Best Gaming phones of 2022

Our smartphones have already replaced a majority of devices we used in our daily life. In the past few years, smartphones are also taking over handheld gaming devices. Credit where due, Razer made huge waves in 2017 and paved the way for more gaming phones to come in future. Since then, ASUS has made great advancements in the gaming smartphone market with their ROG Phones.

These gaming-centric smartphones have many features that improve your experience and some even make you a better gamer. While most gaming smartphones are purpose build to stand apart from the crowd, many people including me do not like the aesthetics of gaming phones.

So if you are looking for a smartphone that can also double as a gaming console, look no further. Here we have compiled a list of some devices in different price brackets that are some of the best gaming smartphones you can buy in India in 2022.

Asus ROG Phone 6: Best Gaming Phone HANDS DOWN!

After multiple iterations of the Asus ROG phones, it is evident that no one can make gaming smartphones better than ASUS. While the 6th iteration, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is more of an iterative update over the ROG Phone 5, what to do when you are already the best?

The ROG Phone 6 is the fastest android smartphone we have tested. This is because the phone uses an overclocked Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 paired with the best 144 Hz screen available on any smartphone. Asus ROG Phone also comes with shoulder buttons that can recognise many gestures. There is also an ecosystem for various accessories that can help you improve your gaming experience even more.

Well the ROG Phone 6 is not perfect there are some shortcomings of the device. The primary issue for me is the camera system on the phone, now by no means the camera is bad but when compared to other flagship devices it is miles behind. Secondly, and this might not be an issue for many but I know some people who don't like the design of the phone. It might not be a concern for you, as the saying goes to each his own. Lastly, the thermal system of the device is not as good as its predecessor, you need the AeroActive cooler to take full advantage of the raw power it can provide.

Asus ROG Phone 6 price in India starts from Rs 71999.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

From the most gamery looking phone to the least. The iPhone 14 Pro does not look like a gaming phone from any angle. But looks can be deceiving and they surely are with the iPhone. The iPhone is probably the most powerful smartphone available to date, the A16 Bionic chipset is still generation ahead of any other mobile processor from Qualcomm or MediaTek.

Gaming is thriving in the iOS ecosystem, with Apple Acade you can access a large library of games from any Apple device. Moreover, many games are available on iOS before they are available on Android devices. Also because there is a limited number of Apple smartphones, the experience is more refined.

The combination of extremely powerful hardware paired with one of the smoothest 120 Hz displays makes the iPhone 14 Pro an excellent device for gaming. The iPhone is not only excellent for gaming but as a whole, the device is one of the best smartphones you can buy right now. There is also the iPhone 14 Pro Max with a larger 6.7 inch display for a more immersive gaming experience. There are also the vanilla iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus that gives most of the same experience but at a cheaper price.

There is also a large market for accessories for the Apple iPhone to improve your experience. The walled garden is the main issue with using the iPhone for gaming. Unlike Android there is no way to sideload apps, even if you want to emulate PlayStation or Wii games, it is way more difficult to do it on iPhone than on any other Android smartphone.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro price in India starts from Rs 129900 while the larger 14 Pro Max price in India starts from Rs 139900.

iQOO 9 Pro: Mid Range Champ

For many, the iPhone and the ROG Phone will be way out of the budget. There is iQOO 9 Pro is the current flagship phone from iQOO for 2022. iQOO is the sub-brand of the tech giant Vivo. Though iQOO smartphones share a lot of elements with their Vivo counterparts, iQOO has created its own name.

Though the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 might not be the latest processor, it packs enough grunt to play all the latest games with ease. The phone also comes with 8 or 16 GB of RAM paired with ultra fast UFS 3.1 storage of up to 512 GB. the phone also comes with the latest camera system from Vivo with the T2 chip for better low light image performance.

The iQOO also ensures an amazing gaming experience with its excellent display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The excellent battery endurance on the iQOO also ensures long gaming sessions.

iQOO 9 Pro price in India starts in India from Rs 57990.

Realme Narzo 50: Smooth screen low budget

If you want to play games on a budget, the Realme Narzo 50 will be an amazing choice for you. While the phone does not come with flagship specifications, it is powerful enough to play most games smoothly if you are fine with turning down the graphics.

The Realme Narzo 50 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 paired with 6 GB of RAM. the processor has enough graphic power to run the 1080p display without hiccups. The phone also comes with a 50 MP camera, which though not amazing, is adequate for most users. Another major plus point for the Realme is the incredible battery like from its 5000 mAh cell. On top of it, Realme Narzo 50 also supports 33W fast charging.

Realme Narzo price in India starts from Rs 12999.