The best gamer smartphones in the UK 2023

Mobile games represent more than half of the gaming market. They have never been as popular as they are today. And to make the most of the graphics and engine of certain games, it's best to buy a gamer smartphone like the Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS, the reference of the genre. High refresh rate, storage capacity, 12GB of RAM... it's just amazing!

Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 1
9/10

Best value for money

Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS

Best gamer smartphone

Equipped with a 6.59″ display, the Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Its RAM is exceptional, 12GB, not to mention its graphics performance and 6,000mAh battery.

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The Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS has all the features a mobile gamer needs, including an incredible 6000 mAh battery, the must-have for extended gaming sessions. Note its 144Hz AMOLED display with a size of 6.59 inches. Add to that top-notch specs, with the combination of a 64-bit 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus (3.1 GHz) processor, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage.

Designed specifically for gamers, the ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS can be combined with accessories that you can't use on most other smartphones, including a clip-on fan, a gamepad and a range of accessories sold separately. It also ships with built-in software to help customize your gaming experience, such as overclocking the processor and adjusting the fan speed.

Black Shark 3 2
7/10

Best value for money

Black Shark 3

Best entry-level gamer smartphone

The Black Shark 3 gamer smartphone is not the most perfect. However, the performance of its camera, its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and its charging speed are worth a look.

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The Black Shark 3 is definitely the best gamer smartphone from this subsidiary of Chinese Xiaomi. This model sports a bold design, and its specifications are everything you'd expect from a gamer smartphone. The resolution of the 6.67-inch AMOLED screen reaches 1080 x 2400 (2K). The colors are punchy, ideal for the many games that rely on a brilliant art style, although the maximum brightness of the screen is still a bit low. This display has a 90 Hz refresh rate, reducible to 60 Hz to save battery life.

This smartphone embeds the processor the famous Snapdragon 865 SoC, which was until 2021 the best chipset available for smartphones. Xiaomi has paired it with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The Black Shark 3 is a true gamer smartphone and has a game mode called Shark Space. This mode offers a range of adjustable settings to enhance gameplay. When you use Shark Space, the games run much better and the battery lasts longer.

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 3
9/10

Best value for money

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel

Best high-end gamer smartphone

If you're looking for the ultimate 5G gaming smartphone, this is the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel. Besides its top-notch specs, it has a long battery life, a nice screen and some neat gaming features.

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The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel uses a 6.65-inch AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels) display, which supports HDR10+. The images are of very high resolution with punchy colors. It displays any game with supported premium graphics settings, and streaming video looks great as well. The maximum refresh rate is 144 Hz. You can lower it to 120 Hz, 90 Hz, or 60 Hz, depending on your needs, especially for longer battery life.

The internal components of the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel are truly state of the art. The whole smartphone offers an exceptional gaming experience. It's only logical to find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor, simply the best processor optimized for Android games at the moment! Add to that 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. Finally, you should know that the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel can fully recharge its 5000 mAh battery in less than 1 hour.

OnePlus 8 Pro 4
7/10

A great choice

OnePlus 8 Pro

Best non-gaming smartphone for gaming

The OnePlus 8 Pro is not a gamer smartphone per se. However, its mind-boggling technical specifications and high-quality screen allow it to offer the best gaming experience possible among mainstream smartphones.

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The OnePlus 8 Pro, a phone that has both all the power you need for games and a screen that helps them look their best. It is equipped with a Snapdragon 865 processor and 12GB of RAM. As far as the display is concerned, the OnePlus 8 Pro has a 6.78-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 3168 pixels with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. So it is big, sharp and smooth.

This smartphone sold for half the price of an iPhone 12 Pro Max supports 5G. So you can play online without latency wherever you are, as long as there is a 5G signal of course. And its big 4510 mAh battery means you can play for a long time between charges. And when it comes time to recharge the battery, you won't have to wait long. In fact, the OnePlus 8 Pro also supports fast charging and wireless charging.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best gamer smartphone

Any specific needs?

Best gamer smartphone

Best entry-level gamer smartphone

Best high-end gamer smartphone

Best non-gaming smartphone for gaming

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Comparison table of the best gamer smartphones

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 5
9/10
Black Shark 3 6
7/10
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 7
9/10
OnePlus 8 Pro 8
7/10
OUR SELECTION
Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS
Black Shark 3
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel
OnePlus 8 Pro
Equipped with a 6.59″ display, the Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Its RAM is exceptional, 12GB, not to mention its graphics performance and 6,000mAh battery.
The Black Shark 3 gamer smartphone is not the most perfect. However, the performance of its camera, its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC and its charging speed are worth a look.
If you're looking for the ultimate 5G gaming smartphone, this is the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel. Besides its top-notch specs, it has a long battery life, a nice screen and some neat gaming features.
The OnePlus 8 Pro is not a gamer smartphone per se. However, its mind-boggling technical specifications and high-quality screen allow it to offer the best gaming experience possible among mainstream smartphones.
Display
6.59", (2340 x 1080 pixels), 144 Hz
6.67", (2400 x 1080 pixels), 90 Hz
6.65", (2340 x 1080 pixels), 144 Hz
6.78", (3168 x 1440 pixels), 120 Hz
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus (up to 3.1 Ghz)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (up to 2.84 GHz)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus (up to 3.1 Ghz)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (up to 2.84 GHz)
RAM
16 GB
8 GB
12 GB
12 GB
Internal memory
512 GB
128 GB
256 GB
256 GB
Battery
6000 mAh
4720 mAh
5000 mAh
4510 mAh

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Buying guide - gamer smartphone

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How to choose your gamer smartphone

The competition is fierce to deliver the most powerful gamer smartphone. In order to get your hands on the one that will meet your expectations, discover the 5 important criteria to consider.

#1 - Autonomy

The battery capacity of a gamer smartphone is usually expressed in milliampere hours or mAh. It can greatly influence the autonomy of the device. You will be able to play for longer as the battery capacity increases. While conventional smartphones require a minimum of 3500 mAh battery, those intended for gaming require a higher level, 4000 mAh at least

.

#2 - The processor and graphics chipset

To

better suit the gaming world, a gamer smartphone's processor must have the most powerful chipsets. Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, 712, and 865 SoCs

easily support current games while providing a decent quality experience and excellent visuals. You'll also need good power if you want to record your games on your smartphone or simply play online with friends. With this in mind, an 8-core processor seems to be ideal especially for the more power-hungry games.

#3 - The screen

Savoir

choisir son smartphone gamer en fonction de son écran vous garantit une luminosité optimale et un bon contraste. To do this, pay attention as to the refresh rate and the resolution of the screen

. The higher the value, the better the rendering. These parameters also influence its fluidity. As for the screen size, think about borderless gamer smartphones or models offering a large display area.

#4 - RAM and internal memory

Having

a large capacity of random access memory or RAM offers you the possibility to browse or play relatively smoothly. Also, it temporarily stores your data in order to simplify their loading later. It is often between 4 and 12 GB

knowing that games like PUBG or Fortnite consume enough memory once installed.

Regarding storage capacity, the most powerful gamer smartphones offer up to 512 GB of internal memory. If you want to enjoy your games and install power-hungry apps, choose a device with a minimum capacity of 64GB

, although expandable with a TF card.

#5 - The refresh rate

The

refresh rate or frequency as well as the response time is dependent on the number of images displayed by the screen each second (FPS or frames per second). This parameter is translated in Hertz or Hz and comes into play in the computing power of the device. If the minimum for a gamer smartphone is 60 Hz, the number of FPS it will be able to display increases with the power.

How does a smartphone gamer work?


Playing anywhere at any time is possible thanks to the technology that never stops giving us the best. With a smartphone gamer, you can play at any time. In fact, by definition, a smartphone is a phone on which applications can be installed, such as games.

First of all, to play with a gamer smartphone, you need to have a quality screen and guarantee a comfortable gameplay for the user. The display must be properly defined in order to benefit from the graphics. Thus, to be more responsive, it must be coupled with a high refresh rate. Then, to run a gamer smartphone, one needs a powerful processor.

In addition, the latter must be accompanied by a RAM card, which allows to offer a high transfer speed. This device also has a large battery that allows it to be completely autonomous and also allows it to satisfy its user during the game. It is essential to know that there is an application that holds the role of controlling all video games, and it collects all the games on the device and also manages the performance of the smartphone according to several modes.

Then, a gamer smartphone must have a very good sound quality, and can reach a high volume. In any case, the gamer smartphone has its own codes and mechanisms, which have been able to adapt to the specificities of the medium: short sessions, immediacy, and controls that do not require a joystick or keyboard with multiple buttons. Thus, the hardware and software sides are the best possible for this gamer device.

Gamer smartphone or handheld console?

Gamer Smartphone

At first glance, the gamer smartphone looks very similar to a classic model. However, its components make it stand out, which makes it more powerful. Running Android or iOS, this type of smartphone is equipped with a very powerful processor. You can enjoy a totally immersive experience thanks to its screen size, AMOLED or OLED panel, resolution, storage space and especially its battery capacity which are greatly improved.

With a gamer smartphone, you will be able to browse the web with good fluidity and benefit from the main functionalities of such a device (sending and receiving calls or SMS, data transfer via Bluetooth, etc.). The high refresh rate ensures a more comfortable experience.

Portable console

With a portable console, you will be able to continue your gaming session even when you no longer have access to your TV or computer. This equipment is equipped with a screen, several buttons and an external sound system. It allows you to play your video games exclusively, which is its primary function. On top of that, surfing the Internet makes it more versatile.

The handheld console offers you a fairly large catalogue of games. Moreover, since they are not just simple entertainment, they are made in a more complex way to bring you even closer to the world of immersive games.

Verdict

For hardcore gamers, the choice of a handheld console is very advantageous. However, if your needs are more occasional and you want to take advantage of other applications and services at the same time, we advise you to stick with the smartphone gamer. In terms of games offered, those on smartphones are offered at a fairly affordable rate. On the contrary, you need to budget extra specifically for games if you want to get them for your handheld. On average, you should expect to pay between €10 and €50.

Tips

Pay attention to the Android version of your gamer smartphone

Since updates come and go as new features appear, you'll need to upgrade to a recent version for optimal gaming performance. Updating your Android version may be easy, but it will likely bring some changes to your games.

Extend battery life

There are several

methods you can use to extend your battery life. To do this, you can start by reducing the brightness of your gamer smartphone's screen, the same goes for the sleep time. Background applications, Bluetooth and GPS can be disabled. However, enable the "smart save" feature. Use 3G or 4G Wi-Fi.

Free up space in your storage space (on Android)

To

save storage space on your Android-based gamer smartphone, do the following:

  • Go to "Settings".
  • Click on "device maintenance
  • Choose the "storage" menu
  • Finalize the operation by clicking on "clean".

Avoid playing games while the smartphone is charging

In

general, the power cable of a gamer smartphone is quite short, and this is not without reason. Indeed, it prevents you from using your phone when it is charging. This will allow a better life span to the battery.

Increase the memory capacity of your gamer smartphone

This

advice is only for Android-based gamer smartphones. Besides freeing up disk space, you can also use a micro SD card to increase the storage capacity of the device. So, simply copy your data to the memory card and install your greedy games without worry.

FAQ

What is the best gamer smartphone?

The best gamer smartphone depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best.

Is the smartphone gamer addictive?

The gamer smartphone itself will not make you addicted. Rather, it is the gaming applications that can create an addictive effect especially for the younger ones.

Is the gaming smartphone suitable for children?

The smartphone gamer also offers its share of benefits. It can stimulate young children's memory, test their endurance, encourage them to play sports, awaken their creative spirit and imagination...

Can you do everything with a gamer smartphone?

The ultimate smartphone, the gamer smartphone gives you the ability to play the most space-hungry games, take high-quality photos, surf the web smoothly and enjoy a great gaming experience.

Will I need accessories to enjoy my favorite games?

Accessories are optional and not mandatory. You may need a gamepad, a pair of 3D glasses, a virtual reality headset or a stereo headset.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
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  13. , global.techradar.com
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  21. , huffingtonpost.fr
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  23. , androidcentral.com
  24. , gameover.fr
  25. , tomsguide.fr
  26. , boulanger.com
  27. , amazon.co.uk
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  36. , universfreebox.com
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 9
Asus ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS
Black Shark 3 10
Black Shark 3
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 11
Lenovo Legion Phone Duel
OnePlus 8 Pro 12
OnePlus 8 Pro

Lecteurs

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