Best smartphones for gaming in 2024

Yeh PUBG wala hai, kya?

Do you remember a time when gaming meant PCs and early-generation consoles? Things have changed quickly since then, with the early 2000s bringing in the age of basic games on the go. From cult-classics like Snake on the early Nokia mobile phones, to the launch of PUBG Mobile in 2018 which truly opened the doors to the possibilities of mobile gaming, we’ve come a long way. Today, the modern smartphone is a legitimate mode of high-end gaming, especially of the multiplayer variety which conveniently uses the smartphone’s LTE or 5G connectivity.

Without getting into the specifics of which games you play and all the subjectivity that comes with it, lets first talk about having the right tools for the task. If you’re serious about mobile gaming, you’ll want the right smartphone to make the most of it. Here’s our list of the top picks for gaming on the go, based on specifications, features, and budget.

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

You know it’s a gaming smartphone when it’s literally got the famous ‘Republic of Gamers’ badge on it. The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is built with specifications on max mode, giving you a device that is entirely capable of handling even the most demanding mobile games at the highest settings. At Rs. 94,999, the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is expensive, but entirely built for making your mobile gaming experience top notch.

The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, support for 6GHz Wi-Fi, and a big 5500mAh battery with support for fast charging. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a peak brightness of 2500 nits, and a peak refresh rate of 165Hz. Other features include a dedicated heat management system, RGB lighting on the back logo, gaming features such as AirTrigger, and gaming-grade audio system.

OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 is an absolute powerhouse of a smartphone for a number of reasons, largely focused around its specification sheet. It’s also a fairly straightforward smartphone in terms of form factor and design, making it the ideal everyday smartphone. However, its hardware and software-based optimisations make it well suited to gaming.

You get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to a massive 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and three interesting colour variants, making this a device rather well equipped for even the most demanding mobile games. A dedicated games app and tools let you play with focus, by limiting distractions from other apps when you’re in the middle of a gaming session.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

The most powerful iPhone around is also the best you can buy for gaming on the iOS platform. With a wide variety of games including big-ticket titles and the comprehensive library on Apple Arcade, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max has a powerful chipset, big screen, and more, meant to enhance the gaming experience even further.

Rather usefully, iOS 18 now comes with a dedicated game mode, which limits distractions from other apps to give you a focused mobile gaming experience. If you’re into mobile gaming, you’ll want the best iPhone for the job, and the 16 Pro Max is it.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Sure, you can buy a tablet for big-screen mobile gaming, but then you’ll always need to carry it around with you in your backpack. Alternatively, get a foldable smartphone and you get access to a big screen for gaming when you want it, along with the convenience of a pocketable form factor when it’s folded shut.

As far as foldable smartphones go, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is among the most powerful ones around, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It’s a capable device which makes gaming better thanks to its sheer size and performance.

iQOO Neo 9 Pro

If you’re looking for a good gaming device at a reasonable price, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is a decent option to consider. It’s got modern styling, a big screen, and decent performance thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. 

Usefully, you also up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, along with a big 5160mAh battery. Software-based features such as the gaming mode and a peak refresh rate of 144Hz underline this phone’s gaming credentials, making it a good mid-priced pick.