The best gaming phones 2022 are so much more than just high-powered thumb tappers in your pocket. They have big batteries, screens with a high refresh rate, powerful processors, and a lot of storage space to get you through both big and small releases. Not only that, but as Xbox’s Cloud Gaming services become more popular, smaller screens are becoming even more popular.
But there are many models on the market, and they all claim to be the best gaming phones 2022. That makes it hard to know exactly what you need from your phone and how much you should pay for a device made just for gaming. We’re glad to see that the most popular and best gaming phones are getting a little cheaper as they get better. This means that there are now options for every budget, and we’ve put together a list of our favorites.
Our team of experts is ready to tell you about the best gaming phones 2022 on the market right now and the best deals. We’ve used our own hands-on experience with the newest and best products to make sure you have all the information you need before making that important choice. You won’t get the performance of a gaming laptop or even the best gaming tablets, but these are the models we’d recommend for a pocket-sized thumb twitcher.
These are the best gaming phones 2022 if you want to play games like Fortnite or Arena of Valor on the go.
What is a Gaming Phone?
Technically, any phone that lets you play games could be called a “gaming phone.” But some phones, like the ASUS ROG Phone 5S, are made and sold as “gaming phones.” As part of our review, we’ve pointed out some of these phones, as well as some more popular options that gamers might like (like the iPhone 13 Pro Max).
What are the Best Gaming Phones?
Everyone has been surprised that the iPhone 13 series is a better gaming phone than phones that are made just for gaming. The main reasons for this are that Apple still has the most powerful chipsets (thanks to the A15 Bionic) and the two Pro models have new displays with 120Hz adaptive refresh rates. Which game phone was the best in 2022?
There are still a lot of Android phones that are almost as good, of course. The OnePlus 10 Pro is a great phone that does a lot of things well and also works well for games. The Google Pixel 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus also work. (If you don’t mind spending a little more, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is also a pretty good stealthy gaming phone.
We just reviewed the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro, and one of the best things about it is how long its battery lasts. It also has a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which makes it run faster than other recent Android flagships. In this article, we’ll talk about the best gaming Phones 2022.
Top 12 Best Gaming Phones 2022
Here is the list of best gaming phones 2022: Let’s check them out.
1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
Specifications
- Display: OLED screen, 6.7 inches (2778 x 1284) Maximum
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU: Bionic A15 RAM: 6GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB /
- Cameras (back/front): 12MP main, ultrawide, and telephoto / 12MP 8.5 ounces Time on a single charge: 12:16
Pros
- Bright and colorful 120Hz display
- A15 Bionic CPU more powerful than the competition
- Strong battery life
- Excellent photography abilities
Cons
- 128GB of storage on the entry model
- Expensive compared to rivals
The iPhone 13 Pro Max, the newest iPhone from Apple, is one of the best gaming phones 2022 you can buy. Even the best Android phone can’t beat the new big iPhone. This phone can play any mobile game and more, thanks to its powerful A15 Bionic chip, 120Hz screen, and much longer battery life.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is not only the best phone for gaming, but it is also the best phone you can buy. It has great cameras, a gorgeous 6.7-inch OLED screen, and a lot of features that make it fun to use in everyday life. It can also hold up to 1TB of data, so you can always play the best iOS games.
People who want to play old games may not be able to because emulators for old games are not allowed on the App Store. Some of the most popular games from the SNES and PS2 eras have been put on the iPhone, though.
It’s interesting that esports players from other countries like to train by playing iPhone games like PUBG Mobile and Garena FreeFire. Because Apple’s chips are so efficient, they give off less heat, which makes it easier to play games for long periods of time.
2. Black Shark 5 Pro
Specifications
- Release date: April 2022
- Weight: 220g
- Dimensions: 163.9 x 76.5 x 9.5
- MMOs: Android 12
- Screen size: 6.67-inch Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 256/512GB 4,650mAh
- Rear camera: 108MP + 13MP + 5MP
- Front camera: 16MP
Pros
- Powerful performance
- Retractable triggers
Cons
- Lackluster battery life
- Gets hot
The Black Shark 5 Pro is one of the best gaming phones 2022 on the market right now because of how well it works for the price. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 12GB of RAM, it can easily play high-end games with the best graphics settings.
Your gaming experience can also be made better by a set of pop-up physical triggers that can be set to do something in your game. It makes a big difference and turns the phone into a game controller that can be used on its own.
The Black Shark 5 Pro is a powerful gaming system that is great for gaming on the go, but it gets pretty hot and the battery life could be better.
3. Nubia RedMagic 7 Pro
Specifications
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED with 120Hz;
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1;
- RAM: 16GB; storage: 256GB/512GB;
- Weight: 235g;
- Battery capacity: 5,000mAh;
- Operating system: Android 12
Pros
- 16GB of RAM powers through any app or game
- 20,000 RPM Turbofan keeps the phone running efficiently
- 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging
Cons
- No IP rating
- Cameras are mediocre
- No wireless charging
Nubia RedMagic, the gaming division of Chinese company ZTE, has been making the best and best-value gaming phones since 2015. Its most recent product, the Red Magic 7 Pro, is one of the most complete devices we’ve tried so far.
From the start, the phone looks and feels like a real gaming phone, with a bold design and an edge. The back of the Supernova model is clear, so you can see the many gaming-focused features inside. These include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 16GB of RAM, Octa-core CPU, and a huge 5,000mAh battery. The main selling point of the Red Magic is the 20,000 RPM Turbofan. This fan and a set of other cooling features inside the phone keep it from getting too hot and keep the battery from dying as quickly, which are both common problems with gaming phones.
The Magic 7 Pro has a big, 6.8-inch, 120Hz AMOLED screen that lets you see all of the animations and style icons on its Android 12 software. When you start a game, Nubia’s Game Space and the Turbofan go into high gear and give you a lot of controls, toggles, and plugins to use in the game. One of them lets you map the phone’s shoulder triggers, which gives you more ways to play any game.
4. OnePlus 10 Pro
Specifications
- Display: AMOLED screen, 6.7 inches (3216 x 1440)
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, can’t be added to.
- Cameras: 48MP (f/1.8), 50MP (f/2.2), and 8MP (f/2.4). 3.3 times zoom
- Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2) Weight: 7 oz.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
- Top performance among Android phones
Cons
- No AT&T 5G
The OnePlus 10 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system-on-chip, which is also found in the best gaming phones 2022 on the market right now. So, even games that are hard to play work well on this device.
Gamers will also like that the phone’s 6.7-inch screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and that the battery lasts for almost 12 hours even with the adaptive refresh rate turned on. But the price of the OnePlus 10 Pro might be its best feature. Other top-of-the-line phones are getting close to $1,000, but the OnePlus 10 Pro only costs $899. It’s hard to find a top-of-the-line phone with as many high-end features for that price.
5. Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
- Specifications
- Display: AMOLED screen is 6.8 inches (2488 x 1080)
- Refresh Rate: 165 Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
- RAM: 18GB Storage/Expandable: 512GB/No
- Cameras (back/front): 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide, macro, and 12MP 8.4
Pros
- Incredible battery life
- Excellent performance
- Fantastic speakers and haptic engine
- Useful software tweaks
Cons
- Costs more than some gaming phone options
The ROG Phone 6 Pro is the best choice if you want a phone that is just for gaming. This monster has a new Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, a huge 18GB of RAM, a huge 6,000 mAh battery, new and improved AirTriggers, and better cooling options for long gaming sessions.
The ROG Phone 6 Pro is the most powerful gaming phone to date because of its chip. It was almost as good as Apple’s A15 Bionic in our tests. Even though 18GB of RAM is too much, it’s still a good thing to have. This phone also has the best software for a gaming phone that we’ve ever seen.
And the battery’s life, wow. The battery life on the ROG Phone 6 Pro is the longest of any phone we’ve tested at Tom’s Guide. It can work for a whopping 15 hours and 30 minutes in its 165Hz mode. You’ll get an hour back if you slow it down to 60Hz. The ROG Phone 6 Pro does everything the best gaming phones of 2022 should do and more, but it costs $999.
6. Black Shark 4 Pro
Specifications
- Release date: March 2021
- Weight: 220g
- Dimensions: 163.8 x 76.4 x 9.9
- MMOs: Android 11
- Screen size: 6.67-inch Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Snapdragon 888 5G
- RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB 4,
- Battery: 500mAh
- Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 5MP
- Front camera: 20MP
Pros
- Dedicated gaming features
- Great battery life
Cons
- Bulky
- Mediocre camera
The Black Shark 4 Pro is big, but there are many things to like about it. Like other Black Shark phones, it has gaming controls that pop out and can be changed to fit your needs.
It has a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED screen, so it’s a great choice for people who want their games to look good as well. This screen’s action is always as smooth as silk because it has a refresh rate of 144Hz and a Snapdragon 888 processor.
Shark Space is a game-specific app that makes everything complete and lets you focus on your game time. It can go for more than a day without being charged.
7. Google Pixel 6 Pro
Specifications
- Display: OLED screen, 6.7 inches (3120 x 1440; 10-120Hz)
- CPU: Tensor
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB;
- Back cameras: 50MP main (/1.85), 12MP ultrawide (/2.2), and 48MP telephoto (/3.5) with 4x optical zoom.
- Front camera: 11.1MP (ƒ/2.2) 7.4 ounces Battery life in hours and minutes: 7:49
Pros
- Incredible cameras
- Tensor performs well
- Beautiful new design
- More affordable than other flagships
Cons
- Shorter battery life than competitors
You might not expect a Google phone, like the Google Pixel 6 Pro, to be on a list of the best gaming phones in 2022, but Google made it happen. The Pixel 6 Pro is a great choice for your next gaming phone because it has a great screen and a new chip that works even better than expected.
But that’s not all. The Pixel 6 Pro does well in games and benchmarks, and it also does a great job as a regular phone. It might not have as many cool features as some other gaming phones, but it has the best camera you can get on an Android phone. You probably also want other things from your phone.
If we had to pick one problem with the Pixel 6 Pro, it would be that the battery life isn’t very good. Even though the battery in the phone is big enough to last for hours, it did not do well in our tests of battery life. But even with intense games and Xbox Game Pass, the phone works fine when we use it every day.
8. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Specifications
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED with 120Hz,
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1,
- RAM: 12GB/16GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB ,
- Weight: 228g,
- Battery: 5,000mAh, and
- Operating system: Android 12
Pros
- Latest Snapdragon processor with up to 16GB RAM
- Best-in-class AMOLED display
- Camera and S Pen puts the S22 Ultra above traditional gaming phones
Cons
- Boxy, all-glass design is not the most durable
- Very expensive at $1,199
- Battery life can be better
Even though the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra isn’t just for gamers, it is one of the best regular phones that can handle games with a lot of graphics.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra looks like it could compete with other gaming phones based on its list of features. A device of this caliber will feel like home to gamers because it has a large 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, the latest Qualcomm processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Which is best? When you buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, you get more than just a phone that can play games. It’s the main product, and it’s made for everyone. You get one of the best mobile experiences on the market, with a set of features that can help you do any job. With the built-in new but familiar S Pen, you can feel like you’re using a Nintendo DS again.
9. Lenovo Legion Phone Duel
Specifications
- Release date: October 2020
- Weight: 239g
- Dimensions: 169.2 x 78.6 x 9.9
- mm OS: Android 10
- Screen size: 6.65-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2340
- CPU: Snapdragon 865 Plus
- RAM: 12/16GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear camera: 64MP + 16MP
- Front camera: 20MP
Pros
- Super-fast charging
- Lots of processing power
Cons
- It-Pretty expensive for the specs
- Software issues
The Legion Phone Duel, which is Lenovo’s first gaming phone, has great gaming features and some other great specs and features.
The phone can be quickly charged with 90W, and the camera pops up so that it doesn’t break the screen. It also has a good processor and software that works best when the device is in landscape mode. It’s a great place to play games because of all of these things.
We have no problems with the phone’s ability to play games, but its high price, software problems, and a bad camera might turn off some people.
This is one of the best gaming Phones 2022 that you can buy right now. This is a good choice if you’re looking for the best smartphone that’s also good for playing games, but you might want to look at some of the other phones on this list first.
10. Motorola Edge Plus (2022)
Specifications
- Display: OLED screen, 6.7 inches (2400 x 1800)
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB,
- Back Cameras: 45MP (f/1.8). main; 50MM (f/2.2)
- Ultrawide: 2MP (f/2.4) Depth
- Front camera: 60MP (f/2.2) 6.9 ounces The battery lasts for 6:57 (144Hz) and 8:24 (60Hz)
Pros
- 144Hz refresh rate
- The processor can match any leading Android phone
Cons
- Subpar battery life
- No telephoto lens
Motorola’s newest top-of-the-line phone has some problems, but gamers will love it. The refresh rate of 144Hz is above average for Android phones, and you won’t miss out on performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and 8GB or 12GB RAM.
When playing games on the Edge Plus, the short battery life is the main thing you’ll have to worry about. If you plan to play games for a long time, you might want to have a plug on hand. The 30W charger that comes with the phone gets you up and running quickly, and if you don’t mind that it doesn’t have a telephoto camera or a glass back panel, it’s a good compromise between expensive, all-around flagship phones and cheaper, gaming-only phones.
11. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Specifications
- Display size (in pixels): 6.2 inches (2268 x 832) 7.6 inches of internal display (in pixels) (2208 x 1768)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage/Expandable: 256GB, 512GB/No
- Cameras (Back, Front, and Inside): 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto/10MP/4MP (under display) 9.55 ounces
- Battery: 500mgh.
Pros
- Giant internal display
- 120Hz refresh rate inside and out
- Stylus support
Cons
- Short battery life
- Heavy and bulky
- Very expensive
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 might be the best gaming phone if you have a lot of money to spend. The Z Fold 3 is the most immersive and useful phone on this list. It has a 7.6-inch screen and now works with the S Pen stylus. None of the other phones on this list can compare. Even if you don’t have much space, you can still use the small display on the outside, which has the same 120Hz refresh rate as the display on the inside. This keeps things running smoothly.
You obviously pay both a real and a symbolic price for this. This phone is the most expensive on this list by several hundred dollars. It’s also the biggest and heaviest, even when folded. It also has a short battery life, which makes it hard to play with other people for a long time. You shouldn’t buy this phone on a whim, but if you want the best screen possible, it could be a good choice.
12. Asus ROG Phone 5
Specifications
- Release date: April 2021
- Weight: 238g
- Dimensions: 172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3
- mm OS: Android 11
- Screen size: 6.78-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2448
- CPU: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Battery: 6,000mAh
- Camera: 64MP, 13MP, and 5MP.
- Front camera: 24MP
Pros
- Remarkable performance
- Great display and speakers
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- Large, heavy, and dense
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a great gaming phone that is even better than its predecessor, the Asus ROG Phone 3.
It has the most power in its class because of its Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 16GB of RAM, which are its best features. It also has a screen refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz, which are both higher than most phones and help games.
The screen is big, and right in front of it are two of the best speakers you’ll find on a phone. The Asus ROG Phone 5 also has a big 6,000mAh battery, so you can game for longer. With 65W charging, you won’t be out of action for long when the battery runs out.
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is great for gamers because it has responsive shoulder buttons, and programmable RGB lights, and is compatible with a wide range of gaming accessories. It’s not quite a top-of-the-line phone in every way (for example, the cameras aren’t as good as the rest of the hardware), but if gaming is your top priority, you should put this phone at or near the top of your list.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Gaming Phone?
As with everything else, picking the right gaming phone is the most important thing. If you want the best performance, which you probably do if you’re reading this, you’ll want a phone with a Snapdragon 8-series or Apple’s A15 Bionic chipset. The Snapdragon is Qualcomm’s best chip for Android phones, and it can be found in devices from a number of different companies.
But what about quick refresh rates? You can only find that on more expensive phones, but it’s a feature that will surely make its way to cheaper phones in the future. Screens with a rating of 90Hz or more have better graphics and smoother scrolling than screens with lower ratings. This makes it seem like every swipe, tap, and other activity is shown right away on the screen. If you take competitive games very seriously, a higher refresh rate will make sure you don’t miss anything.
The more a phone is made for gaming with the right features, of course, the less attention is paid to other things. Even though battery life is important for gaming (because games use a lot of power), it will be harder to find gaming phones with good hardware and software for the camera or features like wireless charging or water resistance. If these things are important to you, you might want to look at the OnePlus 10 Pro, Galaxy S22 Plus, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which are some of the most powerful phones on this list. Even though these phones weren’t made to play games, they can still hold their own.
How do We Test Gaming Phones?
For a smartphone, whether it’s a gaming phone or not, to make one of our best phone lists, it has to do well on a number of tests that we run on every phone. Some of these tests are done in labs, while others are done in the real world.
When it comes to measuring how well graphics work, we use made-up benchmarks like Geekbench 5 and GFXBench. We can compare how well iPhones and Android phones work by using these tests. We also use the Adobe Premiere Rush app on each phone to convert real-life videos and time how long it takes.
To figure out how good a phone’s screen is, we test it in a lab to see how bright it is (in units) and how many colors it has (DCI-P3 color gamut). When it comes to these things, more is better. We also use a Delta-E rating to figure out how accurate each panel’s colors are. The best score is 0, which means that the number is 0.
One of the most important tests we do is Tom’s Guide Battery test. We use 5G or 4G to connect to the Internet and set the screen brightness to 150 nits until the battery runs out. In general, a phone with a battery life of 10 hours or more is good, and our list of the best phones includes everything with a battery life of 11 hours or more.
Last but not least, we take pictures with the best phones outside, inside, and at night when there isn’t much light to see how they compare to their closest competitors. We take photos of landscapes, food, people, and other things. You can also decide for yourself by looking at two photos next to each other in our reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Best Gaming Phones 2022
Do you need a dedicated gaming phone?
Not always, no. Even though they aren’t made for it, some popular phones are strong enough to handle tough mobile games. Plus, these phones are often better in other ways than phones made just for gaming (like camera quality and design).
Still, if you like to play games on your phone and want something made for that, a gaming phone might be the best choice.
Are gaming phones worth it?
If you use your phone mostly to play games while you’re out and about, you should definitely get a gaming phone. You don’t need a gaming phone if you prefer to play games on a console or computer and use your phone for things like calls, emails, the camera, and more.
Can I use a gaming headset with my phone?
Most gaming headsets can be used with phones that have a standard 3.5mm audio jack. Many phones no longer have 3.5mm jacks because it makes the phone thinner and gets rid of the need for the traditional headphone jack. Several of these phones, like the iPhone 13 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22, use USB-C or lightning cables. You can easily fix this problem, though, by using a dongle that changes the 3.5 mm jack to USB-C.
Which phones are best for gaming?
Based on our tests, the Samsung Z Fold 3 is the best phone for gaming right now. It has a great set of features and a screen that can be opened up. But the smartphone market is growing again, and flagship devices have broken up Apple and Samsung’s shared monopoly in the last few years. The best place to see this is in the market for game phones. There’s always something new coming out, from gaming-focused brands like Asus and Razer to more mainstream brands like OnePlus and Sony.
Which gaming phone is the cheapest?
The iPhone SE is the cheapest phone we recommend for gaming, but if you want a phone made for games, your cheapest options are probably made by Xiaomi.
What phones are coming out in 2022?
Sony Xperia Pro-I is a hard-to-find phone with a great camera and a high price. Even though the Huawei P50 Pro has a great camera and a sleek design, it’s hard to recommend it because it doesn’t have Google or 5G. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is a cheaper Galaxy phone that doesn’t skimp on features like its camera, processor, or gaming features like fps caps and performance modes.
Which is the No 1 phone in the world?
Samsung. Samsung sold 444 million mobile phones in 2013 and had a market share of 24.6%. This is up 2.6 percentage points from 2012 when it sold 384 million mobile phones. The company was number one even in 2012.
Which Snapdragon is best for gaming?
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. These four cores make the device run faster and help it do all the complicated math and gaming it needs to do.
Which phone is good for PUBG?
The best phone is the OnePlus 9 Pro. PUBG Mobile was made to work pretty well on both old and new phones, but if you want the best graphics, you’ll need a phone with great specs.
Is Poco good for gaming?
The Poco F3 GT is a great gaming phone that won’t break the bank. The 120Hz AMOLED screen, physical gaming triggers, and 67W fast charging are some of the best features, but you can find better cameras elsewhere.
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