Top 10 gaming phones in 2025: what to play without lags

The mobile gaming industry has crossed the threshold where a smartphone is no longer just a phone. By 2025, a gaming device must do more than just run Genshin Impact and PUBG—it must handle Warzone Mobile at ultra settings without overheating or freezing at 120+ fps. The top gaming phones of 2025 are defined by cooling architecture, stable frequency, and long-lasting battery, rather than flagship cameras. This article presents a ranking in which each smartphone is a complete gaming solution.

Graphics, performance, and cooling—foundations of a gaming smartphone

High frame rates without drops require a balance between chipset, thermal control, and display. The top gaming phones of 2025 always combine at least four parameters:

• flagship processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Apple A18);

• 12GB+ memory with a fast bus;

• active or passive cooling system;

• 144Hz refresh rate screen with 1ms response time.

Without these elements, a smartphone will not provide comfort in modern shooters or MOBA arenas.

Top gaming phones of 2025: the best of the best

Consider one of them if you want to play demanding games for long periods with comfort.

1. Tecno Phantom Ultimate Gaming Edition—unexpected threat to flagships

The Tecno Phantom Ultimate Gaming Edition completes the extended top gaming phones of 2025, proving that aggressive newcomers can enter the elite. The device is built on a new hybrid chipset of proprietary design, where the central processor and graphics module operate on separate architectures with dedicated power channels. This eliminates overheating even during prolonged scenes with high particle density, such as in Warzone Mobile or Fortnite.

The smartphone features a 144Hz LTPO 2.0 display with dynamic refresh rate adaptation from 10 to 144 frames, saving up to 40% of the charge in calm scenes. The 18GB of RAM ensures instant launch of heavy applications, even in multitasking mode with 8+ background tasks.

The cooling system includes two ventilation channels and a graphene panel with IR heat dissipation, placed along the entire length of the body. Testing in PUBG showed stable 120 fps at maximum settings for 45 minutes without freezes or drops.

Model features:

• built-in power profile tuner;

• support for peripherals via Bluetooth and OTG;

• dedicated game center with resource priority;

• 80W charging and 5800mAh battery.

Tecno includes a proprietary cooler and gamepad in the package, making the Phantom Ultimate ready for action “out of the box.” In the sub-$600 segment, the model occupies a niche between mid-budget solutions and flagships, providing features that are lacking even in more expensive models.

2. Asus ROG Phone 9—uncompromising engineering brute

Leading the top gaming phones of 2025 is the Asus ROG Phone 9 as the engineering pinnacle in smartphone format. The design is focused solely on performance and cooling. Inside is a custom chipset with separate power delivery to the GPU and CPU, preventing frequency drops under load. The Armoury Suite provides a triple work profile—”power saving,” “balanced,” and “turbo.” During turbo mode, a mechanical cooler and a copper vapor chamber are activated, working in tandem with graphene layers.

Peak loads in PUBG, Call of Duty, and Genshin Impact do not drop the framerate below 160 fps even at maximum graphics settings. 24GB of RAM ensures instant switching between games and applications. Two USB-C ports allow simultaneous charging and accessory connection, while 1TB of storage eliminates the need for cloud storage. The screen with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time provides ideal conditions for esports on Android.

3. RedMagic 10X—pragmatic bet on performance

The RedMagic 10X secured a confident place in the top gaming phones of 2025 for its balance between price and gaming capabilities. The device features a bezel-less AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a touch feedback system that provides deep immersion in the gaming process. Under the hood is an energy-efficient flagship processor, complemented by 16GB of RAM and an active cooling system with a microfan and air channels.

The body is equipped with physical triggers with customizable response, which is especially important for FPS games. Performance profiles can be created for each game, adjusting frequencies, temperature, and response. The battery life is ensured by a 7000mAh battery with fast charging up to 65W. The RedMagic 10X remains the best choice for those who want flagship features without overpaying.

4. iPhone 16 Pro Max—benchmark of the Metal gaming ecosystem

Apple maintains its position in the list of top gaming smartphones of 2025 with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The A18 Bionic chip with the latest generation Neural Engine processes complex 3D graphics in Genshin Impact and other titles without any delay. Metal API support allows games to directly access hardware, providing the highest level of detail and stable fps.

The cooling system is passive but optimized through a composite graphite and titanium body. Support for a 120Hz refresh rate with scene adaptation reduces power consumption by up to 30% in less dynamic moments. The device consistently maintains high performance even with a dozen background processes. The unique iOS memory management approach minimizes lags even in heavy multitasking modes.

5. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra—powerful flagship with a gaming focus

The Galaxy S25 Ultra enters the top gaming phones of 2025 as a hybrid of a premium flagship and a gaming device. The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate delivers vibrant colors and is ideal for visually demanding games. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Galaxy Edition processor received an additional thermal pad between the video core and the motherboard, helping to avoid overheating during long sessions.

The device is equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 5400mAh battery, lasting up to 8 hours in active gaming mode. The advantage lies in smooth operation of streaming applications, including Discord, YouTube, and Twitch simultaneously with gameplay. The S25 Ultra is the choice for those who want to combine gaming, social networks, and productivity tasks in one device.

6. Xiaomi Black Shark X5 Pro—gaming smartphone without excess

The Black Shark X5 Pro is a pragmatic choice in the “gaming but affordable” segment. It features a 144Hz AMOLED display, a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and a cooling vapor chamber. The device focuses on stability and adaptation: adjusting the processor frequency based on content type (streaming, local game, loading).

On the body are two touch buttons with programmable scenarios, which is especially convenient for strategies and MOBAs. The autonomy level reaches 10 hours in medium-intensity gaming mode. The smart power-saving mode automatically adjusts brightness and background activity without compromising performance.

7. Lenovo Legion Neo 3—mobile esports station

The Legion Neo 3 made it to the top gaming phones of 2025 as the only smartphone tailored for streaming and peripheral integration. The design with an external cooler and ports in the center of the body mimics the gamepad form factor, allowing comfortable device handling even during vertical charging. A pair of 2800mAh batteries provide optimal weight balance, and fast 120W charging replenishes the battery in 20 minutes.

Lenovo has installed an advanced temperature and power management system, tuned for streaming, custom broadcasts, and gameplay recording. Support for connecting an external display and joystick makes the Neo 3 the center of a mobile esports station. In PUBG and Call of Duty, the device maintains a stable 120 fps even while recording.

8. OnePlus 13R Pro—balance between flagship and affordability

The 13R Pro secured a place in the ranking as a device with the best price-to-performance ratio. The smartphone features a 120Hz display with adaptive refresh rate algorithm, providing a smooth picture and saving battery simultaneously. Inside is a powerful chipset and a cooling system on heat pipes with four heat dissipation points.

The system automatically tracks thermal peaks and adjusts the clock frequency in real-time. Fast charging is at 100W, and the battery is 5100mAh. Thanks to firmware optimization, the device operates stably in MOBA titles, strategies, and fast shooters. OnePlus has integrated scene management, allowing resolution reduction when needed to avoid freezes in key match moments.

9. Realme GT X Neo—comfort for mobile shooters

The GT X Neo is a gaming smartphone that made it to the top gaming phones of 2025 due to its focus on optimization for popular FPS games. Despite being priced 1.5–2 times lower than premium segments, the device delivers excellent performance: 90 fps in Call of Duty Mobile and stability in Warzone Mobile at medium presets.

The smartphone features an IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a passive cooling system with a copper screen, and good autonomy due to an efficient power profile. Optimized firmware minimizes notifications and frees up resources when launching games. The device is suitable for those who are not chasing flagships but want comfortable Full HD+ gaming without overheating or glitches.

10. Poco F6 GT—affordable fighter with character

Closing the ranking of top gaming phones of 2025 is the Poco F6 GT model—a powerful budget option capable of running modern games without sacrificing quality. The device features a 144Hz AMOLED screen, 12GB of RAM, an energy-efficient MediaTek chip tuned for dynamic frequency adjustment based on FPS.

The AI module analyzes the game scenario and reduces the frequency in menus to save battery, increasing it during combat scenes. The device demonstrates 60–75 fps in PUBG and Asphalt 9 on high settings. Support for gamepads, in-game control panels, and controllers makes the Poco F6 GT a full-fledged replacement for a mobile console in the sub-$500 budget.

Conclusions

The choice of a smartphone depends on the player’s habits and requirements. For maximum graphics, adaptive backlighting, and customization, Asus ROG or RedMagic are suitable. For flexible performance, Lenovo and OnePlus. iOS users will find stability and optimization in the iPhone 16. Budget solutions—Realme and Poco—provide a decent level in their segment. The top gaming phones of 2025 are not just a list but a map for a confident choice without compromises.