Mobile gaming is a platform that has continued to grow, year in, and year out. With technology and graphics constantly developing and getting better, games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Fortnite, and PUBG Mobile, among others have taken center stage. And the most avid gamers are constantly looking to buy the best gaming phone possible. If you have played a mobile game or two, then you know just how important the specifications of whatever smartphone you are using are.
What is the best gaming phone? What should I look for when buying a gaming phone? It depends, but generally, you are looking for a phone with an efficient cooling system, physical triggers, strong and fast processor, long-lasting battery, massive storage space, e.t.c. These factors are very important and play a vital part in how well you and your phone perform. Let’s take a look at the best phones you can use for mobile gaming.
Table of Contents
The Top Gaming Phones of 2022/2023
- ASUS ROG 6
- Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Nubia Red Magic 7
- OnePlus 10 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Let’s look at these top gaming phones in detail. What do they have to offer exactly, how capable are they, and perhaps most importantly, what do they cost?
ASUS ROG 6
If you are looking for the best gaming phone to buy in 2022, you do not need to look much further. If you are familiar with all the trends and news in the mobile gaming community, then you’ve probably heard about the ASUS ROG brand at least once.
The ASUS ROG 6 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, with a new GameCool 6 thermal cooling system. There are not many smartphones that offer a mind-boggling 165 Hz display, but the ROG 6 does. It also sports an Air Trigger 6 system as well as a large 6000 mAh battery that gives you hours upon hours of non-stop gaming. The 65W fast charging can take your device from 0-100 in 15 mins. It has beautiful futuristic Aura RGB lighting on the back of the phone.
•SoC: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
•Display: 6.78-inches 2448×1080 20.4:9 165Hz
•RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5
•Storage: 256GB UFS3.1
•Battery: 6000mAh
•Ports: 2 USB-C, dual nano-SIM, headphone jack
•Operating System: Android 12
•Connectivity: 2G/3G/4G/5G, WiFi 6e, •Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC
•Display Type: AMOLED
•Weight: 239g
•Charging: 65W
•Camera (Rear, Front): 50MP+13MP+5MP (Rear), 12 MP (Front)
•Price: $1,000
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
The Black Shark 5 Pro is the latest variant of the Xiaomi Black Shark series. It was created specifically for gaming. The processor is as high-end as they get, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It has Magnetic Pop-up Triggers that give you that console feel and that gaming edge over many others.
With 120W Hyper Charge, you can get your phone fully charged in just 15 mins, that’s absurd, the same as the ROG. It has an Anti-G Dual VC Liquid cooling system. It also sports a 144Hz OLED Esports Display. It does fall off a bit in terms of using it as an everyday smartphone, but if you are getting it for purely gaming purposes, you would be making the right choice.
- SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Display: 6.67-inch 1080×2400 20:9 144Hz
- RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1
- Battery: 4650mAh (Dual Batteries)
- Ports: USB-C, dual nano-SIM
- Operating System: Android 12
- Connectivity: 2G/3G/4G/5G, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC
- Dimensions: Height: 163.83 mm, Width: 76.35 mm, Depth: 9.9 mm
- Display type: OLED
- Weight: 220g
- Charging: 120W fast charging
- Camera (Rear, Front): 108MP+8MP+5MP (Rear), 20MP (Front)
- Price: $800
Nubia Red Magic 7S Pro
The Nubia RedMagic 7S Pro is a powerful gaming phone that anyone would love to own. If I’m being honest, it is easily interchangeable with the Black Shark 5 Pro on this list. It really depends on who you ask. It has a cool-looking transparent silver design, as well as an Obsidian variant, that shows off its interior alongside its awesome RGB LED lights.
It runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. It has a 120 Hz Refresh Rate and a REDMAGIC ICE 10.0 Multi-Dimensional Cooling system, that ensures your phone stays cool for longer periods even with max settings and graphics. It has a 5000 mAh dual-cell battery, and 65W fast charging. It also boasts 520Hz Shoulder Triggers that give you that gaming edge, as well as many other features.
•SoC: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
•Display: 6.8-inch FHD+ 1080×2400 20:9 120Hz
•RAM: 12/18 GB LPDDR5
•Storage: 256/512 GB UFS 3.1
•Battery: 5000mAh Dual Cell Battery
•Ports: USB-C, dual nano-SIM, headphone jack
•Operating System: Android 12
•Connectivity: 2G/3G/4G/5G, WiFi6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, NFC
•Dimensions: Height: 166.27mm Width: 77.1mm Depth: 9..98mm
•Display type: AMOLED
•Weight: 235g
•Charging: 65W (65W GaN quick charger in the box)
•Price: $730
OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro is another smartphone that has top-notch performance ratings when it comes to handling powerful mobile games. It is one of the most favored devices by users that love to game at any level, and for good reason too.
It has the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 as its processor. A 5000 mAh battery that guarantees you hours of gaming and a 120 Hz refresh rate. It is also relatively cheaper than its pairs on this list, but it has features that sit well over the price that you can get it for.
•Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
•SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
•Resolution: 3216 X 1440 pixels
•RAM: 8/12GB
•Storage: 128/256GB
•Battery: 5,000Ah
•Operating System: Android 12
•Dimensions:Height: 163.0 mm, Width: 73.9 mm, Thickness: 8.55 mm
•Weight: 200.5g
•Charging: 80W SUPERVOOC, 50W AIRVOOC
•Price: $600
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a great option for gaming. Unlike the first three, it is not a smartphone that focuses entirely on gaming, but it is one of the top smartphone brands on the planet and has features that are so powerful and high-end that you can use it for gaming. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.
It has a really good battery life with its 5000 mAh battery capacity. It also has a beautiful AMOLED 2X 120 Hz display that will leave you drooling over the graphics of your mobile games. Unfortunately, it does not have the kind of cooling system the first three have and heats up rather quickly. But the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a viable option for gaming.
•SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
•Display: 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088 AMOLED @ 120Hz (variable)
•RAM: 8GB,12GB
•Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
•Battery: 5,000mAh
•Operating System: Android 12 with One UI 4.1
•Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e; •Bluetooth 5.2; 5G mmWave and sub6
•Dimensions: 163.3mm x 77.9mm x 8.9mm
•Weight: 229 grams
•Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless (Qi)
•IP Rating: IP68
•Stylus type: S Pen
•Price: Starting at $1,199
Which of these is the best smartphone for gaming?
Some top mobile gamers swear by the Asus ROG 6, Black Shark 5 Pro, and Nubia Red Magic 7S Pro. Why? They are designed and built as gaming phones and so have features (including hardware) that stand them out in that department. These are the best gaming phones of 2022/2023.
Should you need some assistance, we have a guide to help you connect your phone to a game controller. You will also be interested in our list of mobile games that support PS4 controller.