Investing in a phone in 2023 is a challenge, not because a great one is hard to find but because there are so many reliable options. Smartphones have now been around for decades, so their features are more about refinement than adding new experiences.
If you’ve been looking for a phone to play your favorite games at high settings for many years, you must invest in a suitable model. There are countless flagship phones from companies like Samsung, ASUS, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Google, and Apple, but not all are designed for gamers.
Below is our ranking of the top five gaming smartphones that are available to buy in 2023.
1. Black Shark 5 Pro
The Black Shart 5 Pro is one of the best options for someone seeking a gaming phone. If you enjoy devices similar to the OnePlus 11, the 5 Pro may be right up your alley. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and up to 16GB of RAM, this device will never encounter slowdowns.
Aside from great specs, the latest offering from Black Shark also delivers when it comes to battery life. The phone should easily last six to eight hours of gaming, while you can expect 10 to 12 hours of screen time when using it regularly.
2. Nubia’s RedMagic 7 Pro
The RedMagic 7 Pro from Nubia is another fantastic option for gamers who want to invest in a high-end phone. With a 6.8 AMOLED display that is 1080p resolution, you can expect deep blacks, punchy colors, and a very comfortable viewing experience when playing games.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, coupled with 16GB of RAM, is more than enough to satisfy gamers downloading AAA titles. If you plan to add many games to your library, consider the 512GB storage option for the RedMagic 7 Pro.
One area where this phone shines is its cooling, which ensures the graphics processor can remain at a high clock even when you are 30 or 45 minutes deep into a gaming session.
3. iPhone 15 Pro Max
No lineup of gaming smartphones is complete without the latest offering from Apple. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is an outstanding device for gamers and casual users alike. With a 6.7-inch display that is almost 1300p resolution, every visual you see while playing games will be crisp, detailed, and bright.
The 8GB RAM on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is half the figure for most Android devices on this list. While the specs are inferior on paper, Apple does deliver a competitive experience thanks to its superior RAM management. You should not experience any gaming slowdowns due to a lack of RAM.
Despite only having a 4441 mAh battery, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is also a battery life champion, easily lasting 12 hours of screen on time for a single day’s use.
4. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
With its Galaxy S23 Ultra offering, Samsung is raising the bar for a high-end smartphone experience. Powered by a 5000 mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and up to 12GB of RAM, the S23 Ultra should have zero performance issues playing even the most demanding games.
A 1440p resolution, 6.8 inch AMOLED display ensures the very best visuals when gaming, while you can easily maintain 120 frames per second with most games. The display’s peak brightness reaches 1750 nits, which is more than sufficient for use in direct sunlight.
Another advantage of buying a Samsung device is the outstanding camera setup, which is typically far superior to most Android gaming phones.
5. OnePlus 11T
Android users seeking raw power for the best gaming experience will enjoy the OnePlus 11T. The latest T offering from OnePlus delivers a 1440p display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits. There are 8GB and 16GB models, going up to 512GB of storage.
With a 5000 mAh battery and well-optimized software, OnePlus delivers stellar battery life with the 11T. Expect at least six to eight hours of gaming screen on time from a full charge.
OnePlus also ships its phones with the latest UFS 4.0 storage speeds, resulting in faster install and load times than the other devices on this list.
Conclusion
Finding a quality gaming smartphone is not only about looking at a spec sheet or assessing the options in person. You can learn valuable information from a phone’s specs and from feeling it in your hand, but you are still not aware of the full picture.
Only by reading reviews and understanding the experiences of others who use the phone can you learn about its benefits and flaws. By reading how other gamers have enjoyed specific phones, you can understand what device will give you the best experience for your use case.
Each phone we reviewed above has been assessed with a focus on gaming, as we want you to have the best time when you load up your favorite titles on your new device.
