Best Budget Gaming Smartphones Under $500 in 2025
We have seen a surge in graphic-intensive mobile games as more and more buyers are considering the best cheap gaming smartphones under $500. While high-end flagship smartphones undoubtedly offer great gaming experiences, their price tags are too high for some users.
These smartphones sacrifice excellent camera quality or design, but they offer excellent processors and display quality with fast refresh rates to enjoy fast-paced gameplay.
The good news is that there are phones from last year and the current generation that cost under $500 that can play just about any game you want without any issues. So whether you’re a casual or avid gamer, we’ve rounded up the best budget smartphones for gaming under $500.
Top 6 Best Gaming Smartphones Under $500
1. OnePlus 12R
For power gamers who don’t want to spend a ton of money on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Google Pixel Pro, the OnePlus 12 is a great option; it costs less than $500. But there’s good news: if you’re only looking to spend $500 on an Android phone, OnePlus has the new, slimmed-down OnePlus 12R.
With the OnePlus 12R, you still get a beautiful, vibrant 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile processor.
This combination makes this phone great for gaming, streaming video, or viewing and editing photos. The battery on this phone can last up to two days between charges.
When streaming video or using graphics-intensive apps, the OnePlus 12R supports HDR10+ and HDR Vivid, as well as Dolby Atmos sound. And when it comes to wireless connectivity, this phone is already one of the few smartphones to support Wi-Fi 7.
The phone also has a built-in Sony camera system with three rear cameras, including a 50MP main camera. Despite its relatively low price, the OnePlus 12R is a feature-packed and powerful phone for those who want more than a budget smartphone but don’t want to spend more than $1,000 on a high-end phone.
It can handle all your everyday smartphone tasks, including communication, productivity, and entertainment, with ease.
2. Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
Motorola’s Moto Edge series focuses on delivering flagship specs in a sleek design, and the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion aims to deliver just that.
A stunning 10-bit, HDR10+ 144Hz OLED curved display, powerful Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, a Snapdragon 888+ CPU, and a 50MP primary camera with OIS are all flagship features that make the Moto Edge 30 Fusion the best budget gaming smartphone under $500.
The Edge 30 Fusion’s gaming performance is also impressive, and the display’s 144Hz refresh rate aims to deliver optimal performance. The bundled 68W charger fully charges the phone’s 4400mAh battery in less than 40 minutes.
3. Xiaomi Black Shark 4
Powerful Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has also been releasing some of the best gaming tech under its Black Shark brand, and the Xiaomi Black Shark 4 is no different. It offers the most fantastic gaming experience at a low price.
It features a lightning-fast 144Hz OLED display. Along with that, Xiaomi has added some other unique features that are specifically made for gaming. These include physical shoulder triggers, support for 120W fast charging, and more.
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4. OnePlus 10T
The OnePlus 10T is one of the best budget gaming smartphones under $500, featuring the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset with 150W charging. It also comes with a very responsive 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display.
The only downside to this smartphone is that it lacks OnePlus’s signature Alert slider and the camera setup is mediocre. But it’s still likely the most versatile smartphone in its price range, and it definitely deserves a spot on our list of the best budget smartphones for gaming under $500.
5. POCO F4 GT
The POCO F4 GT is the most affordable gaming smartphone with interesting features and impressive technology. It boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which is great for a smoother gaming experience.
Interestingly, the device also features an advanced cooling system and two physical trigger buttons for better competitive gaming.
6. Realme GT Neo 3
Realme is offering a flagship processor at an affordable price. The gaming handset, the Realme GT Neo 3, is the ultimate gaming smartphone, with a massive 5,000mAh battery that supports 80W charging. The 50MP primary camera takes amazing pictures in all lighting conditions.
What is the best budget gaming phone?
The OnePlus 12R is my pick for the best budget gaming phone. It offers flagship performance for $500, which is unmatched. It may not look like a flashy device, but it packs a lot of power under the hood thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It can run any game you throw at it, and from what I’ve tested, it performs well.
The OnePlus 12R also packs a display that punches well above its weight. It’s big, bright, and vibrant. Plus, the phone boasts OnePlus’s signature super-fast charging. You won’t need to charge it more than once a day, but when you do, you’ll be good to go after just 15 minutes of charging.
How much RAM do you need in a gaming phone?
The more, the better. Gaming phones require a lot of power and storage, and to manage both seamlessly, you’ll need more RAM. If your budget allows, go for the higher-end versions of any gaming phone.
Almost all phones start with 8GB of RAM these days, which is more than enough for casual gaming. If you’re serious about mobile gaming and want to play the best titles, go for the 12GB or 16GB versions.
Conclusion
There are several smartphones that offer great gaming performance, but not all of them fall into the budget range. We have brought you some amazing budget gaming smartphones under $500 that offer great features and impressive functionality.
This article is helpful because it covers all the aspects that a budget gaming smartphone can offer. If you have any questions or suggestions, we welcome your valuable comments.
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