You don't need to spend a fortune to get a seriously capable gaming phone. These are the best smartphones for mobile gaming under £400 in 2026.
The Poco X6 Pro is arguably the best value gaming phone you can buy. Its Dimensity 8300 chip handles any mobile game smoothly, the 120Hz AMOLED display is buttery, and the 5,000mAh battery lasts through long sessions.
The OnePlus 12R offers Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance — a genuinely flagship-class chip — at a mid-range price. 120Hz ProXDR display and 100W fast charging make it excellent for extended gaming.
If you prefer Samsung software, the A35 is a solid gaming phone with a 120Hz AMOLED display and reliable performance. Not the fastest chip but handles most games well.
The Poco X6 Pro is our top pick under £400 for gaming. It offers a powerful Dimensity 8300 chip, 120Hz display and 5,000mAh battery at around £280-320.
Chipset performance (higher is better), display refresh rate (90Hz minimum, 120Hz ideal), RAM (8GB minimum), battery capacity and thermal management.
8GB is the minimum we'd recommend for mobile gaming in 2026. 12GB gives you more headroom for demanding titles and background app multitasking.
Both are excellent. Android offers more affordable high-performance options. iPhones often get premium titles first and have exceptional chips, but at higher price points.