The Best Android Phones for Gaming in 2024

Gaming on handheld devices and mobile phones has been bigger than ever and is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Powerful devices are getting smaller and smaller devices are getting more powerful with the rapid advancement in technology, allowing smartphone manufacturers to develop basically handheld computers with a screen and battery. Naturally, with all this power in hand, gaming on the go has reached a new level with console-level games coming to mobile phones. In the current market, there is a slew of powerful Android phones that can deliver high-performance gaming and what’s interesting is that they don’t need to be bulky or strange-looking dedicated gaming phones anymore.

The Snapdragon chips inside the new Android phones are extremely capable and can deliver a smooth and cool gaming experience. Users don’t necessarily need the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chips to have the ideal gaming experience, as Android phones that are even a generation or two older can deliver a solid gaming experience at a relatively lower cost. Of course, the number of hours people spend gaming on their Android phone and the types of games that they play will determine the quality of the gaming experience, which is why there are a few things to consider before investing in an Android phone for gaming in 2024.

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How to Find the Right Android Phone for Gaming

With phone pricing reaching new heights every generation, it is essential to make an informed decision and to make things easier, here are a few factors one must consider before handing over hard-earned money to a manufacturer.

Types of games: The types of games users play heavily determines the kind of android phone they should purchase. There are casual games, competitive games, and then there is mobile esports.

Battery life and charging: Gaming consumes more battery compared to regular use, and also generates more heat. The longer the gaming sessions, the more quickly the battery will drain. Being able to recharge the phone quickly is essential.

Features: Gaming phones nowadays are packed with “gaming forward” features, but they may be of no use to some people. Knowing what features will be used the most is ideal when deciding which gaming phone to purchase.

Budget: For most people, the budget comes first. Fortunately, there are several options in every budget, be it entry-level or high-end Android phones for gaming.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Android Phones for Gaming

The latest and greatest iteration in the ROG Phone series is the ROG Phone 8 Pro. While the previous ROG Phones have had designs that stand out, the latest series has taken a different route by combining extreme performance with a more subtle and standard design, making the phone look more “normal.” Asus has released the ROG Phone 8 and the 8 Pro, which are fundamentally the same but with two key differences, the RAM and the Mini-LED programmable matrix display at the back. The Pro model gets more RAM and a customizable display at the back, while the non-Pro model gets only an illuminated RGB logo.

Coming to the specifications, the ROG Phone 8 Pro brings the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 beast of a processor with the Adreno 750 GPU, 16 GB + 512 GB or 24 GB + 1 TB models, and a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED display that boasts up to 2500 nits peak brightness with LTPO technology. The display supports a maximum of 165 Hz which can go down all the way to 1 Hz thanks to the LTPO tech. Backing all this tech is a 5,500 mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 5.0.

The ROG Phone 8 is not known for its camera performance, but what it is known for is the dedicated gaming features designed to allow hardcore gamers to take full advantage of the power of the phone. There are AirTriggers that act as capacitive shoulder buttons mimicking the triggers of a controller. To keep things cool, Asus is using a combination of graphite sheets, a rapid-cooling conductor, boron nitride, and a vapor chamber. The top-tier model also ships with an AeroActive Cooler X accessory that attaches to the back of the phone and takes the cooling to the next level.

Another feature that makes the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro the best Android phone for gaming is the secondary USB Type-C port located at the side (at the bottom when playing in landscape mode) for easy access to charging while gaming. Since the Pro and non-Pro models are functionally the same, find out more about the XSense AI software and more in GameRant’s in-depth review of the ROG Phone 8.

Another competitor in the gaming smartphone space is Nubia with its Redmagic series. The latest and greatest in the series is the Redmagic 9 Pro, which stands out thanks to its unique design. It is more ‘gamer focused’ than the ROG Phone 8 series and has some design queues that make the phone look and feel different. It has a sleek flat rear panel with no camera bump. The Sleet variant looks relatively standard, while the Snowfall and Cyclone variants have unique design elements on the back.

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Featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chip with up to 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB storage, the Redmagic 9 Pro is capable of delivering top-tier gaming performance. To cool all this hardware, the company has gone with its ICE 13 multidimensional cooling system that includes a tiny 22,000 RPM built-in fan and a large vapor chamber. At the front, there is a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 1600 nits peak brightness, 120 Hz refresh rate, and a 960 Hz touch sampling rate for a buttery smooth touch experience. The Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro also features shoulder trigger buttons and fully customizable RGB lighting.

All this is backed by a massive 6500 mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging, so gamers can get up and running in no time. The Redmagic 9 Pro should have enough juice to get you through most of your gaming session without having to charge and when you do need to charge, it will do so very quickly.

Now a couple of generations old, the OnePlus 10T presents a mid-range option that is still very capable when it comes to gaming. It is a more standard-looking and feeling phone compared to the likes of ROG and Redmagic phones. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 SoC and up to 16 GB of RAM, the OnePlus 10T can handle any and all games without breaking a sweat. While gamers may not be able to play the most demanding games at the highest visual settings and FPS, they can have an enjoyable and stable gaming experience, be it casual or competitive games.

While there are no shoulder buttons or dual USB Type-C ports, there is a Cryo-velocity vapor cooling system for better thermals while gaming. Furthermore, what the OnePlus 10T brings to the table is a 120 Hz Fluid AMOLED display with a 360 Hz touch response rate and a 203-gram sleek construction making it comfortable to hold in portrait and landscape mode. The cherry on top is the rapid charging up to 125W which means when the 4800 mAh battery runs out, the phone can be charged quickly while continuing gaming at the same time.

The OnePlus 10T comes with stereo speakers and a slew of sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, and flick-detect sensor to improve its usability and functionality. At the sub $400 price point, it is the perfect phone for gaming.

Those looking to game on a budget and willing to let go of their high-fidelity gaming expectations should take a look at the Moto G Stylus 5G. Other than the built-in stylus, there are no bells and whistles, and it’s not like a stylus will improve the gaming experience. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen1 processor, which is sufficient for casual gaming and even playing some more demanding games.

It comes with 6 GB of RAM and is one of the few phones that offers expandable storage via microSD (up to 2 TB). There is a 6.6-inch display up front that can deliver a 120 Hz refresh rate in games that support it. It is also an LTPS display to get better battery life. Speaking of battery, it is backed by a 5000 mAh battery that supports up to 20W charging, which is not the fastest, but that’s the compromise one must make with a relatively cheap phone.

Another uncommon feature about the Moto G Stylus 5G is that it retains the 3.5mm headphone jack like the much more expensive ROG Phone 8 Pro. This has two main advantages; gamers can use their headset of choice if they are not going the wireless earbuds route, and the phone can be charged via USB Type-C while the headset is being used.

When it comes to folding phones, OnePlus is the new kid on the block. That’s not to say that the phone is lacking by any means. In fact, OnePlus has learned from its competitors and delivered a refined and prominent first gen product. The Open is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 processor just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 but is lighter, has a larger and sharper display, and a bigger battery. Not to forget, it costs less than the Z Fold 5.

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In its folded form, there is a 6.31-inch 120 Hz Super Fluid AMOLED display. Opening the device reveals a 7.82-inch Flexi-fluid AMOLED display also clocked at 120 Hz sporting a 2K resolution. The massive screen offers an immersive gaming experience that is complemented by the slim form factor and light weight of just 239 grams. With 16GB RAM, gaming as well as multi-tasking is not a problem for the OnePlus Open. The 4805 mAh battery coupled with cross-channel thermal conductivity will keep the phone running consistently for hours, after which it can be charged to 100% in under 45 minutes.

While there are no dedicated gaming features in the OnePlus Open, its size, SoC, battery life, and high-quality display are more than capable of delivering an immersive gaming experience.

Phones have reached their peak when it comes to screen size, and that form factor is not the most comfortable for people with smaller hands. This is where the Zenfone 10 from Asus comes in, as it packs great performance in a compact and lightweight form factor. It features a 5.9-inch 144 Hz Samsung AMOLED display which makes it perfect for one-handed use. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 SoC and up to 16 GB of RAM, the Zenfone 10 can and will run any game thrown at it.

There are dual stereo speakers and Asus has managed to fit a 3.5mm headphone jack in this compact phone. It sports a 4300 mAh battery that supports fast 30W wired charging as well as 15W wireless charging. Compared to other bigger phones in the market, the Zenfone 10 has relatively large bezels around the display and only two cameras on the back.

Those interested in using their phones without a cover or a clear cover would be pleased to know that the Zenfone 10 comes in five fun colors with a matte finish.

More on How to Pick the Best Android Phone for Gaming

Types of games

There are three main broad categories of mobile games: casual, hardcore, and then there is mobile esports. Most of the casual games are less stressful on the SoC and will run perfectly well on all modern Android phones across different budgets, though the more gaming-focused and more expensive phones will be able to deliver sustained consistent performance. Similarly, with more intensive games such as Genshin Impact, PUBG, Call of Duty: Mobile, Life is Strange, and others will perform better on Android phones with the latest SoCs and dedicated gaming phones.

Battery life and charging

Gaming on a smartphone can be quite taxing to the battery. Of course, it depends on the type of game and the duration of the gaming session, but more intensive games will drain the battery much quicker, and getting a low battery notification during a gaming session is the worst. There are a few battery kings when it comes to the best Android phones for gaming and different manufacturers have different tactics to maximize battery life on their phones. However, when users reach their phone’s low battery mode, the ability to recharge the battery quickly is also key. Most modern phones, including mid-range offerings, offer fast charging speeds.

Features

There is a fine line between feature and gimmick. The best Android phones for gaming are the ones that implement gaming-related features that improve the gaming experience. One such useful feature that some dedicated gaming phones such as the Asus ROG Phone 8/ 8 Pro and Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro offer is shoulder buttons that act as extra inputs for all kinds of games. The trigger button-like feel is most helpful in shooting and racing games.

Features like a high refresh rate screen and HDR support are only useful when the games support them, and there are not too many that do. However, a high refresh rate makes the overall phone experience smooth and responsive. Similarly, high peak brightness levels are only useful sometimes in the gaming realm, but very useful otherwise. The more “feature-rich” a phone is, the more expensive it will be.

Budget

The Android phone market has great performers in all budgets and most phone buyers first fix a budget before choosing their phone. Once the budget is finalized, one can start looking at the feature set. Sticking with one brand will limit the available options and, in a lot of cases, brands that are not that popular produce phones that offer significantly better value than the phones by the popular brands. If budget is not an issue, the ROG Phone 8 Pro or the Nubia Redmagic 9 Pro will offer the best Android gaming experience.

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