The best gaming phones of 2021

 With the finest gaming phones, you can enjoy fluid and strong gameplay. 

These gadgets demonstrate that you don't need a dedicated gaming console to have a good time gaming.

These phones have the finest screens, most powerful chipsets, and plenty of RAM, so your mobile games will look and feel their best on them.

Some well-known gaming brands, including Razer and Asus, have contributed their knowledge in the industry to create gaming-specific smartphones. 

In recent years, however, top-of-the-line flagships from Samsung, OnePlus and even Apple have proven to be excellent gaming machines thanks to their class-leading specifications.

• The best smartphones of all time: these are the ones we recommend right now!

• Greatest battery life for phones: The best battery life for phones

• It's fantastic for Game Pass, but it fails miserably at nearly everything else.

While the top of the stack is now the Asus ROG Phone 5, this list might quickly alter.

iPhone 13 has a new, more powerful chipset and better battery life, while iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max feature adaptive refresh rates of 120Hz for its screens, which were unveiled by Apple last week.

When we test the new iPhones, we'll see how they stack up against other gaming phones that have this feature, so expect the rankings to shift dramatically.

These are the finest gaming phones if you want to play Fortnite or Arena of Valor while you're on the road.

What are the best gaming phones?

The Asus ROG Phone 5 is at the top of our list of the best gaming phones.

There's no better smartphone if all you want to do is play games, thanks to the Snapdragon 888 processor, which has up to 16GB of RAM, and the 6,000mAh battery.

However, what if you're looking for a gadget that's both good for gaming and better all-around? 

If that's the case, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which, despite its $1,299 price tag, delivers outstanding performance, was one of the first phones to enable Xbox Game Pass streaming, and features a display that automatically adjusts its refresh rate to 120Hz when playing games.

There's also the OnePlus 9 Pro, which has a 120Hz display with Oxygen OS on top of Android 11 for great software. 

You can get a gaming-focused phone with a screen as responsive as the ROG Phone 5's for around $500, or the RedMagic 5G for less than that, depending on your needs and budget.

Where do we stand with regard to the iPhone? 

If you want to play games, you'll want a phone that has high refresh rates and configurable inputs like most of the others in this best gaming phones list.

However, Apple phones do boost Cupertino-class chipset. 

The iPhone 12 Pro Max's A14 Bionic processor is quicker than Qualcomm's greatest comparable, making it suitable for high-end gaming.

As another well-rounded Samsung gaming phone, the Galaxy S21 Plus has an excellent screen, three excellent cameras, and top-notch performance. 

At $999, it's a steal given it's a gaming phone as well as a flagship. 

Similar to the Samsung, the Oppo Find X3 Pro has a far better display, RAM, and camera than the Samsung, but it doesn't beat it because it's unavailable in the United States.

Is there any hope for decent gaming smartphones if none of these work? 

It's based on the iPhone 12's design, but it features a more powerful processor, a longer battery life, and a higher refresh rate on the Pro versions.

According to the newest rumors, we won't see a OnePlus 9T or Samsung Galaxy Note 21 until next year, which means nothing will change for Android mobile gaming enthusiasts until then.

A new "Tensor" processor in the Google Pixel 6 has been teased in a new official video. 

It's too early to tell what exactly this piece of hardware will accomplish, but it may have a significant impact on the Pixel 6 Pro's gaming capabilities, especially when used in conjunction with the verified 120Hz display.

The best gaming phones you can buy now

1. Asus ROG Phone 5

The ROG Phone 5 is your best option if you're serious about mobile gaming and don't want to settle for anything less than ultra-high frame rates, sharpest visuals, and extended battery life.

The ROG Phone 5's screen, which has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a variable refresh rate up to a maximum of 144Hz, is near-perfect. 

A Snapdragon 888 processor and up to 16GB of RAM make this the perfect gaming phone. 

You can play for long periods of time without stopping to recharge because of the big 6,000 mAh battery and 65W charging.

The emphasis on video games is both a benefit and a burden, though. 

This means you'll get fully customisable RGB backlighting, simulated trigger buttons on the side, and some very loud stereo speakers to enhance the overall experience. 

However, the phone lacks some essential flexibility due to its subpar cameras and the absence of wireless charging. In addition, you might not like the design because it's so loud.

There's also the limited-edition Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, which boosts RAM and storage even more. 

However, if you're like the majority of people and want to use your phone primarily for gaming, the ROG Phone 5 is your best bet.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

No matter how you look at it, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is one of the greatest gaming phones on the market with the most sophisticated display you can find that can scale all the way up to a maximum of 120Hz or even 30Hz or 60Hz in order to match the frame rate of on screen content.

Although it's a formidable flagship, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is geared for streaming Xbox games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and can even transmit games to external monitors via Samsung's DeX interface and Miracast. 

The Snapdragon 865 Plus and 12GB of RAM on the Note 20 Ultra provide a seamless experience no matter what you're doing - as long as you have a good internet connection to stream from.

Gamer features like clip-on external cooling fans and customisable air triggers will be absent from the ROG Phone 3's high-end Note counterpart. 

The Note 20 Ultra, on the other hand, is the best option if you require a powerful phablet for both work and pleasure. 

A wonderful gadget is the $999, 6.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 20, even if it only has a 60Hz refresh rate.

3. iPhone 13 Pro Max

When it comes to gaming on a smartphone, Apple's new 13-inch iPhone Pro Max is unmatched. 

Even the most advanced Android device cannot compete with the newest, largest iPhone. 

Any mobile game out there can be handled by this phone's strong A15 Bionic CPU, as well as the 120Hz display and greatly increased battery life.

In addition to being the finest gaming phone, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also the best smartphone you can purchase in general.

Amazing cameras, a stunning 6.7-inch OLED screen, and a long list of useful functions make it a pleasure to use in daily life. 

It also has up to 1TB of storage, so you'll never be short on room for your favorite iOS games.

However, the iPhone 13 Pro is equally as excellent as the Pro Max if you prefer a more compact device. 

Some games may be difficult to play on the 6.1-inch screen due to its smaller size.

4. OnePlus 9 Pro

When it comes to gaming performance without sacrificing other features like design or camera quality, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a great choice. 

It belongs on our list of the best gaming phones since it offers a lot for the price.

In terms of screen size and resolution, the 6.7-inch 1440p OLED on OnePlus' newest flagship is both crisp and vibrant. 

For games like Fortnite and others that enable a 120Hz refresh rate, like the OnePlus 9 Pro, the OnePlus 9 Pro jumps to the top of our list of best gaming phones. 

Hyper Touch technology from OnePlus increases the touch sampling rate to 360Hz, providing you the quick reaction you need to take victory.

And it succeeds in so many more ways, too. 

It has a lengthy battery life and charges more quickly via wired or wireless methods than the majority of competing smartphones. 

It has four cameras on the back, which, due to Hasselblad, are now true rivals for those on an iPhone or Galaxy phone. 

There's fantastic software on the OnePlus 9 Pro that really makes Android 11 more helpful while also providing a beautiful and user-friendly experience.

All of this will cost you $1,079, which is a hefty price to pay for a system that offers only a small set of gamer-friendly features while also being more costly.

However, if you're looking for a phone that does it all, it's well worth the money.

5. RedMagic 5G

The RedMagic 5G is one of the cheapest pathways to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor on the market right now, earning it a mention on this list of the best gaming phones. 

For just $579, you can have a device with a high-end chipset, up to 12GB of RAM and a 6.65-inch 144Hz AMOLED display with a flat design and slim bezels that are conducive to gaming. 

A fan inside also ensures the device can run demanding titles optimally, which is extremely important if you're gaming for long stretches of time.

Of course, if fantastic software or camera performance is a priority for you, the RedMagic 5G isn't going to be the best fit — there are certainly more well-rounded handsets out there. 

However, they all cost more, and so those who prioritize gaming and the power needed to do so but have a more modest budget would be wise to consider it.

6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus

In the case of Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus is an excellent option because it can handle the latest blockbuster games as well.

Like all of this year's top flagships, the S20 Plus sports a 120Hz display and a Snapdragon 888 CPU. 

Even though it only has 8GB of RAM, it's still a powerful machine. It's still lightning-fast in every way. 

Additionally, 5G compatibility includes millimeter-wave and sub-6GHz networks, giving you the fastest data rates possible when playing games online while away from home.
With Xbox Game Pass compatibility, the Galaxy S21 Plus is one of the greatest gaming phones, but it lacks a lot of specific gaming capabilities. Instead, it's an all-around fantastic (and, regrettably, rather pricey) flagship gadget.

7. Oppo Find X3 Pro

The Oppo Find X3 Pro might make your shortlist if your ideal gaming phone is one that can handle other flagship-level activities just as well as gaming.

There is no smooth performance when not needed on the Oppo's 6.7-inch QHD panel display with a refresh rate of 5Hz-120Hz. 

This means that while gaming, you'll get the most out of your phone, you'll preserve power when browsing through menus or looking at photographs.

The Find X3 Pro, on the other hand, is a superb camera phone.

A regular camera and an ultrawide camera both have 50MP sensors. 

You'll also receive a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x hybrid zoom and a 3-megapixel microscope lens for taking pictures at a distance and up close.

In terms of performance, the Find X3 Pro can easily compete with top-tier gaming smartphones thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset and 12GB of RAM. 

The camera bump flows into the phone's main body, making it easier on the eyes than a gadget covered in flashing lights and bright colors.

The only drawback is that it isn't now available in the United States; however, our readers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere may purchase it. 

Also, at £1,099, it's a hefty investment. 

While less expensive than other competitors, that's a significant sum of money.

8. OnePlus 9

Because of its low pricing, the OnePlus 9 is a great choice for gamers looking for an affordable gaming phone.

Battery life is adequate to allow you to play for an extended period of time without worrying about the phone shutting down. 

For mobile gaming, the Snapdragon 888 provides the finest silicon available, as well as 5G capability.

To keep you focused when gaming, OnePlus has included a Pro Gaming Mode in its well-designed OxygenOS overlay for Android 11. 

If you don't have headphones, the sound from the stereo speakers will assist you in following the action. 

Additionally, 65W charging and cameras set to Hasselblad specs are included on the back of the phone.

There are other phones on this list with superior overall specifications or features geared toward gamers that you might prefer. 

In terms of total features and gaming, it's a great deal, especially for $729.

9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 might be the finest gaming phone if you have a lot of cash to waste. 

Other phones can't hold a candle to the Z Fold 3's gigantic 7.6-inch display, which works in conjunction with the new S Pen pen compatibility to provide an immersive and useful experience. 

Of course, if room is an issue, there's always the tiny outside display, which uses the same 120Hz refresh rate as the inside to maintain smooth frame rates.

Of course, there are monetary as well as symbolic costs associated with this.

There are many hundred dollars in price difference between this phone and the next one on the list, and it is also the heaviest and chunkiest when folded up. 

It also has a low battery life, making it difficult to enjoy a long multiplayer session while using it. 

However, if your top priority is an eye-popping display, this is the phone for you. If not, you may want to look elsewhere.

How to choose the best gaming phone for you

Choosing the best gaming phone comes down to what is most important to you.

A phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-series chipset or Apple's A14 Bionic will give you the best performance, and you're probably looking for that if you're reading this.

Qualcomm's finest silicon for Android phones is available in a variety of devices from a number of manufacturers, thus the focus on the Snapdragon.

However, what about websites with a lot of visitors? That's a function that's now only available on the most costly smartphones, but it will eventually trickle down to more affordable models as well.

Compared to traditional screens, panels rated at 90Hz and above offer better scrolling and visuals, giving you the impression that every swipe and tap is met with an immediate reaction.

Higher refresh rates mean you won't miss any of the action if you're a competitive gamer.

Because gaming-oriented devices tend to have more functionality, phone producers tend to neglect other factors.

There are gaming phones with good camera hardware and software, but it's more difficult to find gaming phones with features like wireless charging and water resistance.

If such features are essential to you, you may want to narrow your search to devices like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which aren't specifically designed for gaming but can still compete.

If you want your smartphone to be included in one of our best phone lists, it has to perform very well in a variety of tests that we run on each device.

Some of these tests are carried out in our laboratories, while others are carried out in the real world.

When it comes to evaluating graphics performance, we use synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench 5 and GFXBench.

We can now compare the performance of iPhones and Android devices thanks to these testing.

In addition, we use the Adobe Premiere Rush software to time the results of a real-world video transcoding test on each phone.

To gauge a phone's display quality, we do tests in the lab to assess the brightness (in nits) and color saturation of the screen (DCI-P3 color gamut).

Higher numbers are preferable in certain situations.

Each panel's color correctness is also assessed using the Delta-E metric, with lower values indicating greater color accuracy and a score of 0 indicating perfect color accuracy.

The battery test is one of the most critical tests we perform.

We perform a web browsing test over 5G or 4G until the battery dies at 150 nits of screen brightness.

A phone with a battery life of at least 10 hours is considered good, and anything with a battery life of at least 11 hours is included in our ranking of the greatest phone battery life.

Finally, we put the finest phones to the test by having them shoot pictures in a variety of lighting conditions, including bright sunlight, dim artificial light, and low light at night.

We photograph landscapes, cuisine, people, and more, and in our evaluations, we let you be the judge by comparing images side by side.