Best Gaming Phone 2021: Top Mobile Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 5 is the ultimate gaming phone, hands down. It might not have mass appeal with a bulky, gamer-esque design, but that’s not the aim here.

Gaming is the priority here, and Asus has taken things up a notch with a 144Hz AMOLED screen, two 3,000mAh batteries, the top-end Snapdragon 888 and up to an eye-watering 16GB of RAM. It can handle just about any game available on Android right now, with enough power left over to future-proof the phone for quite some time – all at a price cheaper than big-name flagships.

The gaming experience is further enhanced by haptic triggers built directly into the side of the ROG Phone 5, and if you want to take things a step further, the plethora of official accessories – including Nintendo Switch-esque Kunai 5 controllers and the fan-powered AeroActive Cooler 5 cooling system – should be right up your street. 

They’re not related to gaming, but even the cameras are decent, which is unusual for a gaming phone. We can only really complain about the size and weight, measuring in at 10.3mm thick and 238g, but that’s not so applicable in the gaming sector.

Read our full Asus ROG Phone 5 review

Nubia has once again succeeded in producing an excellent gaming phone with the Red Magic 6, with a fast 6.8in 165Hz OLED panel and 400Hz touch sample rate that beats even Asus’ premium ROG Phone 5. Though you might not notice much of a difference in real-world performance, it’ll certainly satisfy the need for gamers to have the best of the best. 

That’s paired with the top-end Snapdragon 888, 12GB of RAM (or up to 18GB on the Pro model) and up to 256GB of storage as well as a built-in fan system to keep things cool during longer gaming sessions.

There’s also a plethora of gaming features including side-mounted shoulder triggers, advanced haptic feedback and the ability to control performance on a per-game basis, and it’s all presented in Red Magic’s ‘Game Space’ mode. 

The rear-facing triple camera setup may be identical to that of last year’s model, but that’s no bad thing, offering a decent – but certainly not flagship – capture experience for those not too fussed about mobile photography.

Unless you’ve already bought the Red Magic 5S, you won’t be disappointed if you pick up the 6.

Read our full Nubia Red Magic 6 review

Though the ZTE Axon 30 Ultra doesn’t look like much of a gaming phone – in fact, at 8mm thick and 188g, it’s lightweight compared to the likes of the ROG Phone 5 – but the svelte flagship has a surprise or two up its sleeves.

It’s powered by Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 888 with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of storage, able to take on dedicated gaming phones like the Red Magic 6 in our benchmarks. There’s also the 6.67in AMOLED display on offer, with a buttery-smooth 144Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sample rate, providing a responsive gameplay experience.

Gaming prowess aside, it has all the bells and whistles you’d expect including 65W fast charging and a quad-camera array comprised of three 64Mp cameras and a telescope lens, all at a price much cheaper than competing flagships from Samsung and OnePlus. What’s not to like? 

Read our full ZTE Axon 30 Ultra review

When it comes to gaming on iOS, the 6.7in iPhone 12 Pro Max is the one to beat. Apple’s 5nm A14 Bionic is one of the most powerful chipsets on the market right now and can handle just about anything you can throw at it without a hint of stutter or lag – and our benchmarks back that up too.

Importantly, the iPhone 12 Pro Max sports a gorgeous Super Retina XDR display that makes games look incredible on the iPhone, whether they’re free-to-play titles or the latest Apple Arcade exclusives. There’s also up to a whopping 512GB of storage available, so you can carry an entire library of mobile games in your pocket. 

The biggest downside is that, like the rest of the iPhone range, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is capped at 60Hz. That’s far from the buttery smooth displays of many Android rivals in our chart, but it’s a sacrifice that has to be made if you want access to the exclusive titles in Apple Arcade on the go.

Read our full iPhone 12 Pro Max review

Samsung’s premium Galaxy S21 Ultra is both an exceptional flagship and one of the most well-rounded – and expensive – phones on the market right now, and that makes it a great gaming phone too.

You get a 20:9 6.8in display and WQHD+ resolution, HDR10+ visuals and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. Sporting the ultra-powerful Exynos 2100, performance is top-notch, making it a great option for enjoying media and gaming, there’s 5G onboard and 25W fast charging means you can refill 56% of the phone’s 5,000mAh battery in half an hour. 

Plus, sporting an 108Mp primary camera and other high-end camera tech, it doesn’t skimp on its photography prowess like some gaming-focused phones in our chart. 

While other gaming phones focus solely on the gaming experience, the Samsung S21 Ultra is a great all-rounder.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review

The Red Magic 6R is one of the cheapest gaming-dedicated smartphones on the market right now, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on features or performance.

Sporting a 6.67.in AMOLED display slightly smaller than that of the flagship Red Magic 6, you’ll find the same 1080 x 2400 resolution and 400Hz touch sampling rate. The 144Hz refresh rate may be slightly slower, but it’s still safely in gamer territory and the difference is negligible in real-world use. 

Under the display you’ll find the powerful Snapdragon 888 with either 6GB, 8GB or 12GB of RAM depending on the variant you opt for. It’s capable of keeping up with flagship gaming phones in the performance department, but the lack of an active fan cooling system means it gets hot much quicker than premium alternatives. 

The only real disappointment is battery life, with a 4200mAh battery only able to provide all-day usage if you drop the refresh rate from 144Hz to 90Hz.

Still, if you can look past battery life issues, the Red Magic 6R offers a premium mobile gaming experience at an affordable price. 

Read our full Nubia Red Magic 6R review

Xiaomi’s Poco X3 Pro may not be a dedicated gaming phone, but it has built on the success of the popular Poco X3 NFC to provide fast performance without the price tag. 

The headline feature is the inclusion of the Snapdragon 860, an impressive feat when you consider the budget nature of the X3 Pro. That’s coupled with 6- or 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, and the 6.67in LCD panel offers a boosted 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch response rate.

The whopping 5160mAh battery is more than enough to get you through an intense gaming session or two, and while 33W wired charging isn’t the quickest available, it’s still pretty nippy.

The Poco X3 Pro might not be quite as capable as some of the dedicated gaming options in our chart, but it certainly offers bang for your buck when compared to similarly priced smartphones available right now. 

Read our full Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro review

The Vivo Iqoo 3 is India’s first 5G gaming phone and boasts impressive speed, performance and excellent battery life. What makes it even more attractive is its price. Though it’s not available directly in the UK, you can pick it up for around £600 or less from retailers like Banggood or eBay, and non-5G options cost even less.

In terms of gaming specs, the phone comes with dedicated pressure-sensitive gaming buttons along the side and an Ultra Gaming Mode that lets you customize a seamless gaming experience. You can activate 4D game vibration, customise air triggers or block calls while gaming – the list goes on.

It’s powered by the Snapdragon 865 making it a worthy competitor against the Black Shark 3, but at a lower price point.

Whether you’re a gamer or not it’s easy to see the appeal of the Iqoo 3. It’s just a shame you can’t easily find it on UK high streets.

Read our full Vivo Iqoo 3 5G review

The Oppo Find X3 Pro is a phenomenal phone that somehow manages to outshine 2020’s equally impressive X2 Pro. The 6.7in, 10-bit, 120Hz, QHD+ panel is certainly the best display in any phone right now, perfect for mobile gaming, and Oppo backs it up with the fastest wired charging around at 65W to get you back in the game quicker. 

Though it may not have the gamer aesthetic of other options, the mirror-like finish and curved glass camera housing will certainly catch the eye, and at 193g, it’s relatively lightweight compared to the competition too.

In terms of performance, the Find X3 Pro is well equipped to handle even the most intense gaming sessions, with all of the above plus a Snapdragon 888, 256GB storage and 12GB RAM to boot, and the rear-facing quad-camera setup is among the best around – you just have to be willing to pay the price, as it doesn’t come cheap.

And unlike dedicated gaming phones in our chart, there is wireless charging available on the Find X3 Pro – a big plus compared to last year’s model too. 

Read our full Oppo Find X3 Pro review