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Games are ever changing and so are the way people play them, and that’s now thanks in part to gaming smartphones. Looking for the best gaming smartphone gifts? We’ve got you covered.
With the advent of true gaming smartphones, users now have plenty of potential to enjoy great games no matter where they are but also without compromising on hardware, performance, or quality.
Today, you have options from Razer, ASUS, and more that are taking a fixed approach to mobile gaming. Below, we’ve put together the best gaming smartphones on the market. So if you’re shopping for a new gaming smartphone or you’re shopping for one for someone else as a gift this holiday season, this guide can help you find what you need.
Of course gaming smartphones are better with accessories to enhance the mobile gaming experience, so we’ve added in the best gaming smartphone accessories too. Below you’ll find sections for gaming smartphones and gaming smartphone accessories. We have set up a table of contents so you can jump to the proper section if you want to save some time.
Table of contents
Best gaming smartphones
Gaming smartphones are just like any other smartphone, except more powerful and generally they come with a design aesthetic that appeals to gamers.
The main focus really is that each one on this list has hardware that will allow those who enjoy mobile games to play them with the best performance. And as such, the phones on this list are each very well-equipped to handle any mobile game you throw at them.
With all of that in mind, you can find our selection of the best gaming smartphones below. We’ve added a small summary table that lists each device we picked, along with the price and where you can buy it.
If you’re short on time, you can refer to this table and get to those items you’re looking to buy a lot faster. Below that, we have a brief description of each item.
| Price | Buy | |
| ASUS ROG Phone II | $899 | Amazon |
| Razer Phone 2 | $399 | Amazon |
| Red Magic 3S | $599 | Red Magic |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus | $1,099 | Amazon |
| OnePlus 7 Pro | $799 | Amazon |
Best gaming smartphone for most users: ASUS ROG Phone II
ASUS takes the cake here when it comes to best gaming smartphones. It’s one of the newest gaming smartphones on the market. Because of this that means the newest hardware. It also has some pretty high-end specs.
It’s equipped with a 120Hz display so you can expect fast frame rates in specific games. So long as they support it. You can also downsize it to 90Hz or 60Hz any time you want. You could just leave it at 120Hz all the time. But why waste battery life?
Speaking of battery power, the ROG Phone II has a very long battery life, so you can play games all day. The real kicker with the phone that pushes things over the top, are the air triggers and the optional accessories.
ASUS really wants you to use this phone for gaming, and both of those things allow you to do that. The air triggers especially are fantastic, and what it apart from most devices. It’s like having haptic trigger buttons on the phone frame for you gaming needs, just like you would have with triggers on a controller. Throw in a vapor chamber cooling system and some cool RGB lighting, and you have a winner of a phone here.
Overall, the ROG Phone II is also just made really well. As a result, you have a really powerful gaming smartphone that will help give you an advantage in whatever game you play.
ASUS ROG Phone II - Amazon - $899
Best gaming smartphone if you’re on a budget: Razer Phone 2
I honestly never thought this would be something noted in relation to Razer products. Because quite honestly a lot of them are pretty expensive.
The Razer Phone 2 is however the best gaming smartphone for anyone who’s on a budget and needs or wants to spend less. It now retails for $399. Part of that is because it’s slightly older than the other phones on this list.
Don’t let the age and the price fool you, though. The Razer Phone 2 is still one of the best gaming smartphones on the market, and is probably only second to the best gaming smartphone on the market which we listed above.
The Razer Phone 2 comes with a 120Hz display, and it was the first phone to do so. It’s also a bit better than the others. The difference between it and the one on the ROG Phone II for example, is that the Razer Phone 2’s display is QHD. The one on the ROG Phone II is FHD+. The display on the ROG Phone II is nice, but graphics and most if not all visuals will look better on the Razer Phone 2.
This gives it a nice edge over the competition. Plus, you can’t argue with the price point. It’s also packed with powerful specs like 8GB of RAM. In addition it has Dolby Atmos technology and a THX-certified DAC for exceptional audio in-game and out, and it has the Snapdragon 845 inside with a custom vapor chamber cooling system.
Make no mistake, the Razer Phone 2 is one of the meanest gaming smartphones on the market, and it’s a stellar option if you’re looking to pick up this type of mobile gaming device.
Best gaming smartphone that offers value for money: Red Magic 3S
There’s no disputing that the Razer Phone is the best gaming smartphone if you’re looking to spend a little bit less.
That being said, the Red Magic 3S is the best gaming smartphone that offers value for money. The most expensive model is $599, and it comes with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 6.65-inch 90Hz display and it has fan-powered liquid cooling.
Sure you’re spending $200 more than the Razer Phone 2, but you get more RAM and more storage, with a more powerful processor and the added ability of some haptic triggers, like the ROG Phone II. You also spend $300 less than the ROG Phone II but get some of the same specs.
The colors and design are certainly more gaming-inspired, which might not appeal to everyone. If you’re looking for a gaming smartphone though that may be the last thing on your mind. And if it is, then you’re probably thinking more about cost and performance.
The Red Magic 3S is a really good balance of both. It also has a 5,000mAh battery so expect long gameplay sessions.
Red Magic 3S - Red Magic Website - From $479
Best gaming smartphone for multi-purpose: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
Not all gaming smartphones are actually gaming smartphones. In fact that’s the case with this next device.
The Galaxy Note 10 Plus is not a gaming smartphone. It is however a very powerful smartphone and therefore is excellent for gaming. Samsung has even gone the extra mile to let consumers know this with things like its partnership with Epic to pre-install Fortnite on the device. Not to mention it’s partnership with Discord to integrate the service with the Samsung Game Hub.
By and large, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus is one hell of a gaming smartphone. But without the gaming looks. Since it’s just more of a high-end smartphone, it’s also the best gaming smartphone for multi-purpose use. Meaning you can use it for business, gaming, other entertainment and more.
It has the added value of the S Pen as well. Which makes this a very powerful computing tool for anyone who needs such a device. It also has one of the best cameras on the market for smartphones. The list goes on.
The galaxy Note 10 Plus is packed with features that make it the best choice for anyone who needs the versatility. It’ll cost you, as the 256GB model costs $1,099. You’re getting the cream of the crop of premium smartphones though. Not just a premium gaming smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus - Amazon - $1,099
Best gaming smartphone for extended gaming sessions: OnePlus 7 Pro
Coming up as the last phone on our list of picks is the OnePlus 7 Pro. Not because it isn’t as good as any of the others though.
It’s fairly well-rounded in terms of features and specs and it’s more than powerful enough to fuel your gaming sessions. In fact, it’s the best gaming smartphone for extended gaming sessions. This is because of the insanely fast charging speed.
The OnePlus 7 Pro has a 4,000mAh battery. It’s not as big as the battery in the Red Magic 3S or the ROG Phone II, but it will charge faster so you can be assured you’ll always have power for game time, or anything else you need your phone for.
According to OnePlus, it charges for a full day’s use in just 20 minutes. That means if you’re in the middle of gaming and you need to recharge, you can simply take a short break and top up. Then get back to it.
Price wise, it’s not the cheapest nor is it the most expensive. It’s sort of in the middle at $799, putting it behind the Galaxy Note 10 Plus and ROG Phone II in terms of cost. Yet, it will still hang with both of those when it comes to gaming chops.
Best gaming smartphone accessories
Gaming smartphones tend to have just about everything you need to play your games. That doesn’t mean the gaming experience couldn’t be better.
That’s where these accessories come in. We’ve picked out the best gaming smartphone accessories to help make your mobile gaming sessions even better. Whether it’s better controls or better sound.
Maybe you’re looking for cases for your specific device, or maybe you just wanted to see what was out there. Whatever the situation may be, we have something that may work for you or for anyone you’re gifting something to.
If you’re in a hurry, we have a summary table below that will list all the accessories we’ve included, along with their price, and where to buy them. That way you can jump right to it. Below that, we’ll have a brief description of each item.
| Price | Buy | |
| Razer Junglecat Android Gaming Controller | $99 | Amazon |
| Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds | $99 | Amazon |
| ROG Mobile Desktop Dock II | $229.99 | Amazon |
| Magic Adapter for Red Magic 3/3S | $46.99 | Red Magic |
| Anker PowerCore II 20000 | $59.99 | Amazon |
Best gaming smartphone controller: Razer Junglecat
There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of mobile gaming controllers out there. Many of them are decent. But many of them also don’t quite stack up to what they should.
Razer’s newly announced and released Junglecat definitely stacks up. It’s designed to work with any Android smartphone or tablet so long as it’s running on a compatible Android version.
Compared to other good quality controllers, like the ROG Kunai Gamepad or Razer’s own Raiju Mobile, the Junglecat feels more refined. The buttons feel more tactile on press, and the controller is a bit smaller so it fits easier into pockets for storage.
The last thing you want when gaming on the go if you want to use a controller is a big clunky controller taking up your bag space.
The nice thing with the Junglecat too is that if you have the Razer Phone 2, Galaxy Note 9, or Galaxy S10 Plus, you can pop on one of the included cases that comes with it and snap the controller into place on the sides. So it feels like a Nintendo Switch.
Most of all, the buttons themselves are extremely well made and designed, and you can feel how well they work. They’re not too spongy or too stiff, and what you would expect from a a high-quality peripheral like this. Plus, it’s a bit cheaper than the Kunai Gamepad. By $50 exactly as it’s $99 compared to the Kunai’s $149.99 price tag.
Razer Junglecat Dual-Sided Android Gaming Controller - Amazon - $99
Best gaming smartphone headphones: Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds
Razer pops up on this list again for its newly released Hammerhead Truly Wireless Earbuds. These $99 truly wireless earbuds are the perfect companion for any smartphone gamer thanks to the compact size, lack of cord or wires, and other features.
You probably wouldn’t expect a pair of earbuds to have a gaming mode. But these do. Not unlike most gaming smartphones. All it takes is a quick few taps to activate the gaming mode on these bad boys and they will operate at a lower latency and give you real-time audio feedback.
They hold a charge for around three hours, and if you need more time with them you can slip them back into the included charging case up to four more times. Which totals out at 15 hours in all.
The best part is that these headphones are loud. Not too loud, just loud, and without having to max out your smartphone volume. That said, you can crank the smartphone volume up and these will definitely make your game audio much louder than you might have expected.
Since they’re compact, they are much more perfect for gaming on the go. A proper pair of over the ear headphones are great for gaming at home. But, when you’re out and about, you want something that doesn’t take up space and won’t lessen your gaming experience.
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds - Amazon - $99
Best accessory for ASUS ROG Phone II: ROG Mobile Desktop Dock II
The ROG Phone II is great for mobile gaming if you’re using the touch controls. If you’re wanting to use a controller however, and you’re at home, why not connect the phone up to a monitor or TV?
You can do that with the ROG Mobile Desktop Dock II for ROG Phone II. It lets you set the phone into this dock and connect the picture to your TV or monitor so you can game on a bigger display.
This lets you have a larger than life mobile gaming experience and feel like you’re gaming on a proper console or PC. It uses HDMI or Display Port to connect to the monitor or TV of your choice, then you can connect a wireless game controller, like the Razer Junglecat or ROG Kunai gamepad, and sit on the couch gaming in comfort.
The dock isn’t cheap at a cost of $229.99, but it’s the best accessory you can grab for ROG Phone II and something you should seriously consider if you have or plan to buy the ROG Phone II.
ROG Mobile Desktop Dock II - Amazon - $229.99
Best accessory for the Red Magic 3S: Magic Adapter
Gaming smartphones are meant to allow for gaming wherever you can. A lot of the best games require an internet connection though, and sometimes the WiFi may not be the best option.
The Magic Adapter for the Red Magic 3S helps to rectify. It’s got an ethernet connection in the back so that you can link up with a wired connect for gaming, if need be. It also has a USB Type C charging port, and a 3.5mm audio port for headphones.
If you have or plan to get the Red Magic 3S, this is the accessory you would want to go along with it. Especially if you’re into playing games like PUBG MOBILE or Call of Duty Mobile.
Magic Adapter for Red Magic 3S - Red Magic Website - $46.90
Best power bank for gaming smartphones: Anker PowerCore II 20000
Gaming on a smartphone can take its tole on a smartphone battery. The highest quality games drain battery power quite quickly. And although gaming smartphones do come with bigger batteries, they can still die if you’re a power user.
If you like to ensure that you have loads of battery power left for any situation, you’re going to want a power bank. And the best one you can get is the PowerCore II 20000 from Anker.
It offers not only a large 20,000mAh capacity for battery recharges, it’s also slim enough to toss in a bag pocket without taking up too much space. It has USB C input for when you need to charge it back up, and it has two other USB A ports for plugging in two devices at once.
It also has rapid charge and Anker PowerIQ technology so it can deliver power to your device as fast as possible. It also retails for $59.99, which is a bit less than competing power banks that offer the same capacity and same types of features.
More to the point, Anker is a trusted brand that has been around delivering quality power banks for quite some time.