If you love Samsung phones and you love gaming, you may be wondering what are some good Samsung phones for gaming. Therefore, in this article, we have reviewed the 8 best Samsung phones for gaming that will allow you to play the latest mobile games such as PUBG, CoD, and much more.
Moreover, we have made sure to include some higher-end as well as some budget gaming phone options. You’ll also find information pertaining to the four major factors that make up an excellent gaming phone to guide you in your selection of a Samsung gaming phone.
Best Samsung Phones for Gaming
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the ultimate any-task smartphone, perfect for gamers who want the best Samsung mobile gaming expereince, while also being able to do all sorts of professional workloads.
Specifications
OS: Android 12 (One UI 4.1) | Screen size: 6.8-inch | Resolution: 3088 x 1440 | Display type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Refresh rate: 120Hz | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: 8GB/12GB | Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 108MP+10MP+10MP+12MP | Front camera: 40MP | Weight: 229g | Dimensions: 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mmBenefits
- Comprehensively high-end camera specs
- Ultra low-latency S Pen gaming
- Absolutely stunning WQHD+ display
Drawbacks
- (Slightly) downgraded RAM
- (Slightly) downgraded battery usage efficiency
The Galaxy S22 Ultra takes the same core elements as the Galaxy Note product line. As such, not only does it focus on the latest browsing gimmicks, snappy usage, and powerful hardware. It also offers more accurate use via the S Pen, making it feel significantly more responsive than it would ever be compared to just using your fingers.
That being said though, its 3088×1440 may be considered a tad bit too much for standard gaming. While visually appreciable, this does not really contribute to any practical advantage on a 6.8-inch screen. In fact, using this resolution setting may result in shorter game times due to higher battery usage. Thankfully you still have to manually change this resolution, as the default is set to standard 1080p.
120Hz remains a gimmick in gaming due to limitations in hardware, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 could at least stretch those crunched frame rates so that it goes significantly higher than 60Hz. If you desire to, you may even sacrifice a few settings, so that some optimized games can get very close to that true maxed 120Hz gaming experience.
In exchange for all of this raw power and hardware, however, is somewhat mediocre battery life. Well, technically it’s quite normal compared to other Android phones of the same tier since it also lasts practically the whole day. But it is nowhere near the efficiency of its Apple counterpart. Even when using its separately sold 45W charger.
But, that’s probably the only negative thing we could point out about the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It still is one of the best phones out there for the generation it represents, gaming-focused or not. And with the S Pen ecosystem perfectly within the product’s user space, it offers an astounding level of intuitive touchscreen experience to any game that happens to benefit from its use.
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the compatible alternative for users wanting an S22 Ultra, without the additional “unnecessary” hardware not related to gaming.
Specifications
OS: Android 12 (One UI 4.1) | Screen size: 6.1-inch | Resolution: 2340 x 1080 | Display type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Refresh rate: 120Hz | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 3,700mAh | Rear camera: 50MP+10MP+12MP | Front camera: 10MP | Weight: 168g | Dimensions: 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mmBenefits
- Affordable flagship specs
- Most affordable S22 version
- Long-duration play durability certified
Drawbacks
- (Still) downgraded battery
Technically the most affordable out of all the Galaxy S22 versions, the base S22 model delivers pretty much the same innards as its more premium cousins. But being the core version there are quite a few sacrifices to features. In exchange, we are slashing almost a third of the price compared to its best version, the S22 Ultra.
The most prominent, of course, is its size. It is noticeably smaller than any phone of its supposed tier. At just 146mm in length and 167g in weight, it is supposed to have the handling distribution factor of an entry-level phone. Bigger hands might find it a bit harder to play on, but the hardware itself is built for extended periods of mixed workloads.
Besides, having that smaller size means that its 1080p dynamic AMOLED 2X screen feels much crisper, and provides punchier colors to games that make use of brighter color palettes.
But aside from size, camera specs, and alternative options like the S Pen, most of its innards are still the same. So raw performance-wise, you pretty much maintain a similar package as the S22 Ultra. Meaning when it comes to games, you can crunch all those frame rates at very respectable settings (average 70-90 FPS), many of which can even be maxed out. And for, standard browsing and app access, it remains just as snappy and responsive.
The obvious downside to this is the lack of available juice to power all of what the S22 Ultra can offer within the smaller form factor of the standard S22. Battery life is considerably lower, both in efficiency and capacity. You can still get a few hours of dedicated gaming time, but you definitely have to reach out for an outlet or power back the same way as more classic portable consoles like the 3DS and PS Vita.
On the flip side, the smaller size of the Galaxy S22 might actually be an advantage for some users, and the battery life won’t matter so long as day-to-day charging is maintained. So overall, the Galaxy S22 is still a wonderfully efficient alternative since it basically offers the same practical gaming experience as its more expensive brethren.
3. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is perfectly compatible with users wishing for S series-tier QoL features coupled with A series-tier gaming performance.
Specifications
OS: Android 12 (One UI 4.1) | Screen size: 6.5-inch | Resolution: 2400 x 1080 | Display type: Super AMOLED | Refresh rate: 120Hz | CPU: Exynos 1280 | RAM: 4/6/8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 64MP+12MP+5MP+5MP | Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 189g | Dimensions: 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mmBenefits
- Great quality dual speakers
- IP67 water resistant
- Overall tier is squeezed S and A series models
Drawbacks
- No headphone jack (as a mid-range unit)
- Oddly subpar-ish haptics
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. That is the mantra that the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G follows with its design philosophy and hardware combination. It retains the same great features such as camera hardware, even offering similar performance as its direct predecessor, albeit with the use of a completely new, nigh-experimental chipset.
The Exynos 1280 comes from a troubled development period rife with controversies surrounding the flawed initial designs of its prototypes. But, practically speaking, it is a good chipset generation that started in 2021. As it stands, this newer chipset actually crushes the Snapdragon 720G in benchmarks, so for browsing and app access, it feels much faster to use.
The story is quite different with gaming though, as developers have yet to optimize their games to this brand new mobile hardware platform. Thankfully, it mostly performs on par with the 720G at least, though it still depends on title per title whether it would easily surpass or struggle to even go toe-to-toe with it.
Something not much mentioned here is software updates, which we were obliged to for the Galaxy A53 simply because of how dependable this would become for game compatibility. Hopefully, within those four-to-five years of guaranteed major updates, we’d find nice tweaks that would effectively negate the aforementioned optimization issues.
If you are in the market for a Galaxy A52 and you have a bit of extra dough to spend, then we highly recommend pivoting your investment towards the Galaxy A53 instead. It’s an easy pick for more dedicated gamers on a budget since it is practically on par with a Google Pixel 5A.
4. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is great for users who don’t necessarily need the greatest and latest, but at least still want a true competitive gaming experience to satisfy their performance needs.
Specifications
OS: Android 11 (One UI 3.1) | Screen size: 6.2-inch | Resolution: 2400 x 1080 | Display type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Refresh rate: 120Hz | CPU: Exynos 2100/Snapdragon 888 5G | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128/256GB | Battery: 4,000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP+64MP+12MP | Front camera: 10MP | Weight: 169g | Dimensions: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mmBenefits
- Efficient dynamic refresh rate
- Powerful performance
- No practical difference from the S22 if only for regular usage
Drawbacks
- Plastic design
The Galaxy S21 5G remains a very sturdy choice today among high-end phones, given its excellent hardware choices and almost similar screen specifications to its successors. In fact, it may even be the better deal, given that it has enjoyed discounts and promos for almost the whole time Samsung was parading the S22 series.
While initially criticized for its plastic back design, people have largely accepted this as a strategic move on Samsung’s part to slightly increase grip and tactile sensitivity. And you very know what it means when it comes to gaming: better control, and less time fumbling with mistakes. It becomes very unlikely to slip from your hands or suck up fingerprints (unless greasy), making it as timeless as its material namesake.
For access and browsing, there’s practically no difference between the S21 and basic S22. You could notice some delay when placed side by side. But for everyday use, these microseconds amount to generally nothing at all.
And finally, most crucially for this list, high-end gaming can be enjoyed quite well for almost all modern games. Both the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 will crunch very good frame rates even at maxed settings, with the difference to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 only really noticeable when using more advanced graphical settings.
That being said, you do still have to watch out for notoriously demanding titles such as Fortnite and Genshin Impact. These will still give the Galaxy S21 5G a hard time when it comes to balancing settings.
In conclusion, the Galaxy S21 5G is still the best Android phone for a lot of people who initially adopted it almost a year ago. Regardless of whether you got the Exynos 2100 version or the more familiar Snapdragon 888 version.
5. Samsung Galaxy A32
Verdict
The Galaxy A32, despite its rather lackluster features, remains a great choice for users that simply want the best bang-for-the-buck gaming experience for the cheapest acceptable price.
Specifications
OS: Android 11/12 (One UI 4.0) | Screen size: 6.4-inch | Resolution: 2400 x 1080 | Display type: Super AMOLED | Refresh rate: 90Hz | CPU: Mediatek Helio G80 | RAM: 4/6/8GB | Storage: 64/128GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Rear camera: 64MP+8MP+5MP+5MP | Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 184g | Dimensions: 158.9 x 73.6 x 8.4 mmBenefits
- Great price-to-performance ratio (for a lower-tier product)
- Almost double battery life compared to mid-range
- Nice camera features despite being entry-level
Drawbacks
- Teeters at the edge of acceptability
If you absolutely cannot stretch your budget beyond the lowest acceptable mid-range offering, then the Samsung Galaxy A32 remains one of the best Samsung phones out there. At least, when measuring its performance for the price you can ultimately purchase it with.
Samsung really nailed it out of the park for this phone when it comes to being minimalist. There are no fancy patterns around, just a basic color, with sensors and buttons jutting out from where they are supposed to be.
AMOLED screens are kind of obligatory at this point, as well as screen refresh rates higher than 60Hz. But in this case, the 90Hz display is more of a tool to slightly make browsing smoother. Without proper setting tweaks, you’re mostly stuck with average frame rates below 60 FPS.
Speaking of which, the Mediatek Helio G80 isn’t the best chipset in the world for gaming. You need to sacrifice quite a lot of settings for more demanding, modern titles. Medium is fine for lighter titles such as PUBG and Mobile Legends. But you’d have to crank down to Low in order to even get to acceptable-ish frame rates for Fortnite and CoD: Mobile.
For everyday basic tasks, it can do its job well enough. Take note of a few random stutters here and there though, since it isn’t configured as optimally as it should have.
For those with a better budget, we highly recommend going for the Galaxy A52 or A53 instead. But at least, the Galaxy A32 remains a solid choice for barebones entry-level gaming if all you want is the cheapest possible bang-for-the-buck option.
What to look for in a good Samsung gaming phone
Chipset
The first factor is the SoC or System on Chip. The SoC will significantly determine the quality and smoothness of your gameplay. Samsung phones come with two types of processors, depending on your market. The US market sees the Snapdragon processor in use while other markets have to do with Samsung’s own Exynos series of processors. Exynos chips have recently come under fire for being less efficient and powerful than their Snapdragon counterparts while costing the same. If you live in an area that sells the Exynos chip, it’s best to avoid it altogether.
Display
The next factor is the screen. Samsung makes one of the best displays in the market with excellent color reproduction and inky blacks, thanks to the AMOLED technology. As far as gaming goes, the latest Samsung smartphones employ high refresh rate screens that let you respond quicker in games like Fortnite while also making the smartphone appear smoother and snappier. Also, most panels support HDR and high brightness levels allowing for better-looking graphics. Furthermore, a bigger screen would help in displaying more content for games like Clash of Clans.
Memory
The RAM present on the smartphone is also essential as more RAM means faster loading of games and eliminates the lag while using the system. It achieves this by storing open games and applications in memory when you leave them, making it easier to start from where you left off.
Battery life
Finally, a crucial aspect is the battery life. Gaming, being an extremely resource-heavy workload, will drain your phone’s battery before you even know it. High refresh rate and resolution screens will also be major contributing factors making larger batteries and quick charging crucial deciding factors. Make sure your smartphone supports fast charging if you want to quickly top it up between gaming sessions.
Final Thoughts
While there are plenty of viable options outside of the Samsung lineup, these are currently the best options if you are looking specifically for a Samsung gaming phone. These phones all offer great performance for their price, therefore, you can use this guide to help you choose the right Samsung gaming phone based on your mobile needs and available budget.
