The best gaming phones 2021

 When it comes to mobile gaming, the finest 'consoles' are also the best gaming phones.

We don't mean any harm.

The mobile gaming market is thriving despite the fact that phones aren't typical gaming machines.

The possibilities are endless, especially with services like Apple Arcade.

The most difficult aspect is figuring out where to begin.

There are a plethora of gaming phones available, ranging from Apple to Samsung, so picking the best isn't easy.

To help with that, we're here! We have a team of gaming phone specialists on hand to help you choose the finest gaming phone on the market at the greatest price.

As a result, we've worked diligently to keep you up to date on the latest sales and discounts, so check back frequently.

Generally speaking, if you want a fantastic gaming experience, you should buy a screen that is as huge as feasible.

Despite the fact that it isn't absolutely necessary, avoiding squinting to see what's going on under your fingers is beneficial (and if size is still a concern, be sure to check out the best gaming tablets as well).

The more RAM you have, the better, since you won't run out of space after installing a few applications.

For storage, we recommend at least 64GB.

To save as many of the top Android and iPhone games as possible is always a plus.

Regardless of your choice, you should check out the finest antivirus software to see whether it can keep your shiny new gaming gadget especially secure.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Aside from opting for a gaming phone that's top-notch, you'll also want to make sure your phone is as impressive in other areas.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra does not play favorites.

Games on a mobile phone have never looked better thanks to the device's stunning full-screen 6.9-inch display and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.

Because your thumbs don't take up as much screen real estate in FPS games, the extra space makes them more enjoyable.

The phone operates cooler than most competitors when playing graphically-intensive games on high settings thanks to modest software modifications.

Streaming, taking photographs, shooting video, and using social media all require a high-end smartphone, so be sure yours is up to the task.

Fortunately, the Note 20 Ultra is far superior to the rest of the field.

However, only the S20 Ultra's enormous 100x magnification beats the camera on the S10, and at that zoom level, image quality plummets and the phone overheats.

For up-close pictures, there's a 108MP camera that produces stunningly clear images.

The iPhone 11 Pro's Night Mode comes close to matching the quality of the iPhone 10s'.

We also love the S-Pen Stylus for taking notes (and even converting your handwriting into editable text), playing match-3 games, and playing turn-based role-playing games.

You may attempt something new by utilizing the pre-installed Penup software, which has a wide selection of tools and user-friendly interactive lessons for both accomplished artists and complete newbs.

Doodling is a fun way to spend the time on the iPad Pro because of the large canvas-like display and the near-zero stylus latency.

This is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and it's easily the finest smartphone of all time.

ASUS ROG Phone 3

It's the latest in an amazing line of gaming-centric smartphones from ASUS.

Despite the fact that the phone's more extreme design choices have been toned down for a more general audience, the RGB logo on the rear still sets it apart from other smartphones.

With a 3.1GHz Snapdragon 865+ CPU and a 144Hz refresh rate, a beautiful pair of dual speakers, and a slew of gaming-specific features, the XZ Premium shows us just how wonderful mobile gaming can be on the move.

However, gaming-specific features aren't exclusive to high-end software.

They may even be found in simple games.

The hardware is also custom-built for the greatest possible gaming experience.

A second USB-C connection on the side powers a broad range of peripherals like the built-in cooling fans while charging comfortably while held horizontally.

The ROG Phone 3's Air Triggers, on the other hand, are a show stopper.

When held sideways, the buttons sit on top of the phone, giving users a console-like experience.

It's hard to go back to touch controls in first-person shooters or games like Fortnite after using them.

In other words, it's a lot simpler and has significantly boosted our K/D ratio.

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 is a powerful gaming phone that also doubles as a reliable workhorse.

Even the wildest Twitter posts shine just as brightly as a PUBG triumph on this phone's beautiful display and enormous 6,000mAh battery, which provide endless hours of luxury scrolling.

All this power comes at the expense of picture quality, but that's a little price to pay for having the finest gaming phone possible.

Apple iPhone 11

The iPhone 11 offers a quality gaming experience without the premium price tag, and it does so by balancing pricing and power.

That's really a good thing, given how costly some Apple products can be.

The regular iPhone 11 puts on quite a show when it comes to gaming, thanks to its A13 Bionic CPU.

One of the most powerful smartphones available right now.

With a battery life of almost 24 hours, you're looking at a near-unbeatable gaming device.

A superb Liquid Retina display looks stunning in usage, and 4K video capture and twin 12MP ultra wide / wide-angle cameras are also included.

As a result, the iPhone 11 is just as suitable for regular usage as the iPhone 10.

Samsung Galaxy S20

Mobile technology has never been more advanced than it is with the Samsung Galaxy S20, which makes it a great contender for the best gaming phone award.

This is an outstanding piece of technology, thanks to its stunning display, potent internals, and support for 5G.

To begin, depending on where you live, it comes equipped with either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or an Exynos 990 CPU.

For 4G devices, this means 8GB of RAM; for 5G models, it means 12GB of RAM.

Even for everyday usage, that's more than enough power for any game.

The absence of a headphone jack is, indeed, a disappointment.

Good news is that the old battery has been replaced by a better one.

As a result, you'll be able to spend more time on the S20.

However, the 120Hz refresh rate of the new Galaxy S phone's display is one of the most exciting aspects.

It's twice as much as you'd find on other displays, and it allows for an exceptionally smooth scroll.

It's easy to say that the Samsung Galaxy S20 is the finest Android gaming phone because of its 6.2-inch display, 3040 x 1440 screen resolution, and 240Hz touch sensitivity.

iPhone SE (2020)

The redesigned iPhone SE is positioned as an affordable entry point into the Apple ecosystem, as an alternative to more expensive flagship models like the iPhone 11.

In terms of value for money, it's Apple's greatest gaming phone yet.

And for how much money are you receiving what you pay for? There's a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with a 1334 x 750 resolution on this 2020 reimagining, and that's more than enough for most games to look amazing.

Because of this, it has enough power when it comes to specifications.

As a result, the new SE is a pleasant surprise.

It features a Home button with Touch ID, too, because it's based on the earlier iPhone 8.

This is unusual for Apple's more recent phones, so its inclusion here is greatly appreciated, as is the device's light, airy weight of 5.22oz (148g).

Yes, it's more compact as a consequence, but the iPhone SE 2020 still has plenty of useful functions.

Samsung Galaxy A50

You don't have to restrict yourself to match-three puzzlers just because you bought a lesser gaming phone or settle for an obscure brand.

In comparison to its more expensive siblings like the S20 and Note series, the Samsung Galaxy A50 is a wonderful phone and a great value for anyone looking to save money while getting a phone that won't let them down.

When I put it up against several high-end smartphones in gaming, it kept showing up the underdogs.

I practically had to talk to it to get it to stop.

On the highest graphics and frame rate settings in Call of Duty: Mobile.

What's the problem? A50 is far better than it should be for a third of the price.

Sure, it's not as fluid and detailed as your $1,000/£1,000 flagship phones.

To be honest, the Samsung Galaxy A50's camera is excellent for day-to-day use.

Only when there are a lot of artificial light sources in the photo will the image lose some of its quality.

Even though it's an inexpensive phone, it includes a dual-SIM slot, which comes in useful if you have different SIM cards for work and home or if you want to use a cheap data card when you travel.

Even though the Galaxy A51 has 48MP/32MP (rear/front) camera lenses, it has the same internal spec and display as the A50, so we'd recommend sticking with the A50 if you want a lower price, but if you're wondering, below are the current pricing for the Samsung Galaxy A51.

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

A New Year firework show of iPhone models debuted this week with plenty of pizazz, and they are some of the greatest gaming phones Apple has ever made, especially this triple-lens iPhone 11 Pro.

While there are less expensive models available, this one has enough features and processing power to make your games come to life.

After a brief comparison, you'll see how similar it is to the XS models.

However, dive into the details and you'll find much to rave about.

To begin with, the battery life is noticeably better than in prior versions.

If you're playing Pokemon Go or Fortnite on your morning commute, this will come in useful.

With a 5.8-inch OLED display, your games will look stunning on this phone.

The three high-quality cameras would be the most significant upgrade, though.

For your money, you'll receive a 12-megapixel rear camera with a telephoto, ultra-wide, and wide-angle lens, as well as a 12-megapixel front camera for better selfies.

Another perk of the 11 Pro is the inclusion of a "Night Mode" for use in low-light conditions.

iPhone XR

The iPhone XR has all of the excellent features of the X model, but none of the disadvantages.

OLED and dual cameras will be missed, for sure.

Then there's the issue of video games.

The XR is a strong competitor in terms of raw power and performance.

To put it another way, the A12 Bionic CPU is capable of handling even the most strenuous games.

They'll look amazing even on a Liquid Retina display.

Better battery life means fewer trips to find a charging station because you won't need them as often.

You'll now have extra time during your morning commute to spend gaming or watching movies.

While you're still getting great service from Apple, you'll save money.

The XR is a capable iPhone, but it's less expensive than the more expensive models, which may be crippling.

Consider this phone if you don't need the latest and best gaming phone.

OnePlus 7 Pro

Only a small percentage of smartphones are devoted solely to gaming, and those that are seldom get much more than a passing mention.

With the OnePlus 7 Pro, that's not the case at all.

Fnatic Mode, developed in conjunction with eSports competitors, promises a "aggressive CPU concentration, with nearly all available resources being concentrated into the game" when used.

By preventing other programs from accessing the network and barring all calls and alerts while it's active, it devotes all of your computer's resources only to your game.

To put it another way, it's PC-style overclocking, which is quite uncommon on smartphones.

The speed of this phone is another plus point.

Actually, we've never used a phone this rapidly before.

This is owing to the phone's display having a blazing refresh rate of 90Hz, which is 30Hz more than the average for smartphones.

To top it off, the 3120 x 1440 resolution of the quad HD+ display adds a flourish to an already impressive package (oh, and that telescoping front camera is really cool).

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

If you'll excuse the pun, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is a considerable step up from the S10.

It's not just a question of size, though.

This laptop's wireless powershare function is just one of its many amazing features.

If you're searching for something different from Apple's offerings, the S10 Plus is a wonderful choice.

There is enough power in the S10 Plus thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 CPU that is featured in the OnePlus 7 Pro and ROG Phone 2.

That means it won't have any problems playing games or carrying out the daily tasks you're used to.

On top of all that, how about the Super AMOLED screen? Fantastic.

With a 93.1 percent screen-to-body ratio, the 6.4-inch super wide display on the S10 Plus makes it even easier to enjoy.

Non-gaming features round out the package.

Wireless Powershare comes in handy if someone else's phone battery is becoming low.

As well as an ultra-wide-angle and telephoto lens, the 12-megapixel main camera on this phone includes optical image stabilization.

ROG Phone 2

There aren't many gaming-focused smartphones available, but the ROG Phone 2 stands out from the crowd.

'Ultrasonic' Air Triggers are a unique selling point that set it apart from the competition, in addition to better cooling and internals.

PS4 and Xbox One controllers have bumpers that act as buttons, however with this gadget the buttons are located on the side.

In landscape mode, the usage of these add-ons allows the implementation of control techniques that would otherwise be impossible.

Simple drag-and-drop operation allows these Air Triggers to be configured for either aim-down sights or shooting in games like Call of Duty Mobile.

Instead of moving or reloading with your thumbs, you may utilize the more traditional approach that is more comfortable and frees up your hands.

Combat requires quickness, thus this provides you an edge.

Frustrated with your smartphone's wobbly control system? So, here's how you fix your problem: Cooling devices like fans and overclocking can help keep the computer from overheating while you play.

This won't affect the ROG Phone 2's ability to do its daily tasks.

In addition, it's fast and reliable in everyday usage, and it includes a redesigned version of the Android operating system.

This display is also beneficial since it is the first 120Hz/1ms AMOLED HDR Delta-E display to be made in the entire globe.

Sony Xperia XZ2

Sony is the only name you need to know if you want a great gaming experience on your smartphone.

If you're looking for an exercise in indulgence, go no further than the Sony Xperia XZ2.

While it may not match the rest of the year's never-ending parade of smartphone releases, it still has many features that put it well ahead of the competition.

A beautiful 1080 x 2160 HDR display with 5.7 inches of screen real estate is powered by Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 processor, boosting performance significantly.

However, other smartphones have a similar set-up; the Xperia XZ2's dual speakers set it apart from the competition.

If you enjoy gaming with gaming headsets, you'll appreciate the twin front-facing speakers on this phone.

When used in conjunction with the "Dynamic Vibration System," which provides haptic feedback, it provides a gaming experience that rivals that of a real console.

Sony's superb smartphone is a strong candidate for on-the-go gaming because of its long battery life and support for microSD cards for additional storage.

Because of this, prices are rising in some nations due to a lack of inventory.

Google Pixel 3 XL

The Google Pixel 3 XL is your best bet if you want Android in its purest form.

This phone, which comes directly from Google's developers, gives you a pure Android experience on a monster of a gadget.

The Pixel 3 XL isn't a huge step forward over the Google Pixel 2 XL, but if you're wanting to replace an older phone, you won't be able to find anything better.

Where Google's Nexus line scrimped and saved to deliver a high-end device at an affordable price, the Pixel goes all out.

It has a camera that outperforms the iPhone in several tests, and the new OLED screen mode corrects whatever color issues the Pixel 2XL had.

All of this, though, comes at a price.

The Pixel 3 XL is great for gaming, but for $900, it's coming close to being an iPhone.

There are plenty of comparable phones out there, so you're better off shopping around for one with the same CPU and RAM.

Even so, the Google Pixel 3 XL is an excellent choice for those who can't live without their Android experience being as good as it can be.

If you don't like the standard Android experience, you may play with it until you find something that works for you.

It gets updates directly from Google, so you won't have to wait months for the latest version.

It also has a thriving developer community.

Nokia 6.1

For those who don't care about the latest and greatest in mobile technology but still want a powerful gaming phone, the Nokia 6.1 is an excellent choice.

While it trades newer innovation for a cheaper price, it still delivers consistent performance, making it ideal for mobile gamers looking for a more cost-effective alternative to the latest and best options.

Although the Snapdragon 630 in the sleek Nokia phone isn't the fastest, the phone's ample RAM means that there aren't many problems when playing time-consuming games, such as those that require a lot of processing power.

Even so, it's less than you might expect.

The graphics settings won't be Ultra or anything like that, but if all you care about is having a mobile device ready to play the most popular games on the App Store or Google Play Store with pals, then it's good.

While you do get a good deal of value for the money in terms of additional features, the focus here is on the pricing, since this is the cheapest of the current crop of smartphones that are suitable for frequent gaming.

It doesn't have the finest set of specifications, but for the money, it can compete with the best of them.

Black Shark 3

The Black Shark 3 is unquestionably a powerful gaming smartphone.

This machine was made specifically for playing video games, as seen by its massive 1080x2400 screen, liquid cooling system, and leviathan-sized twin batteries.

As far as smartphones go, the basic model costs around £600/$700, but it's well worth the money if you spend as much time playing games on your mobile device as you do anything else.

Mobile gaming on the Black Shark 3 is a full-fledged blockbuster experience that competes head-to-head with rival portable platforms thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate, front-facing stereo speakers, and adaptive HDR technology.

It's just a heads up that due to the system's size and running power, it's heavier and bulkier than the majority of other smartphones.

For a gaming phone as amazing as any we've ever seen, it's a little price to pay to play the finest mobile games available.