Best gaming phones that won’t break your budget

Best gaming phones that won’t break your budget

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Smartphone gaming has shown dramatic improvements over the last few years, with gamers in this particular space being treated to plenty of variety and a more complete set of games than ever. Gone are the days when people were solely updating Twitter profiles and texting their nearest and dearest, and are instead replaced with a whole host of functionalities thanks to the sophisticated modern-day mobile phones we all have these days. Gaming, in particular, has reaped the rewards from the ongoing innovation in our smartphone devices, with bigger and better games arriving all the time.

The games now available on a smartphone have never been so graphically advanced and offered so much detail. As such, we even see a growing trend of PC and console games being released on mobile phone devices, illustrating perfectly just how much power and sophistication a modern-day mobile phone can offer. There are certainly specific mobile devices geared more towards gaming than others, though. Below is a look at some of the best options in this space. Please note that we have left out some of the newer generation iPhone (13), Pixel (6), and Samsung (S22). While they offer a great gaming experience, we feel that our selection can do similar for cheaper.

A gaming phone that appeals to non-gamers too


One of the best all-around mobile phone devices on the market right now, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is a fantastic option to kick things off with. Boasting remarkable performance and great speakers for non-gamers who listen to music and watch Netflix, it’s also the ideal smartphone for a wide variety of games. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset can handle any games, from console-quality releases like PUBG to casino classics from slots developer Microgaming, and it comes with an impressive 16GB of RAM. It also features a refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz, while coming with a massive 6,000mAh battery. The device looks slick and is incredibly well designed, too.

Top software ideal for gaming


After producing its first gaming phone, Lenovo has won plenty of admirers in recent times. The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel is certainly worthy of all the praise it receives, too. Available with up to 16GB of RAM and including the powerful Snapdragon 865 Plus, this particular device is being snapped up by smartphone gamers on a regular basis. Another appealing aspect of this particular smartphone is its 90W fast charging which is capable of making sure you’re back gaming online in no time. It also comes with a solid 5,000mAh battery. It doesn’t have the best camera, though. The iPhone 12 is a decent alternative too.



A favoured choice for many


Best gaming phones that won’t break your budget


The Nubia Red Magic 5G is another excellent option for smartphone gamers. It isn’t the best option in terms of its functionality away from gaming, but it more than makes up for it in other areas. For starters, it has the world’s first 144Hz smartphone screen, which offers a smooth refresh rate capable of boosting the experience of any game. Alongside this, it has shoulder triggers ideal for certain releases, a fan and liquid cooling system for any mammoth gaming sessions, and a 4D Shock feature that adds vibration to games. Arguably most impressive of all, though, is its dedicated ‘Game Space’, which lets you create the perfect gaming experience. A solid alternative to the Nubia Red Magic 5G is the Xiaomi Black Shark 3, another mobile phone designed specifically with gaming in mind but for a fraction of the cost. Packed full of power and functionality, the Black Shark 3 features the top-end Snapdragon 865 processor and an advanced cooling system. Its 4720 mAh battery is a welcome addition too, likewise is its 6.67-inch display and up to 12GB of RAM.

Other options include the OnePlus 9 Pro, Razer Phone 2, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.