10 Best Gaming Smartphones You Can Buy in 2024

Mobile gaming is undoubtedly the future of the gaming industry. As many game developers shift their focus from desktops to mobile platforms, smartphones are evolving with higher specifications. This progress aims to meet the increasing demands of mobile gamers.

This shift has led to the emergence of several smartphones specifically designed for gaming. Some manufacturers have even developed models tailored exclusively for this purpose.

With this in mind, we have compiled a list of smartphones that are particularly well-suited for gaming. The objective is to cater to the needs of those who primarily use their phones for gaming.

So, which smartphones are on the list? Let's take a look at the list of these devices below! .

1. ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro is a top-tier gaming smartphone. It is engineered specifically to handle demanding games.

This model is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset to ensure high performance and smooth frame rates across all games. It also features substantial storage options, starting from 512 GB (UFS 4.0) and 16 GB of RAM, making it adept at managing intensive tasks.

Additionally, the GameCool 8 thermal management system is designed to keep the device cool under pressure. ASUS claims this system improves thermal efficiency by 22 percent compared to its previous models.

The phone also includes the AeroActive Cooler and AirTrigger shoulder buttons that can enhance the gaming experience by providing console-like controls that can be customized in various ways.

Despite its many strengths as a gaming device, I am somewhat disappointed that the screen now includes a front camera (punch hole), a change from the previous series which featured a full-screen display.

2. nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+

This phone excels in handling heavy games, largely due to its internal fan that spins at 20,000 rpm to effectively dissipate heat. It also features a pressure-sensitive zone that responds at 520 Hz, boosting your responsiveness and potentially increasing your odds of success in competitive games.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, one of the most advanced processors in 2024, the phone pairs this with cutting-edge LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, enhancing both speed and storage efficiency.

It's also considerable in terms of battery life and charging speed. The 5,500 mAh battery can last a whole day, and with its 165-watt charging capability, it can fully recharge in just 16 minutes.

The phone's 6.8-inch display not only offers size but also immersive viewing, thanks to an under-display front camera that remains out of sight, ensuring an uninterrupted screen experience.

Its cooling system is robust, capable of reducing temperatures by up to 18 degrees during intense usage. The design includes several air vents that improve heat dissipation by 30 percent more effectively than previous models.

Despite its powerful features, the price is reasonably affordable. However, one noticeable drawback is the front camera's limited video capability that only provides 1080p recording at 60 FPS without support for 4K.

3. ASUS ROG Phone 8

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 was unveiled globally at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) on January 9, 2024 with its Pro variant. Despite being the standard model, it shares many features with the Pro version, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. ASUS consistently uses the same high-performance processors across both regular and Pro models.

This model also includes gamer-friendly shoulder buttons and modern battery technologies, such as dual USB-C ports and wireless charging. However, it has no the mini-LED visual accent found on the Pro version, featuring a standard RGB logo instead.

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 uses a conduction cooling system that uses boron nitride and copper, helping to manage the device's temperature. It also has a back cover designed to facilitate heat release. An optional accessory for enhanced cooling is the AeroActive Cooler.

A shared criticism of both the regular and Pro models is the intrusive placement of the front camera, which compromises the screen's integrity—a departure from the seamless displays of previous iterations.

4. nubia Red Magic 9 Pro

Besides the Pro+ model, ZTE launched the nubia Red Magic 9 Pro globally on December 18, 2023. Both gaming phones first debuted in the Chinese market in November 2023.

What makes this phone an excellent choice for gamers? It has several features, including a cooling fan operating at speeds of up to 22,000 rpm. This makes the device stay cool under heavy use.

Additionally, its notch-free screen will give users a more immersive gaming experience. This is one advantage over the ROG Phone 8 series, which includes a punch-hole camera.

The Pro version also features a larger battery capacity of 6,500 mAh, surpassing that of the Pro+. However, it has a lower fast-charging capability of "only" 80 watts, unlike the Pro+ which supports 165 watts.

In terms of memory, the Red Magic 9 Pro comes equipped with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage and utilizes LPDDR5x and UFS 4.0 technology. Another beneficial feature is the inclusion of a USB-C 3.2 port that supports DisplayPort, allowing users to connect the phone to a monitor for a bigger gaming experience.

Since this model does not focus on photography, it's important to note that the quality of the front camera is average. The under-display camera, while innovative, does not provide the same quality as a conventional front camera and is limited to recording videos in 1080p.

5. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

This phone is not specifically designed for gaming, though. However, it excels in many aspects that make it suitable for demanding games.

It is powered by the enhanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor, which supports advanced ray tracing capabilities for more realistic and impressive lighting effects—features usually revered in gaming consoles.

The smartphone's display features an LTPO panel that supports an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. This ensures that the screen transitions smoothly during gameplay to prevent any frame drops.

The latest feature in the Galaxy S24 Ultra is "Galaxy AI," a suite of artificial intelligence tools designed to transform how users interact with their smartphone. This includes functionalities like Chat Assist, AI Wallpaper, and Note Assist.

Highlights of the Galaxy S24 Ultra include its built-in S Pen (stylus), remarkable camera zoom capabilities, and a dedicated desktop mode known as Samsung DeX. One drawback, however, is its slower charging speed compared to other flagship models.

6. iQOO 12

The iQOO 12, released on December 7, 2023, is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It also includes the Q1 Supercomputing Chip, an e-sports chip designed by Vivo. This chip enhances the phone's performance that allows for a smooth gaming experience with a refresh rate of 144 Hz at Full HD+ resolution.

To avoid overheating during prolonged gaming sessions, the iQOO 12 features a 6K Vapor Chamber Cooling System that effectively manages heat.

The phone boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a flat frame design, offering a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels. Its peak brightness reaches up to 3,000 nits, making it one of the brightest screens globally.

While the 5,000 mAh battery is standard for gaming phones, it supports a remarkable 120-watt fast charging speed.

However, the iQOO 12 faces some competition drawbacks due to its USB-C 2.0 port, which does not support the faster power transfer capabilities of USB 3.0 nor does it support DisplayPort.

7. vivo X100 Pro

The Vivo X100 Pro is designed with a focus on photography, but its high performance also makes it suitable for gaming. It's powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, which is reputed to perform better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Vivo X100 Pro is the first phone to feature this chipset.

Its display is a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED with a 10-bit color profile and a curved design that eliminates bezels on the sides, providing a resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels.

The phone’s Immortalis G720 MC12 GPU supports hardware-based ray tracing that enhances the visual quality of games to match that of gaming consoles.

Charging is swift, with a 100-watt charger that can replenish 50 percent of the battery in just 12 minutes. Additionally, the Vivo X100 Pro comes with up to 16 GB of the newer LPDDR5T RAM, which is 13 percent faster than LPDDR5x, enhancing overall device performance.

The phone’s camera is exceptional, capable of producing high-quality photos even with 100x digital zoom. For those needing a gaming device that also excels in professional photography, the Vivo X100 Pro is an excellent choice.

8. ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate represents the latest from ASUS in high-end gaming phones. It features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, recognized for its strong performance, paired with up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

This large memory capacity allows the chipset to perform at its best. Unique to this model is the AeroActive Portal on the back, a signature feature of the ROG Phone series, which connects internal cooling components to the exterior for enhanced heat management.

The phone also excels in gaming performance due to its 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 165 Hz and a touch sampling rate of 720 Hz, which significantly enhances responsiveness in games.

Balancing its high performance, the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is equipped with a 6000 mAh battery, ensuring extended gameplay sessions. It also supports 65W fast charging, allowing for quick power-ups.

9. nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+

The nubia Red Magic Series continues to challenge high-end gaming phones like the ASUS ROG Phone. The latest, the nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+, steps up the game with the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 chipset, which is a notch above the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Series. This can be seen from its maximum clock speed of 3.36 GHz.

Additionally, the nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ has 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 internal storage, significantly enhancing its performance. The phone also features an internal fan which complements the vapor chamber and graphite layer in the cooling system.

A distinctive feature of the nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ is its screen, which has boxier corners and a slim bezel, giving it an almost all-screen front.

The device sports a 6.8-inch AMOLED display. Although its refresh rate of 120 Hz is not as high as some competitors, its touch sampling rate of 960 Hz is impressive, which is crucial for responsive gameplay in fast-paced games.

The battery department also stands out. While the 5000 mAh battery capacity is fairly standard, its fast charging capability is exceptional. The phone supports 165 W fast charging that allows it to fully charge in just 14 minutes.

10. nubia Red Magic 8S Pro

The nubia Red Magic 8S Pro is the more affordable sibling of the Pro+ version, offering lower memory configurations of 8 GB and 12 GB of RAM, with internal storage options ranging from 128 GB to 512 GB.

However, its gaming performance is comparable to the Pro+ version. It is powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 chipset, known for its high performance, and includes an internal fan alongside a vapor chamber and graphite layer for cooling.

The nubia Red Magic 8S Pro provides a robust gaming experience, evident from its 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1116 x 2480 pixels. It also has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a touch sampling rate of 960 Hz, which supports fast and accurate in-game responses.

In terms of battery life, the nubia Red Magic 8S Pro surpasses the Pro+ with a larger 6000 mAh battery. Although it only supports 80 W fast charging, it can still achieve a full charge in just 35 minutes.

Beyond these 10 smartphones, there are many other impressive models suited for gaming. Yet, these 10 stand out for providing a superior mobile gaming experience.