The popularity of gaming on smartphones and other portable devices is predicted to continue rising in the years to come. With the speed at which technology is developing, powerful gadgets are becoming smaller and more powerful, enabling smartphone manufacturers to create essentially portable computers with a screen and battery. Naturally, with all this technology at hand, mobile gaming has advanced to a new level as console-caliber titles are now available on phones. Many robust Android phones are available on the market today that can provide high-performance gaming. What’s intriguing is that these phones no longer have to be big, odd-looking specialist gaming phones.

The new Android phones’ Snapdragon CPUs are incredibly powerful and can produce a fluid and enjoyable gaming experience. Even Android phones that are a generation or two older can offer a good gaming experience at a comparatively lower cost, so users don’t absolutely need to have the newest Snapdragon 8 Gen3 CPUs to enjoy the best gaming experience. There are a few factors to take into account when purchasing an Android phone for gaming in 2024 since, of course, the quantity and variety of games played on an Android phone will dictate how good the experience is.

How to Choose the Best Android Gaming Phone

With phone prices rising with each generation, it’s critical to make an informed choice. To help with that, here are some things to think about before sending a manufacturer your hard-earned cash.

Game genres: A user’s choice of Android phone is largely influenced by the games they play. There are three types of games: competitive, casual, and mobile esports.

Battery life and charging: Compared to normal use, gaming uses greater battery life and produces more heat. The battery will discharge faster with longer play sessions. It is crucial that the phone can be swiftly recharged.

Features: Although today’s game phones are crammed with “gaming forward” features, some users might find them useless. When choosing which gaming phone to buy, it’s vital to know which functions will be used the most.

Budget: The majority of individuals start with the budget. Thankfully, there are numerous options available for every budget, whether it be for high-end or entry-level Android gaming phones.

The Greatest Android Phones for Gaming, According to GameRant

The ROG Phone 8 Pro is the newest and best model in the ROG Phone lineup. While the designs of the earlier ROG Phones were distinctive, the most recent series has chosen a new approach by fusing tremendous performance with a more understated, conventional style that makes the phone appear more “normal.” The RAM and the Mini-LED customisable matrix display at the rear are the two main distinctions between the recently introduced Asus ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro, which are essentially the same. While the non-Pro variant merely has an RGB logo that illuminates, the Pro model has a back display that can be customised and additional RAM.

Regarding the specifications, the ROG Phone 8 Pro features a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display that uses LTPO technology to achieve peak brightness of up to 2500 nits, a Snapdragon 8 Gen3 beast of a processor with the Adreno 750 GPU, 16 GB + 512 GB or 24 GB + 1 TB variants. With the use of LTPO technology, the display can support frequencies as low as 1 Hz, with a maximum frequency of 165 Hz. A 5,500 mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 5.0 powers all of this technology.

The ROG Phone 8 is well-known for its gaming capabilities, which enable die-hard gamers to fully utilise the phone’s capability, rather than for its camera performance. Certain AirTriggers function as capacitive shoulder buttons that simulate controller triggers. Asus is utilising a vapour chamber, boron nitride, graphite sheets, and a rapid-cooling conductor in order to keep things cool. An AeroActive Cooler X attachment that snaps onto the back of the phone to enhance cooling is also included with the top-tier model.

The secondary USB Type-C connector on the side of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro—which is accessible from the bottom while playing in landscape mode—further contributes to its status as the greatest Android phone for gaming. Read GameRant’s comprehensive review of the ROG Phone 8 to learn more about the XSense AI software and other features, as the Pro and non-Pro devices are virtually identical.

With its Redmagic line of smartphones, Nubia is another rival in the gaming smartphone market. The Redmagic 9 Pro, the newest and greatest model in the series, is distinguished by its distinctive design. Compared to the ROG Phone 8 series, it is more “gamer focused” and features certain design cues that alter the phone’s appearance and feel. Its smooth, flat back panel is free of any camera bump. The Snowfall and Cyclone versions feature distinctive design elements on the back, whilst the Sleet variant has a somewhat conventional appearance.

The Redmagic 9 Pro, equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chip and up to 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB storage, can provide top-notch gaming performance. The company has chosen to use its ICE 13 multidimensional cooling system, which features a big vapour chamber and a tiny built-in fan with a speed of 22,000 RPM, to cool all this electronics. A 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1600 nits, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a touch sampling rate of 960 Hz is located at the front and offers a buttery smooth touch experience. In addition, the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro has completely adjustable RGB illumination and shoulder trigger buttons.

Gamers can quickly get up and running thanks to the large 6500 mAh battery that supports 80W rapid charging. The Redmagic 9 Pro should have plenty of battery life to last you the majority of your gaming session, and when it does require charging, it does it swiftly.

The OnePlus 10T, which is already a few generations old, offers a mid-range gaming choice that is still highly capable. In terms of appearance and feel, it is more typical of phones like Redmagic and ROG. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen1 SoC and up to 16 GB of RAM, the OnePlus 10T is more than capable of playing any game without causing any problems. Even while they might not be able to play the most graphically demanding games at the greatest frame rate and visual fidelity, players can still enjoy a steady and fun gaming experience, whether they are playing competitive or casual games.

For improved thermals during gaming, there is a cryo-velocity vapour cooling system even if there are no shoulder buttons or two USB Type-C ports. In addition, the OnePlus 10T boasts a compact 203-gram design that makes it easy to handle in both portrait and landscape orientation, along with a 120 Hz Fluid AMOLED display with a 360 Hz touch response rate. The icing on the cake is that the phone can be quickly charged while gaming at the same time thanks to rapid charging up to 125W when the 4800 mAh battery runs out.

To enhance its use and functionality, the OnePlus 10T is equipped with dual speakers and an array of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and flick-detect sensor. It’s the ideal phone for gaming, especially at under $400.

Check out the Moto G Stylus 5G if you’re ready to forgo your high-fidelity gaming expectations and are looking to game on a budget. There are no bells and whistles other than the built-in pen, and using a stylus won’t really enhance the gaming experience. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen1 CPU provides more than enough power for both light and intense gaming.

It is one of the few phones that supports microSD expansion for storage up to 2 TB and has 6 GB of RAM. In games that support it, the 6.6-inch display up front can produce a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Additionally, it has an LTPS display for longer battery life. In terms of battery life, it has a 5000 mAh battery that allows for 20W charging, which isn’t the fastest, but that’s the trade-off for a reasonably priced phone.

The Moto G Stylus 5G is unique in another way that it keeps the 3.5mm headphone port, similar to the considerably more costly ROG Phone 8 Pro. Gamers can use their preferred headset if they choose not to utilise wireless earphones, and the phone can be charged via USB Type-C while the headset is being used. These are the two key benefits of this.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ought to satisfy gamers looking for a phone that can be used for productivity as well as gaming, provided that cost is not an issue. With its 6.8-inch AMOLED display, which can achieve a peak brightness of 2600 nits, and its Snapdragon 8 Gen3 SoC, this premium product offers incredible performance. Samsung increased the vapour chamber’s capacity by double in the Galaxy S24 Ultra to improve cooling, allowing users to play games for extended periods of time without having to put their phones down.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a high-end gaming smartphone because to its enormous 5000 mAh battery, vapour chamber cooling system, and high refresh rate screen. Any game thrown at it will run on it, and it will do it at the maximum visual settings. It is ergonomic to hold in landscape mode with both hands and yet have a huge amount of screen real estate because to its enormous size and moderate weight.

Furthermore, the Galaxy S24 Ultra includes the S Pen in addition to an incredible camera. The S Pen is a useful add-on for taking notes and using shortcuts in the camera app, but it is useless for gaming.

OnePlus is the newest player in the foldable phone market. That is not to argue that the phone is insufficient in any way. Actually, OnePlus has produced a well-received and notable first-generation product by taking advice from its rivals. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Open is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor, but it is lighter, has a better, larger display, and a larger battery. Not to mention, it is less expensive than the Z Fold 5.

It has a 6.31-inch, 120 Hz Super Fluid AMOLED display when folded. When the gadget is opened, a 7.82-inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED display with 2K resolution and a clock frequency of 120 Hz is visible. The thin form factor and light weight of only 239 grammes combine to create an immersive gaming experience on the large screen. The OnePlus Open can easily multitask while gaming thanks to its 16GB RAM. The phone’s cross-channel thermal conductivity and 4805 mAh battery will allow it to function continuously for hours before needing less than 45 minutes to charge to 100%.

The OnePlus Open lacks specific gaming capabilities, but its size, SoC, battery life, and excellent display more than make up for it by providing an immersive gaming experience.

When it comes to screen size, phones have peaked, and those with smaller hands may find that form factor uncomfortable. This is where Asus’s Zenfone 10 shines because it offers excellent performance in a lightweight, portable design. Its 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED display, with 144 Hz refresh rate, makes it ideal for one-handed use. With up to 16 GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 SoC, the Zenfone 10 is capable of handling any game that is thrown at it.

This little phone from Asus offers a 3.5mm headphone port in addition to two stereo speakers. With a 4300 mAh battery, it can be quickly charged with wired 30W and wireless 15W. The Zenfone 10 sports only two rear cameras and comparatively high bezels surrounding the display when compared to other larger phones on the market.

The Zenfone 10 comes in five vibrant colours with a matte finish, which will suit those who want to use their phones unprotected or with a clear cover.

Additional Information on Choosing the Best Android Gaming Phone

kinds of games

Mobile games can be divided into three primary categories: casual, hardcore, and mobile esports. Most casual games are less demanding on the SoC and work flawlessly on all current Android phones, regardless of price range. However, more expensive and gaming-focused phones will be able to provide more consistent and prolonged performance. Similarly, Android phones with the newest SoCs and dedicated gaming phones will work better with more demanding titles like Genshin Impact, PUBG, Call of Duty: Mobile, Life is Strange, and others.

Life of batteries and charging

Playing games on a smartphone can drain the battery quite a bit. Of course, this varies on the kind of game and the length of the gaming session, but the worst case scenario is when you receive a low battery signal while playing a demanding game. When it comes to the best Android phones for gaming, there are a few battery kings, and various manufacturers employ various strategies to optimise their phones’ battery life. However, being able to swiftly recharge the battery is equally essential when customers’ phones reach the low battery stage. Fast charging speeds are available on the majority of current phones, including those in the midrange.

Features

The distinction between a feature and a gimmick is subtle. The Android phones that incorporate features connected to gaming and enhance the gaming experience are the finest for gaming. Some specialised gaming phones, like the Asus ROG Phone 8/ 8 Pro and Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro, have helpful features like shoulder buttons that serve as additional inputs for a variety of games. Shooting and racing games benefit most from the trigger button-like sensation.

Only a select few games include features like high refresh rate screens and HDR compatibility, which makes them valuable. Nonetheless, a fast refresh rate contributes to a responsive and seamless phone experience. In the same way, high peak brightness levels are very helpful in other contexts but only occasionally effective for gaming. A phone will cost more the more “feature-rich” it is.

Budget

The Android phone market performs exceptionally well across all price points, and the majority of phone purchasers set a budget before making their purchase. One can begin examining the feature set when the budget has been decided upon. Relying on a single brand will reduce your alternatives, and many times, less well-known firms make phones that are noticeably more affordable than those made by well-known names. The greatest Android gaming experience can be had with either the ROG Phone 8 Pro or the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro, if money is not a concern.