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Mobile phones are not simply for making calls or sending messages. The latest devices can do much more, including making payments, watching movies, taking high-quality photos, and playing video games. Each year, we see the release of new handsets, and on this page, you can find out more about the best handsets for mobile gamers in 2023.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate

Coming in first place for mobile gaming is the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, and that may come as a surprise to those who were expecting something from Samsung or Apple. However, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate has been created with the gamer in mind and is a hugely powerful device for playing video games. The handset comes with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Regarding the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 and 16GB of RAM, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate matches the PlayStation 5, which is incredible in such a small device. The AMOLED 6.78-inch screen combined with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and a free cooling stand in the box means the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate tops the charts for the best 2023 handset for mobile gamers. The device does not come cheap, but from the latest graphic-intensive adventure and sports games to classic online casino and puzzle games, the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate can do it all.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset has catapulted the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra above the iPhone 14 Pro Max as one of the leading handsets for mobile gamers in 2023. This chip is Samsung-specific, meaning although you can find similar chips in other devices, it is not the same as the Samsung version, which is excellent for gaming. The 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED screen makes games stand out thanks to the vivid colors, and the expandable storage of up to 1TB means storing games on the device is no problem. The peak refresh rate of 120Hz allows for the smooth running of even the most intensive game, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a tremendous handset for those who value their mobile gaming experience.

iPhone 14 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 Pro Max has not been designed with gamers in mind, but there is plenty about the handset, which makes it one of the top choices for gamers in 2023. The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts the A16 Bionic chipset, which some people believe is more powerful than Qualcomm or Samsung. Thanks to the power of the A16 Bionic chipset, the iPhone 14 Pro Max can power the most demanding mobile games, and the 6.7-inch 120Hz screen looks fantastic when playing the latest mobile gaming titles.

In addition to the three handsets above, some of the other leading mobile devices for gamers in 2023 include the Sony Xperia 1 IV, OnePlus 11 Pro, Black Shark 5 Pro, and Nubia Red Magic 7.