The best gaming phones: Browse our offers and find what’s best for you

If you want to know whether your phone is good for gaming, look at three things: the processor, the display’s refresh rate, and the RAM. 

A powerful chipset, like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Apple A20 Pro, handles demanding games smoothly. 120Hz or higher refresh rate keeps gameplay fluid. 8–12GB of RAM lets you run games alongside other apps without slowdown. Together, these three specs provide a solid basis for deciding whether your phone is good for gaming.

The most important specification depends on what you need from your gaming phone.

Generally, the processor and GPU matter most for running demanding games at high settings. A high refresh-rate display makes fast-paced games feel smoother and more responsive. A large battery and good cooling system keep performance steady over long sessions. Storage is worth watching too – some mobile games like Genshin Impact or Infinity Nikki take up tens of gigabytes, so 256GB or more is a smart choice if you play a lot.

There are several ways you can try to reduce lag when gaming, such as: 

• Closing background apps to free up RAM and processing power 

• Connecting to a more stable Wi-Fi or 5G network, such as Vodafone’s 5G network 

• Lowering in-game graphics settings 

• Turning on any built-in gaming mode, which prioritises performance and blocks notifications 

If lag persists, a phone with a more powerful processor and more RAM will handle demanding titles more smoothly. 

Yes, gaming phones can overheat during long gaming sessions; however, they handle it better than standard phones. When a phone overheats, it may throttle its processor, which can cause frame drops. A good vapour-chamber cooling system helps dissipate heat and maintain performance. Taking short breaks and avoiding direct sunlight can also help keep your phone cool.

¹ Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. 

² Measured diagonally, Galaxy S26's screen size is 6.3 inches in the full rectangle and 6.1 inches accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S26+'s screen size is 6.7 inches in the full rectangle and 6.5 inches accounting for the rounded corners, and Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen size is 6.9 inches in the full rectangle and 6.7 inches accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole. 

³ Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by UX Connect Research. Independently assessed by UX Connect Research between 2026.1.8-2026.1.30 in US and UK with pre-release versions of SM-S942, SM-S947 and SM-S948 under default setting using LTE and 5G Sub6 networks. NOT tested under 5G mmWave network.

¹ The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 5.36 inches (iPhone Duo outer display), 6.27 inches (iPhone 18 Pro), 6.86 inches (iPhone 18 Pro Max) or 7.58 inches (iPhone Duo inner folding display) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less. 

² Testing conducted by Apple in July 2026 using pre-production iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units and software, subscribed to LTE and 5G networks. Video playback consisted of a repeated 2-hour 23-minute HDR movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Video playback (streamed) consisted of a repeated 3-hour 1-minute HDR movie purchased from the iTunes Store. All settings were default except: Bluetooth was paired with headphones; Wi-Fi was associated with a network; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks, Auto-Brightness and True Tone were turned off.

¹ The display has rounded corners. When measured as a rectangle, the screen is 6.86 inches (iPhone 17 Pro Max), 6.55 inches (iPhone Air), 6.27 inches (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro) or 6.06 inches (iPhone 16e) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less. 

² All battery claims depend on network configuration and many other factors; actual results will vary. Battery has limited recharge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. See apple.com/uk/batteries and apple.com/uk/iphone/battery.html for more information.

¹ Chip performance improvement data is provided by Qualcomm Labs. 

² The data comes from the HONOR Lab. The typical battery capacity is 7100mAh, and the rated battery capacity is 6920mAh. The supported maximum wired charging power is 100W when going with the original SuperCharge charger. The 80W wireless charging is also supported with the original SuperCharge charger. Please purchase the corresponding charger separately. The actual charging power will intelligently change with the scenarios. Please refer to the actual experience. 

³ With a round-corner design on the display, the diagonal length of the screen is 6.71 inches when measured as a standard rectangle (the actual field of view is slightly smaller). The data comes from the HONOR Lab. The screen supports a minimum brightness of 1 nit and a maximum brightness of 6000 nits, with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. Please refer to the actual experience. 

⁴ The data comes from the HONOR Lab. Result of frame generation may be different due to actual scenarios. Please refer to your actual experience for reference.

¹ Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra's Cover Screen size is 6.5 inches in the full rectangle and 6.5" accounting for the rounded corners. The Main Screen size is 8.0 inches in the full rectangle and 8.0" accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole. 

² Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

¹ All battery life claims are approximate and based on the median user tested across a mixed use profile (which includes both usage and standby time) under optimal network conditions. Actual battery performance will vary and depends on many factors including signal strength, network and device settings, temperature, battery condition, and usage patterns.

¹ With a round-corner design on the display, the diagonal length of the inner screen is 7.95 inches, and the diagonal length of the external screen is 6.52 inches when measured as a standard rectangle (the actual field of view is slightly smaller on both screens). The resolution is measured as a standard rectangle, so the effective pixels are slightly less. Data comes from the HONOR Lab. HONOR Magic V6 is equipped with 4320Hz (external Screen and internal Screen) PWM dimming technology. The phone is not medical equipment and is not available for treatment. Actual experience may vary depending on factors such as environment and personal conditions. Please refer to the actual experience.  

² Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. 

³ Data comes from the HONOR lab. The typical battery capacity is 6660mAh, and the rated battery capacity is 6510mAh. HONOR Magic V6 has passed TÜV Rheinland 24-hour battery life evaluation test under comprehensive scenario . The battery life may vary depending on the usage scenario, and the actual product shall prevail.

¹ Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold8's Cover Screen size is 5.5 inches in the full rectangle and 5.4 inches accounting for the rounded corners. The Main Screen size is 7.6 inches in the full rectangle and 7.6 inches accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole. 

² Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. 

³ Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated capacity is 4,660mAh for Galaxy Z Fold8 and 4,273mAh for Galaxy Z Fold6 & 4,270mAh for Galaxy Z Fold5. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

¹ The typical capacity is 6500mAh. Typical value is the estimated average capacity of a batch of batteries based on internal testing, representing the expected performance under normal conditions. Rated capacity is 6300mAh. Rated capacity is the minimum guaranteed capacity of a battery under controlled conditions. 

² Maximum 90W TurboPower™ charging speed on device; requires Motorola TurboPower™ 90W Charger or higher (sold separately); higher chargers will not increase maximum charge capability. Battery must be substantially depleted; charge boost must be “on”; charging rate slows as charging progresses. 

¹ The display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.06 inches (iPhone 17e), 6.27 inches (iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro), 6.55 inches (iPhone Air) or 6.86 inches (iPhone 17 Pro Max) diagonally. Actual viewable area is less.

¹ The data of the 8000nits peak brightness comes from the HONOR Lab and only takes effect in certain scenarios. 

² The typical battery capacity is 7000mAh, and the rated battery capacity is 6800mAh. 

³ 80W wired HONOR SuperCharge means the maximum output power of the charger is 80W. It needs to be used with the original wired SuperCharger and charging cable. 50W wireless HONOR SuperCharge is supported. You need to purchase a separate HONOR SuperCharging wireless charger with a charging specification of not less than 50W. The actual charging power will intelligently change with different scenarios. Please refer to the actual usage. It supports the maximum 27W wired reverse charging, and is capable of reversing charging for devices that have passed the testing by HONOR Labs. 

¹ Galaxy A57 5G is rated as IP68. Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not recommended for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the device is not permanent and may diminish over time due to normal wear and tear. 

² Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors. Estimated against the average usage profile compiled by UX Connect Research. Independently assessed by UX Connect Research between 2026.01.08-2026.01.18 in UK with pre-release versions of SM-A576 under default setting using LTE and 5G Sub6 networks. NOT tested under 5G mmWave Network. 

³ Fast charger sold separately.