Top Gaming Phones Available Right Now

Moe Long Senior Writer

Updated 05 December 2023

Best Android:
Samsung Galaxy
S23 Ultra

Best Gaming Phone - Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

4.5 out of 5 overall

Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor for demanding games
Includes S-Pen stylus to use in select games

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Best iPhone:
Apple
iPhone 14 Pro Max

Best Gaming Phones - Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

4.5 out of 5 overall

Cutting-edge A16 Bionic processor for efficient gaming
Gorgeous screen makes colors pop

View Details

Best Value:
Google
Pixel 7 Pro

4 out of 5 overall

Beefy Tensor chip for native gaming and emulation
120Hz refresh rate display for responsive gaming

View Details

In this Guide

Best Android Phones for Gaming
Best iPhones for Gaming
Best Cell Phone Plans for Gaming
Frequently Asked Questions

Our picks for the best gaming phones are the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 7 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. While the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or even PCs are solid platforms for gaming, phones allow you to play on the go.

There's plenty to enjoy with casual titles like Candy Crush and AAA releases like Fortnite gracing the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. From Android to iOS, let's explore the best gaming phones on the market.

Best gaming phones

	Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra	Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max	Google Pixel 7 Pro
Screen size	6.8”	6.7”	6.7”
Resolution (pixels)	1440 x 3880	1290 x 2796	1440 x 3120
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	A16 Bionic	Google Tensor G2
Storage	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	Up to 512GB
RAM	12GB	6GB	12GB
Battery capacity	5000mAh (about 10 hours)	4323mAh (about 9.5 hours)	5000mAh (about 9 hours)
5G	Yes	Yes	Yes
Learn more	View details	View details	View details

Best Android Gaming Phones

With tons of native titles like Call of Duty Mobile or emulators such as RetroArch, Android provides a thriving gaming ecosystem. Check out the top gaming phones from Samsung and Google.

4.5 out of 5 overall

Samsung | Galaxy S23 Ultra | $1,199—Best Android phone for gaming overall

Packing a beefy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra tackles demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings with buttery smooth framerates. On the emulation front, the S23 Ultra easily handles PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii titles. You can also expect cloud gaming with NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Xbox Game Pass to run flawlessly. Games look gorgeous on its big, bright display, and the 120Hz refresh rate provides responsive controls. There’s even Samsung DeX (desktop experience) for gaming on a TV, projector, or monitor.

The S23 Ultra’s up to 12GB of RAM comes in handy when running challenging apps, while up to 1TB of onboard storage holds all your games and files. We especially like the included S Pen Stylus, one of the best Samsung accessories, which works for select games. Unfortunately, the S23 Ultra is pretty pricey, and battery life isn’t awe-inspiring. For a cheaper alternative, consider Samsung’s S23+ or base S23. Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is easily the best gaming phone and one of the best Android handsets on the market.

Pros: Large display, 120Hz refresh rate, includes S Pen stylus
Cons: Expensive, average battery life

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4 out of 5 overall

Google | Pixel 7 Pro | $899—Best value gaming Android phone

The Google Pixel 7 Pro boasts the best bang-for-your-buck gaming experience. Thanks to its powerful Tensor chip, the Pixel 7 Pro boasts impressive emulation chops. Game streaming with Nvidia GeForce Now also proved a blast with 120 FPS support on the RTX 3080 tier.

Outside of gaming, the Pixel 7 Pro is an outstanding daily driver with excellent cameras and a snappy stock Android experience. Disappointingly, its Tensor G2 processor lags behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Still, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is no slouch, even for serious gamers. As cheaper alternatives, consider the standard Pixel 7 or the last-generation but still great Pixel 6 Pro.

Pros: Powerful Tensor processor, 120Hz refresh rate
Cons: Not as capable as recent Snapdragon chips

View details

3.5 out of 5 overall

Samsung | Galaxy A53 | $449—Best budget gaming Android phone

Although it won’t win many benchmarking competitions, the Samsung Galaxy A53’s price-to-performance ratio makes it an exceptional gaming smartphone. Surprisingly, the A53 runs PUBG Mobile silky smooth at high settings. However, you’ll have to settle for medium or lower settings for more complex games like COD Mobile.

Because of its microSD card slot, the Samsung Galaxy A53 lets you add up to 1TB of additional storage, which comes in handy when installing large games. Gaming performance from its Samsung Exynos 1280 processor is decent, although not flagship-caliber. Despite its affordability, the A53 even touts a 120Hz refresh rate—a must-have for serious gamers. Sadly, there’s no headphone jack, and the processor isn’t cutting-edge. But on a budget, the Samsung Galaxy A53 is tough to beat.

Pros: 120Hz refresh rate screen, microSD card slot, terrific price
Cons: Can’t max out every game

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For more awesome options, check out the best Android phones available today.

Best Gaming iPhones

Apple’s iOS is great for gaming, especially with Apple Arcade. However, you’ll need the right phone for the job. Let’s explore the best options for gaming on iPhones.

4.5 out of 5 overall

Apple | iPhone 14 Pro Max | $1,099—Best iPhone for gaming

The iPhone 14 Pro Max gets you an enormous 120Hz refresh rate screen, a blistering fast A16 Bionic processor, and up to 1TB of onboard storage. You can easily run hardcore mobile games like Diablo Immortal, Apex Legends, and Genshin Impact.

Aside from gaming, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is a great piece of kit for everyday use. It packs a best-in-class camera array, includes the dynamic island which replaces the iPhone 13 Pro Max notch, and offers advanced features like crash detection. As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro Max costs an arm and a leg. Moreover, it nixes a physical SIM card slot in favor of eSIM. But ultimately, the iPhone 14 Pro Max gets you the best possible iOS gaming experience.

Pros: Powerful A16 Bionic processor, 120Hz refresh rate display, up to 1TB onboard storage
Cons: Expensive, lacks physical SIM card slot

view details

4 out of 5 overall

Apple | iPhone 14 | $799—Best midrange gaming iPhone

The Apple iPhone 14 is a solid choice for playing games on iOS. In our review, we appreciated the iPhone 14’s reliable A15 Bionic processor, lengthy battery life, and lush screen. While the iPhone 14 doesn’t get a bump to the A16 chip found in the Pro and Pro Max tiers, it’s an upgrade to the five GPU core variant found in the last-gen iPhone 13 Pro Max. Therefore, running Hearthstone, Hitman Go, and Civilization VI is a real treat.

What’s more, the iPhone 14 features an incredible camera, safety enhancements like satellite SOS communications, and crash detection. We’d prefer an upgrade to the A16 Bionic processor and a notch-less design—the Dynamic Island is only available on the iPhone Pro and Pro Max—but overall, the iPhone 14 offers a phenomenal gaming experience.

Pros: Five-core A15 Bionic processor, gorgeous screen, long battery life
Cons: Moderate processor upgrade from iPhone 13, still has the notch

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3.5 out of 5 overall

Apple | iPhone SE 3rd Gen 2022 | $429—Best budget gaming iPhone

If you’re ok gaming on a small screen, the iPhone SE 3rd gen 2022 saves you a pretty penny. Apple’s third-generation iPhone SE packs an A15 Bionic processor into a compact form factor. Its small chassis is easy to hold with one hand or slot into a mobile gaming controller like the Backbone One—great for gaming with physical buttons on iPhones.

We appreciate the iPhone SE 2022’s terrific processor, which tackles even serious gaming like Call of Duty: Warzone with ease. Additionally, the SE 3rd gen features an incredible camera and an affordable price tag. Unfortunately, there’s no mmWave 5G for the fastest-possible mobile data speeds. Nevertheless, the iPhone SE 3rd Gen 2022 lets you comfortably game without breaking the bank.

Pros: A15 Bionic chip, compact design, excellent camera
Cons: Lacks mmWave 5G

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Compare the entire bushel of Apple handsets and discover which iPhone is best for you.

Methodology: Picking the best gaming phones

Our mobile experts curated the best phones for mobile gaming by leveraging proprietary research and real-world user feedback. We performed hands-on testing by benchmarking demanding games, emulators, and cloud gaming services. After completing this research, we sorted handsets into separate categories for Android and iPhone. Then, we picked the top choices for various budgets, carefully considering processing power, screen size, and refresh rate.

Best Cell Phone Plans for Gaming

Because mobile gaming can chew through mobile data, we suggest an unlimited plan. Our favorite cell phone plans for gaming include T-Mobile’s Experience More tier, Verizon’s Unlimited Plus package, and AT&T’s Unlimited Premium plan. For no-contract unlimited data, we recommend small carriers like Visible Wireless, Mint Mobile, and US Mobile.

#1	Visible	Visible $25 Visible Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data $25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included View Plan	$25.00/mo Taxes & Fees included	View Plan
#2	Mint Mobile	Mint Mobile Unlimited Data Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 20GB mobile hotspot data Deal: Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required $25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only. View Plan	$25.00/mo $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.	View Plan
#3	XFINITY Mobile	XFINITY Mobile Mobile Select Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: Get a FREE 1 year of Xfinity Mobile Select Plan with Xfinity Internet required $0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter View Plan	$0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter	View Plan
#4	T-Mobile	T-Mobile Essentials Saver Unlimited Unlimited 5G & 4G LTE with 50GB of Premium Data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Deal: Get up to $800 via virtual prepaid MasterCard when you bring an eligible phone, activate a new line on select plans and port-in your number and switch from select carriers $50.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included View Plan	$50.00/mo with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included	View Plan
#5	US Mobile	US Mobile Unlimited Starter Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas and compatible devices 10GB mobile hotspot data whistleOut Exclusive: Get this plan for only $45 for 3 months ($15/mo.) with new number activation OR $5 off per month for 6 mo. (up to 3 lines) OR 30 Days FREE Trial $25.00/mo $20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter View Plan	$25.00/mo $20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter	View Plan

Best Gaming Phones: FAQs

What is the best gaming phone?

The best gaming phones are the Android Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.

What should you look for in a gaming phone?

When selecting a gaming phone, you should look for a powerful processor, fast refresh rate, and long battery life. Additionally, we recommend mobile gaming handsets with excellent 5G support, Wi-Fi 6 or 6E, and a high screen resolution.

Are gaming phones worth it?

Yes, gaming phones are absolutely worth it for playing native Android and iOS games, cloud gaming, and emulation on the go.

What is the cheapest gaming phone?

The cheapest gaming phone is the Samsung Galaxy A53, with its excellent price-to-performance ratio.

Moe Long

Senior Writer

Moe is a Senior Staff Writer with a passion for all things tech. As a writer and editor for over a decade, he specializes in researching and testing smartphones, gaming devices, and connected smart home systems. He’s been featured in publications including MakeUseOf, SmartHomeBeginner, TechBeacon, and more.

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