Gaming technology has come a long way when it comes to playing on the go. Within just a few years, developers have gone from creating hypercasual puzzlers to full-on, console-quality titles. Of course, playing games of this nature requires some serious hardware, which is why smartphone manufacturers are now producing gaming-specific smartphones.
These phones, naturally, come with top of the range specs, but the quality of their hardware and software is on a whole other level too.
If you’re in the market for a brand-new gaming smartphone this year, check out our list of the five best releases in 2020.
List of Best 5 Gaming Phones for 2020
Razer Phone 2Â
The second edition of Razers flagship gaming phone, imaginatively named the Razer Phone 2, is a sturdy device and a big progression from the original Razer Phone (which was by no means bad in the first place). It’s a phone designed with gamers in mind, and packs in a fair amount of hardware and software to make gaming on the go as enjoyable as its desktop counterpart.
Since this is a gaming phone, the camera and display aren’t quite as impressive as some other smartphone models, but if you’re serious about gaming that won’t make much difference to you. The biggest draw of the Razer 2 is its substantial Snapdragon 845 chip combined with 8GB RAM. It also has a cracking pair of speakers, 4000mAh battery and a pretty speedy 120hz refresh rate.
If you’re looking for a solid phone that will get you through endless Call of Duty: Mobile marathons, the Razer 2 is the device for you – and its entry-level price won’t break the bank.
Asus ROG Phone 3Â
Quite possibly the best phone built for gamers so far, the latest ROG model from Asus is 5G ready and is packed with all the extras a pro gamer needs. Make no mistake, this is a serious gaming phone for serious players, and so comes with a premium price tag (approximately $900 USD), but eSports professionals and full-time gamers will go wild for this model’s top tier specs.
The Asus ROG 3 features a Snapdragon 865 plus chipset and 16GB RAM, making it a powerful beast. The 6.59-inch AMOLED screen is gorgeous and delivers a 144Hz refresh rate, and the huge 6,000mAh battery will endure extended gaming sessions. Although this model doesn’t feature wireless charging or water resistance, added extras include a clip-on fan and built-in software to customize gaming experiences.
OnePlus 8 Pro Â
Easily the best OnePlus model yet, this multi-functional phone is ideally suited to the casual player who appreciates a few added “gamer” touches, but who needs a decent all-round smartphone too. You may not be able to test the limits of this phone by competing in the next PUBG Global Champions tournament, but it is more than capable of handling popular iGaming apps like PokerStars for Android, as well as more graphics-heavy games like Elder Scrolls: Blades.
Being a flagship model, the OnePlus 8 Pro is built around a Snapdragon 865 chipset and features a 6.78-inch screen with a decent 120Hz refresh rate. It supports 5G too, minimizing content streaming and gaming lag in 5G signal areas. It can be charged both wirelessly and traditionally.
Black Shark 3Â
Sitting in the middle range, between the Razer 2 and ROG 3, is the Black Shark 3. The newest phone from the Xiaomi gaming sub-brand, the Black Shark 3 is big and flashy and boasts some top-end specs despite its more affordable price point. This is a phone for gamers who like to show off; its bold design even includes LED lights.
Surprisingly for a dedicated gaming phone, the four cameras (three rear and one front) work very well even in low-lighting. It’s affordable too, being one of the only gaming phones to feature a Snapdragon 865 & 12GB RAM combo at this price point ($500 USD). The 6.67-inch 2080 x 2440 resolution screen has the potential to be fantastic for gaming, but it is let down a bit by the 90Hz refresh rate.
Vivo iQOO 3 5GÂ
An impressive debut 5G gaming phone from the Indian smartphone manufacturer, the Vivo iQOO 3 5G may be hard to find, but its affordable, well-rounded and will suit a wide range of gamers, from casual players to more dedicated ones.
Its 6.44-inch Super AMOLED screen is one of the nicest available for a gaming phone at this price point (under $650 USD), and its Snapdragon 865 chip makes it a powerful new competitor to the likes of Asus and Razer. Most interestingly for gamers, the iQOO 3 features dedicated pressure-sensitive buttons, as well as an Ultra Gaming Mode that can be used to activate 4D game vibration.
