gaming phones

The best gaming phones can rival tablets and arguably even portable consoles when it comes to gaming potential, so if you’re into games, then it’s worth having a phone that can do them justice.

Picking such a phone typically means picking one with a big, high resolution screen, a high refresh rate, and lots of power, plus ideally decent battery life so your games aren’t interrupted by the need to charge. So these are all things that you should look for when buying.

Phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max tick those boxes. But there are other phones that go even further and are designed specifically with games in mind.

We’re talking phones like the Asus ROG Phone 5 and Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, which have things like shoulder triggers, customizable gaming modes, better vibration, and enhanced cooling.

What is the best gaming phone?

That depends on whether you want a phone specifically built for gaming, or a great all-round handset that also excels for gaming, but we've got picks for both.

What should I look for when buying a gaming phone?

The three main factors to consider are screen (particularly size, resolution and refresh rate), battery life, and power. Beyond that, look to extra features that might be useful when gaming, such as triggers or fans, and look to the library of available games, as it differs between Android and iOS.