Mobile gaming technology has advanced considerably over the last few years. In terms of graphics, performance, and processing power, dedicated gaming phones can now compete with the latest mobile consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch and the Valve Steam Deck.
Most smartphones can play different games pretty easily, but if you want a device that can run the latest games at maximum resolution, you need a phone purpose-built for gaming – one with a decent display size, a healthy battery life, and comfortable controls.
We’ve put together a list of ideal recommendations that are guaranteed to fulfill all the prerequisites mentioned above. So, without further ado, read on to find four new smartphones with big screens that are perfect for gaming.
Asus ROG Phone 5
The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a truly impressive gaming phone. From performance stats to ergonomics, gamer-centric features can be seen in every aspect of its design. With a 6.78-inch display, it’s also one of the biggest gaming phones money can buy.
Equipped with the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset and up to 16 GB of RAM, the ROG Phone 5 handles all processing tasks with ease. If anything, it packs a little too much power in, as it’s one of the bulkiest phones on our list.
Thanks to a refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz, the ROG Phone 5 provides better quality visuals than the majority of smartphones. Couple these enviable specs with a lengthy battery life, and it’s easy to see why the ROG Phone 5 is highly sought-after by gaming enthusiasts.
The weight of the ROG Phone 5 is a small price to pay for industry-leading performance. The only potential drawback is the camera, which is a bit weak compared to cameras in flagship models from other brands.
Nubia RedMagic 7
Boasting an advanced internal cooling system, the Nubia RedMagic 7 offers the same performance as a high-end smartphone at a fraction of the cost. Designed primarily with speed and affordability in mind, it’s a great gaming choice if you’re on a tight budget.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor is the latest mobile chipset from Qualcomm, giving the RedMagic 7 an edge over slightly older phones like the ROG Phone 5. Memory is also a major advantage, with the highest-spec models having up to 18 GB of DDR5 RAM.
The screen is 6.8 inches with a 165Hz refresh rate, which means that the RedMagic 7 has the biggest and fastest screen on the market. Clearly, despite its relatively low starting price, the RedMagic 7 has some serious hardware under the hood. The downside is that regular smartphone features appear to take a hit.
Daily tasks such as phone calls and messaging can be a bit unresponsive at times, so the RedMagic 7 isn’t ideal if you want a phone that you can use for work. It’s an admirable example of high-performance gaming, but the buggy features in other aspects might turn some people off.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Regardless of whether it’s for work or play, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max can stand toe-to-toe with any flagship phone on the market. It might have a higher price tag than other smartphones, but we all know that all-around excellence usually doesn’t come cheap.
Apple’s A15 chipset is the fastest smartphone processor at the moment. The A15 has a five-core GPU in the Pro Max, one more core than the regular iPhone 13. The additional core makes all the difference when it comes to gaming, and with Apple Arcade’s extensive library of games, the Pro Max is an enticing option for hardcore gamers.
Aside from its incredible gaming performance, the Pro Max also features state-of-the-art cameras, a crisp 120Hz display, and a long battery life. It’s the best all-rounder by any metric except screen size, as the 6.7-inch display is a bit smaller than other phones we’ve featured.
The only issue worth considering is the price. The Pro Max is one of the most expensive phones ever made, with a starting price of over $1,000. Such a steep asking price might be out of reach for some people, but the Pro Max will most definitely prove its value over time if you can afford it.