Top gaming phones in 2026: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, OnePlus 15R and more

Customers seeking gaming smartphones in 2026 can choose from multiple options currently available. These phones deliver powerful performance with features designed specifically for gaming enthusiasts.

These smartphones come with everything a serious gamer needs: flagship processors, high-refresh-rate displays, advanced cooling systems, and large batteries that support extended gaming sessions. Whether you are looking for a smartphone that delivers smooth performance at high frame rates, extended battery life, or advanced camera capabilities for content creation or gaming, top brands such as Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus offer a range of options. But before finalising what to purchase, here is some advice on what to look for in a premium gaming smartphone, followed by a list of gaming smartphones that are available in the market in 2026.

What to look for in gaming smartphones

When choosing a gaming smartphone, there are several factors to consider. The processor and GPU are critical components, as better chipsets deliver smoother gaming performance and higher frame rates. A high refresh-rate display is essential; 120Hz or higher refresh rates provide a smoother gaming experience with reduced motion blur. Battery life and a reliable cooling system are also important, as they help maintain a consistent gaming experience by preventing thermal throttling during extended sessions.

Additional features such as touch-response chips, vapour chambers, and gaming-specific software optimisations can further enhance the experience.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max marks a significant shift in design and features from last year's Pro lineup. The phone has switched from a titanium unibody to an aluminium unibody and now includes a vapour cooling chamber. The device features the usual upgrades, including a new chip, improved cameras, and enhanced battery life.The most visible change is the full-width camera plateau running across the back of the phone. It's a departure from the square camera bump, resembling Google's Pixel camera bar but distinctly Apple in execution. The phone features a triple-camera system, with all three lenses equipped with 48-megapixel sensors.The telephoto lens gets an upgrade, jumping from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels with a 56 percent larger sensor.

Apple says this delivers up to 8x optical quality zoom. The front-facing camera now uses an 18-megapixel sensor with Centre Stage technology for improved framing.The iPhone 17 Pro series supports ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock, which help sync video across multiple cameras. There's also a Dual Capture feature that lets you record from both the front and back cameras simultaneously.Apple's decision to use an aluminium unibody design pairs it with a revamped vapour chamber thermal system that should keep temperatures controlled under heavy use.

Both the front and back feature Ceramic Shield protection, with the tougher second-generation coating on the front.Under the hood, the new A19 Pro chip delivers MacBook-level performance with its six-core CPU and five-core GPU. Apple claims it's a high-performance chip for smartphones. The vapour chamber handles sustained performance during gaming sessions.Battery life improves, with Apple claiming these are larger iPhone batteries.

The Pro Max delivers up to 39 hours of video playback, compared to 33 hours for last year's model. eSIM-only models get better battery life since Apple can use the space normally reserved for the physical SIM slot.Key Specifications

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max price in India (on Flipkart)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Samsung has launched its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra runs the Android 15 operating system.

The flagship smartphone comes with S Pen support and is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display which offers up to a 120 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone screen comes with Vision Booster support and adaptive colour tone and is protected by new Corning Gorilla Armour 2 glass. The smartphone comes in three variants and features a titanium chassis.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset for Galaxy and runs Android 15, topped with the company's One UI 7.

The flagship Samsung smartphone is IP68-rated, making it dust- and water-resistant.The Galaxy S25 series includes a Personal Data Engine for personalised AI features, keeping data private and secure with Knox Vault. The Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography to safeguard personal data against emerging threats.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra houses a 50MP ultra-wide camera with an f/1.9 aperture, a 200MP wide camera with an f/1.7 aperture, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and an f/3.4 aperture, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and an f/2.4 aperture.

The front-facing camera is 12MP with an f/2.2 aperture.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 45W fast charging. The company claims that the smartphone can charge up to 65% in just 30 minutes. The flagship phone also supports wireless fast charging and wireless PowerShare functionality. Samsung is offering 7 generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.The Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a suite of advanced AI features, including AI-powered searches to perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions, natural language understanding for easier interactions, Gemini integration for performing interactions across Samsung and Google apps, Call Transcript and Summary for organising calls, Writing Assist and Drawing Assist for content creation tasks, and Circle to Search for faster screen searches.Key Specifications

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price in India (on Amazon)

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Google has launched the Pixel 10 Pro XL as part of its Pixel 10 series. The device comes with a comprehensive suite of AI features powered by Google Gemini. The Google Pixel 10 series is the company's first Pixel lineup to feature a triple-camera system across all models.The Pixel 10 Pro XL is powered by Google's Tensor G5 processor and features advanced AI capabilities integrated throughout the system.

The device features a triple-camera setup, marking the first time Google's Pixel lineup has offered three cameras across all models.The smartphone offers Google's signature computational photography features enhanced by AI, along with deep integration with Google services and apps. The device runs on Android 16, with Google's custom optimisations for performance and efficiency.The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is designed for users who want a large display, along with Google's AI features and camera capabilities.

The device includes features powered by Google Gemini to support various tasks and enhance productivity.Key Specifications

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL price in India (on Flipkart)

OnePlus 15R

OnePlus launched its latest flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 15R, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, which the company says it co-developed with the chipmaker. The phone pairs the new chip with a 165Hz display, 7,400mAh battery, and a three-layer cooling system. The 15R runs OxygenOS 16 on Android 16 and comes with a 50-megapixel main camera.The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip delivers 36% faster CPU performance, 11% higher GPU performance, and 46% better AI processing than the previous generation. OnePlus uses a proprietary CPU scheduler that allocates system resources differently than stock Android, prioritising demanding applications during gameplay.The phone also includes a gyroscope capable of detecting up to 4,000 degrees per second for precise motion control and a Touch Response Chip that registers inputs at 3,200Hz.

A dedicated Wi-Fi chip helps maintain stable connections even through walls and floors.The battery measures 7,400mAh and supports 80W fast charging. A three-layer cooling system manages heat: aerogel under the display, a vapour chamber measuring 5,704mm², and graphite across the back panel.The 15R runs OxygenOS 16 on Android 16, with OnePlus's Plus Mind feature integrated with Google Gemini. OnePlus will provide four years of Android updates and six years of security patches.Camera hardware includes a 50-megapixel Sony IMX906 main sensor with optical image stabilisation, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, and a 32-megapixel front camera. OnePlus uses its DetailMax Engine for processing, with Ultra Clear Mode that effectively doubles photo resolution during daytime, Clear Burst for capturing ten frames per second with reduced blur, and Clear Night Engine that captures short and long exposures simultaneously to preserve detail in low light.

Video recording reaches 4K at 120 frames per second.The 15R features a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The screen updates 165 times per second in supported games, reducing motion blur and potentially shortening reaction times in competitive scenarios. During regular use, the display adapts between 60Hz and 165Hz depending on content to balance performance and battery life.Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protects the front, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor sits beneath the panel. OnePlus has added Eye Comfort Mode within its gaming software to reduce strain during extended sessions, along with reminders to blink.The 15R carries design elements from the OnePlus 15, including a camera module positioned at a 45-degree angle from the corner and the OnePlus logo centred on the rear. The frame is flat aluminium with strategically placed antennas for better signal reception during gaming.Three colours are available: Charcoal Black and Mint Breeze with glass backs, and Electric Violet, exclusive to India, made from fibreglass. All versions meet IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K standards, protecting against water jets up to 80°C and submersion at 1.5 metres for thirty minutes.Key Specifications

OnePlus 15R price in India (on Flipkart)

Vivo X300 Pro

The Vivo X300 Pro runs Android 16 and is powered by a MediaTek chipset. The smartphone is IP68/IP69 rated and includes a 50MP front camera for selfies.

The vivo X300 Pro focuses on long-range precision with professional telephoto capabilities and continues vivo's collaboration with ZEISS, delivering colour accuracy, detail, and clarity.Vivo X300 Pro is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The smartphone features a 6.78-inch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness.The smartphone features a triple rear camera with a 50MP main sensor with f/1.57 aperture, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.0 aperture and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with f/2.67 aperture. There's also a 50MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture.Vivo X300 Pro comes with an IP68+IP69 rating and is backed by a 5,440 mAh battery, which comes with 90W fast charging and 40W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support.The smartphone is designed for users who want professional-grade telephoto capabilities combined with flagship performance and features.Key Specifications

Vivo X300 Pro price in India (on Amazon)

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Xiaomi has officially launched its flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, in India. The device comes with advanced camera technology and premium design. The smartphone is available in India in a Silver Chrome color variant with a 16GB + 512GB configuration.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra boasts a 6.73-inch WQHD+ AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3,200 nits and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage.The device features a Leica-tuned quad-camera system, including a 50MP main sensor, a 70mm floating telephoto camera, a 200MP ultra-telephoto camera, and a 14mm ultra-wide lens.

It supports 4K video recording at 120fps and Dolby Vision at 60fps.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is equipped with a 5,410mAh battery, supporting 90W wired and 80W wireless charging. The device runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 2, offering AI-powered tools and seamless connectivity.The smartphone is designed for users who want advanced photography capabilities with professional-grade camera hardware combined with flagship performance.Key Specifications

Xiaomi 15 Ultra price in India (on Reliance Digital)

Oppo Find X9 Pro

Oppo has unveiled its Find X9 Pro in India. The device offers a Hasselblad co-engineered camera system and is claimed to offer all-round experience delivered by long battery life, powerful performance, and the smooth ColorOS 16.The Oppo Find X9 Pro runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset and is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It features a larger 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of around 3,600 nits.The Pro model carries an advanced camera system that includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera for enhanced zoom capabilities. For selfies, the device uses a 50-megapixel front camera.The smartphone houses a 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 80W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

It includes an upgraded cooling system, premium build quality with high-level IP ratings, and Hasselblad-tuned imaging software for professional-grade photography.Oppo Find X9 runs ColorOS 16 based on Android 16 and offers long-term software support with five OS upgrades and six years of security updates. The Find X9 Pro includes Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0 and USB Type-C connectivity and carries IP66, IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.Key Specifications

Oppo Find X9 Pro price in India (on Amazon)