Smartphones have almost completely replaced handheld game consoles for good reasons: they usually have excellent displays and powerful features, and there are more and more games in the App Store and Google Play Store.
The best gaming phones of 2024 are powerful components. The next generation of game consoles may be the headlines, but amazing things are happening in the hardware of Android and Apple. Processors are getting faster, displays are getting sharper, and graphics are getting more powerful. All of this means that mobile games will only get better and better.
However, not all smartphones are great for gaming. Gaming is not limited to raw power; it also includes some extra features to check before buying a gaming phone.
There are phones specifically designed for gaming, and they have extremely high refresh rates, touch triggers, cooling systems, etc. On the other hand, some excellent gaming phones are not specifically targeted at this market. Many flagship products such as the Xiaomi Mi 13 and iPhone 14 pro also do well in their impressive displays and high-end specifications.
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The rest of this article contains a list of the Best gaming phones you could get right now. The list is divided into three categories. The first category is a list of the best gaming phones specifically designed for gaming, then we list amazing smartphones that are good for gaming, and then a list of the best cheap gaming phones right now.
Without further ado, this is a list of the best gaming phones in Nigeria in 2024.
Best Gaming Phones
1. Asus ROG Phone 6
- Released date: July 2022
- Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED display,1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+
- Resolution: 1080 x 2448 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
- RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Rear Camera: 50MP + 13MP + 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
- OS: Android 12, ROG UI
- Battery: 6,000mAh, 65W fast charging
The Asus ROG phone 6 is undoubtedly the best gaming phone in the market right now. Gaming phones are not supposed to be reasonable; they are huge phones with pretty striking RGB lights and the absolute breeding edge maximum specs available.
The ROG Phone has been at the forefront for a while, and this smartphone even takes it further. The ROG Phone 6 got a gigantic 6.78 inches display, a 165Hz AMOLED, a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, a massive 6,000mAh battery, 512GB internal storage, 16GB RAM, and a huge pair of stereo front-facing speakers that get very loud.
This smartphone is speedy and can play any game on the app store or play store. As you would expect, the price of the phone is very high and ridiculous. The starting price of the 8GB RAM / 128GB internal memory version is around $679 (NGN 283,000). However, the phone is not as expensive as the latest high-end iPhone and Samsung.
2. Lenovo Legion Y90
- Released Date: March 2022
- Display: 6.92-inch AMOLED display, 144Hz, HDR10+
- Resolution: 1080 x 2460 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
- RAM: 12/16/18GB
- Storage: 256/640GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 13MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
- OS: Android 12, ZUI 13
- Battery: 5,600mAh, 68W fast charging
The Lenovo Legion phone Y90 is the second-best gaming phone on our list. This smartphone really rivals the Asus ROG phone 6.
The Legion phone Y90 is bigger and slightly faster. It literally has the fan built into its body rather than relying on an optional attachment. We even got a whopping 16MP pop-up selfie camera for streaming. Lenovo has really helped their gaming phone better.
Also, the phone has a dual USB-C port which means it has a dual turbo charge feature. You can plug in two cords in it to boost up charging. All in all, this device is not a bad phone at all.
3. Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
- Released Date: March 2022
- Display: 6.67-inch OLED display, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
- RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Rear Camera: 108MP + 13MP + 5MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
- OS: Android 12, Joy UI 13
- Battery: 4,650mAh, 120W fast charging
The Xiaomi Black shark 5 Pro is one of the best gaming phones you can get right now. The phone comes with all the big numbers in today’s gaming phones, including Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB internal storage, good battery life, and a lot more.
This is a phone you have to check out when shopping for the best gaming phones in 2023.
4. ZTE Nubia Red Magic 8
- Released Date: December 2022
- Display: 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 1B colors, 120Hz
- Resolution: 1116 x 2480 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 8MP
- OS: Android 11, Redmagic 4.0
- Battery: 5,050mAh, 66W fast charging
The ZTE Nubia Red Magic 8 is another phone designed specifically for gaming in 2021. This device comes with many great designs, including Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 processor which is the best chipset on any device right now, and a 6.8 inches AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Smartphones display refresh rate is getting high, but this one has the highest refresh rate we have ever seen in a smartphone. Playing games with this phone is enjoyable, and the display is very smooth.
This is a device you definitely can call one of the best gaming phones in the market right now.
Best Non-gaming Phone good for gaming
1. Samsung Galaxy S21
- Released Date: January 2021
- Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display
- Resolution: 1140 x 3200 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 12MP + 12MP
- Front Camera: 10MP
- OS: Android 11, One UI 3.1
- Battery: 4,000mAh, 25W fast charging
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is not a gaming phone and does not come with the kind of crazy refresh rate in the top gaming phones, but gaming on this phone is as well smooth.
This device rivals the best gaming phones. This device does not only have gaming features, it great for photography, and you can do a lot with it.
But the main problem with this phone is that it is too expensive and not many people will be able to buy the phone.
2. Oneplus 9 Pro
- Released Date: March 2021
- Display: 6.7-inch LTPO Fluid2 AMOLED display
- Resolution: 1440 x 3216 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 8/12/16GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Camera: 48MP + 8MP + 50MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
- OS: Android 11, OxygenOS 11.2.5.5
- Battery: 4,500mAh, 65W fast charging
The OnePlus 9 Pro is another all-around top-end device, but it comes with some gaming features like Hyper Touch. This feature can boost the touch sampling rate from an already-high 240Hz to 360Hz. This makes the display of this phone respond very fast to inputs, which is great when playing games.
Aside from this, this device comes with almost all the features you will find in the best gaming phones. It comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with 1440 x 3216 pixels resolution, 120HZ refresh rate, Snapdragon 888 chipset, 12GB RAM, and 256GB internal storage.
3. iPhone 12 Pro
- Released Date: October 2020
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 1170 x 2532 pixels
- SOC: Apple A14 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128/256/256GB
- Rear Camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
- OS: iOS 14.1
- Battery: 2,815mAh, 20W fast charging
The iPhone 12 Pro is an all-rounder flagship smartphone that comes with a well-developed chipset great for gaming. The phone is not your regular big screen device, but its specs are all that you’d expect from a gaming phone.
4. Oppo Find X3 Pro
- Released Date: March 2021
- Display: 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display
- Resolution: 1440 x 3216 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 888
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Rear Camera: 50MP + 13MP + 50MP + 3MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
- OS: Android 11, ColorOS 11.2
- Battery: 4,500mAh, 65W fast charging
The Oppo Find X3 comes with a snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 4500mAh battery, wireless charging, IP68 rating, and a 10-bit display.
This device has every one of the specs you need in a gaming phone.
5. Samsung Galaxy Note 20
- Released Date: August 2020
- Display: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 865 / Exynos 990
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 12MP + 12MP
- Front Camera: 10MP
- OS: upgradeable to Android 11, One UI 3.0
- Battery: 4,300mAh, 25W fast charging
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 may not look like a gaming phone but be rest assured that this is currently one of the best gaming phones in the market. The phone comes with a display of a 120Hz refresh rate.
The Galaxy Note 20 is optimized for streaming Xbox games via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and can even cast games to external displays through the Samsung DeX interface and Miracast.
Best Cheap Gaming Phones
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
- Released Date: March 2021
- Display: 6.43-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- SOC: Snapdragon 678
- RAM: 4GB, 6GB
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- Rear Camera: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
- OS: Android 11, MIUI 12
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charging
2. Tecno Camon 17 Pro
- Released Date: May 2021
- Display: 6.8-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080 x 2460 pixels
- SOC: MediaTek Helio G95
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 48MP
- OS: Android 11, HiOS 7.6
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 25W fast charging
3. Infinix Note 10 Pro
- Released Date: May 2021
- Display: 6.95-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080 x 2460 pixels
- SOC: MediaTek Helio G95
- RAM: 6/8GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Rear Camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP +2MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
- OS: Android 11, XOS 7.6
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 33W fast charging
4. Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro
- Released Date: May 2021
- Display: 6.5-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
- SOC: MediaTek Dimensity 700
- RAM: 4/6GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Rear Camera: 48MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 8MP
- OS: Android 11, MIUI 12
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 18W fast charging
5. Infinix Hot 10T
- Released Date: May 2021
- Display: 6.82-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 720 x 1640 pixels
- SOC: MediaTek Helio G70
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Rear Camera: 48MP + 2MP
- Front Camera: 2MP
- OS: Android 11, XOS 7.6
- Battery: 5,000mAh
6. Umidigi A11
- Released Date: May 2021
- Display: 6.95-inch IPS LCD
- Resolution: 720 x 1600 pixels
- SOC: MediaTek Helio G25
- RAM: 3/4GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Rear Camera: 16MP + 8MP + 5MP
- Front Camera: 8MP
- OS: Android 11
- Battery: 5,150mAh, 10W fast charging