10 Elite Smartphones Engineered for Gaming Brilliance

We at Vi are always excited by mobile phones that let you game without compromise. If you’re after the best gaming mobile options in 2025, phones that deliver buttery-smooth frames, strong performance, and extended battery life, then this is for you. Here are 10 mobile phones we believe rank among the top phones for gaming today, from flagships to mid-range beasts, here’s a comprehensive list. So, let’s get started!

What makes a mobile phone great for gaming?

A gaming phone (or a phone that’s one of the best gaming mobiles) must combine several things: a powerful chip, a high refresh-rate display, responsive cooling, plenty of RAM, a solid battery, and reliable network connectivity. Good gaming phones also need low latency in Wi-Fi or 5G, because online multiplayer demands it. So, when we compare phones, we look at how they handle sustained performance under load, how smooth the screen is, how fast they charge, and how well they stay cool.

Which are best mobile phones for gaming?

Here are our picks for the top phones for gaming, with specs relevant to Indian variants:

1. Google Pixel 10

The Pixel 10 is powered by the new Tensor G5 chip, with 12 GB RAM (256 GB storage). It has a 6.3-inch OLED display, 120 Hz refresh, and a 4,970 mAh battery. Its cameras are strong, including a 48 MP main, a 10.8 MP 5× telephoto, plus ultrawide. For gamers who want smooth Android performance and good display clarity, this is one of the best gaming mobile options.

2. Xiaomi 15

Xiaomi 15 sports a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12 GB RAM (up to 512 GB storage), and a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED 120-Hz display. Its battery is 5,240 mAh, and there’s Hyper Charging on offer as well. For those looking for a phone that balances performance and compactness, this is one among the good gaming phones.

3. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

With a massive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and 120Hz refresh rate, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite. It comes with 12GB of RAM, and storage options are 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. It also has a 200 MP main camera and a 5,000 mAh battery. If money is no object, this is easily among the best gaming mobiles, premium, powerful, and future-proof.

4. iPhone 16

This may come as a surprise, but Apple iPhones are surprisingly good when it comes to gaming as well, without sporting massive RAM figures or battery sizes when compared to Android devices.  Apple’s A18 chip, 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display (60Hz), and excellent game-optimised software make the iPhone 16 one of the top phones for gaming, especially for iOS gamers. It tends to deliver consistent frame rates in demanding titles as well.

5. OnePlus 13s

OnePlus 13s features Snapdragon 8 Elite, a good 6.32-inch high-res LTPO ProXDR display at 120Hz, 12 GB RAM, and a large 5,850 mAh battery with Super VOOC charging support. It’s one of the best gaming phones if you want flagship performance but prefer a smaller, lighter device.

6. Tecno Pova Slim

If you are looking for the best gaming phone under 20000, this one certainly fits the bill. The Tecno Pova Slim 5G is priced around ₹19,999 in India. It offers a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED screen with 144 Hz refresh, Mediatek Dimensity 6400, 8 GB RAM, and a 5,160 mAh battery. For budget gaming, this phone shows that good gaming phones don’t always need to cost a fortune. Moreover, the device is one of the slimmest smartphones available in the market today.


7. Vivo X200 FE

If you are looking for a gaming phone that offers good aesthetics and feel without being too flashy, the Vivo X200 FE is the one you should definitely be considering. It runs on a Mediatek Dimensity 9300 Plus chipset, and you can choose between 12GB and 16GB RAM sizes. The Vivo X200 FE comes with a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 6500mAh battery with flash charging as well.

8. Oppo K13 Turbo

Though not the top flagship, the K13 Turbo has created quite the buzz within the community. The phone features a cooling fan, a feature that is extremely essential when gaming for long hours, Mediatek Dimensity 8450 with 8GB of RAM, a 6.8-inch LTPS AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a 7000mAh battery with Super VOOC charging too.

9. OnePlus Nord 5

The Nord 5 is another mid-range contender. With a proven Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset under the hood and RAM sizes of 8GB/12GB, this is a pretty solid offering if gaming is a priority. The OnePlus Nord 5 features a 6.83-inch Swift AMOLED display, with a really good refresh rate of 144Hz. Specs like those are bound to make gaming sessions all the more enjoyable.

10. Infinix GT30

The Infinix GT 30 series (for example, GT 30 5G+ and GT 30 Pro) is very gaming-oriented. It comes with a 144 Hz LTPS AMOLED 6.78-inch display, strong mid-range chipsets, and features such as cooling enhancements and optimised cases are available from Infinix for this device as well. If you want an affordable phone optimised for games, this is one of the best gaming mobile choices in its price band.

Are these phones future-proof for gaming?

Yes, many of the phones listed (Pixel 10, Galaxy S25 Ultra, Xiaomi 15, OnePlus 13s) include modern chipsets built on advanced tech, which help both performance and efficiency. High refresh rate screens (120Hz, 144Hz), good battery capacities, and efficient cooling mean they will likely handle upcoming games as well. Even the budget ones are catching up fast.

How do Vi data plans make a difference for gamers?

When you pick any of these phones, whether one of the best gaming mobile flagships or a strong mid-range contender, the network and data experience matter just as much as hardware. Our NonStop Hero prepaid offerings and our postpaid plans aim to bring high-speed data with fast internet to ensure that your long gaming sessions or streams are as seamless as possible.

Final Takeaway

So, here are the 10 devices that give you a solid shortlist if you want the top phones for gaming, from supreme flagships that can run anything at high settings, to mid-range champs that deliver an excellent experience without breaking the bank. Combine one of these good gaming phones with strong, unlimited data and low latency from a good plan under our prepaid or postpaid ecosystem, and you’ve got a combo that’ll let you focus on what matters most: enjoying games. Happy gaming!