Top 5 Best Gaming Phones in 2025

Your app library is completely revolutionized by the finest gaming phones. With their extremely strong processors, generous RAM capacities, and excellent, high-refresh rate screens, these gadgets are sure to outperform your beloved thumb tappers. Smaller screens are becoming even more popular due to the growth of Xbox Cloud gaming services, so hardcore users of the Play Store have a wide selection of gaming phones to pick from.

Because of this, determining exactly what you need from a smartphone and how much to spend on a device designed for gaming might be challenging. Thankfully, the most expensive gaming phones are starting to come down in price as technology advances. This implies that there are now solutions to fit any budget, and we’ve compiled our favorites below.

QUICK LIST

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Gaming Phones in 2025

1.Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro’s smaller form factor helps it blend in with the majority of smartphones, but the entertaining LED matrix display on the back makes it stand out. Even if we weren’t too fond of the USB-C port’s off-center location during testing, a matte black surface maintains everything elegant.

Naturally, the highly sensitive touch capacitive trigger buttons are back, providing a more gamepad-focused gameplay experience for the games that support them. The Aero Active cooler in the package enhances the performance of your phone and makes room for a more advanced set of bumper buttons. When you consider the power of the Gen 3 Snapdragon chip along with Asus’s Armory Crate software, it’s obvious that this tiny device is hiding some serious gaming chops. All that comes with a super crisp display running at a massive 165Hz (most gaming phones will cap you at 120Hz) to offer up super fluid motion whether you’re gaming or browsing the web.

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the greatest gaming phone currently available because to its lightning-fast performance, a ton of extra features geared toward gaming, stunning display, and even a respectable camera system.

I assumed the new Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro would maintain its typical gaming design before I got my hands on it for review. One need only examine the hardware manufacturer’s prior smartphone initiatives to understand the company’s ethos, and I would be dishonest if I claimed that I wasn’t put off by superfluous RGB lighting and space-age gimmicks. Fortunately, that isn’t the case at all with this new little powerhouse, and the ROG 8 looks like one of the prettiest phones I’ve ever seen.

Performance is undoubtedly the primary justification for choosing the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro, since it will be the most potent gaming phone challenger by 2024. However, given that they do begin at $1,200, it would be disappointing if they didn’t have impressive smartphone specifications. We’re talking about a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which may even compete with gaming handhelds. With up to 24GB of RAM, you can forget about your phone’s ability to run the newest games for a few years.

The fact that the Asus ROG Phone 8 has essentially introduced me to mobile gaming is perhaps one of the things that surprised me the most. Avoid get me wrong, I’m not going to retire my Steam Deck and start using this pricey phone full time, but I’m one step closer to regularly investing in the latest Play Store releases. There’s just something about the device’s design and physical prowess that makes playing games on it more appealing, not to mention perks like capacitive shoulder buttons to help controls feel that bit less virtual.

2.RedMagic 8S Pro

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The RedMagic 8S Pro is the greatest affordable gaming phone available right now, while being quite comparable to the one that came before it. Even though it’s a step back from the Snapdragon Gen 3 CPUs that will be available in 2024, this system offers amazing in-game performance at an amazing price to performance ratio. This is the place to look if you’re searching for an Android gaming phone that isn’t too expensive and still provides an improvement over a mainstream handset.

The 8S Pro has a more relaxed aesthetic than earlier models, which is in keeping with current industry trends. The 8S Pro is a block with flat sides and an especially thin shape that, at first appearance, gives little indication of its gaming background. Naturally, things become a little more obvious once that RGB fans whirs to life, but from the outside this could be any mainstream flagship.

That indicates that although we did want for a slightly curved rear when playing in landscape mode, this is a gadget that looks excellent and feels well in the hand. Additionally, there are a few thoughtful little design elements that demonstrate Nubia’s attention to detail. For instance, the device can be charged regardless of how it is held thanks to two USB-C connections.

Naturally, all of the features exclusive to gaming phones remain available to you. The top of the 8S Pro is equipped with two capacitive touch pads that can detect inputs at a frequency of 560 Hz. In the meantime, a dedicated game launcher allows you to quickly access all of your programs and offers system information, performance controls, and in-game overlays.

That display, given the money you’re spending, is something else. Any phone will look beautiful with a very sharp AMOLED with a maximum brightness of 1,300 nits, but this one’s screen ratio is excellent for its lower price point, and everything still looks good even with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is less than that of an Asus phone.

For its RedMagic series of gaming phones, Nubia maintains a rapid refresh cycle, adding a new model to suit the ever-changing array of components available. But the most recent RedMagic 8S Pro is more of an incremental improvement. The flat-edged gadget was released prior to the release of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, and it overclocks the same Gen 2 chip that drove its previous 8 Pro model in a similarly specced device overall.

3.Samsung Galaxy A50

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Picking up a cheaper gaming phone doesn’t mean confining yourself to match-three puzzlers or go with an obscure brand. Even while the Samsung Galaxy A50 isn’t as expensive as its more glamorous siblings, the S20 or Note series, it’s still an excellent phone and an incredible value if you’re looking to cut money without sacrificing quality.

While testing this for gaming purposes against some really expensive phones, I nearly had to talk to it and tell it to quit showing up for the big boys. Call of Duty Mobile with the visuals and frame rate on high. Why not? It wasn’t nearly as responsive or detailed as your flagship phones.but at less than a third of the price, the A50 is way better than it should be.

As a day to day phone, the Samsung Galaxy A50 has a very good camera, with only the night pictures being prone to a loss of detail if there are too many artificial light sources. Amazingly for a phone at this price, it has a dual-SIM slot, making it handy if you have separate work/home SIMs or if you’re picking up a cheap data card when traveling abroad. There’s a newer Galaxy A51 out there now, which aside from an upgrade to 48MP/32MP (back/front) camera lenses, carries the same internal spec and display, so we’d stick with the A50 for the generally cheaper cost, but if you’re curious, here are the latest Galaxy A51 prices.

4.Black Shark 5 Pro

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

It’s difficult to maintain the top rank for the greatest gaming phone. Granted, this gadget must rank among the most potent models available, but it must also be affordable. The Black Shark 5 Pro has a great price to performance ratio. Although this is by no means an inexpensive technology, there isn’t much sense of inflated expenses. Furthermore, a device must perform as well as a regular smartphone as it does as a gaming machine in order to be rightfully deemed the greatest gaming phone overall. This is where the Black Shark 5 Pro’s camera is useful.

A gaming phone with such excellent performance and specifications and a respectable collection of lenses in its corner is uncommon. The pictures we were able to get here especially pleased us. Yes, you are giving up some conveniences when using a smartphone—the most significant being the inability to charge wirelessly—but this is still a functional everyday gadget with a battery.

But when you load up some games, the Black Shark 5 Pro truly comes to life. On that stunning OLED display, everything is clear and crisp, and there are actual pop-up trigger buttons to ensure that all of your actions are quick and accurate. These days, few phones come with these physical clickers; instead, most have touch-capacitive buttons instead of the top. However, we were particularly thankful for these small additions, making for a far more engaging experience overall.

You’ve got a secret weapon in your pocket when you combine all of that with a design and feel that moves the Black Shark series closer to the mainstream smartphone market. This phone is a dream without being the most expensive on the market.

At the top of Xiaomi’s most recent gaming phone hierarchy is the Black Shark 5 Pro, which sports an amazing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU and an abundance of RAM to go along with it. The 5 Pro surpasses the Black Shark 5 and the RS variant with enhancements in cooling, performance, and cameras, but it comes with a hefty price tag to match.

The least expensive model has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage; costs rise by $100 for each subsequent model.spec upgrade. That’s by no means as expensive as the Asus ROG Phone 6, but it’s certainly nearing the top-end of the market. However, there are a few key features here (and some stunning performance) that may make the leap worth it. We spent two weeks with the Black Shark 5 Pro to see exactly how the next generation is shaping up.

While most gaming phones can get away with bizarre, science fiction-inspired designs, the Black Shark 5 Pro sticks to a more sober aesthetic. Yes, you’re still getting minor traces of angular shapes and brand iconography, but set against a frosted two-tone back this phone doesn’t scream gamer. Normally, I’m leery of these smoother backs, thinking that one day it may suddenly fall out of my palm, but there was just enough hold to make everything feel safe. In case you’re anxious, Black Shark also provides a surprisingly robust-feeling slip case that preserves the phone’s main look while providing room for all of your triggers and RGB lights. The little emblem on the back will use that RGB to shimmer with programmable LEDs that can be set using the phone’s main settings.

5.Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

Last update on 2024-10-01 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The most recent ROG phone does not defy convention. With its hefty form size and bezels reminiscent of a much older handset, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has an essentially identical design to the previous model. But with more recent models choosing a harsh, flat form, we want to preserve this era of comfort.

This system is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which provides amazing performance and cooling support. Without the specific AeroCooler system (available separately), things can get a touch toasty when pushed to max, but we were never uncomfortable during ordinary everyday gaming. We can’t say the same for most gaming phones available, though.

When you combine that with an amazing screen (which is working extra hard for you because its resolution is just 2448 x 1080) and a powerful set of front-firing speakers, the whole experience is unmatched by anything we’ve ever encountered. The 165Hz AMOLED display makes everything quick and clear, and the touch-sensitive triggers ensure that every picture is taken with exceptional accuracy.

Even the greatest gaming phones can occasionally fall victim to software flaws, but the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has escaped them. The Armoury Crate software acts as a central location for performance settings, framerate limitations, and screen captures in addition to neatly organizing all of your games. These functionalities frequently get dispersed over numerous apps, slowing down a gaming phone.

With all of that, the exorbitant price point becomes even more alluring, especially if you’re willing to shell out for a high-end gadget. But there’s one thing about it that might just stop you cold. The phone’s bottom USB-C port for charging is positioned erratically. This implies that the majority of mobile controllers, which frequently connect directly via this USB-C connector, won’t work with the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. There won’t be any impact on Bluetooth gamepads, but you’ll have to go elsewhere if you want to use anything similar to the Razer Kishi V2.

All things considered, though, this is a serious piece of equipment with a big price tag. Asus is an excellent choice if you want the best of the best.

How we test gaming phones

Every phone that makes it through our inspection process is put through a battery of tests to determine its eligibility for our list of the top gaming phones available. We live with these devices, first and foremost, to assess how well their form factors, cameras, screens, and – most importantly – battery lives hold up under regular use. For this reason, we treat every model as if it were our own during the testing phase, giving each phone a rigorous workout in addition to regular use.

Following that, we test the performance and battery life of each gaming phone by putting it through a number of games. Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, Magic Fortnite (available on Android) and The Gathering: Arena are our primary titles.

FAQ

Which phones are best for gaming?

In our testing, the best phone for gaming is currently the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. However, if you’re after value for money we’d recommend checking out the slightly solder RedMagic 8S Pro.

Are gaming phones worth it?

It is always worthwhile to invest some money in a gadget that can keep up with your activities if you are passionate about the vast and exciting world of mobile gaming. A quicker screen, more RAM and storage, a more potent processor, and extra gaming features like performance modes and frame rates are all yours to enjoy.

But if you occasionally play PUBG or fiddle with Apple Arcade, we’d advise looking for a phone that can accommodate your mobile gaming without sacrificing other features. The greatest gaming phones frequently exclude sophisticated networking and camera functions, and they can be very expensive. Before making an investment, consider whether you’ll truly use those extra devices.