Over the last few years, the prices of certain flagship phones have skyrocketed to ridiculous levels (I’m sorry, but being expect to spend $1,000 on a smartphone qualifies as ridiculous). What a lot of people don’t know, though, is that there are a lot of great options beyond the newest iPhone and the newest Samsung Galaxy that are also much more affordable. These are the three best Android phones for gaming that won’t even run you $500 (and yes, that’s including tax, no $499.99 phones on this list).
Moto G7
The cheapest phone on this list at $299.99, the Moto G7 is the best budget Android phone around. With a 6.2″ display (the biggest on this list), 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery, the Moto G7 will be able to handle pretty much any game you throw at it (along with that game’s install size). The fact that it ships with Android 9.0 is the cherry on top, since a lot of budget Android phones come with older Android versions. If you’re still not convinced, I personally have a Moto G7, and I am in no hurry to upgrade to something more expensive.
Buy the Moto G7 for $299.99 at Amazon
Razer Phone 2
For $100 more at $399.99, you can get the Razer Phone 2, which launched at $799.99 just a year ago. The Razer Phone 2 has 8GB RAM (the most on this list), 64GB storage, a 5.72″ display, and a 4,000 mAh battery (also the biggest on this list). It also ships with Android 9.0 so you don’t have to worry about falling behind. The Razer Phone 2 also has a unique cooling system so you can play for hours and hours. By the way, it’s not quite as square as that picture makes it look, but I wanted you to get an idea of the Razer branding on the back.
Buy the Razer Phone 2 for $399.99 at Amazon
Google Pixel 3a
Finally, if you want the purest Android experience possible, there’s the Google Pixel 3a, which will also run you $399.99. The Google Pixel 3a sports 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, a 5.6″ display, a 3,000 mAh battery, and ships with Android 9.0. If it has similar specs to the cheaper Moto G7 and costs as much as the superior Razer Phone 2, which go with the Pixel 3a? Well, it has one of the best cameras out there, and since it’s straight from Google you’ll get the best Android experience around (and you’re guaranteed years of system updates). If you want an all-around phone that also has gaming chops, this is the choice for you.
Buy the Google Pixel 3a for $399.99 at Amazon
At the end of the day, any of these phones will handle pretty much any mobile game you can throw at it, and you can have any of the three if you’re willing to spend just over $400. If you know anyone in the market for a new Android phone to play some games on, direct them to this page before they spend too much money on a flagship that’s barely better (if at all). Happy mobile gaming!
