Best gaming phones 2023 - buyer’s guide

Last updated 7 November 2023


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Can I know why the S23 ultra is not here,does it really throttle that much or am I really missing something?

    Well, of course F4 GT has to still be on the list. There's no such gaming phone with physical gaming triggers that are newer than that, are there?

      Last comment here about 2 months old - and there enter INFINIX GT 10 Pro - which I think beats down the included Samsung A52s and XIAOMI Poco 4 combined in this 2023 Buyers guide, even though tagged as 'value proposition'.

        • Z
        • Zarate
        • Pxh
        • 26 Jun 2023

        Can you put the best of the best camera in the upcoming ROG 8 ultimate and make batman and diablo edition of ROG 7 ultimate

          • S
          • Sin
          • 7xu
          • 21 Feb 2023

          Just wow my jaw just dropped
          when i saw a Sony Xperia 1 IV Gaming edition

          it exists it's a must see and only option if you want 4k gaming on mobile

          a Sony gaming phone with 4k 120hz screen 16gb ram / 512gb storage
          yes has sd card slot & headphone jack

          i really hope this smartphone gets added too gsmarena listing and reviews

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            • Sin
            • HCk
            • 17 Jan 2023

            The new gaming smartphone only smartphone up too 16gb ram

            The latest Lenovo legion y70 & Nubia red magic 8 pro+
            Only up too a maximum of 16gb ram

            The mediatek Asus ROG 6d has this same only 16gb ram problems

            unlike last year's modals that had better screens and supported up too a maximum up 18gb ram

            Most disappointing too see this happening in 2023 basically all of the new gaming smartphone are doing side grades not a nice way too upgrade

            it would just be a lot better too extended production of last year's gaming smartphone as over time it gets cheaper too make the same device and last year's gaming smartphone are better designed also
            A better price would be nice

              • o
              • okgamers
              • Q6y
              • 16 Nov 2022

              so game rage from video game controllers to smartphones.. I think ill keep my consoles so i know which item i can destroy without paying a $1000

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                • Anonymous
                • 0U4
                • 13 Nov 2022

                Lenovo Legion Y9?

                  • S
                  • Sin
                  • pYQ
                  • 04 Nov 2022

                  Anyone notice the smartphone filter has been broken

                  The smartphone finder will no longer let you be limited your such too only 18gb ram smartphones this a really bothersome problem for finding the best gaming smartphones

                  Can someone please report this problem and get it fixed thank you

                    • J
                    • Julian
                    • thw
                    • 05 Oct 2022

                    Tobi, 06 Nov 2021You guys need to update your gaming features, how can you p... moreIt based on user experiences. So many people comfort using IPhone as gaming phone, you should read the explanation, not only the title. And also A52s, okay it is not top tier, but it can play most of game for best choice for wallet.

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                      • Sin
                      • 3ag
                      • 05 Sep 2022

                      Sin, 05 Sep 2022Unfortunately I don't make the lists here Yeah ther... moreLittle mistake the asu Rog are 6d pro & 6d not r I ment d as for Dimensity 9000+

                      Little mistake with phone name
                      Same phone as asu Rog 6 pro & asu Rog 6 but mediatek flagship processor instead Snapdragon witch some gamer's might prefer

                      I do recommend the maximum ram & storage amount gaming phones for gamers over the base models based of bad experience with 8gb ram for multi tasking with big game library difficulties with high ram usage in background in android and storage room amount swop space limitations and games growing bigger and Android os updates and virtual machine and emulator using a lot of combined storage

                        • S
                        • Sin
                        • 3ag
                        • 05 Sep 2022

                        Balderix, 20 Aug 2022I'm also wondering, why this list contain such "j... moreUnfortunately I don't make the lists here

                        Yeah there's a lot of questionable phone picked for the list

                        I think a list of best phones for gamer's should only include gaming smartphones

                        My top 10 would be for gaming
                        1 Lenovo legion y90
                        2 Nubia red magic 7
                        3 Lenovo legion 2 pro
                        4 Lenovo legion 2 dual
                        5 Nubia red magic 7s pro
                        6 Nubia red magic 7s
                        7 asu Rog 6 pro
                        8 asu Rog 6r pro
                        9 asu Rog 6
                        10 asu Rog 6r

                        Yeah the Lenovo legion dual 2 should be on the list
                        It's important too review gaming phones and avoid adding none gamers phones that are not built for gaming

                        Should focus on getting gamer's the best performance for there money and take into account storage amount for game storage as gaming phones might have full liberty of many games on it and will need a lot of ram because how android handle apps and ram usage

                        Also be more focused on performance FPS in games and loading times as well as game compatibility

                        My logic
                        Compassion of in game FPS matter and a good cooling system with fans hints why asu not rated higher also asu Rog phones are not reliable I heard and expensive and SSD storage will make massive difference in performance why Lenovo wins First place higher Hz screens are preferred for gaming and pop-up camera good for gaming and Steaming or bezels giving room too hold the phone with under display camera being reason for less Hz screens a problem for the selfie camera also but the DQ too notch screen or hole punch screen phones as it would get in the way of screen or buttons when gaming and not suitable for gaming and phone manufacturers should be a shamed of themselves for

                        Good advise based on what you need for the game you play like game system requirements analysis is needed for gamers

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                          • Balderix
                          • nqM
                          • 20 Aug 2022

                          Sin, 29 Dec 2021Is this list a joke many of the phones here list are not ev... moreI'm also wondering, why this list contain such "joke phone" like galaxy a52s but don't Lenovo legion duel 2.

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                            • Black Sharky
                            • I@a
                            • 04 Aug 2022

                            GSMarena you forgot to mention that BlackShark 5 pro is the first one to incorporate an NVMe SSD+UFS 3.1 internal storage. You all are Rog daydreamers jeez.

                              • S
                              • Sin
                              • 0Rw
                              • 16 Jul 2022

                              Plus some good software free of fancy skins and poor update support lack of app draw your software can do with a much needed face left including the keyboard auto correct

                              Like AndroidOne would be better with 2 promised years of software support
                              gaming phone brands

                                • S
                                • Sin
                                • 0Rw
                                • 16 Jul 2022

                                choyph, 05 May 2022but has fewer support of high refresh rate gaming than asusFrom a performance stand point it's a 3 house race between lenovo Nubia & asu
                                Others brands are close but a little behind

                                The smartphone with the woulds best performance

                                Will need too have best processor built-in fan and cooling system and the most ram
                                And a ssd inside

                                  Anonymous, 05 Jul 2021black shark 4 pro!!! -world powerfull gaming phone -flags... morebut has fewer support of high refresh rate gaming than asus

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                                    • Abu Al Sifat
                                    • 2FY
                                    • 26 Jan 2022

                                    Thanks for the information. Learned and got so many information about gaming phones.
                                    Android Central
                                    also provided cool info about best gaming phone. Its going to help us a lot. keep providing us these kind of information.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 7X1
                                      • 01 Jan 2022

                                      Tobi, 06 Nov 2021You guys need to update your gaming features, how can you p... moreI've used android and iPhone. TBH they are good for gaming such as genshin impact, ragnarok, pubg, in terms of fast loading and smoothness. Downside for ios is they do tend to drain battery fast.

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                                        • Sin
                                        • N5a
                                        • 29 Dec 2021

                                        Is this list a joke many of the phones here list are not even gaming phones

                                        Only list gaming phone for a best gaming phone list some gaming phones got missed out here