Smartphone gaming is becoming increasingly popular nowadays. You will need to buy the best gaming phones for the best mobile gaming experience. Earlier, gaming hardware manufacturers focused solely on PC requirements. But over time, game development companies were able to produce mobile game titles that are no less than hit PC titles in terms of graphics, gameplay, and more.
There is nothing like playing heavy-duty games (capable of challenging the PC titles) right in your hands. Right after gaming consoles, smartphones are the most comfortable gaming hardware for gamers.
Nowadays, game production companies have recognized the potential and impact of powerful mobile devices in the gaming industry.
Thus, they have started focusing more on releasing mobile versions of their games alongside PC versions. Recent examples include PUBG and Fortnite.
These games have contributed to shaping the present and future of the mobile gaming industry at a very high level worldwide, especially in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and China.
Hence, this is a great time to grab an excellent mobile gaming device and start gaming. But the problem is that, with many smartphones already available, it can be a bit tedious to find the best gaming phones for playing the top gaming titles.
To tackle this problem and help our readers, we have prepared this list of the best gaming phones to look out for in 2026, and selected the best gaming beast based on features, brand trust, and price.
1. ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro
ASUS is already an established player in the PC gaming industry with their ROG-branded gaming laptops. Its ROG Phone series, with the ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro being the latest iteration, is one of the best gaming phones for Android lovers.
Weighing just 227g, it is equipped with a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2400 resolution and a 185Hz refresh rate. With dimensions of 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm, the ROG Phone 9 Pro fits comfortably in the hand and delivers a killer gaming experience.
It runs on a Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) octa-core processor. It is available in the market in 16GB RAM with 512GB storage and 24GB RAM with 1TB storage.
The gigantic 5800 mAh battery will ensure you can play your favorite gaming titles most of the time.
ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro Specs
- 6.78 inches LTPO AMOLED Display, 1080 x 2400 pixels (~388 ppi density), ~88.2% screen-to-body ratio
- Always-on Display
- Android 15, up to 2 major Android upgrades
- Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) Octa Core Processor
- 16GB, 24GB RAM
- 50 MP (wide) + 32 MP (telephoto) + 13 MP (ultrawide) Triple Rear Camera
- 32 MP Front Camera
- Fingerprint Sensor (under display, optical)
- Rear-facing Mini-LED (648 dots) programmable matrix
- Dust and Water Resistance (IP68)
- 512GB, 1TB Built-in Storage
- 4G LTE Support
- 5G Support
- Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 Support
- 65W Fast Charging Capacity
- 5800 mAh Battery
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 and the ROG Phone 9 FE are more affordable options to consider.
2. ZTE Nubia RedMagic 11 Pro
Released in November 2025, the Nubia RedMagic 11 Pro is a very stylish device. Weighing 230g and featuring a 6.85-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1216 x 2688, the Nubia Red Magic 11 Pro is a great option for gamers.
The massive 7500 mAh Si/C Li-Ion battery is just enough to let you play most high-graphic games for a couple of hours straight. However, it features 80W fast charging, with the manufacturer boasting that the battery can be charged from dead to fully charged in about 68 minutes.
It runs on the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) octa-core processor with a built-in cooling fan. This is one of the best gaming phones you can buy right now at a store near you or online.
Its 144 Hz AMOLED display delivers a smooth gaming experience. Another point of attraction here is that it comes with a customizable RGB light panel at the back. It comes in three variants: 12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB, and 24GB/1TB.
ZTE Nubia Red Magic 11 Pro Specs
- 6.85 inches AMOLED Display, 1216 x 2688 pixels (~431 ppi density), ~90.7% screen-to-body ratio, 144Hz Refreh Rate
- Android 16, Redmagic OS 11
- Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) Octa Core Processor
- Built-in Cooling Fan
- 12GB, 16GB, 24GB RAM
- 50 MP (wide) + 50 MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP Triple Rear Camera
- 16 MP (wide) Front Camera
- Fingerprint Sensor (under display, optical)
- 256GB, 512GB Built-in Storage
- Liquid Cooling with built-in Cooling Fan
- RGB light strip
- Pressure-sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing)
- 4G LTE Support
- 5G Support
- Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 Support
- Tri-Band Wi-Fi
- 80W Fast Charging Capacity
- 80W Fast Wireless charging
- 7500 mAh Non-removable Li-ion Battery
3. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
This smartphone may not be a traditional gaming phone, but it has the specs to compete with the highest-level gaming devices. With its top-notch hardware and software, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, along with its less premium siblings, the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy S25+, can compete with the best gaming phones on the market.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra may not offer some of the features of dedicated gaming phones, like ultra-high refresh rates (144Hz, 165Hz, or 185Hz) and gaming triggers, but excels in other smartphone features, such as camera and AI integration.
If you are looking for a device that delivers the best smartphone experience while providing enough power to handle the most demanding gaming titles, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great pick.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Specs
- 6.9 inches Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X Display, 1440 x 3120 pixels (~498 ppi density), 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Always-on Display
- Stylus Support
- DX anti-reflective coating
- Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
- Galaxy AI
- Circle to Search
- Samsung DeX
- Samsung DeX Wireless
- Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) Octa Core Processor
- 12GB, 16GB RAM
- 200 MP (wide) + 10 MP (telephoto) + 50 MP (periscope telephoto) + 50 MP (ultrawide) Quad Rear Camera
- 12 MP Front Camera
- Fingerprint Sensor (under display, ultrasonic)
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Built-in Storage
- Dust and Water Resistance (IP68)
- eSIM Support
- 4G LTE Support
- 5G Support
- Tri-band Wi-Fi Support
- Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
- 15W Fast Wireless Charging Capacity
- 45W Fast Charging Capacity
- 5000 mAh Li-ion Battery
4. iPhone 17 Pro Max
If you are looking for the best iPhone for gaming, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is at the top of the pile. This is the best gaming phone for Apple fans and consumers who have invested in Apple’s gaming ecosystem. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s most powerful smartphone right now and offers the best gaming experience on an iPhone.
It is, however, expensive, so you might want to consider the more affordable siblings, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, which are also among the best gaming phones for Apple users.
iPhone 17 Pro Max Key Specs
- 6.9-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Display, 1320 x 2868 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (460 ppi), 120Hz Refresh Rate, Dolby Vision
- Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Hexa-core Processor
- iOS 26
- 12GB RAM
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB Built-in Storage
- 48MP (wide) + 48MP (periscope telephoto) + 48MP (ultrawide) + TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) Rear Cameras
- 18MP (ultrawide) Front Camera + SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
- Magsafe/Qi2
- 5G / 4G Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6e and Wi-Fi 7 Support
- Tri-band Wi-Fi Support
- Fast Wired Charging (20W)
- Qi Wireless Charging (25W)
- IP68 Water / Dust Resistance
- 4823 mAh / 5088 mAh Battery
5. OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus 8 Pro was launched in April 2020. Weighing just 190g, this smartphone is not a traditional gaming smartphone but has top-notch hardware that makes it one of the best gaming phones to buy right now.
Its 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED with a resolution of 1440 x 3168, 120Hz screen refresh rate, and HDR10+ makes it great for gaming. OnePlus 8 Pro also has a powerful processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ for a super-smooth gameplay. You also have more affordable options like the OnePlus 8T and OnePlus 8.
OnePlus 8 Pro Key Specs
- 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED Display, 1440 x 3168 pixels, (513 PPI)
- Android 10.0; OxygenOS 10.0
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+) Processor
- 8GB / 12GB RAM
- 128GB / 256GB Inbuilt Storage
- 48MP + 8MP + 48MP + 5MP Quad Rear Camera
- 16MP Front Camera
- Fingerprint Sensor (Under Display, Optical)
- IP68 Dust / Water-Resistant
- 4510 mAh Non-Removable Li-Po Battery
6. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
This is another non-traditional gaming phone with the performance capability of a full-fledged gaming phone. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a large brilliant display. It can also stream XBox titles. You can also cast your game play on a bigger display using Samsung Dex or Miracast.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G is one of the best gaming phones from Samsung. If you want a more affordable option, you should consider the Galaxy Note 20 and its 5G sibling the Galaxy Note 20 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G Key Specs
- Android 10, One UI 2.5
- 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED Display, 1440 x 3088, Up to 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Octa-core Exynos 990 (Global)
- Octa-core Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865+ (USA)
- 108MP + 12MP + 12MP Triple Rear Camera
- 10MP Front Camera
- 128GB / 256GB / 512GB Built-in Storage, SD-Card Support
- 12GB RAM
- 5G Support
- Fingerprint (Under Display, Ultrasonic)
- Fast Charging (25W Capacity)
- Reverse wireless charging (9W)
- 4500 mAh Non-removable Li-ion Battery
There you have it, our list of some of the best gaming phones. I hope you found the list useful.
