great starting options.

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FAQ

Q: Which Snapdragon processor is best for gaming?

The latest generation Snapdragon 8 (Gen3) is the best processor in a mobile phone for gaming in the current market. However, gaming does not need the latest and greatest chip as most games can run perfectly fine on older generation Snapdragon SoCs like the Gen2 and Gen1, and even the Snapdragon 7 series.

Q: Which phone is better for gaming: Samsung or Apple?

Both Samsung and Apple offer smartphones that are great for gaming. The latest Samsung phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers a massive sharp display for an immersive gaming experience. The latest Apple offering, iPhone 15 Pro Max, comes with console-level performance thanks to the new chip. However, both are dependent on the types of games available on the Google Play Store and App Store respectively, while most popular titles are available on both platforms and neither of the two phones should have any problem running those games.

Q: What is the fastest phone for gaming?

The ROG Phone 8 Pro and the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro are the fastest Android phones for gaming. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are the fastest Apple phones for gaming.