Number 1. Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro

The most powerful gaming phone around

Pros

• Excellent battery life.
• Superb Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered performance.
• Plenty of gaming features.
• 185Hz refresh rate in games.

Cons

• Not perfectly optimised for gaming.
• Limited software support.
• Slower optical fingerprint sensor.

A more powerful gaming phone and dependable everyday companion, the ROG Phone 9 Pro is an upgrade over the ROG Phone 8 Pro. It’s a high-end bundle for fans, with 24GB RAM, 1TB storage, and AeroActive Cooler X Pro, and it costs $1,499.99. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is an ideal processor for extended gaming sessions due to its outstanding speed, enough RAM, and improved passive cooling. The long gaming sessions made possible by the 5,800mAh battery life and the ability to charge quickly in the middle of games through the secondary USB-C connector are highlights.

The 6.78-inch AMOLED screen looks fantastic despite the 185Hz refresh rate, The design is sleek and focused on gamers, with features like wireless charging, IP68 certification, and the configurable AniMe Vision LED system adding flair. The hole-punch camera still has a partially veiled screen and no front-firing speakers, though. Despite having gimbal stabilisation and producing acceptable images, the camera system isn’t up to level with other expensive smartphones.

One option is a gamer-focused UI, while the other is almost stock Android, which offers more customisation options but is only compatible with the most recent two major Android releases. The ROG Phone 9 Pro may not have the most features or be the most affordable gaming phone, but it’s perfect for gamers with certain requirements.

Number 2. Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro

A stylish and reasonably priced Android phone for gamers

Pros

• Class-leading stamina.
• Compelling mid-range price.
• Long battery life.
• Swift gaming performance.

Cons

• Mediocre camera set-up.
• Slightly clumsy design.
• Limited 5G compatibility.

With its affordable price tag and state-of-the-art gaming capabilities, the Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro is a strong contender in the gaming phone market. Its specs are nearly identical to the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s, and it ranges in price from $649 for the Shadow model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to $999 for the Dusk Ultra model with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

With the Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU powering it and an integrated cooling fan—a clear advantage over competitors’ external fan setups—it ensures steady performance. Embracing the gamer mood is the design philosophy behind the Red Magic 10 Pro. It features glossy exteriors, multi-colored light-emitting diodes, and, on more expensive versions, see-through back panels. The Nubia Gamespace user interface still has a physical toggle and capacitive shoulder buttons.

The 6.85-inch AMOLED screen’s 144Hz refresh rate, enhanced pictures, and more light are all excellent, but it falls short when compared to competitor displays in terms of smoothness. A larger battery lacks wireless charging capabilities, but it can be charged rapidly with an 80W adaptor and has excellent endurance. The 50MP cameras work well for gaming but aren’t very good for photography, and the selfie camera that’s behind the display isn’t very helpful either.

The Red Magic 10 Pro’s unbeatable price and features allow it to remain the greatest gaming phone for the money, even though its Redmagic software is out of date and there are only modest updates compared to its predecessor. The full sale begins on December 18, 2024, with early access beginning on December 12, 2024.

Number 3. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The AI phone is secretly just a really good smartphone

Pros

• Better performance and battery life than ever before.
• Strong Performance.
• Practical AI features.
• ncredible processing power.

Cons

• Less detailed 5x telephoto camera.
• Many new and great features are hidden beneath terrible menus.
• AI features are often useless and cause performance delays.

Samsung markets the Galaxy S24 Ultra as a premium smartphone that can compete with specialised handhelds in terms of gaming capabilities. Nevertheless, the $1,299 price tag belies the cutting-edge technology it contains, making it more costly than most traditional gaming devices. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (overclocked to 3.39GHz) and Adreno 750 GPU make it 25% faster than previous versions, according to the claims.

Compared to the Nintendo Switch, it has a substantial improvement because to its 12 GB of RAM, which is comparable to Steam Deck. However, unlike rival devices, storage options do not expand beyond 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. The 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2,600 nits peak brightness make this phone ideal for playing games indoors or out. Games like PUBG Mobile and Rainbow Six Siege that support hardware-accelerated ray tracing offer superior graphics compared to PC-grade solutions.

Cooling advancements aim to preserve performance across long sessions, addressing difficulties that impact other tiny devices. Despite using Android games, emulation, and cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now, its selection isn’t as extensive as Steam Deck and Switch.  But, the S24 Ultra’s dual use as a phone and a gaming device makes it stand out. The expensive price tag belies the device’s versatility and powerful features, which might change mobile gaming and increase the pressure on portable device manufacturers to innovate even further.

Number 4. Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro

All about that budget balance

Pros

• Bright 120Hz OLED display.
• Powerful MediaTek processor.
• Great value for money.
• Fast charging and handy features like an IR blaster.

Cons

• Advertisements in some system apps.
• Weak ultrawide and macro cameras.
• HyperOS is still not as refined as the competition.

Launched in early 2024, the Poco X6 Pro is a mid-range smartphone with a starting price of $320. The device’s 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display is on pace with premium devices thanks to its 1.5K resolution, vivid colours, and great brightness. Despite the fact that other models use plastic, the vegan leather back (yellow variant) gives it a premium touch. Effortless multitasking and dependable 5G connectivity are guaranteed by the Dimensity 8300 Ultra System on a Chip.

The phone’s HyperOS, which is based on Android 14, ensures a fast user experience and three years of OS updates, but the advertisements and bloatware diminish its attractiveness. The 5,000mAh battery can be fully charged in less than 45 minutes thanks to its compatibility with 67W rapid charging. But its one-day battery life is severely limited by its significant idle consumption. The 64MP main sensor takes respectable but unremarkable photos, and the 8MP ultrawide doesn’t capture much detail, thus the camera configuration is practical but unimpressive.

You can’t record much either. In spite of these issues, the Poco X6 Pro is an excellent value for the money and has a top-notch screen. With features like an infrared blaster and great system optimisation, it fights fiercely in its price bracket. Nevertheless, not everyone will be interested due to the invasive software, average camera, and inefficient battery life. I highly recommend the Poco X6 Pro to everyone who isn’t camera-obsessed.

Number 5. Nubia REDMAGIC 9S Pro 

All about that budget balance

The RedMagic 9S Pro is an adventurous gaming phone that dares to mix design, specs, and performance; it costs $749. The translucent rear showcases an interior cooling fan and components, adding to its industrial-elegant appearance. Classy it is with its matte silver frame and subtle RGB lighting. The 6.8-inch AMOLED screen guarantees vivid graphics and seamless gameplay with its 120 Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits of brightness, and 1116 x 2480 resolution.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version, along with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, makes this phone a beast on benchmarks and in real-life gaming. Zenless Zone Zero and Genshin Impact can’t stand a chance against it. Hard tasks may cause you to feel hot, even though active cooling maintains consistent performance. The 6,500mAh battery allows for longer workouts, and the 80W charger only takes 35 minutes to fully charge it.

Characteristics include a 3.5 mm audio jack, an IR blaster, USB-C with DisplayPort, and capacitive buttons on the shoulders. Unlike its competitors, RedMagic isn’t as committed to updating, even though it comes pre-installed with Android 14. Zoom and ultra-wide shots are problematic for the camera system, despite the main sensor’s 50 megapixel capability.

Some of the most notable aspects of the RedMagic 9S Pro are its innovative design and gaming-focused components. Even though it may not be compatible with US cellular networks and has subpar camera performance, power and style-conscious gamers will adore it.