In the fast-paced world of mobile gaming, finding a smartphone that delivers high performance without breaking the bank is a quest many undertake. The market is brimming with options that promise to elevate your gaming experience without draining your wallet.
From blazing-fast processors to crystal-clear displays, the latest budget-friendly gaming smartphones are engineered to handle many of the most demanding games with ease. In this article, we unveil the best budget smartphones for gaming, showcasing devices that stand out for their exceptional value and gaming prowess.
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What to look for in the best budget smartphones for gaming
The best gaming phones have some things in common, which are: most powerful processors, ample RAM, high-refresh-rate screens, and effective cooling systems are essential for optimal gaming performance, which will intensify your passion for your preferred games.
These factors are all valid for those looking for more affordable gaming smartphones, too. And so, we present to you the top Android budget phones for gaming available right now, and ranked in no particular order.
List of the best budget smartphones for gaming
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, which powers the POCO X3 Pro, is designed to provide remarkable performance. Moreover, the Adreno 640 GPU is included to improve its gaming performance.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 215g
- OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO
- Resolution: 1080 × 2400
- CPU: octa-core
- RAM: 6gb – 8gb
- Storage: 128gb,256gb
- Battery: 5160 mAh with 33W fast charging
- Front camera: 8MP
- Back camera: 48MP
The price of Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro starts from $129 in the aunited States, £265 in the United Kingdom, and €186 in Germany and other EU markets. It and can Amazon, the official Xiaomi, website, and retail stores in some of these markets.
Realme Narzo 30 Pro: Large-scale mobile gaming is easily handled by the 7nm low-power technique of the Dimensity 800U 5G processor.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 196g
- OS: Android 10, Realme UI
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 6gb -8gb
- Storage: 64gb – 128gb
- Battery: 5000 mAh with 30W Charge
- Front camera: 8gb
- Back camera: 48gb
The price of Realme Narzo 30 Pro starts from €200 in the European Union. It can be gotten from Amazon and any accredited stores.
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G: This phone is the best budget smartphones for gaming for youngsters whose interest is simple games. It is capable of handling good Android games and is an excellent option with a beautiful screen, with a water resistant and lightweight design.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 199g
- OS: Android 13 upgradable to 14
- Resolution: 1800 ×2340
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 4 – 8 GB
- Storage: 128gb, 256gb
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Front camera: 8 MP
- Back camera:4 8MP
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G retails from $221 in the US, £170 in the UK, and €221 in the EU. You can buy one from Amazon, the Samsung.com website, accredited stores, and independent retailers.
OnePlus Nord: The OnePlus Nord’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor provides dependable, quick performance for daily work, multitasking, and gaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 189g
- OS: Android 11
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 6gb, 8gb
- Storage: 128gb, 256gb
- Battery: 4500 mAh
- Front camera: 8MP
- Back camera: 32MP
OnePlus Nord’s retail price starts from N210,000 and the device can be gotten from Jumia, Amazon and any accredited stores.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G: The 6.55′′ AMOLED DotDisplay Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G is equipped with Gorilla Glass protection and an Octa-core Snapdragon 780G (5 nm) processor.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 159 g
- OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU:Snapdragon 780G processor
- RAM: 6GB – 8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4250mAh battery with 33W fast charging
- Front camera: 8MP
- Back camera: 64MP
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G’s retail price starts from N215,000 and can be gotten from Konga, Amazon and the Xiaomi accredited stores.
Motorola Moto G Stylus: The smartphone has a powerful 6.4-inch display, yet the Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 Octa-core processor keeps everything running smoothly for a great gaming experience.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 192 g
- OS: Android 10, upgradable to Android 11
- Resolution: 1080 x 2300
- CPU: Snapdragon 678 processor
- RAM: 4GB – 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4000mAh battery with 10W fast charging
- Front camera: 16MP
- Back camera: 48MP
The retail price of Motorola Moto G Stylus starts from N200,000 and it can be gotten from Amazon and the Motorola accredited stores.
Google Pixel 5a: This is a mid-range smartphone with a good camera and clear software interface is the Google Pixel 5a. It’s a terrific option for anyone looking for a superb gaming experience at a low price, together with a dependable and simple Android experience.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 183g
- OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa – core
- RAM: 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB storage
- Battery: 4680mAh battery with 18W fast charging
- Front camera: 12.2MP
- Back camera: 16MP
Google Pixel 5A’s retail price starts from N270,000 and it can be gotten from Amazon and the Google accredited stores.
Asus ZenFone 8: This is a smartphone known for its performance and features. The ZenFone 8 features a 5.9-inch display with a fast refresh rate, making it easy and responsive for gaming and multimedia consumption. Its handy size makes it the best compact budget smartphone for gaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 169g
- OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 6GB – 16GB
- Storage: 128GB – 256GB
- Battery: 4000mAh battery with 30W fast charging
- Front camera: 12MP
- Back camera: 64MP
The Asus ZenFone 8’s retail price starts from N396,150 and it can be gotten from Amazon and the ZenFone accredited stores.
OPPO Reno6 Z: The Reno6 Z features a 6.43-inch display with a good refresh rate, providing vibrant colours and a good viewing experience. The Reno6 Z offers smooth performance for everyday tasks, multitasking, and light gaming.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 173g
- OS: Android 11, upgradable to Android 12
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 4310mAh battery with 30W VOOC Flash Charge
- Front camera: 8MP
- Back camera: 64MP
OPPO Reno6 Z: retails price starting from N258,300 and can be gotten from Amazon and the OPPO accredited stores.
Redmi Note 11 Pro: The Redmi Note 11 Pro‘s Snapdragon 695 processor provides good performance for daily use, gaming, and multitasking. Adequate RAM enables fluid app switching, and the processor guarantees smooth performance.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Weight: 202g
- OS: Android 11, MIUI 13
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 6GB-8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB-256GB
- Battery: 4500mAh battery with 67W fast charging
- Front camera: 8MP
- Back camera: 108MP
The retail price of Xiaomi Note 11 Pro starts from N380,000 and it can be purchased from Slot, Konga, Jumia, Amazon, and the Xiaomi stores.
That’s it. You now have a list of the best budget smartphones for gaming to pick from. There are various factors that determine mobile phone pricing varies across different brands and models for a number of reasons. It includes the exchange rate in your region, the stores that you are buying from, or the availability of the devices. We do not determine the prices of phones.