Despite rumours to the contrary, the mobile gaming sphere is alive and well in 2020. There were some dark years in the interim between mobile gaming’s inception and where it sits now, but the space is healthy and giving rise to lots of very interesting and well-crafted titles. Whether you’re a browser gamer or an app store junkie, there’s loads for you to enjoy in 2020 on your smartphone.
Remember not to neglect browser gaming, as it’s often overlooked in favour of downloading apps. Plenty of games, including excellent online casino gaming, can be had on your phone’s browser if it’s beefy enough. Interested in smartphone casino gaming? Why not head over to NorskCasinoHEX.com to choose your favourite mobile casino? That, of course, is if your phone can hack it. Here are the best gaming smartphones in 2020.
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
For sheer gaming clout, there’s absolutely no beating Apple’s newest addition to its iPhone family. Android owners may crow that Apple’s ecosystem is closed, and that may be true, but it also means that Apple machines are perfectly standardised for gaming. Thanks to Apple’s excellent Arcade service, high-quality games are handpicked for iPhone owners, circumventing the common problem of Android’s subpar gaming offerings. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is where it’s at for gaming in 2020.
- Samsung Galaxy S20
Whichever device from the Samsung Galaxy S20 range you decide to opt for, you’re getting a quality gaming device. Powered by either the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chipset, the Galaxy S20 range offers lightning-fast gaming capability at a perfectly reasonable flagship price. If you want, you can opt for the 5G version in order to make sure any online gaming you do is crisp and quick, but the 4G edition will suffice for the vast majority of users.
- OnePlus 8 Pro
China’s OnePlus brand is frankly astonishing in terms of value and quality, and the latest flagship from the Shenzhen tech giants is no exception in this regard. The phone’s 4510mAh battery gives you plenty of time to game, and the astonishingly crisp 1440p screen squeezes every ounce of display beauty out of each game you play. The OnePlus 8 Pro also features an amazing 12GB of RAM, so you’ll be able to switch effortlessly between the game and the guide you need (hey, no shame).
- Nubia Red Magic
Designed almost exclusively for gaming, the Nubia Red Magic has some features that set it apart as a gaming smartphone. The 144Hz screen is lovely for fast-moving games; you’ll wonder how you ever enjoyed games on a screen with a lower refresh rate when you’ve experienced it. It also comes with superior cooling and some chunky physical triggers to help you control your games. It may not be the best all-round smartphone, but it comes with a high-end chip and a super hi-res screen.
- Razer Phone 2
Razer is a household name when it comes to gaming accessories, so it should come as no surprise that the company’s smartphone offering is superb for gaming. The iconic Razer logo on the rear of this phone glows, and while you may not always be able to see that feature, it’s undeniably cool for a gaming phone. The silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate is perfect for every game on the Android platform, and the 1440p screen is nothing to sniff at either.
- Asus ROG Phone 2
Just like Razer, Asus is known for its excellent gaming accessories. Chances are you’ve used an Asus monitor, mouse, or keyboard from its ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand. As the name suggests, this isn’t Asus’ first foray into the world of gaming smartphones, but it is its best. Don’t drop this phone in the bath – it doesn’t have water resistance – but do keep it with you as your main gaming driver. It’s beefy enough to handle absolutely any game you throw its way.
- Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro
If you don’t quite have the money to throw at a Razer Phone or an iPhone, then the Xiaomi Black Shark 3 Pro will suffice just as well for you at a slightly lower cost. It’s got the same top-end chipset as its brethren, and an even more impressive 1440p screen. This phone also has a huge, bulky design that sets it apart from its sleeker and less substantial (don’t say we said it) rivals. If you like beefy phones, the Black Shark 3 Pro is your kind of device.
- Sony Xperia XZ2
The Xperia XZ2 still takes some beating when it comes to lower-end budget gaming phones. Obviously, we’re not talking about something that’s future-proof here, but the XZ2 will handle almost any game with surprising aplomb. The 1080p screen isn’t quite as beautiful to look at as that of the ROG Phone 2 or the Razer Phone 2, but it’s certainly enough for most day-to-day gamers and will still wow you when you look at a game with particularly impressive graphics.These are the 8 gaming phones we think no gamer should be without in 2020. What are your suggestions? Do you disagree with us? Have a phone you’d like to add? Let us know!
