You don’t need a high-end phone to play your favorite games without lag. Some low-cost gaming phones have specs comparable to luxury phones now on the market.
You can still get a good phone for under $200 to play most graphics-demanding games like Call of Duty and PUBG. The most crucial factor to look out for is the processor, RAM, storage, and display for gaming.
The processor and RAM enable you to be able to play games without lag and also help the game to load very fast. Having enough storage is excellent because games like Call of Duty can take up to 16GB of Storage.
Having a gaming phone is good, but you still don’t want to miss out on the camera and some other essential features. Therefore, you should also look out for a phone with good cameras and a display of not less than 1080p resolution.
This article will go through the top 6 gaming phones you can buy right now for under $200. If you are looking for a device with more features, you should increase your budget to $300. Check out our article on the best budget gaming phone under $300.
Here is a list of the best budget gaming phone under $200 in 2024.
Best Budget Gaming Phone Under $200
1. Samsung Galaxy A24
Released date: March 2023 | Display: 6.6 inches, Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2340 pixels | CPU: Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | GPU: Mali-G68 | RAM: 6GB/8GB RAM | Storage: 128GB/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 48MP + 8MP + 5MP | Front camera: Single 13Mp | OS:Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Battery: 5000 mAh, 25W fast charging | Dimension: 161.3 x 78.1 x 8.2 mm | Weight: 199g
Get Samsung’s Galaxy A24 if you don’t want to spend more than $200 on your next gaming phone. Despite the plasticky body, it’s an excellent Android phone, and it’s only $199. Its Dimensity 1080 processor provides excellent performance, with games like Dead Cells running without a hitch.
The smartphone comes with a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display, with one advantage being a 120-Hz screen refresh rate. It raises the amount of times graphics on the screen refresh per second from 60 to 120, resulting in a smoother experience. It’s a minor but welcome improvement. Even great is the battery life. You won’t need to plug in every night because the 5,000-mAh cell lasts two full days on a single charge.
The Samsung Galaxy A24 5G’s primary 48-megapixel camera on the rear is surprisingly good, capturing a lot of detail without overexposing the shot. Although it oversaturates and strips away shadows too much, as with other Samsung phones, this is still a reliable shooter, even at night, thanks to the dedicated Night mode.
Samsung has kept all of the features you want in a phone, like a headphone jack, MicroSD card slot, NFC for contactless payments, and a fingerprint sensor on the side. Best of all, it guarantees two OS upgrades and up to four years of security patches for this device. On a cheap device, That level of software support on the phone is scarce. This phone’s successor has yet to be announced. It’s a little harder to come by, but it’s still an incredible deal.
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 12
Released date: October, 2022 | Display: 6.67 inches AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (6 nm) | GPU: Adreno 619 | RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM | Storage: 128GB/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 48MP + 8MP + 2MP | Front camera: Single 13Mp | OS: Android 12, MIUI 14 | Battery: 5000 mAh, 33W fast charging | Dimension: 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm | Weight: 188g
The Redmi Note 12’s cheapest phone is also the one that stands out the most. Despite being a budget phone, this is because it provides a lot of value for money. As a result, you get a fantastic screen, a long battery life, and surprising performance. The most impressive thing is that the phone comes with the best processor at the time of release, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. You can be sure of more efficiency and better game experience.
On the other hand, the cameras aren’t particularly impressive, but great for a phone of this price. You’ve got a 48MP main sensor and a 13MP selfie camera that captures decent pictures.
Although an international phone, when you purchase this device on Amazon, you can get an unlocked phone that works with all US carriers.
3. Samsung Galaxy A14
Released date: February, 2023 | Display: 6.6 inches IPS LCD, 1080 x 2408 pixels | CPU: Exynos 850 (8nm) | GPU: Mali-G52 MC2 | RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128 ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 5MP + 2MP | Front camera: Single 13Mp | OS: Android 13, One UI Core 5 | Battery: 5000 mAh, 15W fast charging | Dimension: 167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm | Weight: 201g
Look no further than the Galaxy A14 for the best phone under $200 in 2023. At $141, this is a great phone that does just about everything well enough. In addition, it boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
The cameras are great and capture good images. However, they’ll suffice if you don’t mind Samsung’s signature oversaturated look. The performance isn’t as impressive as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, but it’s adequate for most everyday chores.
4. Moto G Stylus 2022
Released date: February , 2022 | Display: 6.8 inches IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1080 x 2460 pixels | CPU: MediaTek Helio G88 (12nm) | GPU: Mali-G52 MC2 | RAM: 6GB RAM | Storage: 128GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 8MP + 2MP | Front camera: Single 16Mp | OS: Android 11 | Battery: 5000 mAh | Dimension: 170.2 x 75.9 x 9.5 mm | Weight: 216g
The Moto G Stylus 2022 is a terrific, affordable phone that costs a little less than the previous model. It has a massive 6.8-inch 1080p display with a refresh rate of 90Hz. Other specifications are also not terrible. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM, and a triple camera configuration.
This phone isn’t the greatest on the list because it has flaws. However, if you’re on a budget and need a tablet with a stylus, this is your only alternative.
5. Nokia G50
Released date: September, 2021 | Display: 6.82 inches IPS LCD, 720 x 1560 pixels | CPU: Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | GPU: Adreno 619 | RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM | Storage: 64GB/128 ROM | Rear camera: Triple 48MP + 5MP + 2MP | Front camera: Single 8Mp | OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12 | Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W fast charging | Dimension: 173.8 x 77.7 x 8.9 mm | Weight: 220g
Nokia does not lag in terms of low-cost gadgets. The Nokia G50 has excellent features at a reasonable price, and its specifications are pretty good. A Snapdragon 480 processor is included, which provides decent performance for casual use. There is also up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Thanks to its 5,000mAh battery, you can expect a long battery life. Given the low-demand specifications, this quantity of energy will go a long way.
6. TCL 40 XL
Released date: February, 2023 | Display: 6.75 inches IPS LCD, 90Hz, 720 x 1600 pixels | CPU: Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37 (12 nm) | GPU: PowerVR GE8320 | RAM: 4GB/6GB RAM | Storage: 128GB/256GB ROM | Rear camera: Triple 50MP + 2MP +2MP | Front camera: Single 8Mp | OS: Android 13, TCL UI | Battery: 5000 mAh, 18W fast charging | Dimension: 167.9 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm | Weight: 195 g
TCL’s 2023 smartphone lineup consists of three models: the TCL 40 SE, TCL 40 X, TCL 40 XE, and TCL 40 XL. The first three aren’t included since we discuss the best gaming phone under $200. However, there are compelling reasons to choose the TCL 40 XL.
Although it performs slightly better, it has the same MediaTek Helio G37 processor as the TCL 40 SE. As a result, it’s a robust device with the most excellent and luxurious feeling. Unfortunately, it is made of plastics, making it look cheap but more durable.
The 6.75-inch IPS LCD screen is colorful, and it gets bright enough to see outdoors. The 5,000-mAh battery cell comfortably lasts for more than a full day of use, and it has the usual niceties, like NFC, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot. The only reason it’s not one of our top picks is that TCL only promises two OS upgrades and two years of security updates, so the Samsung and Xiaomi phones above will be supported for a longer time.
It has a pretty good camera system, but it’s not as good as the competitors mentioned above.
