The Best Budget Gaming Phones In 2022

Gaming phones are all the rage right now, and believe it or not, a lot of people are opting for this type of phone. They are more durable, they perform well, and they can do more than just gaming. A common misconception is that gaming phones are expensive. While that is true for some of the high-end devices, there are still some budget options out there.

You don’t need to lose an arm and a leg to get a good gaming phone. There are lots of budget-friendly options this 2022. If you’re on the lookout for affordable gaming phones this year, then here are some of the best that you can get right now. These devices will keep you hooked on gaming for a really long time.

01 Samsung Galaxy A51

Samsung has a lot up its sleeves, especially when it comes to amazing smartphone offerings. If you’re looking for an excellent smartphone for gaming that’s not expensive, take a look at the A51. When it comes to gaming, the Samsung Galaxy A51 is a great choice. It’s got a large 6.5-inch display that’s perfect for playing games, and its octa-core processor ensures smooth performance. Plus, with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, there’s plenty of space for your games and other apps. If you’re looking for even more power, the Galaxy A51 also supports expandable storage up to 512 GB. In terms of graphics, the Galaxy A51 comes with the Mali-G71 MP2 GPU. This provides good performance for most games, though more demanding titles may see some slowdown. Still, the Galaxy A51 is a great option for gamers who are looking for a budget-friendly device. This phone isn’t just one of the best budget-gaming options out there; it’s a good phone overall. One other thing to keep in mind is that the Galaxy A51 does not come with a headphone jack, so if you want to use headphones while gaming, you’ll need to connect them via Bluetooth or use the included USB-C adapter. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A51 is a great choice for gamers who are looking for a budget-friendly device. It offers good performance, a large display, and expandable storage. Although its lack of a headphone jack may be a deal-breaker for some people, there are lots of workarounds to this problem, so it’s not exactly a big deal, especially if you’re on a budget. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gaming phone, the Galaxy A51 is definitely worth considering.

Pros

• Great bezel-less design
• Sleek and simple
• Great performance

Cons

• No headphone jack

Specification

• Price

  $324.99

• GPU

  Mali-G76 MP5 5G

• Storage

  128 GB

• RAM

  4 GB

• Processor

  Octa-core (4×2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)

Samsung Galaxy A51

Amazon

02 TCL 10L

TCL is a brand that’s very well-loved when it comes to affordable devices. It’s a common brand that people look for when they’re on a budget. Of course, it’s not surprising that they have budget gaming options too. In terms of design, the 10L looks very similar to other gaming phones on the market. It’s got a large screen with slim bezels, and it’s available in a variety of eye-catching colors. The back of the phone is where things get really interesting, though. There’s a cool carbon fiber finish that adds a touch of style and makes the 10L stand out from the crowd. When it comes to specs, the 10L is no slouch. It’s got a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. The 6.67-inch display is bright and vibrant, and the 4500 mAh battery will keep you gaming all day long. On the software side, the 10L ships with Android 10 and TCL’s custom UI. There are a few gaming-specific features, like Game Mode 2.0, which optimizes performance and ensures that you get the best possible gaming experience. The 10L also comes with a few extra features that make it ideal for gaming. There’s a Game Booster mode that optimizes performance, and the phone comes with a special cooling system to prevent overheating. Regarding the camera, the 10L is packing a quad-camera setup. There’s a 64 MP main camera, a 16 MP ultra-wide angle camera, a 2 MP macro camera, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The camera app is packed with features, including AI scene detection, night mode, and portrait mode. Overall, the TCL 10L is a great option for gamers who are looking for a powerful and feature-packed gaming phone. It’s got all the specs and features you need to enjoy the latest games, and it’s available at an affordable price point. If you’re looking for a new gaming phone, the 10L should definitely be on your radar.

Pros

• Great display
• Includes great gaming feaures
• Aesthetic design is appealing

Cons

• Daytime visibility can be problematic

Specification

• Price

  $169.99

• GPU

  Adreno 610

• Storage

  256 GB

• RAM

  8 GB

• Processor

  Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

TCL 10L

Amazon

03 Motorola G9 Power 2021 XT2091

The Motorola G9 Power was released in early 2021 and quickly established itself as one of the best budget gaming smartphones on the market. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful device that won’t break the bank. The G9 Power is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, making it more than capable of handling even the most demanding mobile games. It also comes with 4 GB of RAM, which is plenty for smooth multitasking and gaming. Plus, with a massive 6,000 mAh battery, you can be sure that this phone will last you all day long – even when gaming. When it comes to graphics, the G9 Power features an Adreno 618 GPU. This is a great choice for gamers who are looking for a budget-friendly device that can still deliver on performance. Plus, with 64 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 512 GB), you’ll have plenty of space to store all your favorite games and apps. As for the display, the G9 Power features a 6.8-inch HD+ Max Vision panel. This is a great size for gaming, as it provides plenty of real estate for you to see the action. Plus, with an aspect ratio of 20:9, you’ll be able to enjoy your games in their native resolution – no more black bars! When it comes to camera quality, the G9 Power is a mixed bag. It features a triple rear camera setup that includes a 64 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 2 MP depth sensor. This is a great choice for gamers who are looking for a budget-friendly device that can still deliver on performance. Plus, with 64 GB of internal storage (expandable up to 512 GB), you’ll have plenty of space to store all your favorite games and apps. The G9 Power is a great choice for gamers who are looking for a powerful and budget-friendly gaming smartphone. 

Pros

• Great base internal memory
• Amazing battery life

Cons

• Display is above average

Specification

• Price

  $126.00

• GPU

  Adreno 618

• Storage

  64 GB

• RAM

  8 GB

• Processor

  Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G

Motorola G9 Power 2021 XT2091

Amazon

04 Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular gaming smartphones on the market. It’s packed with high-end specs and features, including a powerful processor, ample RAM, and a large battery. Plus, it has a beautiful design and a great camera, but how does it hold up when it comes to gaming? We put the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro through its paces with some of the most popular games out there. We tested games like PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Call of Duty: Mobile. Here’s what we found. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a great gaming smartphone. It has powerful hardware that can handle even the most demanding games, and it has a large battery that will keep you going for hours. Plus, the camera is excellent, and the design is beautiful. If you’re looking for a great gaming smartphone, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a great option. Thanks to its superb camera, you can also enjoy taking photos and videos with this device, which is not easy to find for a phone in this price range. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the screen is on the small side, so you might have trouble seeing some of the action. Second, the fingerprint sensor is in a weird place, and it can be tough to reach. Finally, the price is a bit high, but it’s still cheaper than some other gaming smartphones on the market. Another downside is that the phone can get quite hot when gaming, so make sure you have a cooling case or pad handy. However, overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a great option for gamers who are looking for a high-end smartphone. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a great choice for gamers. It has the power to handle any game you throw at it, and it has a large battery that will keep you going all day long. Plus, the camera is excellent, and the design is beautiful. If you’re looking for a great gaming smartphone, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro should be at the top of your list.

Pros

• Great performance
• Camera delivers crisp and high quality results

Cons

• A bit pricier compared to other selections on this list

Specification

• Price

  $281.00

• GPU

  Adreno 619

• Storage

  64 GB

• RAM

  6 GB

• Processor

  Snapdragon® 695

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

Amazon

05 Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC M2007J20CG

When it comes to cheap phones, another brand trusted by gamers and tech experts alike is Xiaomi. With another entry on this list, the company really proves that they are a one-of-a-kind phone manufacturer. Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC M2007J20CG is one of the company’s budget gaming smartphones. It features a large 6.67-inch display with a high, 120 Hz refresh rate and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor with 6 GB of RAM. There’s also a massive 5,160 mAh battery, which should be able to keep the phone going for a long time. The phone runs on Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 software, which is based on Android 10. One of the main selling points of the Poco X3 NFC is its low price point. It’s available for just $199, which makes it one of the most affordable gaming smartphones on the market. For that price, you get a lot of features. The large display is great for gaming, and the high refresh rate means that games will look smooth and fluid. The Snapdragon 732G processor is also powerful enough to handle most games without any issues. The Poco X3 NFC also has some other great features, such as a fast-charging USB-C port, a headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. The phone also comes with a decent set of rear cameras, which includes a 64-megapixel main sensor. Overall, the Poco X3 NFC is a great budget gaming smartphone. It has all the features you need for a great gaming experience, and it’s available at an unbeatable price. If you’re looking for a cheap gaming phone, the Poco X3 NFC is the perfect choice for you.

Pros

• Display with high refresh rate
• High base internal storage
• Good processor

Cons

• Slightly heavy

Specification

• Price

  $197.50

• GPU

  Adreno 618

• Storage

  128 GB

• RAM

  6 GB

• Processor

  Snapdragon 732G

Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC M2007J20CG

Amazon

06 Motorola One 5G Ace

We’ve been impressed with Motorola’s One line of phones ever since the original launched in 2018. The company has continued to expand on the formula, and the latest device in the lineup is the Motorola One 5G Ace. The Ace is designed as a budget-friendly option for those who want to get in on the 5G action, and while it might not be the most powerful phone out there, it’s more than capable of handling casual gaming. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 5G phone that can still handle some gaming, the Motorola One 5G Ace is definitely worth considering. The first thing you’ll notice about the Ace is its large 6.7-inch display. It’s an LCD panel with a resolution of 1080 x 2400, and it looks pretty good. Colors are fairly saturated, and there’s plenty of brightness for outdoor use. The bezels around the display are reasonably thin, but there is a noticeable chin at the bottom. This is where you’ll find the Motorola logo as well as a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone. The Ace is made entirely of plastic, which helps keep its price down. But it still feels solid in the hand and doesn’t feel like a cheap phone. There’s a USB-C port on the bottom for charging, and a 3.5mm headphone jack up top. The SIM card tray is located on the right side of the phone. On the back, you’ll find a dual camera setup in a large camera bump. The cameras are arranged vertically, and there’s also an LED flash. The Ace is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, which is a mid-range chipset. It’s not as powerful as some of the flagship chipsets out there, but it’s more than enough for casual gaming. We tested a few games on the Ace and found that it could handle them without any issues. Games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly, with no noticeable frame rate drops or other issues. Of course, more demanding games will push the Ace harder, and you might see some slowdown, but for the most part, casual gaming is no problem for this phone. One thing to keep in mind is that the Ace doesn’t have a very powerful cooling system, so if you’re planning on doing any intense gaming, be sure to take breaks so that the phone can cool down. The Ace has a 4,885 mAh battery, which is about average for a phone this size. With casual use, we were able to get through a full day on a single charge, but if you’re planning on doing some gaming or other power-intensive activities, you might want to keep a charger handy. The Ace supports fast charging, and Motorola includes a 20W charger in the box. With this charger, you can top off the battery in about an hour and a half. The Motorola One 5G Ace is a budget-friendly option for those who want to get in on the 5G action. It’s not the most powerful phone out there, but it’s more than capable of handling casual gaming. Its large display and long battery life make it great for media consumption. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 5G phone that can still handle some gaming, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a great option.

Pros

• Great performance
• Good gaming features

Cons

• Subpar battery life

Specification

• Price

  $209.99

• GPU

  Adreno 619

• Storage

  128 GB

• RAM

  4 GB

• Processor

  Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G

Motorola One 5G Ace

Amazon