Best High Refresh Rate Gaming Smartphones in 2024

Forget consoles! High-refresh-rate gaming smartphones with blazing-fast processors are the future of mobile gaming in 2024. The enthusiasm of gamers pushed manufacturers and designers to build powerful gaming hardware.

The blood-rushing combats in Call of Duty (COD), the open-world battle royale of PUBG, and the mind-boggling strategies in League of Legends, these games have taken smartphone gaming to another level.

The addition of gaming-oriented features like dedicated cooling fans, high-refresh rates, and blazing-fast processors are now part of modern gaming smartphones. However, with so many options, finding the perfect smartphone can take time and effort. In this blog, you will learn the latest gaming smartphone features and explore our top picks based on the type of users. So, let’s start with our quick guide!

Quick Tips

Battle of Processors

It might be the first question in every gamer’s mind which processor to look for in a gaming smartphone. Snapdragon, Mediatek, and Apple all have unique processors with high-end GPUs that can boost gaming. The Snapdragon and MediaTek currently use 4nm technology, while Apple takes all the yield in 3nm manufacturing.

Currently, MediaTek is going head-to-head in performance with the latest Snapdragon releases. If we take the price/performance ratio, MediaTek takes the lead. However, Snapdragon and Apple remain at the top for best performance.

Display Technology

The pixels that make up your display are not the only significant feature of stunning visuals. Color gamut, refresh rate, display size, touch sampling rate, brightness, and panel technology are equally important. We will explain them in as few words as possible.

• Color Gamut: It is the accuracy of color display. DCI-P3 is the standard color gamut in smartphones, covering 85% of the visible spectrum. 100% DCI-P3 means it can show 85% of the visible color spectrum.
• Refresh Rate: The number of times the screen changes in a second (Hz). The higher number means smoother performance while gaming.
• Touch Sampling Rate: The number of times a smartphone scans for touch in seconds (Hz). A higher touch sample rate means better response in games.
• Brightness: Measured in “nits,” it is the light-emitting capability of the display. Higher brightness is suitable for outdoor usage in daylight.
• Panel Technology: OLED and AMOLED are the best types of display compared to LCDs.
• Pixels: Pixels per inch (PPI) is the best way to judge the degree of smoothness in a phone’s display.

Battery

Mobile gamers don’t want to stay connected to the wall while gaming. A better battery means mobility. So, the processor’s battery capacity and power consumption are essential factors when buying.

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Best High Refresh Rate Gaming Smartphones in 2024

Our list consists of five smartphones that are the best for gaming. Some can play games at maximum graphic settings, while others can provide the necessary performance to become a pro smartphone gamer.

1. ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+

Award: Best Premium Gaming Smartphone

SPECS

Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (AMOLED)

Touch-Sensing: 520Hz

Color Gamut: 100% DCI-P3

Battery Capacity: 6500mAh

Cooling: 22,000 RPM Active Fan

If you are looking for the best gaming smartphone technology, ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro+ is the answer. Its massive 6.8” screen with 89.1% screen-to-body ratio is ideal for gaming conditions. Gamer thought that designers could only provide massive cooling units for computers.  However, ZTE fixed a 22,000 rpm cooling fan inside the smartphone that hides just below the cameras.

The device scores a whopping 2,020,000 points on Antutu benchmarks. It’s the best premium gaming smartphone, better than 99% of other devices registered on Antutu. It has the latest communication speeds among side shear processing power owing to the WiFi 7 Tri-band technology. Low latency is vital in online competitive gaming. The same goes for audio performance with low latency. The phone features the latest BT 5.3 with better transmission and lower latency. If you are a fan of a large screen, then its USB-C port supports DisplayPort technology to connect monitors and projectors.

2. Poco X5 Pro

Award: Best Budget Gaming Smartphone

SPECS

Processor: Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (AMOLED)

Touch-Sensing: 240Hz

Color Gamut: 100% DCI-P3

Battery Capacity: 5000mAh

Cooling: 12-layer Graphite Cooling

A typical gamer might think a smartphone under $300 cannot perform gaming functions. Contrary to the norm, the Poco X5 Pro has a gaming processor SD 778G with 6nm technology. The high-refresh-rate gaming smartphone with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut is hard to find. The phone beats the iPhone in touch sample, leading to better response to fast touch movements. The phone is slim and has a symmetric shape for a firm grip.

The phone has 6GB or 8GB of massive RAM to load games fast, leading to lower loading times and better in-game performance. For stunning visuals and audio, users can enable Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos with compatible applications for a premium experience. It’s the best budget gaming smartphone with good build quality and a 67W fast charging capability.

3. Vivo iQOO Z7

Award: Best Entry-Level Gaming Smartphone

SPECS

Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)

Refresh Rate: 90Hz (AMOLED)

Touch-Sensing: 1200Hz

Color Gamut: Not Available

Battery Capacity: 4500mAh

Cooling: Vapour Chamber Liquid Cooling

There are two versions of the same phone; One is China-specific, and the other is global. The global version of Vivo iQOO Z7 features the MediaTek Dimensity 920 (6 nm), which has a 53,4393 score on the Antutu benchmark. The performance is compatible with the SD 778G processor. The phone features vapor chamber liquid cooling, which is the best for passive cooling systems.

The display is 90Hz compared to the 120Hz and above of other phones in our list. Overall, the phone has a very reasonable price tag with features like USB Type-C 2.0, IP54, and dust and splash resistance that are ideal for gamers. As the best entry-level gaming smartphone, its protection features and fast charging give it the perfect price/performance ratio.

4. OnePlus 10T

Award: Best High-End Gaming Smartphone

SPECS

Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (Fluid AMOLED)

Touch-Sensing: 360Hz

Color Gamut: 127% DCI-P3

Battery Capacity: 4800mAh

Cooling: Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber

Gamers who create content and have an active Instagram page would love the OnePlus 10T. It is the best high-end gaming smartphone for its combination of capturing and display technologies. Alongside a powerful flagship SD 8+ Gen 1 processor, it has a 127% DCI-P3 color gamut. The stunning display with 360Hz touch sampling can make any game look gorgeous.

The phone will remain cool with its cryo-velocity vapor chamber, ensuring low operating temperatures even under load. Charging and gaming are not issues with this phone. Its massive 125W charging does not overheat the smartphone due to its high-end cooling system. The Sony IMX766 lens with 4K@60fps video recording makes it ideal for content creators and gamers.

5. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Award: Best Flagship Gaming Smartphone

SPECS

Processor: Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)

Refresh Rate: 120Hz (OLED)

Touch-Sensing: 120Hz

Color Gamut: 100% P3 Wide Color Gamut

Battery Capacity: 4441mAh

Cooling: Graphite Thermal Pad

If there are no budget constraints and value-for-money issues, there is no comparison to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. It combines all the best and vital features into one unit. It’s the only product on our list with a 3nm processor, which makes it best for long battery performance. However, due to the graphic thermal pad design, which uses the casing to dissipate heat, it may become hot under load.

Especially when charging and gaming, the phone tends to become hot. The display on the front has a giant camera cut-out, but all these drawbacks wash away with its stunning video and audio capabilities. It has a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 compared to the older smartphones, enabling DisplayPort for large displays and fast data transfer technologies.

Conclusion

Let’s conquer the battlefield of choice! Snag a powerhouse Snapdragon for maximum muscle, a budget-savvy MediaTek for value that punches above its weight, or the flagship finesse of Apple. Whichever team you join, hunt for the latest generation and nanometer tech. Once you’ve locked your target, prioritize a super-smooth 120Hz+ refresh rate, lightning-fast 240Hz+ touch response, and vibrant 100% DCI-P3 or P3 Wide colors. Power through extended battles with a generous battery and rapid charging, and keep things cool with dedicated cooling tech. 

Look for the following features for a better gaming experience:

• Cooling: Dedicated fans, vapor chambers, or graphite pads.
• Touch Sensitivity: Higher Hz means faster response in games.
• Display Size: Larger screens provide better immersion.
• Audio: Dolby Atmos/Vision for immersive sound experience.
• Price: Choose the tier that fits your budget (premium, mid-range, entry-level).
• Bonus: Some phones offer additional features like USB-C DisplayPort for connecting to external displays, low latency Bluetooth for wireless headphones, and dust/water resistance for durability.

Consider your priorities and budget to find the perfect gaming smartphone that balances performance, visuals, battery life, and additional features. So why wait? Go forth and dominate!