Until a few years ago, you could only play mobile games on whatever Android phone you had. As gaming became more popular, smartphone companies realized there was an actual need for dedicated gaming phones and there are now several great Android options to pick from. There has never been a better time for mobile gamers because these phones sport better, bigger, and brighter screens, powerful processors, lots of RAM, and massive batteries for all-day gaming. From dedicated gaming phones to everyday phones that are powerful enough to play all Android games, here are the best gaming phones to choose from in 2022.
ZTE Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro
ZTE might only have a small market share, but the company has produced some phenomenal phones over the years and Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro is a testament to that. The biggest draw for this phone is that it packs just as much performance as all other gaming phones but does so at a price many gamers can afford.
The Nubia RedMagic 6S Pro comes with the Snapdragon 888 Plus processor, 12 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. The screen is a 6.8-inch, 165HX AMOLED screen with a 720Hx touch sampling rate.
This phone can achieve its phenomenal performance due to the addition of an active cooling system that lets the phone sustain higher CPU and GPU frequencies. As with the ROG phone 5, the RedMagic 6S Pro also comes with additional shoulder triggers that can be mapped to whichever controls you like.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Although the Samsung Galaxy 22 lineup has been announced, it will take some time before we can get our hands on it, and so we have to go with the S21 which remains a phenomenal phone one year down the line. The S21 comes with the Snapdragon 888 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of RAM. We would have loved to see expandable storage, but the capacity you get is what you have to live with.
Samsung is known for its phenomenal displays, and it does not disappoint here. The S21 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch, 120HZ Dynamic AMOLED screen which is vibrant and bright in all light conditions. The display supports HDR10+ and the speakers are some of the best you’ll find on any smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is not a gaming phone, but it has the specs to match other dedicated gaming phones without all the additional features. People who want a productivity phone and who play casual games such as casino games will love everything the phone has to offer, including the bright, vibrant screen. Casual gamers can check out casinos offering a no deposit casino bonus to see how the phone handles vibrant colors, fast-moving graphics, and live gameplay.
Asus ROG Phone 5
Asus went all out with the Asus ROG Phone 5, giving it everything a gamer would need. The phone comes with a 6.78-inch, 144hz, vibrant AMOLED screen capable of HDR10+. The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a beast under the hood too as it comes with 16 GB of RAM, the Snapdragon 888 processor, and 256 GB of the fastest storage available.
The battery is a 6000mAh option and is capable of fast charging with the provided 65w charger. The phone also comes with ultrasonic side buttons for shooter games and other games that take advantage of them.
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is also a great phone for everything you would need, from productivity and movie streaming to social media scrolling and running the best Android apps.
Xiaomi Black Shark 4
The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 is a little understated compared to the other dedicated gaming phones on this list. However, it still packs enough to be a serious contender for the best gaming phone around the $500 price point. It comes with the Snapdragon 870 which is only slightly behind the 888 in performance. This chip is no slouch and handles all Android games comfortably. The phone also comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.
The sharp, 6.67-inch AMOLED screen is comparable to that of other gaming phones. It runs at 144hZ.
The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 comes with two pop-up triggers. The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 departs from the touch-sensitive shoulder buttons you get on other gaming phones and instead gives you physical shoulder buttons. These buttons recess into the phone when you are not gaming. These buttons can also be used to control the camera when using the camera app.
The Xiaomi Black Shark 4 is also a great everyday phone with great performance and a design that does not stand out like most other gaming phones.
Most Android gaming devices come with the same high-end processor, fast storage, and huge RAM. The main differentiator is the little things like the design, battery, and additional gaming features like shoulder buttons. All the phones discussed above are excellent gaming phones, with the bonus of doing everything else you might want them to.
