Gaming on smartphones has never been more accessible or impressive than in 2025. From budget picks under Rs 15,000 to full flagship powerhouses, recent launches pack the required hardware and smart optimisations to deliver impressive gaming performance with steady frame rates and much lower heat buildup than before. This December 2025 year-end edition pulls together our top-tested performers across every price bracket after hands-on runs with dozens of the latest devices.
Selection criteria
At 91mobiles, we test every phone we review with a mix of benchmarks and real-world usage tests. One of those is our gaming test, where we run CoD: Mobile and BGMI, both of which are demanding titles, and closely track how the phone performs. For this list, we’re focusing mainly on gaming FPS performance and measuring the average temperature increase over 60 minutes to see how well these phones handle heat.
Table of Contents
Best gaming phones under Rs 15,000
Game settings:
- Call of Duty Mobile: Medium Graphics + High FPS
- BGMI: HD Graphics + High FPS
Winner: POCO M7 Plus
For this segment, the POCO M7 Plus takes the top spot because it offers the best balance of smooth gameplay and low heat over a 30‑minute session in both CoD: Mobile and BGMI. The phone keeps frame rates steady while staying noticeably cooler than most rivals, which makes long matches feel comfortable without the back getting too warm. And this is all credit to its excellent optimisation for both titles, allowing it to emerge ahead of rivals with stronger chipsets.
| Games | POCO M7 Plus | Lava Play Ultra | iQOO Z10x | Infinix Note 50s |
| CoD FPS | 58.4 | 53.3 | 57.1 | 59.7 |
| CoD Temp. | 2.7 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| BGMI FPS | 28.6 | 28.1 | 28.8 | 28.4 |
| BGMI Temp. | 4.1 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 6.4 |
Runners-up: The Lava Play Ultra (review) and iQOO Z10x (review) share second place, but for different reasons. Lava’s phone stays cooler over a 30‑minute session with only a mild rise in temperature, though its frame rates are a bit lower than the POCO. The iQOO Z10x feels faster with higher FPS, but it heats up more in longer matches, especially around the camera area.
The Infinix Note 50s 6GB variant (review) comes close in raw performance and can deliver high frame rates, but FPS drops are more apparent over time and the phone gets warmer due to its slim profile, which makes it less comfortable for extended gaming sessions.
Best gaming phones around Rs 30,000
Game settings:
- Call of Duty Mobile: High Graphics + Max FPS
- BGMI: HDR Graphics + Ultra FPS
Winner: Vivo T4 Pro
The Vivo T4 Pro (review) claims the top spot in this bracket by delivering the most consistent mix of high frame rates and cool operation in both COD Mobile and BGMI over a 30‑minute run. It holds its FPS well and the back of the phone only gets mildly warm, so you can keep playing for longer without discomfort. The large battery and efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip also help it avoid throttling, which keeps gameplay smooth from start to finish.
| Games | Vivo T4 Pro | Realme 15 Pro | OPPO K13 Turbo | Infinix GT30 Pro |
| CoD FPS | 55.6 | 59.8 | 56.7 | 59.0 |
| CoD Temp. | 4.9 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| BGMI FPS | 58.7 | 37.7 | 39.3 | 37.7 |
| BGMI Temp. | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 4.1 |
Runners-up: The Realme 15 Pro (review) follows next, offering good FPS and smooth gameplay but running a bit warmer during extended matches, which you can feel near the frame after 30 minutes. The Infinix GT 30 Pro (review) and OPPO K13 Turbo (review) are close behind, with both pushing high frame rates and extra gaming features, but they can get comparatively hotter in longer sessions. The former is also a bit more affordable than all other winners in this segment, which is well worth praising.
Best gaming phones around Rs 50,000
Game settings:
- Call of Duty Mobile: Very High Graphics + Max FPS
- BGMI: Ultra HDR Graphics + Ultra FPS
Winner: OnePlus 15R
The OnePlus 15R (review) tops this segment by pairing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 with a great cooling system, so it holds high FPS in both CoD: Mobile and BGMI. The large vapour chamber and thick mid‑frame help spread heat better, so even when the chipset runs flat out for 30 minutes, the phone never feels uncomfortable to hold. This lets you enjoy flagship‑grade performance at a substantially lower price.
| Games | OnePlus 15R | Realme GT 7 Pro | iQOO 13 |
| CoD FPS | 59.6 | 58.0 | 55.8 |
| CoD Temp. | 3.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| BGMI FPS | 39.7 | 38.0 | 38.9 |
| BGMI Temp. | 4.3 | 4.0 | 5.5 |
Runners-up: Since there were no major new launches around Rs 50,000 this year, last year’s dominating flagships make a return and still offer great value for gaming‑focused users. The Realme GT 7 Pro (review) remains a great option with flagship‑class power and smooth gameplay, but it runs a bit warmer in long sessions than the 15R. The iQOO 13 (review) also continues to impress with very high FPS and quick response time, though it heats up faster in compared to the other two.
Best gaming phones under Rs 80,000
Game settings:
- Call of Duty Mobile: Very High Graphics + Max FPS
- BGMI: Ultra HDR Graphics + Ultra FPS
Winner: OnePlus 15
The OnePlus 15 (review) has been especially designed with gamers in mind this year with a super smooth 165Hz display. The phone offers the best mix of high frame rates and cool temperatures across both CoD: Mobile and BGMI in a 30‑minute session even on high graphical settings. It delivers top‑tier FPS in BGMI while keeping temperatures low, and its CoD performance stays very close to its rivals, giving gamers smooth, responsive gameplay without worrying about heat.
| Games | OnePlus 15 | Realme GT 8 Pro | OPPO Find X9 |
| CoD FPS | 57.3 | 57.4 | 59.6 |
| CoD Temp. | 4.4 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| BGMI FPS | 79.1 | 59.5 | 39.6 |
| BGMI Temp. | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.0 |
Runners-up: The Realme GT 8 Pro (review) follows with excellent CoD numbers and stable thermals, making it a great option for players who want a camera‑centric flagship with good gaming performance. The OPPO Find X9 (review) is tuned more for photography, yet its CoD and BGMI performance still sits in flagship territory. In fact, its heat management is the best in this class, so it keeps this spot as a great choice for users who care about imaging first but still enjoy gaming on the side.
Best flagship gaming phones
Game settings:
- Call of Duty Mobile: Max Graphics + Max FPS
- BGMI: Ultra HDR Graphics + Ultra FPS
Winner: OPPO Find X9 Pro
In this price tier, brands focus more on cameras and all‑round performance, but the OPPO Find X9 Pro (review) still turns in the strongest gaming results of the lot. It posts the highest FPS in both CoD: Mobile and BGMI over a 30‑minute run while keeping temperatures in control, so you get fluid gameplay without the phone heating up too much.
| Games | OPPO Find X9 Pro | Vivo X300 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| CoD FPS | 59.9 | 57.7 | 53.5 |
| CoD Temp. | 4.6 | 5.2 | 6.9 |
| BGMI FPS | 39.4 | 39.2 | 36.4 |
| BGMI Temp. | 4.3 | 7.0 | 5.9 |
Runners-up: The Vivo X300 Pro (review) sits just behind it, with very similar flagship‑grade frame rates and only a bit more heat build‑up in longer BGMI sessions, making it a great fit for users who want a camera‑led phone that can still game hard. Snapdragon‑powered flagships for this cycle are yet to launch in India, so the Galaxy S25 Ultra (review) holds the fort for now, delivering smooth COD and BGMI performance with stable FPS and reasonable temperatures.
Key Trends
The phones this year have a drastic improvement in terms of thermals compared to 2024 levels, right down to entry-level phones. This can be attributed to widespread vapour chamber adoption, as it helps keep the phones cooler through longer gaming sessions. Smartphone manufacturers are also offering out-of-the-box optimisations for popular titles like BGMI and CoD: Mobile, delivering smooth FPS and stability even in budget smartphones. With 2026’s next-gen launches on the horizon, these devices capture how brands keep raising the bar for reliable, high-performance gaming.
