Whether you are looking for game-specific features or want computer power, there are many handsets available on the market to meet your needs. TechTrends has put together a list of the best gaming phones in 2022.
Aside from being powerful, there are some other features you might be looking for when you decide to buy a gaming phone. You may also want an excellent display to have an amazing experience when playing a game. Therefore, a high refresh rate display can show things smoothly. Moreover, the other features that are important as well are a long-life battery and options like trigger buttons or a fan for cooling. So, these are the things you should be looking for when going through the best gaming phones in 2022. And, TechTrends decided to make a list to guide you in your decision-making.
Aside from companies such as Razer and Asus that gamers are familiar with, Samsung, OnePlus, and even Apple have done a great job in making gaming phones. Let’s dive into the guide to help you make a better decision.
Best Gaming Phones in 2022
Choosing a gaming phone is a lot different from when you are picking a regular phone. A big high-resolution screen is needed along with a high refresh rate and plenty of power. Moreover, there needs to be a good battery life as well. Here is TechTrends’ list of the best mobile phones for gaming in 2022.
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: The best gaming phone for iPhone users
- OnePlus 10 Pro: The best gaming phone for Android
- Google Pixel 6 Pro: An Android phone that offers more than gaming
- Asus ROG Phone 5: The ultimate gaming phone
- RedMagic 7: Best gaming phone value
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus: A well-rounded Android gaming phone
- Motorola Edge Plus (2022): Top-of-the-line Android performance with a 144Hz display
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: The best foldable for gaming
1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch OLED (2778 x 1284)
- Peak refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU: A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / No
- Cameras (back/front): 12MP main, ultrawide, telephoto / 12MP
- Weight: 5 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 12:16
The first one on the list of the best gaming phones in 2022 is Apple’s latest iPhone 13 Pro Max. Even Android’s best options cannot compare with this new big iPhone. It has a powerful A15 Bionic chip as well as a 120Hz display. Moreover, the battery life is also vastly improved, making it more than capable of being used for gaming.
Not only is it considered the best gaming phone on our list, it is also the best phone you can buy. Make sure to also check our guide on the Best Phone for 2022. In addition, it has an amazing camera, a gorgeous 6.7-inch OLED display, and a number of features that make it a great phone for everyday use as well as gaming. You can also buy the 1TB storage, meaning there is plenty of space for the best iOS games.
However, the App Store does not permit gaming emulators. Therefore, if you are keen on playing classic games, you may be out of luck. Note that some of the most liked titles from the SNES and PS2 eras are ported to the iPhone.
Esports players would rather train and play games such as PUBG Mobile and Garena FreeFire on iPhone. The reason behind this is the Apple chips’ efficiency to let less heat dissipation, which results in a more comfortable experience of gaming in long sessions.
However, if you would prefer a smaller phone, then buy the iPhone 13 Pro instead because it is just as good as the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The screen is more compact (6.1-inch) and that may be a challenge for some gamers.
2. OnePlus 10 Pro
Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch AMOLED (3216 x 1440)
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Rear cameras: 48MP (f/1.8) main, 50MP (f/2.2) ultrawide, 8MP (f/2.4) 3.3x telephoto
- Front camera: 32MP (f/2.2)
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 11:52 (120Hz), 12:39 (60Hz)
Another one of the best gaming phones in 2022 that is great for Android lovers is the OnePlus 10 Pro. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 system-on-chip, which powers the phone. Therefore, it becomes one of the greatest gaming phones for the most demanding games.
The 120Hz refresh rate on this phone is also another great feature and the screen has a 6.7-inch display. Moreover, it has a long battery life of almost 12 hours. However, the most amazing thing about this phone is the price. Although other flagships’ cost is around $1,000, the OnePlus 10 Pro costs $899. It is not easy to find a top-line phone that offers premium features for that amount.
Read more: Best Laptops for 2022
3. Google Pixel 6 Pro
Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch OLED (3120 x 1440; 10-120Hz)
- CPU: Tensor
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB / No
- Rear cameras: 50MP main (ƒ/1.85), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (ƒ/3.5) with 4x optical zoom
- Front camera: 1MP (ƒ/2.2)
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 7:49
You might not have expected a Google phone on the list of the best gaming phones in 2022, but Google Pixel 6 Pro has done a great job at that. Courtesy of an amazing display and a surprisingly great performance from its new Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 Pro is an amazing choice for your gaming phone.
However, there is more. This phone performs great in games and benchmarks, but it works great as a normal phone as well. Although it may not have some of the fancy features of other gaming phones, it has the best camera you can have on an Android phone. After all, you might expect other things too as you may use your phone for other stuff as well.
There is one complaint, however, as the battery life is disappointing. Although the battery is large enough to last for hours, the testing showed a lackluster result. For our daily use, the phone is great; it is also amazing for games and Xbox Game Pass.
Read more: Best Smartphones of 2022
4. Asus ROG Phone 5
Specifications:
- Display size (Pixels): 78-inch AMOLED (2448 x 1080)
- Peak refresh rate: 144Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 8GB,12GB, 16GB
- Storage/Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Cameras (Back/Front): 64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro / 24MP
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:27 (144Hz), 12:23 (60Hz)
Another one of the best gaming phones in 2022, which is the ultimate gaming phone, is the Asus ROG Phone 5. If you are very serious about choosing a mobile game and like the highest frame rates, crispest graphics, and longest battery life, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is the phone for you.
The display is a 6.78-inch AMOLED that has a variable refresh rate of a maximum of 144Hz. This phone’s display is nearly flawless. Not only does it have a powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, but it also has up to 16GB of RAM. Therefore, it can take on any game that you throw at it. In addition, it has a large mAh battery with 65W charging. This will allow you to play for a long period of time with no need to break and recharge.
Concentration on gaming can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. This means you have customizable RGB lights on the back, virtual trigger buttons as well as some stereo speakers that are quite powerful. All these factors add to an amazing experience. However, some crucial versatilities are missing, like lackluster cameras and no wireless charging. Moreover, the loud design might not be for everyone.
If that is not enough for you, then check the limited-edition Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate which has more storage and RAM. However, for the gamers who focus on gaming more than anything else, the normal ROG Phone 5 will do.
Read more: Best Huawei Phones of 2022
5. RedMagic 7
Specifications:
- Display: 8-inch AMOLED (2400 x 1080)
- Peak refresh rate: 165Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 12GB, 16GB, 18GB
- Storage/Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Cameras (Back/Front): 64MP (f/1.8) main, 8MP (f/2.0) ultrawide, 2MP macro / 8MP (f/2.0)
- Weight: 6 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 10:19
Another one on our list of the best mobile phones for gaming in 2022 is the RedMagic 7. This is the cheapest pathway to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor out there. It only costs $629, and you can have a device that has a high-end chipset. Moreover, it has 18GB of RAM and a 6.8-inch 165Hz AMOLED display that has a flat design and the bezels are slim. In addition, there is a fan inside the phone that makes sure the device can run demanding titles well, which is of great importance if you are playing for a long period of time.
However, if incredible software and camera performance is more important to you, this is not the phone you should be buying. There are better handsets on the market for those priorities. However, you have to be willing to spend a little more. If you are prioritizing gaming, on the other hand, the RedMagic 7 is the phone for you.
Also, there is the option to go all out with the Pro version of this phone as it has a higher performance and cools better. And, it has an under-display selfie camera. However, because of the worse battery life, a lower refresh rate and some other flaws, TechTrends recommends the basic RM 7.
6. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Specifications:
- Display (Pixels): 6-inch Dynamic AMOLED (2340 x 1080)
- Peak refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage/Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Cameras (Back/Front): 50MP wide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide / 10MP
- Weight: 9 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 9:46
If you are looking for a great well-rounded Android phone that can handle flagship games, then the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is a wise pick. This is one of the best gaming phones in 2022 that has a 120Hz panel and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.
Although it only has 8GBof RAM, it does not hold back and it is fast. Moreover, with its 5GB support extending to millimeter-wave networks as well as a sub-6GHz one, the data speed is the fastest ever for playing online games. However, it is a little expensive yet one of the best phones for gaming in 2022.
Read more: Best LG Phones of 2022
7. Motorola Edge Plus (2022)
Specifications:
- Display: 7-inch OLED (2400 x 1800)
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage / Expandable: 128GB, 256GB / No
- Rear cameras: 450MP (f/1.8) main; 50MP (f/2.2) ultrawide; 2MP (f/2.4) depth
- Front camera: 60MP (f/2.2)
- Weight: 9 ounces
- Battery life (Hrs:Mins): 6:57 (144Hz), 8:24 (60Hz)
The next one on the list is Motorola’s latest model, which offers the goods for gamers. Motorola Edge Plus has a refresh rate of 144Hz for Android phones. Moreover, it has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip as well as 8GB or 12GB RAM. Therefore, the performance will be great, making it one of the best gaming phones in 2022.
However, there is a flaw with the Edge Plus and that is its battery life. Fortunately, with the help of the 30W charger, you can get back to the game again very fast. If you don’t prioritize having a telephoto camera or a glass back panel, this is the phone for you.
8. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Specifications:
- External display (Pixels): 2 inches (2268 x 832)
- Internal display (Pixels): 6 inches (2208 x 1768)
- Peak refresh rate: 120Hz
- CPU: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage/Expandable: 256GB, 512GB/No
- Cameras (Back/Front/Internal): 12MP wide; 12MP ultrawide; 12MP telephoto/10MP/4MP (under display)
- Weight: 55 ounces
- Battery Life (Hrs:Mins): 7:01
If you want to spend a lot of money, then the Samsung Galaxy z Fold 3 can be the best choice for you. As one of the best gaming phones in 2022, nothing can compare to its big 7.6-inch display in the Z Fold 3. Moreover, the S Pen stylus compatibility makes this one of the most immersive and practical phones. If you have problems with space, the exterior display is there for you to use. That also has a 120Hz refresh rate.
This is the list’s most expensive phone by a great distance and it is also the heaviest. In addition, the battery life is poor too.