The best mid-range phone for gaming doesn’t come from Google, Samsung, or OnePlus

Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 is massive for gamers on a tiny budget.

The best mid-range phone for gaming doesn’t come from Google, Samsung, or OnePlus
Gaming Phones test playing Call of Duty Mobile
Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

There are plenty of powerhouse gaming phones on the market, but their biggest fault is that they’re often very expensive. Playing the latest games with the graphics cranked up while running the smoothest frame rates hasn’t really been possible on a budget in previous years, but that’s all changing in 2024.

We’ve already clocked the Google Pixel 8a as a powerful yet affordable mid-range option — it features the same Tensor G3 chip as the top-tier Pro model. There’s also the mighty impressive OnePlus 12R, backed by last year’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that delivers silky smooth performance for a fraction of a 2024 flagship pricetag.