Best 120Hz Phone: Fast-Paced Mobile Gaming

High refresh rate monitors have been in demand for the longest time, but it’s only been recently that the technology transitioned into smartphone displays owing to the rise of mobile gaming titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile. If you play these fast-paced games, having a high refresh rate phone can give you a considerable advantage over the competition.

In this comprehensive guide, we go over some of the best high refresh rate smartphones on the market so you can experience next-level mobile gaming.

Best 120Hz Phones

Asus ROG Phone 2

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
GPU	Adreno 640
RAM	12 GB
Storage	1 TB
Screen Size	6.59 in
Display Type	AMOLED
Display Resolution	Full HD (1080 x 2340)
Pixel Density	391 PPI
Battery	6000mAh

The Asus ROG Phone 2 is what a high-end gaming computer would look like if it were a smartphone. This phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, which can handle the most taxing of games in addition to your daily tasks with ease. It has a battery that can last up to two days with moderate use, a high refresh rate, and has a flashy design that appeals to mobile gamers. Even if you’re not a hardcore gamer, there’s plenty to like about this phone. 

Razer Phone 2

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
GPU	Adreno 630
RAM	8 GB
Storage	64 GB
Screen Size	5.72 in
Display Type	IGZO IPS LCD
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 2560)
Pixel Density	513 PPI
Battery	4000mAh

The Razer Phone 2 was one of the first smartphones to appeal to gamers with its impressive hardware and features, and it remains one of the most suitable phones for gaming. It has an efficient design that makes good use of its real estate, albeit it isn’t the most pleasing aesthetically. The look of this phone makes it apparent that it is a couple of years old, with large bezels frowned upon by the manufacturers and consumers of today. 

Nevertheless, the Razer Phone 2 was way ahead of its time, and it offers excellent value, especially with its recent updates and software optimization.

Realme X50 5G

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm SDM765 Snapdragon 765G
GPU	Adreno 620
RAM	12 GB
Storage	265 GB
Screen Size	6.57 in
Display Type	IPS LCD
Display Resolution	Full HD (1080 x 2400)
Pixel Density	401 PPI
Battery	4200mAh

The Realme X50 5G delivers outstanding gaming performance at a very reasonable price point. As a budget flagship, this smartphone provides top-shelf hardware, including 256 GB of storage and a whopping 12 GB of RAM for endless multitasking. It can hold a candle even with the other options on this list that cost more than twice. However, this phone is notorious for its lackluster set of cameras. Nevertheless, if you’re in the market for a gaming phone with a high refresh rate, the camera quality shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

OnePlus 8 Pro

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865
GPU	Adreno 650
RAM	12 GB
Storage	256 GB
Screen Size	6.78 in
Display Type	Fluid AMOLED
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 3168)
Pixel Density	513 PPI
Battery	4510mAh

The OnePlus 8 Pro is what you would expect from a proper flagship smartphone. While this handset isn’t explicitly designed for gaming, it packs spectacular hardware that surpasses the most powerful gaming phones. It also has features that appeal to non-gamers, including an excellent primary camera and a long-lasting battery. On the downside, the telephoto and wide-angle cameras aren’t nearly as impressive as those of other flagship devices, but it shouldn’t be a bother if you’re not big on photography. 

Oppo Find X2

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865
GPU	Adreno 650
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB
Screen Size	6.7 in
Display Type	AMOLED
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 3168)
Pixel Density	513 PPI
Battery	4200mAh

The Oppo Find X2 delivers everything you would expect from a modern flagship smartphone, including top-of-the-line specifications, a mesmerizing display, and excellent camera setup. While it isn’t necessarily the cheapest handset on the market, it compounds its price with remarkable value. It is one of the few options on this list that houses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset to provide uncompromising performance for gaming or any other task. On top of all these features, this phone has a very pleasing and ergonomic design that makes daily use feel effortless. 

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G

Refresh Rate	120Hz at Full HD 60Hz at Quad HD
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
GPU	Adreno 650
RAM	12 GB
Storage	128 GB
Screen Size	6.9 in
Display Type	Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 3200)
Pixel Density	511 PPI
Battery	5000mAh

The Samsung S20 Ultra is the top-of-the-line offering from a very competitive group of smartphones, providing outstanding hardware, features, and camera capabilities. Boasting a dense Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, this handset delivers some of the most accurate and detailed images on a phone screen. However, some may find the screen to be too large for comfortable single-hand use. On the other hand, the massive screen results in highly immersive gaming, and the battery is enough to last up to nine hours at 120Hz. 

Razer Phone

Refresh Rate	120Hz
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
GPU	Adreno 540
RAM	8 GB
Storage	64 GB
Screen Size	5.7 in
Display Type	IGZO IPS LCD
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 2560)
Pixel Density	515 PPI
Battery	4000mAh

Released nearly three years ago, the Razer Phone was the first smartphone to feature a 120Hz refresh rate, which is why it rightfully deserves a spot on this list. It is essentially the pioneer of high refresh rate phones that made other manufacturers follow suit. While its hardware can’t quite hold a candle to today’s flagships, it still provides decent gaming performance, along with other impressive features like a pixel-dense display and multi-day battery life. If you can look past the blocky design and relatively old software, this phone offers excellent value for your money.

Best 90Hz Phones

OnePlus 7T Pro

Refresh Rate	90Hz
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
GPU	Adreno 640
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB
Screen Size	6.67 in
Display Type	Fluid AMOLED
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 3120)
Pixel Density	516 PPI
Battery	4085mAh

The OnePlus 7T Pro builds on the previous success of OnePlus 7 Pro to deliver improved performance, longer battery life, and new camera modes. Arguably the most notable feature of this smartphone is the attractive notch-less design, which gives it a contemporary appeal. Gaming performance is also one of its strong suits, as it houses a chipset capable of handling virtually anything you throw at it. However, you may want to reconsider if you’re looking to play hours-long gaming sessions since this phone’s battery life lags behind some of the other alternatives on this list.

Google Pixel 4 XL

Refresh Rate	90Hz
CPU	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855
GPU	Adreno 640
RAM	6 GB
Storage	64 GB
Screen Size	6.3 in
Display Type	P-OLED
Display Resolution	Quad HD (1440 x 3040)
Pixel Density	537 PPI
Battery	3700mAh

The Pixel 4 XL is renowned for its camera performance, but it packs some decent hardware and features that make it suitable for fast-paced mobile gaming. Its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and smooth 90Hz P-OLED display is often undermined by how well its camera performs. However, you may find the 64 GB storage of this phone inadequate, especially compared to some of the other options on this list. Moreover, battery life is rather disappointing, so you may want to reconsider if you plan on using your phone for gaming marathons.

Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G

Refresh Rate	90Hz
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
GPU	Adreno 620
RAM	12 GB
Storage	256 GB
Screen Size	6.5 in
Display Type	AMOLED
Display Resolution	Full HD (1080 x 2400)
Pixel Density	402 PPI
Battery	4025mAh

Although the Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G places more emphasis on camera performance rather than gaming performance, it still manages to deliver on both these aspects, albeit less impressively than the other options on this list. The most underwhelming feature of this smartphone is undoubtedly its battery life, which is utterly inadequate for mobile gaming. On a more positive note, if you’re a casual gamer who takes photography seriously, this phone is an excellent fit. It is also able to compensate for its lackluster battery life by integrating VOOC rapid charging.

Choosing the Best 120Hz Phone

A high refresh rate display is only one of the aspects you need to consider if you want to experience smooth and tear-free mobile gaming. There is no use having a high refresh rate screen if the hardware isn’t capable of achieving high frame rates. Thus, it is crucial that you carefully examine the other aspects of a gaming smartphone, including its chipset, memory, and graphics processor. The other elements that should shape your decision, such as camera performance, resolution, and display type, are highly dependent on your personal preferences.

Quick Recap

The 7 Best 120Hz Phones

1. Asus ROG Phone 2
2. Razer Phone 2
3. Realme X50 5G
4. OnePlus 8 Pro
5. Oppo Find X2
6. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G
7. Razer Phone

The 3 Best 90Hz Phones

1. OnePlus 7T Pro
2. Google Pixel 4 XL
3. Oppo Reno3 Pro 5G

Final Word

That concludes our list of the best high refresh rate phones currently available on the market. We hope this article has served as a helpful guide before deciding to buy your next daily driver. Which among the devices on the list piqued your interests? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!