What to Look for in a Gaming Phone

What to look for in a gaming phone

How do I choose a gaming phone?

Choosing the best gaming phone can be a complex task. However, this short guide will help you understand what specs and features to look for to give you the most immersive, super-speedy mobile gaming experience.

Which display is best for mobile gaming?

First up, when thinking about a gaming phone, you will want to consider the specifications of the display. There are three screen elements that we recommend you think about when it comes to choosing the best gaming phone: resolution, pixels per inch (PPI) and panel type.

Resolution is easy - the higher the better. Written as length x height, display resolution refers to the total number of pixels on your phone screen. For the best gaming experience, you’ll want a phone that has a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720. And with Samsung there’s no need to compromise. You’ll find a stunning 3,120 x 1,440 resolution with the Galaxy S26 Ultra or an incredible 2,184 x 1,968 main screen resolution with the highly acclaimed Galaxy Z Fold7.

The best gaming phones will also have good screen size and high PPI or pixel density to deliver sharper detail for anything displayed on your screen. A higher PPI is really important for gaming if you're looking for exceptional clarity and vibrancy in images and fonts. The size of your phone display, resolution and PPI are all closely linked and should be considered together when deciding on your gaming phone. If the size of the screen increases, the PPI and resolution should too. Larger displays can help create a more immersive mobile gaming experience.

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Having a large screen phone means that your thumbs end up covering less of the screen, which is super useful when you can move the virtual joysticks and buttons to the very edges of the device. For the most immersive gaming experience, opt for a display which is 6.2-inches or larger. With the awesome Galaxy Z Fold7, you get the best of both - a huge unfolded 8” main display and a 6.5” sub display both boasting Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology. But if you’re looking for a non-foldable smartphone, the incredible Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 6.9” screen is more than enough to give you a competitive edge while gaming.

Finally, the display technology is important for mobile gaming because for the best experience you need to interact with a lot of fast, action-packed content without worrying about washed out or grainy images. You’ll want the most up to date display technology if you’re an avid gamer and choosing a smartphone with an AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light-emitting Diode) display will help ensure you experience the most remarkable colours, deepest blacks and amazing contrast ratios. Flagship Samsung Galaxy smartphones take display technology to the next level with the Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. Why not try the Galaxy Z Flip7? It not only has a stunning 6.9-inch main screen, but flips in half to create a compact phone ready to slip into your pocket. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display delivers vibrant colours and impressive brightness day and night - perfect for your gaming phone needs!

Processing power

For mobile gaming, you should also make sure that the main processing unit of the phone is ready for high performance gameplay. The processors found in most Samsung Galaxy smartphones run on either Octa-core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.6GHz Quad) or Quad-core (2.15GHz + 1.6GHz) chipsets. However, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series boasts the fastest and most advanced processor on a Galaxy phone yet:; the Snapdragon^® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy¹.

But what is a processor and why does it matter for a gaming phone? Processors found inside phones are responsible for carrying out advanced tasks such as handling graphic intensive games and creating high resolution videos. Older processors may make devices slower, less efficient and less capable of running advanced games smoothly.

¹Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

RAM

If you want the best gaming phone, you need to consider its RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is essentially the amount of data your phone can have active and ready to go at any one time. The more RAM you have, the less your phone has to load from flash memory, and the more intensive your graphics can be. This makes RAM important for gaming because if your phone doesn’t have enough, you’ll experience glitchy, slow running games. If you love data intensive games, you’ll need more RAM (8GB or 12GB) to enjoy your games at their best. The processing unit also shares the same RAM pool as the rest of your phone so opting for more RAM is better for both data storage and the processing power of your phone.

Refresh Rate

Finally, when searching for the best gaming phone you also need to look out for smartphones with a high refresh rate. A refresh rate is measured in Hz (Hertz) and calculates the number of times a display updates the image you see every second. A standard refresh rate is around 60Hz - the screen refreshes 60 times every second. For a gaming phone, opting for 120Hz will take your gaming to the next level.

What is a good refresh rate for gaming?

With a higher refresh rate, you’ll enjoy even more realistic animations, smoother scrolling and crystal-clear displays. This makes having a speedy refresh rate essential in mobile gaming to make movement between frames super smooth. A 120Hz refresh rate can make gameplay feel smoother and more responsive, especially in fast-moving games.

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What does 120Hz mean?

A refresh rate of 120Hz means that the screen is updates images 120 times a second. Previously only available on top end gaming monitors, Samsung has brought this innovative technology to flagship Galaxy devices including the sensational Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Fold7 and the Galaxy S26 Series. So, you can now enjoy silky smooth scrolling, higher responsiveness, and dynamic gaming in the palm of your hand.

Is 5G good for gaming?

5G connectivity is also an extra bonus for many new phones especially when it comes to mobile gaming. 5G offers much lower latency and faster downloads than 4G, meaning you can game just about anywhere without sacrificing on speed. Read more about the advantages of 5G in our article What Is 5G and Do I Need It?

Which Galaxy smartphone is best for gamers?

There are a number of Samsung phones that are designed with gaming in mind. We’ve included some of the best Galaxy gaming phones below:

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a brilliant contender as Samsung’s best-performing gaming phone. Boasting a stunning 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers an amazing the perfect large screen experience to make the most of any game. Combined with Adaptive Vision Booster technology, a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a whopping 2600 nits of brightness – that’s the brightest in any Galaxy series - you’ll find yourself lost in eye-widening, super sharp, colour-popping gaming content.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features the fastest chipset ever on a Galaxy S Sseries smartphone; the Snapdragon^® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy³. The latest iteration promises dynamic gaming so even the most demanding online multiplayer marathons will feel like a breeze. And with a huge 5,000mAh (typical)^¹ battery and Super Fast Charging², you don’t need to worry about running out of power at the crucial moment.

You get 12GB of RAM as standard, with the option of 256GB, 512GB or even 1TB of storage, so it can handle demanding games and everyday multitasking. Plus, with an incredible quad-lens camera setup and cinematic 8K video capabilities it’s hard not to love the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

When it's time to turn the games off and get back to work, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also comes with an embedded S Pen, so you can take advantage of a real pen-like writing experience on the highly responsive screen, perfect for both work and play.

¹Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard.
²45W Travel Adaptor sold separately.
³Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

¹Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard.
²45W Travel Adaptor sold separately.
³Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

Samsung’s latest folding phone, the Galaxy Z Fold7 combines the functionality of a smartphone and a tablet into one awesome package. You get a full screen experience both inside and out. The cover screen comes in at a generous 6.5-inches1 with a 2520 x 1080 display resolution, while the internal display measures an impressive 8.0-inches2 with 2184 x 1968 resolution. This means the Galaxy Z Fold7 is well suited for on-the-go gaming with plenty of screen space to see all the action.

Even more impressively, the Galaxy Z Fold7 can produce a 120Hz refresh rate without having to bring down the screen resolution. Fast-moving games feel smoother and more responsive, while the larger tablet-like display gives you more space to fully appreciate every detail.

The Galaxy Z Fold7’s underlying Octa-Core processor is built to keep up with the newest demanding mobile games, while also allowing you to browse the internet and watch videos, making it a fabulous option if you’re looking for a superb gaming phone that’s great for multitasking.

¹Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold7's Cover Screen size is 6.5” in the full rectangle and 6.5” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
²Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold7’s Main Screen size is 8.0” in the full rectangle and 8.0” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.

¹Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold7's Cover Screen size is 6.5” in the full rectangle and 6.5” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is smaller due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
²Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Fold7’s Main Screen size is 8.0” in the full rectangle and 8.0” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7

The Galaxy Z Flip7 opens up new experiences with a hands-free, any-angle hinge; letting you do even more of what you love. A compact alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold7, this future-ready phone is also a very capable and impressive gaming smartphone. With a boosted 3nm processor, the Galaxy Z Flip7 delivers powerful performance within the Samsung Galaxy Z foldables Series range. The intelligent processor brings desktop performance in the palm of your hand. It is designed to keep up with your gaming, work and entertainment demands day and night, making it a superb choice if you’re seeking smooth, seamless, action-packed gaming.

It opens up to reveal a stunning 6.9” Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2,520 x 1,080) FHD+ Infinity Flex display² that’s optimised for high-energy content. And with a rapid refresh rate of 120Hz, it is super vibrant and fluid, capable of delivering gaming graphics at high speeds. You can be sure to enjoy mobile gaming in full detail with smooth, responsive visuals. And with a super-bright display, you’ll enjoy next level viewing every time, so you can be sure you’re always experiencing your game at its best.

¹Measured diagonally, Galaxy Z Flip7's Main Screen size is 6.9” in the full rectangle and 6.8” accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G

If you are looking for an impressive gaming phone but want a phone that’s slightly more affordable, the Galaxy A Series has some great options. The Galaxy A57 5G offers a strong balance of performance, display quality and battery life at an affordable price. You’ll find an advanced Octa-Core processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. There’s no need to worry about running out of power, the massive 5,000mAh (typical) battery^¹ gives you more time to game, stream and share.

^¹Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard.

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