Icon
HT Shop Now Close Icon

Best gaming phones in India: Buying guide

Last Published on Feb 20, 2023 15:46 IST

Summary:

With new games always on the rise, gamers need a phone that can function smoothly while playing. Choosing the best gaming phone with the proper features can be challenging. This guide on the top gaming phones is made to help you on this journey.


Gaming phones are dedicated devices that are designed for gamers and heavy users. Most high-end and flagship smartphones can handle the heaviest games available, but gaming phones come with multiple additional features. Some gaming phones have triggers for better gaming controls, some have a dedicated gaming mode, which is usually the high-performance mode, and some have dedicated fans and cooling systems. All of this can be seen on gaming smartphones, along with flashy design and RGB lights.

If you are a mobile gamer and want to play games like Call of Duty Mobile and Apex Legends on the highest settings, this is the right place. We have listed down the 10 best gaming smartphones to buy in India. These phones have great performance and can handle any game available on the mobile platform. 

Top 10 Best Gaming Phones in India

1. iQOO 9T 5G

The iQOO 9T 5G smartphone is a great pick for gamers. It has a V1+ chip that is an Intelligent display chip for all the gamer-heads as it increases the frame rate and enhances colours. Its game frame interpolation feature gives 90FPS for that smooth gameplay. It also has liquid cooling to ensure efficient heat conduction and temperature control, so your divide never overheats. The display has an E5 material screen with 16 million colours that support HDR10+ for natural colour transitions.

Specifications

  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
  • LPDDR5 RAM
  • 120W FlashCharge
  • 4700mAh battery
  • 17.22cm (6.78-inch) 120Hz E5 AMOLED Display
  • V1+ chip is an Intelligent display chip
  • 1200Hz Instant Touch
  • 360Hz Touch Sampling Rate
ProsCons
  • Doesn’t overheat easily
  • Average speakers
  • Smooth gaming performance
 

2. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

OnePlus Nord CE 2 lite is one of the best budget phones for gamers. Its 5000 mAh battery allows gaming hours and 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging for uninterrupted gameplay. The octa-core design and Adreno 619 graphics processing unit minimise power consumption, so you can spend more time playing games. It also comes with an LCD display with FHD+ resolution for more clear and more detailed visuals.

Specifications

  • Camera: 64MP Main Camera with EIS; 2MP Depth Lens and 2MP Macro Lens
  • Front (Selfie) Camera: 16MP Sony IMX471
  • Display: 6.59 Inches
  • 120 Hz Refresh Rate
  • Resolution: 2412 x 1080
  • Aspect Ratio: 20:9
  • Operating System: Oxygen OS based on Android 12
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
  • 5000 mAh battery
  • 33W SuperVOOC charging
ProsCons
  • High refresh rate
  • No ultra-wide camera
  • Good performance for cost
  • Average low-light performance

3. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

With the Galaxy S22 Ultra, you have the advanced camera features of the Galaxy S line plus the S Pen. The 6.8-inch AMOLED screen and HDR 10+ compatibility on this phone is impressive specs. Maximum brightness is 1750 nits. Phone processing is handled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and 12GB of RAM, perfect for gaming. The 100X digital zoom included on the Galaxy S22 Ultra is made possible by its four cameras. The main camera can record up to 8K resolution and is stabilised for use in video. The smooth scrolling and responsiveness of the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate are the result of the screen's dynamic response and make for smooth gaming.

Specifications

  • 4nm processor Snapdragon 8th Gen
  • Dynamic AMOLED 2x display
  • 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
  • 108 MP wide-angle camera, 12 MP ultra-wide camera and 2 telephoto cameras
ProsCons
  • IP68 rated
  • Overheats under load
  • Impressive performance
 
  • It comes with an S Pen stylus.
 

4. Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G

Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G is one of their flagship 5G smartphones. The Dimensity 920 5G CPU offers the most powerful performance in its class. The performance is smooth thanks to the high AntuTu score (505,838) and cutting-edge 6nm manufacturing technology. The 6.4-inch (16.3-centimetre) Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate provides exceptional visuals for an immersive gaming experience. The fast 33W Dart Charge and its five-core chip protection technology ensure a secure and speedy charge every time. Besides the specs for gaming, it also has a 48 MP AI tripe camera that takes Incredibly detailed photos and videos.

Specifications

  • Mediatek Dimensity 920 5G powerful Gaming Processor
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB ROM - Expandable Upto 256 GB
  • 16.3 cm (6.4 inches) FHD+ Display
  • 48MP + 8MP + 2MP Camera
  • 16MP Front Camera
  • 5000 mAh Battery
ProsCons
  • Fast performance
  • The camera quality could be better.
  • Fast charging
 

5. Redmi Note 10S

The Redmi Note 10S has upgraded internals compared to the other same-range phones from Redmi. The AMOLED display is 6.43 inches, which gives crisp visuals. Contrary to most low-cost smartphones, the Redmi Note 10S sports dual speakers and an infrared (IR) emitter. The UFS 2.2 storage lets you store as much as you want. This phone goes from 0 % charge all the way to 54% in a matter of 30 minutes. It also comes with a MediaTek Helio processor with HyperEngine game technology for lag-free gaming.

Specifications

  • Display: FHD+ (1080x2400) AMOLED Dot display; 16.33 centimeters (6.43 inch); 20:9 aspect ratio
  • 64 MP Quad Rear camera with 8MP Ultra-wide, 2MP Macro and Portrait lens
  • 13 MP Front camera
  • Processor: MediaTek Helio G95 Octa-core
  • 5000 mAh large battery
  • 33W fast charger in-box
  • 6GB RAM
  • 64GB UFS 2.2 storage expandable up to 512GB with a dedicated SD card slot
  • Dual SIM (nano+nano) dual-standby (4G+4G)
ProsCons
  • Good processor
  • Spam notifications
  • Slim and light
  • Average camera
  • IP53 rated
 

6. IQOO 7

IQOO 7 includes a punch-hole cutout in the centre of its AMOLED display for the front-facing selfie camera. The display has a Full HD+ resolution. The display has very narrow bezels and can achieve a peak brightness of up to 1300 nits. The Snapdragon 870 is the chipset that drives the iQOO 7, which features an octa-core central processing unit. It features a prime core that can reach speeds of up to 3.2 GHz. This is supported by an Adreno 650 GPU for the rendering of graphics, and it is combined with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage choices that you may select from.

Specifications

  • Processor: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 870
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage
  • Display: 6.62″ screen
  • Camera: 48 MP main camera
  • Front: 16 MP
  • Battery:4400 mAh battery
ProsCons
  • Amazing display 
  • Battery    
  • Powerful processor 
  • Old GPU
  • Large screen 
 
  • 8 GB RAM
 

7. Apple iPhone 14

The iPhone 14 is one of the best phones available in the market, only after the Pro version of itself. The A15 Bionic chip is designed by Apple, and is powerful enough to run any game smoothly. You can play every game on the highest graphics settings on the 6.1-inch Retina XDR display. Wireless charging through Mag allows you to game without worrying about running out of battery. The phone does not come with any flashy gaming features, but still proves to be better than other smartphones.

Specifications

  • RAM: 6 GB
  • Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
  • Rear Camera: 12 MP + 12MP
  • Front Camera: 12 MP
  • Battery: 3279 mAh
  • Display: 6.1 inches
ProsCons
Best smartphonesOnly 60Hz screen
Excellent processorNo fast charging
Excellent cameraExpensive

8. OnePlus 11 5G

The OnePlus 11 5G is one of the best and powerful Android smartphones out there. It is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that has better optimization and cooling performance than the previous processor. The phone comes with a high refresh rate 6.7-inch QHD AMOLED display. The fast charging allows you to be a part of the action at all times. You can indulge in competitive mobile gaming with the OnePlus 11 5G.

Specifications

  • Display: 6.7 inches
  • Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Front Camera: 16MP
  • Rear Camera: 50MP + 48MP + 32MP
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB
  • Battery: 5000 mAh
  • Operating system: Android 13
ProsCons
Excellent overall performanceOxygen OS
Fast charging and good battery lifeNo IP rating
Stunning QHD display 

9. Xiaomi 12 Pro

This is without a doubt one of the best gaming phones on the market right now since it has a display that is a large 6.67 inches in size, a lot of RAM, and some outstanding ergonomics. There are also official attachments available, such as the clip-on charger that allows you keep playing while it's charging the phone and the separate controller that makes it simpler to operate games without touching the screen.

Specifications

  • OS: Android 12
  • Screen size: 6.73 inches
  • Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
  • CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • RAM: 8GB / 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Battery: 4600 mAh
  • Rear camera: 50 MP
  • Front camera: 32 MP
ProsCons
  • 8 GB RAM
  • Android 12
  • Powerful battery 
  • Refresh rate
  • Large 6.67 inch screen
 

10. OnePlus 10 Pro

The OnePlus 10 Pro comes to mind when thinking about mobile gaming, it is an excellent choice for beginners. The OnePlus 10 Pro was capable of handling most tasks with ease. In part, that's due to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, Adreno 730 GPU, and the fact that you can get up to 12GB of RAM. It's possible to borrow additional RAM from your internal memory whenever you need it.it can play games like PUBG and Call of Duty without any lag or stutter.

Specifications

  • Screen size:6.7 inches
  • Resolution:3216 × 1440p
  • CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • RAM:8GB / 12GB
  • OS: OxygenOS / Android 12
  • Storage:128 / 256GB
  • Battery:5,000 mAh
  • Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 50MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
 ProsCons
  • Large 6.7 inch screen 
  • Processor 
  • Oxygen OS
  • Inconsistent front camera 
  • Powerful 5000 Mah battery 
 
  • Excellent rear camera 
 

Price of best gaming phones at a glance:

S.noBest Gaming PhonesPrice
1.iQOO 9T 5GRs. 49,999
2.OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5GRs. 18,999
3.Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5GRs. 1,09,999
4.realme Narzo 50 Pro 5GRs. 21,999
5.Redmi Note 10SRs. 12,999
6.iQoo 7Rs.29,999
7.iPhone 14Rs.71,999
8.OnePlus 11 5GRs. 61,999
9.Xiaomi Black Shark 3Rs. 62,999
10.OnePlus 10 pro Rs. 71,999

Best 3 features for you

Refer to the following table to learn about the top three features of the gaming phones:

Productfeature 1feature 2feature 3
iQOO 9T 5GE5 AMOLED DisplaySnapdragon 8+ Gen 1120W Flash Charge
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5GQualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G6 GB RAM5000 mAh with 33W SuperVOOC
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5GAMOLED 2x displayAI instant intelligent processing.4nm chip 
realme Narzo 50 Pro 5GMediatek Dimensity 920 5G powerful Gaming Processor5000 mAh Battery6 GB RAM 
Redmi Note 10SAMOLED Dot displayMediaTek Helio G95 Octa-core processor64GB UFS 2.2 storage expandable up to 512GB
iQoo 73 GB Expandable ram Snapdragon Processor 66 W fast charging 
iPhone 14A15 Bionic processorExcellent camerasSmooth display
OnePlus 11 5GQHD AMOLED display 16 GB ram Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Xiaomi 12 pro12 GB RAMLarge 6.73 inch screen Capable processsor 
OnePlus 10 ProWide screen of 6.7 inchesPowerful battery OxyGen OS

Best value for money

The OnePlus 9 RT offers the best overall value as one of the best gaming phones in India from a premium brand. It has a powerful processor combined with a great display and amazing cameras. Even while playing games for long periods of time, the 9RT doesn't seem sluggish. The phone's corners are curved, making it comfortable to hold in one's hand. The physical buttons provide a fair amount of tactile feedback..

The speaker grille is located at the bottom of the phone, next to the USB Type-C connector for charging and the SIM card reader. Aluminium is a deeper shade of black than the rest of the bodywork.

Best overall

When it comes to naming the best gaming phone considering the overall features, iPhone 13 Pro is the best choice. The version comes with the A15 Bionic processor which provides improved performance, longer battery life, increased internal storage, enhanced camera sensors, and new colour options. iOS 15 will have a new on-screen controller designed to provide mobile gamers a more console-like gaming experience. The application programming interface (API) makes it possible to personalise control surfaces such as touch devices, d-pads, and up to four buttons that are mapped to control zones on each side of the screen. All these things make it a great device for gaming.

How to find the best gaming phone?

Gaming phones are different from regular phones. Some game phones come with RGB lighting, and improved cooling all to provide a best-in-class gaming experience. Choosing the best gaming phone differs from person to person. But there are a few things to keep in mind while selecting the best gaming phones.

  • Make sure the phone has at least 6 GB of RAM.
  • The storage should be at least 64 GB.
  • Processor should be octa-core. Snapdragon processors are great for gaming phones.
  • Make sure there is a fast charging option on the device.
  • Screen should be full HD for the best viewing experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which operating system is best for gaming?

Android is the best OS for gaming because you can customise it. Android devices support most of the popular games on mobiles. Android devices offer fast charging, higher RAM, SD card support which is missing from Apple devices. All these features make Android devices best gaming phones.

2. Which Snapdragon is best for gaming ?

The Snapdragon 888 processor is currently among the best for gaming. Using Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 888 processor, the company says that gamers will experience faster reaction times. According to Qualcomm, the 888 delivers a 10 percent performance boost at 120 frames per second and a 20 percent performance boost at 60 frames per second over the Snapdragon 865.

3. Which device is best for PUBG?

The Apple iPhone is a good choice for playing PUBG. Apple's iPhones are loaded with the latest and greatest technological features. Due to its high performance, the iPhone 13 Pro is great for PUBG mobile gaming. Because it has a long battery life, there is no need to worry about recharging it every 2 hours. The 6.7-inch Retina display enhances the gaming experience.

4. Is RAM important in gaming?

If you are looking for the best gaming phones in India then you should also pay attention to the RAM of the devices. RAM helps in boosting system responsiveness and frame rates for games.

5. What is a GPU?

The graphic processing unit is a crucial part of the device hardware of the mobile. GPU plays a vital role in gaming. It helps in the visual rendering of elements in the games. While looking for the best gaming phones, you should pay attention to the GPU.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so ... we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. Read more

Get Latest Updates on Best Electronics Deals. Mobiles , Laptops , Tablets , Gadgets and Computer Accessories