Which Phones Are Best for Mobile Gaming?
Modern mobile gaming is no longer the purview of individual game companies putting out handheld devices. Now, your typical mobile phone has enough processing power to be a formidable handheld gaming console in itself.
However, at WTFast, we aren’t interested in what’s typical — we’re interested in what’s exceptional in every aspect of gaming.
Gamers invested in mobile gaming need to work to find the best gaming phones on the market. There are countless types of gaming phones, doubtless inspired by the fact that mobile gaming is the most significant gaming market.
We've passed the point of individual, market-dominating brands defining the world of gaming. Now, gaming smartphones emerge from every corner of the world.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the best phones on the market. The specs on these devices are extensive enough to even put some PCs to shame.
Let’s go into what makes these phones special and see which comes out ahead as the best on the market.
Redmagic 7 Pro
We’re going to start at the pinnacle of mobile gaming phones. Some devices are designed for video editing, while others pride the depth of their camera. The Nubia Redmagic 7 Pro is a gaming phone, first and foremost.
The successor to Nubia Redmagic 7 marks the first (but not last) appearance of Qualcomm Snapdragon technology on this list. The Redmagic 7 Pro relies on the Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chipset, as well as 16GB of RAM.
That latter figure puts it in the same RAM category as a mid-to-upper-range gaming PC. For context, graphics-intensive, AAA titles like Elden Ring only require 12GB of RAM.
It also features a variety of quality-of-life options you won’t find on mainstream smartphones. These include dedicated shoulder buttons and a side button to activate an onboard cooling system. This feature is especially important, given that you’ll be running games on the highest settings with this.
The Redmagic 7 Pro is further enhanced by both an extensive battery life and fast charging. With all these features combined, it does more as an Android phone than most laptops do with full-sized chips.
All these come with just a few drawbacks. The phone is bulky, necessitated by its power and performance. It also has an inferior camera to many other phones, especially at an $800+ price point, and lacks wireless charging.
Still, if you care about mobile gaming first and foremost, this is a compelling pick.
Sony Xperia 1 III
We’re getting this out of the way immediately: Sony loses points for being obtuse with their naming scheme.
Once that’s out of the way, the Sony Xperia 1 III isn’t just a phenomenal gaming phone. It’s a phone meant for any media you could possibly be interested in.
For audiophiles, a variety of Bluetooth and audio features ensure a completely enhanced experience. For photographers, there are extensive options to customize your shots.
There’s even a simplified basics mode if the sheer variety of options available when photographing is overwhelming.
For gamers and movie lovers, the phone is 4KHD compatible and features an OLED display. For those who’ve seen the term but aren’t sure what it means except “better”, OLED screens have individually controlled pixels. This results in more complex displays and a better showcase of illumination.
You can choose between a 60hz and 120hz refresh rate. You are locked to these options, however. The phone runs on the latest version of Android, which is presently Android 12.
In a wide market of devices, it’s Sony’s most enticing entry in the world of mobile gaming.
Oneplus 10 Pro
Improvement and evolution between phone generations is nothing new. In the case of the Oneplus 10 Pro, however, change is exceptional. The Oneplus 9 was a decent phone, but the model we are discussing might be one of the best.
For daily use, this phone is resistant to fingerprints, which is perfect for the countless impressions that gaming leaves behind. For video, its display can run 4K at 120FPS or even 8K at 30FPS, if you’re so inclined.
The display also hides an exciting feature: a variable refresh rate display. This way, your phone can intelligently alter your refresh rate, depending on what is happening. This can reduce screen tearing and other issues that can break your immersion.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple has always made impressive devices, and this Apple iPhone is especially stunning. A 120hz refresh rate display ensures high-quality videos, photos, and games. It’s also an excellent showcase of the system on a chip.
The A15 Bionic chip combines CPU and GPU to conserve space. This new chip from Apple is strong enough to be used to power both mobile phones and tablets alike.
It has a battery of roughly 4,350mAH. This sounds unimpressive compared to other phones here but is a significant improvement given Apple’s notoriety with battery life. It’s an especially important improvement when one considers what needs to be powered.
Evolution in technology formerly drove mobile phone sizes down. Now, they are expanding again, and gaming is one of those features pushing it.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max doesn’t just feature a bigger display — thanks to Super Retina XDR, it’s better. This allows a layer of depth and complexity that wasn’t available before.
Combine this phone with a controller grip that’s compatible with iOS, and you have a hybrid handheld system.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung usually puts out some of the best android phones — if not the best phones, in general — and this is no exception. With an impressive screen size and improved pen, Samsung is making strides against its competitors.
An upgraded portrait mode and various other features make the front camera and rear camera better. This is especially the case when it comes to compensating for lighting in photographs. The AMOLED display again results in brighter, richer coloration.
On the negative side, the phone comes with options for 8GB and 12GB of RAM. In truth, this isn’t quite the negative it may seem on the surface. RAM in gaming is only needed to a certain point, and this phone meets and exceeds the basic essentials.
Xiaomi Black Shark 4
If Xiaomi hasn’t been on your radar, the Black Shark 4 is going to change that. Like the Redmagic 7 Pro, this is a phone meant for gamers. Unlike that phone, costs have been effectively kept down with a price tag of only $579.
First, we’ll list the good. The Snapdragon chipset is again represented, with a Snapdragon 888 chip in use here. The charger boasts a 120kW speed, which is multiple times faster than several phones on this list.
Other specs include RAM options from 8GB to 16GB, customizable color temperatures, and a brand-specific OS based on Android 11.
A 4500MAH battery is good but not exceptional, yet is reasonably high enough to last throughout a day. Quick charging more than makes up for any battery inferiorities.
The phone is also a little bit clunky, with a thick design and a slightly smaller screen-to-front-of-phone ratio than other listings provide. Still, when it comes to a better gaming experience, it remains an impressive option.
ASUS Rog Phone 5
If you want an affordable smartphone, and care more about consuming media than creating it, check out ASUS’s offering.
We’ve previously partnered ASUS with to help create gaming routers. While we had no part in this smartphone, it showcases the high standard that makes ASUS an excellent collaborative partner.
For audio peripherals, the piece features a 3.5mm headphone jack, which previous versions lacked. For charging, the phone is special in ways few others are. A 6000mah battery and 65 kW charging speed are already special. However, the phone also features a charging port on the side, making it easier to actively use it while charging.
The ROG 5 comes in a variety of offerings, with the mid-range option featuring 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The ultimate version of it, in addition to inherent gaming features, has 18GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
With an impressive battery and other specs, this Android phone is one to note.
The Best Phone for Your Mobile Gaming
Your phone isn’t just a device for gaming. It’s a camera, a streaming device, and more. Thankfully, many of the functions it serves have complementary sources. The same technology that gives you better graphics in gaming makes your movies look better.
It’s telling in these camera designs where priorities lie in their target audience. For many of these phones, if a feature is sacrificed, it’s the camera or telephoto lens. Others keep all features running on high specs, which comes at a higher price point.
Some features appear regardless, as gaming staples. RGB handsets, fast charging rates, and high batteries both help in gaming and in daily life.
We use our phones every day — so let’s make sure they meet our needs. If you’ve enjoyed this guide, we suggest looking into ways to improve latency for the best mobile gaming experience possible.
Source:
Global gaming Revenue by Segment 2022 | Statista
What Is OLED and What Can It Do For Your TV? I CNET
Apple's A15 Bionic Chip Powers iPhone 13 with 15 Billion Transistors, New Graphics and AI I CNET
