Of the best gaming phones of 2026, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro comes out on top: in GSMArena’s tests it holds its performance best under long, heavy loads, and it adds shoulder triggers, a 144Hz display and a 7,500mAh battery for €799. For a flagship that does everything, get the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and on a €500–600 budget, the REDMAGIC 11 Air or the POCO X8 Pro Max.
This list covers eight phones on sale in September 2026: dedicated gaming phones, Android and iOS flagships, and affordable phones with powerful chips. For each one you get the manufacturer’s specs, GSMArena lab test results and prices in official stores. After the list come comparison tables, charts, buying advice and why the ROG Phone and OnePlus didn’t make the cut.
How we picked
- Current models only. Every phone came out between January and September 2026. The models from the earlier version of this article, including the ROG Phone 5, Black Shark 4 Pro and POCO F3, launched in 2021 with Snapdragon 888 and 870 chips.
- Different budgets and platforms. Gaming phones with triggers and fans, Android and iOS flagships, and mid-range models. Prices run from €499 to €1,619.
- Sustained performance, not just peak scores. We compare the 20-minute 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test and the Active Use Score battery test from GSMArena’s reviews.
- Specs and prices from the manufacturers. Chipset, display, cooling, battery and memory come from official websites. Prices are from official stores as of September 29, 2026: REDMAGIC’s EU store, and Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi in Spain.
We didn’t test these phones ourselves: the comparison is based on manufacturer data and GSMArena’s lab tests. On September 29, Samsung and Xiaomi sold some models at a discount, so the cards show both the regular and the sale price. Prices differ in other countries.
1. REDMAGIC 11S Pro
Best for gamingGaming phone
REDMAGIC 11S Pro
- Display
- 6.85-inch AMOLED, 2688×1216, 144Hz, up to 1,800 nits
- Touch sampling rate
- 3,000Hz (instant), 360Hz (multi-touch)
- Chipset
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version, RedCore R4 gaming chip
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB or 16GB + 512GB
- Cooling
- 24,000 RPM fan, liquid cooling loop, 13,116 mm² vapor chamber
- Battery
- 7,500mAh, 80W charging, 80W wireless
- Controls
- 520Hz capacitive shoulder triggers
- Protection
- IPX8, no dust rating
- Weight
- 230 g
- Software
- REDMAGIC OS 11.5 based on Android 16
Price€799checked 29 September 2026
For people who play a lot and for long stretches: holds its performance under load better than anything else here.
- Best result in GSMArena's stress test
- Triggers, a fan and a 144Hz display
- 7,500mAh and 80W charging
- The body gets very hot under load
- Two major Android updates
- No dust resistance rating
The REDMAGIC 11S Pro, announced in late May 2026, runs an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which GSMArena says is the same variant used in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In GSMArena’s tests it scored 8,160 points in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, and its lowest result during the 20-minute stress test was 6,442. That’s the best in this lineup: even under a long load, the REDMAGIC is faster than the POCO X8 Pro Max at its peak.
Cooling combines a 24,000 RPM fan, an AquaCore liquid loop with a pump, a 13,116 mm² vapor chamber and liquid metal on the chip. For gaming there are 520Hz capacitive shoulder triggers and a Charge Separation mode that, according to REDMAGIC, protects the battery when you play while charging. In GSMArena’s battery test it lasted 20 hours 18 minutes.
There are trade-offs. GSMArena saw no meaningful difference in its tests with the fan on or off, and after the 20-minute GPU stress test the frame was too hot to hold comfortably. REDMAGIC promises two major Android updates and three years of security updates. Last year’s REDMAGIC 11 Pro, with the same body and cooling but the standard chip, costs €100 less at €699.
2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Best Android flagshipFlagship phone
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Display
- 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+, 1–120Hz
- Chipset
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB or 512GB, 16GB + 1TB
- Cooling
- new vapor chamber, 21% better thermal performance than the S25 Ultra according to Samsung
- Battery
- 5,000mAh, up to 75% in about 30 minutes with a 60W adapter, wireless charging
- Protection
- IP68 (1.5 m, 30 minutes)
- Weight
- 214 g
- Software
- Android 16, One UI 8.5, 7 years of security updates
Price€1,449 (on sale for €1,159)checked 29 September 2026
For people who want one flagship for gaming, photos and work, with long-term support.
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Bright 6.9-inch QHD+ display
- 7 years of security updates
- Throttles heavily in stress tests
- 120Hz display, no triggers
- Shorter battery life than rivals
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is for people who want one flagship for gaming and everything else. It runs Samsung’s own version of the chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy: according to Samsung, graphics are 24% faster than on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the new vapor chamber improves thermal performance by 21%. The 6.9-inch QHD+ display has an adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rate.
In GSMArena’s short test the S26 Ultra is close to the REDMAGIC, with 7,744 points in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme. Over the 20-minute stress test, though, the score drops to 3,779, and GSMArena found the CPU losing more than half its speed. Tom’s Guide, on the other hand, saw no throttling or discomfort after an hour of Genshin Impact, so how much your frame rate drops depends on the game and its settings.
The 5,000mAh battery lasted 16 hours 23 minutes in GSMArena’s test, less than most phones here. On the plus side, Samsung promises seven years of security updates. Depending on the country, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ may use the Exynos 2600, while the Ultra’s specs list only Snapdragon. On September 29, Samsung’s official store in Spain sold the S26 Ultra for €1,159 instead of €1,449.
3. iPhone 18 Pro Max
Best iPhone for gamingApple phone
iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Display
- 6.9-inch OLED, 2868×1320, ProMotion up to 120Hz, up to 3,000 nits outdoors
- Chipset
- Apple A20 Pro, 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- Storage
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB
- Cooling
- vapor chamber with three times the surface area of the iPhone 17 Pro's
- Battery
- up to 45 hours of video, 50% in about 15 minutes with a 60W or higher adapter
- Protection
- IP68 (6 m, 30 minutes)
- Weight
- 249 g
Pricefrom €1,619checked 29 September 2026
For iPhone users: the fastest CPU in this lineup and noticeably better cooling.
- Fastest CPU in GSMArena's tests
- Up to 45 hours of video
- Vapor chamber three times larger
- Keeps 57% of peak GPU speed in stress test
- Weighs 249 g
- 120Hz display, no triggers
The iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale on September 18, 2026, with the A20 Pro chip. In GSMArena’s tests it has the fastest CPU of any phone here: 4,735 points in single-core Geekbench 6 versus 3,781 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme graphics test it trails only the REDMAGIC 11S Pro, 7,931 points to 8,160.
Apple tripled the surface area of the vapor chamber and promises up to 40% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. In GSMArena’s 20-minute stress test, the iPhone 18 Pro Max kept 57% of its peak graphics performance: better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but behind the REDMAGIC. The 6.9-inch display has ProMotion up to 120Hz and reaches 3,000 nits in sunlight.
Apple rates it for up to 45 hours of video playback, and it lasted 19 hours 20 minutes in GSMArena’s test. The downsides are its 249 g weight and its price: from €1,619 at Apple’s official store in Spain. The iPhone 18 Pro, with a 6.3-inch display and the same chip, starts at €1,469. We covered what else is new in “iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max now on sale”.
4. Xiaomi 17T Pro
Best valueSmartphone
Xiaomi 17T Pro
- Display
- 6.83-inch AMOLED, 2772×1280, up to 144Hz, up to 3,500 nits
- Touch sampling rate
- up to 480Hz, instant up to 3,500Hz
- Chipset
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
- Cooling
- Xiaomi 3D IceLoop
- Battery
- 7,000mAh, 100W charging, 50W wireless
- Camera
- Leica, 115 mm periscope telephoto
- Protection
- IP68 (1.5 m, 30 minutes)
- Weight
- 219 g
Price€899.99 (on sale for €649.99)checked 29 September 2026
For people who want a 144Hz display, long battery life and a good camera for less than a flagship.
- 21h 41m in GSMArena's battery test
- 144Hz display
- Leica periscope telephoto
- Loses up to half its speed under long loads
- No triggers
The Xiaomi 17T Pro launched in late May 2026 and now sells well below its recommended price: on September 29, Xiaomi’s official store in Spain had the 12GB + 256GB version for €649.99 instead of €899.99. For that you get the Dimensity 9500, a 6.83-inch display running at up to 144Hz and a 7,000mAh battery with 100W charging.
In GSMArena’s battery test the 17T Pro lasted 21 hours 41 minutes, the third-best result here. It scored 6,939 points in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme with a stress-test low of 4,293, and GSMArena found its CPU dropping to about half its performance under a long load. What sets it apart from the POCO phones is the Leica camera with a 115 mm periscope telephoto: if you also shoot a lot of photos, it’s the most balanced pick.
5. POCO F9 Ultra
Fastest displaySmartphone
POCO F9 Ultra
- Display
- 6.9-inch AMOLED, 2608×1200, up to 185Hz, up to 10,000 nits on 1% of the screen
- Touch sampling rate
- up to 480Hz, instant up to 4,800Hz
- Chipset
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, VisionBoost D8 graphics chip
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB or 16GB + 1TB
- Cooling
- POCO 3D IceLoop, 6,300 mm² area
- Battery
- 8,050mAh, 100W charging, 50W wireless
- Protection
- IP68 (1.5 m, 30 minutes)
- Weight
- 235 g
Price€1,099.99 (on sale for €829.99)checked 29 September 2026
For long sessions away from a charger: a big display up to 185Hz and an 8,050mAh battery.
- 24h 35m in GSMArena's battery test
- Up to 185Hz display, up to 4,800Hz touch
- Stereo with a subwoofer, sound by Bose
- Runs very hot under long loads
- 185 fps in games relies on frame generation
The POCO F9 Ultra launched on September 1, 2026, and has the fastest display here: 6.9 inches, up to 185Hz. A separate VisionBoost D8 graphics chip upscales the image and generates in-between frames, which is how games reach up to 185 frames per second. It runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and the instant touch sampling rate goes up to 4,800Hz in Game Turbo mode.
The 8,050mAh battery lasted 24 hours 35 minutes in GSMArena’s test, the second-best result here, with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. Cooling is weaker: GSMArena says the phone gets very hot and throttles noticeably under long loads, though that’s not critical in real games. POCO didn’t allow 3DMark runs before launch, so the phone is missing from the chart below.
The recommended price is €1,099.99, but on September 29 Xiaomi’s official store in Spain sold the F9 Ultra for €829.99. If you want something smaller, look at the POCO F9 Pro: 6.59 inches, the same 185Hz, the V-series Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 6,330mAh for €739.99 on sale (recommended price €899.99).
6. REDMAGIC 11 Air
Gaming phone under €500Gaming phone
REDMAGIC 11 Air
- Display
- 6.85-inch OLED, 2688×1216, 144Hz, up to 1,800 nits
- Touch sampling rate
- 960Hz, instant 2,500Hz
- Chipset
- Snapdragon 8 Elite, RedCore R4 gaming chip
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB or 16GB + 512GB
- Cooling
- 24,000 RPM fan, vapor chamber, graphene
- Battery
- 7,000mAh, 80W charging
- Controls
- 520Hz capacitive shoulder triggers
- Protection
- IP54
- Thickness and weight
- 7.85 mm, 207 g
Price€499checked 29 September 2026
The most affordable way to get triggers, a fan and a 144Hz display with a flagship chip.
- Triggers and 144Hz for €499
- Thin and light: 7.85 mm, 207 g
- 7,000mAh
- Previous-generation chip
- The fan makes no difference in tests
- Only IP54 protection
The REDMAGIC 11 Air is the most affordable phone here with a full set of gaming features: 520Hz shoulder triggers, a 144Hz display and a fan. It costs €499 in REDMAGIC’s official EU store. It runs the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite and scored 6,893 points in GSMArena’s 3DMark Wild Life Extreme run, nearly the same as the Xiaomi 17T Pro.
For a gaming phone it’s slim at 7.85 mm and 207 g, and the 7,000mAh battery with 80W charging lasted 17 hours 20 minutes in GSMArena’s test. According to GSMArena, graphics performance holds up well in the stress test, but the CPU drops to about 50% in under five minutes, and the fan makes no difference to the results. Protection is only IP54, against splashes.
7. POCO X8 Pro Max
Longest battery lifeSmartphone
POCO X8 Pro Max
- Display
- 6.83-inch AMOLED, 2772×1280, 120Hz, up to 3,500 nits
- Touch sampling rate
- up to 480Hz, instant 2,560Hz
- Chipset
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500s
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB or 512GB
- Cooling
- POCO 3D IceLoop, 5,800 mm² area
- Battery
- 8,500mAh, 100W charging
- Protection
- IP68 (2 m, 30 minutes)
- Weight
- 218 g
Price€599.99 (on sale for €499.99)checked 29 September 2026
For people who want near-flagship performance and maximum battery life for under €600.
- 25h 22m in GSMArena's test, a lineup record
- Near-flagship Dimensity 9500s
- IP68 protection
- 120Hz display
- No wireless charging
The POCO X8 Pro Max is the battery champion of this list: its 8,500mAh battery lasted 25 hours 22 minutes in GSMArena’s test. The Dimensity 9500s isn’t far behind flagship chips: 6,229 points in 3DMark Wild Life Extreme and 3,709 in the worst stress-test run, almost the same as the Galaxy S26 Ultra under the same load.
The 6.83-inch display runs at 120Hz, and the instant touch sampling rate in Game Turbo mode is 2,560Hz. The phone is rated IP68 (2 m, 30 minutes) and charges at 100W, but has no wireless charging. The recommended price is €599.99, and on September 29 Xiaomi’s official store in Spain sold it for €499.99. For more affordable options, see our list of the best budget phones under $500.
8. Infinix GT 50 Pro
Budget pick with triggersGaming phone
Infinix GT 50 Pro
- Display
- 6.78-inch AMOLED, 2644×1208, up to 144Hz, up to 4,500 nits
- Touch sampling rate
- up to 330Hz, instant 2,800Hz
- Chipset
- MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate
- Memory
- 12GB + 256GB or 512GB
- Cooling
- HydroFlow liquid cooling
- Battery
- 6,500mAh, 45W charging, 30W wireless
- Controls
- pressure-sensitive GT triggers
- Protection
- IP64
- Thickness and weight
- 8.15 mm, 198 g
- Software
- XOS 16 based on Android 16
For tight budgets: triggers, a 144Hz display and steady performance under load.
- Pressure-sensitive triggers
- Steady performance under load
- Light at 198 g
- Mid-range chip
- Shortest battery life in this lineup
- Only IP64 protection
The Infinix GT 50 Pro is the most affordable gaming phone here, and it’s officially available in Ukraine. It has shoulder triggers that sense how hard you press, HydroFlow liquid cooling and a 6.78-inch display running at up to 144Hz. The Dimensity 8400 Ultimate is a mid-range chip: it scored 4,132 points in GSMArena’s 3DMark Wild Life Extreme run, half as much as the REDMAGIC 11S Pro.
Its performance is steady, though: in GSMArena’s stress tests the phone kept 77% of its CPU performance and 76% of its GPU performance. The 6,500mAh battery with 45W wired and 30W wireless charging lasted 15 hours 28 minutes in GSMArena’s test, the shortest in this lineup. Infinix claims five years of software updates. The official Infinix website doesn’t list a price, so the table shows a dash.
Gaming phones compared
| Model | Best for | Key strength | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| REDMAGIC 11S Pro | Long gaming sessions | Steady under load, triggers | €799 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | An all-round flagship | 7 years of security updates | €1,449 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone users | Fastest CPU | from €1,619 |
| Xiaomi 17T Pro | Gaming and photos | 144Hz, 7,000mAh, telephoto | €899.99 |
| POCO F9 Ultra | Long play away from a charger | 185Hz and 8,050mAh | €1,099.99 |
| REDMAGIC 11 Air | Gaming phone under €500 | Triggers and a fan | €499 |
| POCO X8 Pro Max | Maximum battery life | 25h 22m in GSMArena’s test | €599.99 |
| Infinix GT 50 Pro | Tight budgets | Pressure-sensitive triggers | — |
| Model | Chipset | Display, Hz | Battery, mAh | Weight, g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REDMAGIC 11S Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version | 144 | 7,500 | 230 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | 120 | 5,000 | 214 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | Apple A20 Pro | 120 | — | 249 |
| Xiaomi 17T Pro | Dimensity 9500 | 144 | 7,000 | 219 |
| POCO F9 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 185 | 8,050 | 235 |
| REDMAGIC 11 Air | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 144 | 7,000 | 207 |
| POCO X8 Pro Max | Dimensity 9500s | 120 | 8,500 | 218 |
| Infinix GT 50 Pro | Dimensity 8400 Ultimate | 144 | 6,500 | 198 |
In short tests the gap between flagship chips is small, but it grows under a long load: the REDMAGIC 11S Pro’s minimum is 1.7 times higher than the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s. For battery life, the POCO phones with 8,000mAh-plus batteries lead, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Infinix GT 50 Pro come last.
How to choose a gaming phone
Chipset and sustained performance
For the most demanding games in 2026, look for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Apple A20 Pro or Dimensity 9500. In short tests the difference between them is small; what matters more is how much speed a phone keeps after 15 to 20 minutes of play. Check stress-test results in reviews: the REDMAGIC 11S Pro bottoms out at 6,442 points and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at 3,779, even though they use the same chip.
Cooling
Fans, liquid loops and large vapor chambers help, but they don’t work miracles: GSMArena saw no meaningful difference in its REDMAGIC tests with the fan on or off. When the body heats up, the system lowers clock speeds on its own, and the game starts to stutter. If your phone runs too hot, see our guide on what to do when your phone overheats.
Display: refresh rate and touch sampling
A 144Hz or 185Hz display only matters if the game supports it. According to GSMArena’s list, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Brawl Stars, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Real Racing 3 and Minecraft run natively at 144Hz on REDMAGIC phones. Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and Wuthering Waves reach 144Hz only with generated in-between frames, which add latency, so turn that mode off in competitive games.
Manufacturers list two touch sampling rates: the instant rate, meaning the response to the first touch, from 2,500 to 4,800Hz in this lineup, and the rate during continuous touch, from 330 to 960Hz. There’s no single measurement method, so don’t pick a phone on these numbers alone.
Battery and charging
Capacities here range from 5,000 to 8,500mAh, but battery life also depends on the chip and display: in GSMArena’s test the Infinix GT 50 Pro with 6,500mAh lasted less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 5,000mAh. If you often play while charging, look for a bypass mode that powers the phone straight from the adapter so the battery stays cooler. Both REDMAGIC phones here have it: the 11S Pro calls it Charge Separation, the 11 Air bypass charging.
Triggers and accessories
Shoulder triggers come on the REDMAGIC phones (capacitive, 520Hz) and the Infinix GT 50 Pro (pressure-sensitive): you map shooting, aiming or jumping to them, and your fingers stay off the screen. With the other phones you can use a Bluetooth controller or a USB-C clip-on controller. REDMAGIC and ASUS also sell external coolers that attach to the back of the phone.
Updates
People usually keep a gaming phone for several years, so check how long it will be supported. Samsung promises seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Infinix five years of software updates for the GT 50 Pro, and REDMAGIC two major Android updates and three years of security updates.
Why the ROG Phone and OnePlus aren’t on the list
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro still shows up in rankings: on September 21, 2026, Tom’s Guide ranked it first for its display of up to 185Hz, its AirTrigger controls and the 20 hours 34 minutes it lasted in their battery test. But it’s a November 2024 model running the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite.
In January 2026, ASUS chairman Jonney Shih confirmed that the company won’t release any new phones, while it will keep providing maintenance, software updates and warranty service for devices already sold. ASUS’s official US store no longer sells phones. If you find a ROG Phone 9 Pro for much less than the REDMAGIC 11S Pro, it’s still a strong gaming phone, but there will be no new models or accessories for it.
The OnePlus 15, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a display that reaches 165Hz in games and a 7,300mAh battery, is also often recommended for gaming. But on July 16, 2026, OnePlus announced it will no longer launch new products in Europe and North America, while keeping after-sales support and software updates for existing devices. That’s why we left it out.
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 29 September 2026
- REDMAGIC — REDMAGIC 11S Pro global.redmagic.gg
- Samsung — Galaxy S26 series press release and specs news.samsung.com
- Apple — iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max tech specs apple.com
- Xiaomi — Xiaomi 17T Pro specs mi.com
- GSMArena — phone reviews and tests gsmarena.com
FAQ
What is the best gaming phone in 2026?
Overall, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro: it has the highest performance floor in GSMArena’s stress test, plus triggers, a 144Hz display and 7,500mAh. Among flagships, the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro Max are the best for gaming.
Do you need a 144Hz or 185Hz display for gaming?
Only if the game supports that refresh rate. PUBG Mobile, Free Fire and Brawl Stars, for example, run at 144Hz on REDMAGIC phones, while demanding games reach high frame rates through generated in-between frames, which add latency.
Why does my phone slow down after 10–15 minutes of gaming?
The chip heats up, and the system lowers clock speeds to keep the body from overheating. In GSMArena’s 20-minute stress test, the REDMAGIC 11S Pro drops to 6,442 points from 8,160, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra to 3,779 from 7,744. Lower graphics settings and an external cooler help reduce the heat.
Is an iPhone or an Android phone better for gaming?
The iPhone 18 Pro Max has the fastest CPU in GSMArena’s tests, but a 120Hz display and no triggers. Android has gaming phones with triggers, fans and 144–185Hz displays, and a wider price range starting at €499.
Is the ROG Phone 9 Pro worth buying in 2026?
Only at a good price. It’s a 2024 model, and in January 2026 ASUS stopped releasing new phones, promising to keep providing maintenance, updates and warranty service for devices already sold.
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