The best phones for mobile gaming

It’s never been a better time for mobile gaming, but with so many options out there, it can be difficult to know which phones will best suit your requirements. Here are our top five choices for the avid gamer, whether you are seeking something big and bold, tough and portable or cheap and cheerful.

Razor Phone 2

For more discerning gaming pros, you won’t get any better than the Razor Phone 2. The model boasts booming Dolby Atmos sound and a 120Hz refresh rate as well as incredible graphics thanks to a Snapdragon 845 processor and 8GB of RAM. The display is excellent, offering brighter play, and the only thing which could hold you back on this machine is your own reaction speed. This model is evidence that, as they share their expertise and experience, Razor’s laptop division is gradually narrowing the gap between PC and phone.

Samsung Galaxy S10

If you prefer sticking with your trusty Samsung, the Galaxy S10 is a safe bet. It boasts top-end specs and great hardware advantages such as front-facing speakers, a headphone jack and expandable storage. For those with something bigger in mind, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also an impressively powerful piece of tech with a larger, yet still elegantly designed display. It’s not dainty, but it delivers higher frames per second and it’s far easier to get your hands on then specialised gaming brands. It’s also worth noting that the  Galaxy Note 10 is on the horizon, a release which could warrant waiting for.

iPhone XS Max

If you’re looking for something in the middle size-wise, easily portable yet with a generous screen, the iPhone XS’s big brother, the XS Max could be worth looking into. With a larger display, an A12 bionic processor and hefty battery life, this phone is another top-quality mainstream rival. The main downside? It remains the most expansive option on the market.

Honor 8X

Some of us are on a tighter budget, but the Honor 8X provides a nice alternative that won’t break the bank. The performance is great and the battery life has been built to last, something not all high-end phones have quite mastered, being in some cases too powerful for their own good. The model is specially designed so that when you want to game, you can simply turn on the GPU Turbo for enhanced play.

ASUS ROG Phone

This isn’t just a phone with top specs; it’s also a lot of fun. With plenty of gamer modifications such as a clamshell case with a bonus screen, a fan to prevent overheating, a docking platform that allows you to extend your display like a Nintendo Switch and half-controllers which can be attached to either side of the phone, you can easily augment your gaming experience. The model also incorporates “Airtigger” touch-sensitive buttons on the top left and right corners of the phone, a feature which mainstream brands won’t offer.

The editorial unit