As the best processor chips keep on getting faster and smaller each year, gaming phones are also getting better in every aspect.
Starting from its performance, graphics, display, and also its affordable price, everything about gaming phones is just continuously improving as time goes by.
Not to mention these days gaming phones are quite easy to find 一 from the low-end side to the high-end ones, every brand is coming up with their own version of a gaming device.
So how do you know which ones are the best? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we have rounded up the 9 best gaming 5G phones that you can get this year!
Best 5G Gaming Phones in 2021
1. ROG Phone 5
One of the best options when it comes to the best 5G gaming phones in 2021 is definitely the ROG Phone 5. Released 26th of April this year, the phone has a starting price of $650.
The ROG Phone 5 runs on the Qualcomm® Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform, which takes the processing and graphics power to a new level.
The rendering performance gets a powerful 35% increase. This only means users get to experience high-quality and smooth gaming with maxed-out settings.
The Qualcomm Adreno 660 GPU that the processor comes with also has a resolution of up to 840 MHz per second. This results in extra responsive and smooth graphics all around.
When it comes to battery life, the ROG Phone 5’s 6000 mAh battery is claimed to last for around 12 hours. Asus claims the device can charge up to 70% in just 30 minutes on the 65W charger.
The base model of the ROG Phone 5 comes with 8GB memory and storage. However, both capacities can easily be upgraded up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB SSD.
All in all, the ROG Phone 5 is a powerful gaming phone offering extraordinary RAM size and smooth performance at a mid-range price.
2. Black Shark 4
Another alternative for the best gaming phone in 2021 is the Black Shark 4. Released just this March, the phone features the full suite of Snapdragon Elite Gaming technologies.
It runs the Qualcomm® Snapdragon 870 processor, which boosts the CPU processing speeds by 12% and GPU speeds by 10%, bringing you extra smooth performance.
The Qualcomm® Adreno™ 650 GPU comes with a 144Hz Ultra-Smooth Display refresh rate and up to 720Hz Touch Response, creating the best no-delay gaming experience.
The Black Shark 4 is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery which is powered by its new double-cell eSports battery tech. This supplies users with all-day gaming and entertainment.
In addition, the phone also supports the standard 67w charger and also ultra-fast 120W hyper charging technology. Users get to enjoy fast charges up to 100% in less than 25 minutes.
Starting at $499, the Black Shark 4 comes with a RAM size of up to 12GB and an SSD storage capacity of up to 256GB.
3. REDMAGIC 6 Pro
If you’re looking for the best gaming phone with bigger memory, the RedMagic 6 Pro is worth checking. Released in March this year, the phone comes with 12 up to 18 GB of RAM.
In addition to the big memory, the RedMagic Pro also offers an extraordinary internal storage capacity as well. Users get to choose between 128, 256, or 512GB of SSD storage.
Powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G, the phone runs an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 660 GPU chip. It has up to 165hz refresh rate and 500hz touch sampling rate.
In terms of its battery, the RedMagic 6 Pro has different variations. The international model comes with a 5050 non-removable battery while the Chinese model gets the 4500 mAh one.
The china model supports fast-charging up to 120 watts which charge to 50% in 5 minutes while the internal one gets the standard fast charging of 66 watts.
For the base model with 12GB RAM and 128GB storage, the RedMagic 6 Pro retails for $680. On its official website, the 16GB RAM & 256GB model is priced at $699.
4. Legion Phone Duel 2
For those wanting to look stylish while gaming, the Legion Phone Duel 2 has your back! Released just this April, this Lenovo phone is the next step toward mobile gaming evolution.
Featuring the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 5G Octa-core mobile platform, the Legion Phone Duel 2 promises the smoothest and most stable performance.
Paired with the Adreno 660 GPU, the phone comes with a twin-turbo fan cooling system that prevents your device from heating up, delivering peak gaming performance.
With a 6.92″ FHD AMOLED Corning® Gorilla® Glass display, the phone offers a 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring effortless graphics and screen performance.
Not only that but the Legion Phone Duel 2 also comes with a strong battery of 5500 mAh that keeps you gaming away all day, every day.
In addition, the phone also comes with dual fast charging ports that can muster up to 90 watts charging speed and deliver 100% in just 30 minutes.
As of right now, the Legion Phone Duel 2 retails with a starting price of $958. It supports up to 12 and 16GB of RAM as well as 256GB and 512GB of SSD storage.
5. iPhone 12 Pro Max
If you’re an Apple lover, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is also a gaming phone option that you can try out. Released last year on October 13th, the iPhone runs on the new A14 Bionic processor.
The new processor comes with a 16-core Neural Engine that is capable of performing up to 11 trillion operations per second, bringing you a whole new gaming experience.
In addition, the iPhone 12 Pro Max also comes with Apple’s 4-core GPU cards that support 60 Hz. The GPU offers 30% faster graphics performance than the one from the A12.
When it comes to memory and storage, the iPhone 12 Pro Max offers 6GB RAM and up to 512GB NVMe storage. Both cannot be upgraded.
With a 3687 mAh battery, the iPhone 12 Pro Max supports up to 15W wireless charging using the MagSafe chargers. It’s not exactly the fastest but fast enough not to make you wait.
As of right now, the base model of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is priced at $999. It comes in 4 different colors of Silver, Pacific Blue, Gold, and Graphite.
6. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
Another option for the best gaming phones in 2021 comes from the brand Samsung. Released in January this year, the Samsung Galaxy S1 Ultra 5G is fast and reliable.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and Adreno 660 GPU, the phone offers one of the best and smoothest gaming experiences that you can get right now.
In addition, it also has the Super Smooth 120Hz display and a refresh rate that adjusts between 10-120Hz based on what content you’re viewing on the screen.
When it comes to internal storage, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G comes in three SSD sizes: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. It supports RAM memory of 8GB and 12GB.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s 5000 mAh battery does offer an all-day gaming experience. However, the device only supports a max charging power of 25 watts.
That said, if you’re expecting a fast-charging gaming phone, this option is probably not meant for you. A full charge of this phone can take up to 2 hours to complete.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is available for purchase in any Samsung or authorized stores. The base model is priced at $699 (6.2-inch), $799 (6.7-inch), and $999 for the 6.8-inch display.
7. OnePlus 9 pro
If you’re looking for an extra fast, smooth, and powerful gaming phone, the OnePlus 9 Pro released on March 30th this year is one of the best alternatives.
The OnePlus 9 Pro runs on the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 5G and the Adreno 660 GPU cards, which give the phone both powerful performance and stunning graphics.
Equipped with breakthrough LTPO technology, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a 120 Hz fluid display with exact color accuracy, true-to-life details, and ultra-smooth responsiveness.
In terms of the battery life, its built-in 4500 mAh battery allows users to game away all day. In addition, the phone also offers two different fast charges: wireless (50w) and standard (65w).
Starting at $779, the phone comes in three different variations: the 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, 8GB RAM with 256GB storage, and the 12GB RAM with 256GB.
8. OPPO Find X3 Pro
Released on 11th March this year, the OPPO Find X3 Pro is also one of our best picks for powerful gaming phones in 2021.
Priced at $895, the Oppo Find X3 Pro 5G is equipped with the latest Qualcomm chipset processor, the Snapdragon 888, and the Adreno™ 660 GPU graphics cards.
These chips combined with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage media provide its users with an immersive, high-definition, and effortless gaming experience.
Not only that, the Find X3 Pro 5G screen is supported by HDR 10+ technology with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is claimed to be able to display one billion colors.
In terms of its battery life, the Find X3 Pro comes with a dual battery with a total of 4500 mAh. It supports the 65W SuperVOOC flash charge and 30W AirVOOC Wireless Flash Charge.
9. Mi 11 Lite 5g
The last pick for the best gaming phone on our list comes from the Mi 11 Lite 5G. Starting at $350, this phone is one of the best and most affordable options there is at the time.
Recently released in April this year, the Mi 11 Lite 5G runs on the Qualcomm SM7350-AB Snapdragon 780G processor. It has an octa-core and supports the Adreno 642 GPU.
Despite not having the newest processor from Snapdragon, the Mi 11 Lite 5G still brings a fast powerful gaming performance and stunning graphics.
Its AMOLED HDR+10 Corning Gorilla Glass 6 screen gives the device up to a 90Hz refresh rate. With the phone, users can enjoy gaming in HD graphics and mild FPS with no problem.
In terms of its memory and internal storage, the Mi 11 Lite 5G offers up to 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. It comes with a 4250 mAh battery and fast charging technology of up to 33 watts.
Wrapping Up
High-quality gaming phones used to be a luxury for casual gamers. Thanks to technological development these days though, now you can get some of the best gaming phones affordably.
In this article, we have given you this year’s list of the best 5G gaming phones along with its short review and variety of prices. We hope this article will help you decide which one you need!
Good luck and we hope to see you in another article!