In recent years, the gaming phone market has exploded with innovation, offering cutting-edge technology and features tailored specifically for gaming enthusiasts. With powerful processors, high-refresh-rate screens, and bespoke cooling systems, these devices are redefining mobile gaming experiences. Leading brands are constantly pushing the boundaries to capture the essence of console-grade gaming on the go, providing gamers with an unparalleled experience. For a detailed list of the best gaming phone brands that are dominating the market, continue reading below.
Illustration of gaming phone
Best brands of gaming phone in 2025
ASUS ROG Phone
ASUS ROG Phone is renowned as one of the best producers of gaming phones, offering cutting-edge technology and superior performance. Since its launch in 2018, the ROG Phone series has consistently delivered high-frame-rate displays, powerful processors, and advanced cooling systems, making it a favorite among gamers. For instance, the ROG Phone 6 features a 165Hz AMOLED display and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, ensuring seamless gaming experiences. With up to 18GB of RAM and a large 6000mAh battery, these phones are designed to handle intense gaming sessions without compromise. The brand's commitment to innovation has earned it a significant market share, with many models receiving high praise for their performance and design. For more details, explore the ASUS ROG Phone series.
Razer Phone
The Razer Phone brand is renowned for its exceptional gaming performance, having pioneered the category of gaming smartphones with the launch of the first Razer Phone in 2017. This device boasted a 120 Hz "UltraMotion" display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, and 8GB of RAM, making it capable of handling games at up to 120 frames per second. The Razer Phone 2, released in 2018, further enhanced performance by 30% and introduced a vapor chamber cooling system for improved thermal management. Razer's collaboration with game developers has optimized popular titles like PUBG Mobile and Alto's Adventure to take full advantage of the phone's unique specs. Despite the broader smartphone market's decline, the gaming smartphone niche, led by brands like Razer, saw a 50% growth in 2019.
Nubia RedMagic
Nubia's RedMagic brand is a leading producer of gaming phones, known for its innovative features and powerful performance. Since its launch in 2018, RedMagic has garnered a significant market share, with 39% of the gaming smartphone market as of 2020. The brand is renowned for its cutting-edge technology, including the first smartphone with an under-display camera, introduced in the Red Magic 7 Pro in 2022. RedMagic phones are powered by high-end processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and feature advanced cooling systems, such as the ICE 13.0 liquid cooling technology. The Red Magic 9 Pro, released in 2023, boasts an impressive 6500mAh battery and 80W fast charging capabilities. For more details on their latest innovations, check out the RedMagic 10 Pro Series, the ultimate gaming phone redefined.
Xiaomi Black Shark
Xiaomi's Black Shark brand has established itself as a leader in the gaming smartphone market, capturing a 47% market share in China and shipping over 1 million units in 2019, even amid the broader smartphone industry's downturn. The Black Shark series, known for its advanced features such as water-cooling systems, high refresh rates, and improved temperature control, has seen significant growth and global expansion. The brand has collaborated with major gaming companies like Tencent to optimize gaming experiences for popular titles. Black Shark's devices, such as the Black Shark 2, boast powerful hardware like the Snapdragon 855 SoC and unique design elements like the MasterTouch feature and illuminating logos. This focus on gaming-centric innovations has made Black Shark a preferred choice for serious mobile gamers. For more insights into their latest developments, check out their new brand identity announcement.
Lenovo Legion Phone
The Lenovo Legion Phone series stands out as one of the best producers of gaming phones, offering top-tier performance and features. The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, for instance, boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, a 6.65-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, and is powered by the Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset paired with up to 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth and high-frame-rate gaming experiences. It also features dual front-facing speakers and virtual trigger buttons, enhancing the gaming experience. In performance tests, the phone achieved a high multi-core score of 3335 on Geekbench 5, indicating its powerful capabilities. Additionally, the Lenovo Legion Y70 has shown impressive frame rates and temperature control, with an average frame rate of 60.4FPS in "Genshin Impact" and a maximum temperature of 40.7°C, thanks to its advanced liquid cooling system. For more insights, check out this review of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel.
OnePlus
OnePlus has established itself as a significant player in the gaming smartphone market, particularly with its affordable flagship models. In Q2 2018, OnePlus became the leading premium smartphone vendor by volume in India, and it has continued to expand its presence in Western European markets such as the UK, Germany, and the Nordics. The OnePlus 10T, with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and 150W charging, is a prime example of the brand's commitment to high-performance gaming devices. Despite its relatively small market share, OnePlus has managed to capture around 2-3% of the US market and has been successful in offering flagship-grade specs at lower price points, typically between $500-$600. This strategy has helped OnePlus grow its share in the premium segment. More insights can be read on Counterpoint Research.
Samsung Galaxy S
The Samsung Galaxy S series stands out as a top choice for gaming phones, driven by powerful hardware such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, which offers a 41% faster GPU and a 30% boost in CPU processing compared to the S22 series. The S23 series also features a vapor cooling chamber to prevent overheating, ensuring sustained intense gaming performance. Additionally, the 120Hz refresh rate and adjustable display refresh rates minimize lag and optimize battery life. Samsung's collaboration with developers has optimized games for these devices, providing a world-class gaming experience. The S23 series supports advanced graphics technologies like ray tracing, enhancing the realism of mobile games. For more details on how Galaxy became the ultimate gamer's smartphone, visit the Samsung Mobile Press feature stories.
Apple iPhone
The Apple iPhone, particularly the iPhone 16, has solidified its position as one of the best producers of gaming phones. Equipped with the new A18 chip, the iPhone 16 boasts a 30% increase in CPU performance compared to the iPhone 15, enabling it to run demanding AAA games with improved hardware-accelerated ray tracing and up to 5x higher frame rates. This enhancement, combined with the introduction of a Game Mode on iOS 18, delivers up to 30% higher sustained performance for gaming. The iPhone 16 supports a wide range of games, including titles like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Resident Evil 7, which were previously exclusive to the Pro models. This makes the iPhone 16 a powerful gaming device that fits in users' pockets.
POCO
POCO has emerged as a formidable player in the gaming smartphone market, boasting a 72% year-over-year growth in shipments in Q1 2024 and securing a 5.9% market share, surpassing OnePlus. The brand's recent launch of the POCO F6, equipped with the AI-enabled Snapdragon 8s Gen3 processor and Adreno 735 GPU, highlights its commitment to delivering high-performance devices. POCO's ambitious target is to sell 10 million smartphones in the next two years and challenge the top five brands in the industry. With a strong presence in India and expanding market penetration in APAC, Europe, and MEA regions, POCO has more than exceeded Xiaomi's sales growth, achieving a 123% increase in the first eight months of 2021. The brand's diverse product series, including the F, C, M, and X series, caters to a wide range of customer needs. For more insights into POCO's ambitious plans, browse the article.
SONY Xperia
Sony's Xperia brand stands out as a top producer for gaming phones, particularly with models like the Xperia 1 V, which sold approximately 1.2 million units in the first half of 2024. These phones are equipped with high-end features such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, advanced camera systems, and high-refresh-rate OLED displays, making them ideal for gaming enthusiasts. Sony's focus on cutting-edge technology, including enhanced AI capabilities and improved display technology, has set new industry standards. The Xperia series is also favored for its ability to live stream gameplay and customize visual and audio settings, appealing to pro gamers. Despite challenges in the broader smartphone market, Sony's Xperia brand remains a niche leader in the gaming segment. For more information on their gaming phones, visit the Xperia mobile gaming page.
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