There are smartphones on the market designed specifically for gamers, and there are also smartphones with high-quality hardware available in a range of price points that can be great gaming phones. These phones are fairly powerful for their price ranges and are easily able to run CPU and GPU-intensive games like BGMI, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and others.
Dedicated gaming hardware, however, frequently has advantages like better cooling, shoulder triggers, and even physically detachable controls. You will find phones that, despite their unassuming exteriors, are among the top in their class for gaming. We’ve tested more phones than we can count, so we’ve ranked all the top gaming phones across all price ranges that have enough power to give you a fluid and engaging gaming experience.
Best gaming phone under Rs 10,000
itel P55
Price – Rs. 9,999
The itel P55 is one of the best offerings in India under Rs 10,000. The handset comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. As per our review, the device is capable of handling high-end games like BGMI, but the gaming experience is not as smooth. The itel P55 is more suitable as a smartphone for casual gaming with lower graphics settings.
The 91 percent screen-to-body ratio, along with the 90Hz refresh rate, helps deliver a smooth, immersive gaming experience. The smartphone comes with a large 5,000mAh battery, and this will last you an entire day with moderate usage.
Pros
- The performance is good for everyday use
- The 5,000mAh battery ensures extended usage
- The display quality is respectable for the price
Cons
- Bloatware
- The cameras could use some improvement
Best gaming phone under Rs 20,000
iQOO Z9
Price – Rs. 19,999
The iQOO Z9 5G offers an excellent option for gaming in this price range. The handset comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC chipset powers the smartphone and comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
This setup collectively allows for an immersive gaming experience, with high visual fidelity and smooth gameplay. As the phone supports up to 44W fast charging, you won’t have to wait for long to refuel it after a complete drain either.
Pros
- Really good performance
- Bright and attractive display
- Good battery life and fast charging
Cons
- Only 2 major Android updates
- Lacks ultra-wide camera
- Lots of pre-installed apps
Best gaming phone under Rs 30,000
POCO X6 Pro
Price – Rs. 26,999
The POCO X6 Pro features a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone’s display comes with a peak brightness of 1,800 nits, which means it is ideal for viewing HDR content and can be used even outdoors under direct sunlight with ease. The MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra SoC powers the smartphone along with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The chipset ensures smooth operation no matter what is thrown at it, and this naturally includes gaming prowess. We were able to run BGMI on the highest supported graphical settings, and the smartphone performed spectacularly with no frame drops or noticeable lag. The back-to-back gaming sessions did raise the temperature on the smartphone; however, it maintained a good grip on the thermals.
Pros
- The POCO X6 Pro 5G offers powerful performance for its price
- The smartphone has a smooth display with crisp colours
- Capable stereo speakers that enhance multimedia experience
Cons
- UI comes with a fair amount of bloatware and needs refinement
- The cameras of the smartphone could have been better
Best gaming phone under Rs 50,000
iQOO Neo 9 Pro
Price – Rs. 35,999
The iQOO Neo 9 Pro sports a 6.78-inch 1.5K resolution AMOLED LTPO panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, 3,000nits of peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC powers the smartphone, which also powered a lot of flagships in 2023. The chipset is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The device stands as a performance powerhouse, reigning as the top-performing smartphone in the sub-Rs 40,000 range. Our focus is on its gaming prowess, and the smartphone doesn’t disappoint. The iQOO Neo 9 Pro easily runs graphically intense games without lags or significant heating, while the crisp AMOLED display keeps the visuals bright and ensures silky smooth gameplay, thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate. The stereo speakers also add to the gaming experience. In case your gaming sessions somehow manage to drain the substantial 5,160mAh battery, the 120W fast charging quickly tops up the battery, going from 0-100 percent in just under 30 minutes.
Pros
- Reliable performance
- Smooth gaming
- Good 50MP primary camera
- Fast 120W charging
Cons
- Average 8MP ultra-wide camera
- Bland design
Best gaming phone over Rs 50,000
iQOO 12 5G
Price – Rs. 52,999
The iQOO 12 5G takes the title for the best gaming smartphone over Rs. 50,000. The smartphone features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,200 x 2,800 pixels, an adaptive refresh rate that goes from 1Hz to 144Hz, and a peak brightness level of up to 3,000nits. The display also comes with HDR10+ support. Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, powers the smartphone, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Pros
- The iQOO 12 has a good-looking design and is comfortable to hold
- The dynamic AMOLED display offers crisp visuals with vivid colours
- The cameras capture appealing images across various lighting conditions
- Performance is simply the best yet, and the charging speeds are impressive
Cons
- The software comes with a lot of pre-installed apps
- The handset lacks support for wireless charging
