Top Gaming Phones for 2024

Mobile gaming is constantly evolving to include more complex mechanics and graphics. While incredibly impressive, some mobile games have become taxing on weaker devices, meaning fans of mobile games may be better off buying phones purpose-built for mobile gaming. These devices feature impressive chips, good cooling and great screens. So let’s take a look at some of the best gaming phones on the market today.

1. The King: Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

ASUS’ ROG line is made with one thing in mind: gaming. It’s called Republic of Gamers for a reason. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is an absolute beast when it comes to mobile gaming. 

It’s hardware is impressive, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a fast refresh rate 240Hz AMOLED display and a computer-rivalling 16GB of RAM. Together, this means the ROG Phone 8 Pro has silky-smooth gameplay which looks fantastic on its great screen.

Beyond the computational hardware, this phone is also packed with lots of gamer-centric features. It has two customizable shoulder buttons—effectively turning your phone into a controller. It has a cooling fan to stop the powerful components from overheating. And has a variety of software optimizations which make gaming on it simply a dream.

For games like Fortnite or Genshin Impact, this phone is hard to beat. Speaking of; get your hands on cheap vbucks to look extra fresh in Fortnite.

That said, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is expensive. So it’s best for die-hard mobile gamers who play taxing games that require powerful performance.

2. Great Value: RedMagic 9 Pro

Featuring the exact same processor as the ROG Phone 8 Pro and a 165Hz AMOLED display, the RedMagic 9 Pro isn’t too far being ASUS’ beast of a gaming phone. It plays games incredibly well, with a nice display.

It also features a built in cooling system and can feature a particularly impressive transparent case, which showcases the internal components. 

While RedMagic aren’t as big or well known as ASUS, they have been in the gaming space for a while now and have built up a good reputation for the powerful, yet more affordable, devices.

3. iOS: iPhone 15 Pro Max

While Apple devices are generally avoided by PC gamers due to game compatibility concerns, their phones are a totally different dimension. iOS has a gaming ecosystem that rivals android’s, so there’s no need to hold back from gaming on apple devices.

If you’re looking for the best experience, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the top choice. Despite not being marketed directly at gamers, this is a very competent gaming device. It’s powerful A17 Bionic chip delivers performance to rival top of the line Snapdragons. Then you have the Super Retina XDR display, which is to die for. Paired with the good battery life, this device is great for gaming.

If you’re within the Apple ecosystem looking for the best gaming mobile, this is the one for you.

4, Tried-and-Tested Contender: OnePlus 11 5G

Again, the OnePlus 11 isn’t aimed at gamers. But thanks to its specs, it’s a great option for mobile gamers. It packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3—yes the same one as the ROG and RedMagic—and a very competent 120Hz AMOLED display. You can also pack it with up to 12GB of RAM to ensure the experience is smooth, even with the most demanding of mobile titles.

Given its general user appeal, the OnePlus 11 also sheds those gamer aesthetics, if that isn’t your thing. Boasting lots of consumer-friendly features like fast charging and more stripped back software out of the box.

This is one for users looking for a more balanced experience between a standard—high performance—smartphone and a phone purpose-built for gaming. 

5. Budget: Motorola Edge Plus (2023)

Gaming on a budget can be tough, especially if you’re a stickler for graphics. But the Motorola Edge Plus offers very competent gaming performance without requiring you to break the bank.

Hardware-wise, it features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, like most other devices on this list. It’s 144Hz OLED display and 12GB or RAM are also no slouch at all. It also features decent battery life.

Ultimately, this is still a great gaming phone, especially for those on a budget.

Choosing the perfect gaming phone ultimately comes down to your needs, priorities and budget. If you’re looking for the top of the line or happy with excellent performance on a slightly less perfect device. Not only that, but aesthetics play a huge role in choosing the right phone for you. So be sure to do your own research before making your final decision!

Trust that TechPinas would update this article as more amazing gaming smartphones with higher specs get released within 2024. Cheers!