If you enjoy mobile gaming, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a high-quality gaming experience. There are several affordable options available today that offer impressive performance, high-resolution displays, and gaming features without breaking the bank. Below, you’ll find a selection best cheap mobile phones for gamingthat perfectly balance cost and performance, so you can enjoy your favorite games without worrying about financial worries.
Samsung Galaxy A34
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is a great option if you are looking for a cheap gaming phone, especially for young people who are looking to buy their first smartphone and want to get started with simple games like angry Birds. This device is very durable and hard to break, so parents can rest easy knowing they won’t have to worry about replacing it often. While it can’t match up to flagship models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max, its 120Hz display and 6-8GB of RAM make it suitable for most mobile games, offering decent performance without major issues.
The Galaxy A34 stands out for its excellent price-quality ratio. While it doesn’t have fast charging or a standout camera, its lightweight design and screen brightness make it an attractive option. In addition, Samsung offers long-term support for its devices, providing future updates and maintenance for the Galaxy A34 5G. Although it will not run demanding games such as Genshin Impact At 60fps, it’s ideal for those on a budget who want to enjoy the most basic mobile games.
Amazon
Poco X5 Pro

If you’re looking for a phone to take your first steps into the world of gaming, the Poco X5 Pro 5G is a great option. With a 120Hz refresh rate and 900 nits of peak brightness, the AMOLED display shines brightly and delivers crisp, clear visuals that are perfect for your favorite games. But what stands out even more during long gaming sessions is the robust 5,000mAh battery, which, when paired with 67W fast charging, allows you to charge the phone from zero to sixty in under an hour. You can expect four to five hours of enjoyment before worrying about the battery, making the Poco X5 Pro 5G a reliable companion for your gaming marathons.
One notable downside of the device is the large camera bump, which can make the device a little awkward to use as a daily phone. However, when it comes to gaming, the Poco X5 Pro 5G is very good. While the Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset can’t compete with more advanced models like the RedMagic 7 or 8, Poco is significantly cheaper. It’s a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Poco X5 Pro, and it’s more than capable of running games like Genshin Impact with high graphics and stable frame rates. In short, if you’re looking for a budget phone that’s good for gaming, this is a fantastic option.
Amazon
OnePlus 10T

OnePlus 10T stands out in the gaming arena thanks to its powerful Snapdragon 8+ chip, which is one of the best in its price range. With options of up to 16GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, this mobile phone allows you to enjoy demanding games such as Genshin Impact or Black Clover M No problem. The combination of impressive RAM, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an AMOLED display delivers a smooth, high-quality gaming experience that can handle almost anything you throw at it.
The OnePlus 10T’s 4,800mAh battery isn’t the largest, but its power efficiency and fast wired charging make up for that limitation, getting you back to work quickly. However, the OnePlus 10T 5G has weaknesses in the photography department. Good photos can be taken in good outdoor lighting, although image quality tends to be grainy indoors. So, if you want a gaming phone with a high-quality camera, you may need to consider other alternatives.
Amazon
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro is a great option for gaming enthusiasts with excellent performance in its price range. While the regular Redmi Note 12 is cheaper, the Pro model justifies its extra cost with a better display, faster charging, an improved chipset, and more RAM and storage. These improvements allow the Note 12 Pro to run demanding games such as Honkai Star Rail And Genshin Impact, far exceeding the capabilities of its less powerful counterpart. Moreover, its premium design with a glossy Gorilla Glass display on the back gives it a beautiful and sophisticated look.
The Note 12 Pro’s 120Hz OLED display delivers stunning picture quality, perfect for gaming even in daylight. Game Turbo options allow you to customize graphics to optimize the performance of each game, while stereo speakers and wireless and wired audio provide high-quality, immersive audio.
Xiaomi is known for constantly updating its devices with the latest features and operating systems, so the Note 12 Pro will continue to improve over time. For those who are willing to invest a little more, this cell phone is a great option in the Xiaomi phone lineup.
Amazon
iPhone 12

iPhone 12 is one of the most reliable phones on the market, especially in the gaming space, where it runs smoothly and delivers exceptional performance across a wide range of tasks. With an extensive library of games designed specifically for iPhone, this model remains a compelling option even years after its October 2020 launch.
The dual 12MP cameras offer wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle options, although they have been surpassed by others in the current 2024 market. However, for game lovers, the App Store and Apple Arcade are second to none in offering optimized games. which works surprisingly well despite the 4GB of RAM.
Even though the iPhone 12 competes with other more powerful phones available at the same price, it stands out for its modern features like wireless charging and a waterproof screen, as well as its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. It’s ideal for those who want a great phone for both gaming and everyday use, without making any compromises in either aspect.
Amazon
Source: Digital Trends
