Best Gaming Smartphone

After 15 hours of research and analyzing 15 models, we have determined that the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 is the best option.

A competitive price, a benchmark processor-graphics chipset combo and a good quality screen make it a gaming companion ready to take on any challenge!

Xiaomi once again offers a very good smartphone with a more than interesting quality / price ratio. We find ourselves here with features designed for gamers where power, endurance and display quality are the key words. However, the other side of the coin, the size takes a hell of a beating with a device that is a little too large.

 

The pro version of this previous generation smartphone is a good compromise: a benchmark quality / price ratio, decent storage for its price range and decent battery life are its main assets.

Like the new version, the Black Shark 2 Pro is a benchmark in its price range. It offers all the advantages of a gaming smartphone, including careful software and hardware optimization. Its processor, although less powerful, is one of the best on the market and the game mode (here called Shark) allows you to get the most out of it.

 

Best high end

 

Asus ROG Phone 3

This model is posed as the ultimate gamer smartphone by offering exceptional power coupled with a whole range of accessories allowing it to fully develop its potential.

 

Due to its popularity, the 16GB version sometimes becomes hard to find (at least at its regular price). In case of unavailability, we recommend the 12 GB one .

 

Taking the principle of the excellent ROG Phone 2, Asus is back with the third iteration. On the menu: power at all levels and increased versatility. Thus, the photo module becomes perfectly usable on a daily basis (even if it does not compete with the best) and its design is more discreet. It also equips itself with several interesting in-game technologies such as AirTriggers.

 

High-end alternative

This new iPhone finally corrects the situation by presenting an affordable formula that does not sacrifice quality. High performance and premium finishes are present which makes it a very interesting model.

 

Deflated version of the awesome 11 Pro , the 11 features Apple's latest chip, the A13 Bionic. It is placed in front of all its competitors with very high performances which guarantee an excellent fluidity in the game. On the other hand, it will be necessary to be satisfied with a “simple” IPS panel which remains very qualitative. It nevertheless takes all the other improvements of its big brother and benefits from the many optimizations of iOS.

 

 

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How did we make our choice?

The world of gaming smartphones is just starting to develop and is a very specific market. The main difficulty in finding the model that best suits your needs is linked to the very precise technical elements which make it possible to determine which model to favor.

 

In order to help you make your choice, we have determined the essential criteria to take into account before any purchase:

 

The processor - graphics chipset pair : this duo will be decisive in choosing your favorite model. They are the heart of your smartphone. A key element allowing you to get the most out of your favorite games by giving them the power they need to run.

RAM memory : it temporarily stores data from your phone for easy loading. A large amount of RAM therefore allows you to browse more smoothly, as your phone will not have to continually reload the data it needs.

The screen : to get the most out of portable use, it is essential to have a screen with good brightness and good contrast. But for gaming use, you must also pay attention to the refresh rate and resolution. A high value of these parameters provides better image rendering and more regular updating of information on the screen. Ideal for fluidity worthy of the name.

Autonomy : the battery capacity (expressed in mAh) influences the autonomy of your smartphone. A more substantial battery will therefore allow you to string together victories in all serenity, without fear of unexpected shutdown of your phone. So, high performance implies good capacity.

After going through numerous tests carried out on the Internet, analyzing the technical sheet of each product, consulting the opinions of French and English-speaking users and ensuring the legitimacy of these comments, we were able to determine the 6 best gaming smartphones of the moment. 

 

Note, first of all, that the world of gaming is essentially reserved for higher budgets than classic models. It will therefore not be surprising to find among our “cheap” models, smartphones usually called mid-range, and so on.

 

 

 

 

Xiaomi Black Shark 3

 

The new version of this gaming smartphone retains an excellent performance / price ratio which makes it a model to be reckoned with. It also embeds an excellent screen.

Xiaomi once again offers a very good smartphone with a more than interesting quality / price ratio. We find ourselves here with features designed for gamers where power, endurance and display quality are the key words. However, the other side of the coin, the size takes a hell of a blow with a too imposing device.

 

Just like its little brother before it, the Black Shark 3 embeds what is currently best. It is therefore not surprising to find a Snapdragon 865 coupled with 8 (for 128 GB of storage) or 12 GB of RAM (for 256 GB of storage). The chip makes it compatible with 5G and Wi-Fi 6. It is also equipped with a specific liquid cooling system in “Sandwich”.

 

The latter cools components from above and below to improve their efficiency by almost 50%. In practice, it turns out to be very efficient, which makes it one of the most efficient models of the moment.

 

Its screen is equipped with a 6.67 ”AMOLED FHD + panel clocked at 90 Hz. It has a slightly dated format with a black upper band showing the front photo sensor. The objective is to prevent part of the screen from being obscured by a punch, which could block access to certain elements. The Master Touch is also making a comeback with a third, further optimized version.

 

Colorimetry and comfort are taken care of with a delta E of less than 1, HDR10 + compatibility, DC Dimming for better brightness management and VDE certification for the protection of your eyesight. An “eye care” mode is also integrated for your long games.

 

In terms of autonomy, it has an atypical feature: a dual battery of 2360 mAh (for a total of 4720 mAh). This allows it an interesting endurance of a day and a half in versatile use (including 3 hours of play per day). As if that were not enough, the Quick Charge 4.0+ allows you to recharge everything in the blink of an eye (50% in less than 15 min, 100% in less than 45 min).

 

In the end, ergonomics is its main flaw because of its substantial size (168.72 x 77.33 x 10.8 mm - 222 g). However, it makes up for that with several great ideas: a magnetic charger on the back, a slider to access the Shark Space 3.0, and compatibility with a whole list of accessories .

 

 

 

 

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Pro

The pro version of this previous generation smartphone is a good compromise: a benchmark quality / price ratio, decent storage for its price range and decent battery life are its main assets.

 

Like the new version, the Black Shark 2 Pro is a benchmark in its price range. It offers all the advantages of a gaming smartphone including careful software and hardware optimization. Its processor, although less powerful, is one of the best on the market and the game mode (here called Shark) allows you to get the most out of it.

 

Its heart is made up of the Snapdragon 855 Plus and its Adreno 640 graphics chipset. Coupled with the 8 GB of RAM available, they will allow you to play your favorite titles smoothly, without losing quality. The storage of 128 GB (not expandable) will be enough to keep many of them. A more inflated version exists (12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage) but it loses its interest against the Black Shark 3, offered at a similar price.

 

For the display, we are entitled to an AMOLED FHD + panel. It is rather well calibrated which allows it to offer you good color fidelity. A precise adjustment allows to regulate the temperature to approach the value of 6500 K. The high luminosity and the low reflectance allow a good use whether in full sun or in the dark night.

 

This screen still has two interesting advantages. The first is that it is pressure sensitive, which increases the number of controls available. The second is its very high reactivity which allows minimal tactile delay (one of the lowest readings) and therefore minimizes the risk of lag.

 

To contain the price of this model, Xiaomi has seen fit to limit the frequency of the screen to 60 Hz and the capacity of its battery to 4000 mAh.

 

These characteristics are lower than the competition but do not mar your gaming experience, since, on the one hand, the battery can last a full day in intensive use, and even up to a day and a half in more moderate use. On the other hand, the screen refresh rate is equivalent to that of a standard smartphone and minimizes its impact on the autonomy of the terminal.

 

You can acquire (optional) a pad and a reinforced shell , reminiscent of the grip of the Nintendo Switch. Very useful in game, this device nevertheless prevents charging of the smartphone.

 

Finally, in terms of software, Xiaomi has integrated Shark mode into Android, specially optimized for gaming. This mode also allows you to configure and manage Xiaomi controllers and offers a quick shortcut bar accessible in-game.

 

PS: If you are a Xiaomi addict, then our article dedicated to the best Xiaomi smartphones may be of interest to you.

 

 

 

 

Asus ROG Phone 3

This model is posed as the ultimate gamer smartphone by offering exceptional power coupled with a whole range of accessories allowing it to fully develop its potential.

 

 

Due to its popularity, the 16GB version sometimes becomes hard to find (at least at its regular price). In case of unavailability, we recommend the 12 GB one .

 

Taking the principle of the excellent ROG Phone 2, Asus is back with the third iteration. On the menu: power at all levels and increased versatility. Thus, the photo module becomes perfectly usable on a daily basis (even if it does not compete with the best) and its design is more discreet.

 

The performance is ensured by what is currently best on Android: the Snapdragon 865+ coupled, with the choice, to 8 GB (256 GB of storage), 12 GB (512 GB) or 16 GB (512 GB) of RAM. This set allows him very good results, in particular in game where he supplants the competition. Mode X pushes the ROG Phone 3 to its maximum.

 

Fluidity is further improved thanks to the 6.59 ”144 HZ AMOLED panel. This value, the highest on a smartphone, guarantees games without jerking. It is also very well calibrated by default but can still be optimized through the parameters (standard mode - temperature on hot, 8th notch on the right).

 

The result is excellent: a delta E of 2.1 and an almost perfect color temperature. The rendering is enhanced by the maximum brightness which allows it to be used even in direct sunlight. The minimum value is a little too high.

 

However, this gratifying observation would be less so without decent autonomy. Fortunately, Asus has equipped its gaming smartphone with a 6000 mAh battery which allows it an endurance of around 2 days in mixed use, which puts it ahead of the flagships of other brands. The complete recharge takes only 1h36.

 

The PowerMaster function also allows you to manage charging. Thus, you can limit the maximum value (80, 90 or 100%) or even opt for a slow charge. At the same time, the smartphone detects your habits to offer you a fully charged terminal when you wake up while preserving the health of your battery.

 

In terms of accessories, finally, Asus takes back most of the solutions of the previous model (with an update for some). If you already had them for the ROG Phone 2, be aware that they remain compatible with the new version. The most notable addition is compatibility with Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controllers.

 

The brand has also thought about people on the move by integrating touch triggers and motion control. AirTriggers correspond to the top keys of a standard controller and respond to various sensitive shortcuts. The motion sensor makes it possible, for example, to reload your weapon by shaking your phone.

 

 

 

 

Apple iphone 11

This new iPhone finally corrects the situation by presenting an affordable formula that does not sacrifice quality. High performance and premium finishes are present which makes it a very interesting model.

 

Deflated version of the impressive 11 Pro , the 11 features Apple's latest chip. It is placed in front of all its competitors with very high performances which guarantee an excellent fluidity in the game. On the other hand, it will be necessary to be satisfied with a “simple” IPS panel which remains very qualitative. It nevertheless takes all the other improvements of its big brother and benefits from the many optimizations of iOS.

 

Performance is ensured by the best mobile processor of the moment, the A13 Bionic. She dismisses the Snapdragon 865 without even blinking. It is here coupled with 4 GB of RAM, which guarantees flawless fluidity thanks to the many optimizations of iOS. It is also compatible with Wi-Fi 6, which is beneficial for transfer speeds.

 

A 6.1 ”IPS panel takes care of the display. It has a resolution of 326 dpi more than sufficient for this diagonal (close to FHD). The contrast is excellent for IPS (1564: 1) even if it seems very low compared to the infinity of the OLED. However, the screen is very qualitative which guarantees you sharp images and without smearing where the fidelity (delta E 1.7) and the brightness are just as good.

 

The only downside is its refresh rate, which is limited to 60 Hz.

 

The ergonomics are fairly standard for the Apple brand with a relatively compact smartphone. On the other hand, it is not very suitable for one-handed use because of its rather thick borders. A large notch dedicated to FaceID also truncates the display area. The set is IP68 certified (30 min in 2 m of water).

 

Autonomy side, Apple finally reached a decent value with a maximum endurance of 2 days. However, Apple insists on providing a charger limited to 5W whose slowness is far from current standards (full charge in 3 hours!).

 

 

 

 

Honorable mentions

Apple iPhone SE 2020 (€ 422.19 at the time of publication): The first review of the affordable iPhone, the SE 2020 offers an exceptional level of performance for an unbeatable price. It uses the same processor as the iPhone 11 to offer flawless fluidity. However, we blame it for its other components dating from a bygone era (mainly taken from the iPhone 8). They make it less relevant for gamers because of a relatively low battery life (about 1 day) and a reduced screen diagonal (4.7 ”).

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 (599 € at the time of publication): this model uses its many strengths to titillate the market leaders: a latest generation processor, a neat screen and refined ergonomics. This table, which is interesting at first glance, hides a significant flaw, however: its lack of optimization. Thus, even if it holds the high for many models, we note performance below what one would expect from the latest model from Snapdragon. However, it remains a great solution in this price range and even dethrones its Android competitors.

 

Nubia Redmagic 5G (€ 629 at the time of publication): the most powerful smartphone under Android, the Redmagic 5G has a Snapdragon 865 coupled with 8 or 12 GB of RAM. It also has an excellent 144 Hz OLED screen, efficient cooling and touch triggers. This makes it more than interesting for gaming but it will be necessary to compile with software flaws: bilingual interface (mixing English and French) and poorly optimized, no compatibility with HD streaming and many bugs with certain titles.