The best gaming phones in India offer extremely powerful hardware and immersive displays designed to provide a console-quality experience right on your mobile phone. With technologies like high refresh rate screens, vapor cooling chambers and blazing fast processors now available on phones, mobile gaming continues to reach new heights. Our blog covers everything you need to know about choosing the best gaming phone including detailed reviews of the top models currently available across various price segments.
Over the last few years, rapid advancements in mobile processors, graphics, displays and battery charging has led to smartphones that can handle very intensive games without breaking a sweat. Leading brands like iQOO, realme and OnePlus now offer specialized gaming phones tuned to extract maximum performance out of today’s graphics-heavy titles like Call of Duty and Asphalt 9. Our blog aims to simplify your buying decision by rating phones on hardware capabilities, real-world gaming benchmarks, display quality, battery life and various other parameters vital for the best gaming experience.
The iQOO 11 5G comes loaded with top-of-the-line specs making it a perfect choice for mobile gaming. It is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset which delivers cutting-edge performance. You get 16GB RAM and 256GB storage which is ample for installing multiple heavy games. The phone also packs a large 4,700mAh battery with 120W fast charging.
With its blinding fast processor, high refresh rate 2K display, massive RAM and excellent thermal management, the iQOO 11 5G is undoubtedly one of the best choices for gaming. The smooth performance coupled with long battery life gives you an unmatched gaming experience. If you want no compromises in gaming firepower, this is the phone to get.
The TECNO Phantom X2 5G brings cutting-edge hardware focused on delivering a premium gaming experience. Key highlights include MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 chip fabricated on an extremely power efficient 4nm process. You also get an immersive curved AMOLED panel with silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The phone manages to keep thermal levels in check without throttling.
The Phantom X2 5G checks all the boxes for a high-end gaming phone. The Dimensity 9000 SoC offers desktop-class performance in a smartphone form factor while retaining power efficiency. Whether you are playing heavy titles like Call of Duty or Asphalt 9, the phone delivers fantastic frame rates without breaking a sweat. If you want no-compromise hardware, stunning display and rapid charging, the Phantom X2 5G is a solid choice.
The realme GT Neo 3 comes equipped with pretty much everything you would want in a gaming phone. Powering the device is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 paired with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM for effortless multitasking and high FPS gaming. You also get 256GB fast UFS 3.1 storage. The display is rated A+ by DisplayMate and supports HDR10+. Battery charging reaches insane speeds via 150W UltraDart charging.
Realme has done an impressive job with the GT Neo 3 ticking all boxes for an excellent gaming experience. The hardware is top notch complementing Android games really well to extract the most frames out of them. The phone also excels in other areas like camera quality and fast charging making it a great all-round package. If you want the bleeding edge hardware at a reasonable price, the GT Neo 3 is our recommendation.
While most gaming phones go after raw hardware capabilities, the iQOO Z7 Pro focuses more on the overall user experience. You get capable mid-range hardware in the form of MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200 chip produced using an efficient 4nm process. Display quality is fantastic thanks to the 90Hz AMOLED panel with HDR10+ rated at 1300 nits peak brightness. The phone also introduces India’s first battery with 125W FlashCharge technology resulting in 100% charge in just 20 minutes.
The iQOO Z7 Pro brings a very balanced set of features for gaming. The hardware is fast enough to run any game smoothly while retaining good thermal efficiency and battery life. You also get a stunningly good AMOLED display with HDR10+ capabilities. If you prefer a lighter, slimmer device with very rapid charging, the Z7 Pro is a great choice for gaming on the go.
With Dimensity 8200 chip featuring advanced dual ARM Cortex-X2 cores, the iQOO Neo 7 5G delivers blazing fast performance for gaming. The cutting-edge 4nm fabrication enables heightened speeds while retaining power efficiency resulting in minimal heating. You also get a high quality E5 AMOLED panel with HDR10+ and 144Hz refresh. The phone charges from 0 to 50% battery in just 10 minutes thanks to 80W flash charging.
The iQOO Neo 7 5G brings MediaTek’s latest and greatest Dimensity 8200 to the masses for an affordable price. With its high-end hardware and rapid charging capabilities, you can game for hours without worrying about performance drops or battery drain. The phone also introduces clever gaming-centric features like motion sensors for controller-like experience. If you want great value and an all-round excellent gaming experience, the Neo 7 5G is a fantastic choice.
As one of the very first phones to introduce Qualcomm’s brand new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the iQOO 12 5G delivers unmatched performance for high FPS gaming. Complementing the cutting-edge hardware is 12GB fast LPDDR5X RAM to ensure dozens of apps run smoothly. The phone also packs a 4,700mAh battery under the hood supporting blazing fast 200W charging from 0 to 100% in just 12 minutes.
The iQOO 12 5G sits at the bleeding edge of smartphone technology making it a darling for serious mobile gamers. Be it the lighting fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, ultra-responsive 2K 144Hz display or rapid charging speeds, this phone leaves no stone unturned. As long you don’t mind the relatively bulkier form factor, the iQOO 12 5G is undoubtedly one of the best gaming phones out there.
The HONOR 90 emphasizes heavily on display quality making it perfectly suited for long hours of gaming. You get an industry first eye risk-free AMOLED panel with a staggering refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The primary shooter utilizes a massive 1-inch 200MP image sensor for stunning photos and videos. Powering the phone is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G+ 5G providing great gaming capabilities at this price point.
While not exactly a spec monster, the well balanced hardware capabilities of the HONOR 90 lend themselves very well to gaming. The flagship grade eye-safe display is simply a joy to use offering fluid visuals and minimal eye strain. Couple that with powerful dual speakers, you have an incredible multimedia device that brings games and videos to life. For immersive gaming on a budget, this is amongst the very best out there.
Proudly made in India, the Lava Agni 2 5G emphasizes greatly on user experience to deliver smooth gaming performance without blowing up the budget. You get MediaTek’s reliable Dimensity 810 chip ticking alongside 8 gigs of fast LPDDR5 RAM and ample 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The phone also introduces 120Hz refresh rate to its curved AMOLED display rated at 600 nits peak brightness.
The lava Agni 2 5G punches well above its weight class to offer a balanced experience for gaming. While not exactly a chart topper, the well optimized hardware of the Dimensity 810 coupled with high quality 120Hz AMOLED display makes for responsive and fluid gaming visuals. When you couple that with the phone’s super fast charging capability and stock Android interface. At this price point, the Agni 2 5G is easily one of the best choices for gaming.
Phone | Processor | Key Display Features |
---|---|---|
iQOO 11 5G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 6.78″ 2K E6 AMOLED, 144Hz |
TECNO Phantom X2 5G | Dimensity 9000 | 6.8″ FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz |
realme GT Neo 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 6.7″ FHD+ E4 AMOLED, 120Hz |
iQOO Z7 Pro 5G | Dimensity 7200 | 6.78” AMOLED, 120Hz |
iQOO Neo 7 5G | Dimensity 8200 | 6.78″ FHD+ E5 AMOLED, 144Hz |
iQOO 12 5G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 6.78″ 2K E6 AMOLED, 144Hz |
HONOR 90 | Snapdragon 778G+ | 6.67″ Quad-Curved AMOLED, 120Hz |
Lava Agni 2 5G | Dimensity 810 | 6.78″ FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz |
When choosing a gaming phone, here are some key factors to consider:
There are a few categories of gaming smartphones:
Major brands like iQOO, realme and TECNO have very compelling offerings when it comes to gaming phones. They utilize cutting edge mobile processors from Qualcomm, MediaTek and Dimensity paired with features like high refresh rate displays, copper vapor cooling chambers and mammoth batteries with insanely fast charging. Brand trust aside, specifications decide how good a gaming phone really is.
For today’s graphics-intensive games, we recommend at least 8GB RAM on a gaming phone. Several models today offer 12GB and even 16GB RAM allowing you to run multiple apps simultaneously without slowdowns. However, your usage patterns dictate how much RAM you really need. Casual gamers can easily get by with 6GB RAM to save on cost.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offer industry leading performance for Android gaming phones. Many MediaTek processors like the Dimensity 9000, Dimensity 8200 and Dimensity 8100 also work very well. Ultimately, the processor core configuration and thermal characteristics determine real world gaming performance.
Beneficial display attributes for the best gaming phone experience include higher resolution for crisper visuals (Full HD+ or better), high refresh rate (90Hz+, 120Hz, 144Hz), minimal touch latency, high peak brightness levels (800 nits+), HDR10/HDR10+, DC dimming support and Blue Light filters for eye comfort. Many premium gaming phones also have dedicated displays chips to dynamically tweak parameters.
Some of the best gaming phones are:
The iQOO 11 5G tops our list with its extremely powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip coupled with 16GB RAM and immersive 2K display with 144Hz refresh rate. However, phones like the realme GT Neo 3 and TECNO Phantom X2 5G also offer compelling spec sheets focused on mobile gaming. Ultimately the “best” phone depends on your priorities and budget.
While hardcore mobile gamers might prefer specs monsters like the iQOO 11 5G or realme GT Neo 3, excellent gaming experiences can also be had on relatively affordable devices like the iQOO Z7 Pro 5G and HONOR 90.
Ultimately, real world gaming performance depends on a combination of reliable hardware, intuitive software and stunning displays. As 5G network coverage expands in India, processor capabilities and battery charging speeds will be differentiating factors driving the evolution of gaming phones.
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on merchant's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of these products. HappyCredit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As part of this program, we may earn commission from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links provided on this website. We only promote products on Amazon that we genuinely believe are of high quality and value to our audience. The inclusion of affiliate links does not influence our editorial content or product recommendations. Our primary goal is to provide useful information and help you make informed purchasing decisions.
Certain portions of the text in this article might have been created using AI tools and subsequently edited by the author to improve the overall quality and clarity of the content for readers.