Top 4 Powerhouses: Smartphones Under $250 for Gaming Enthusiasts

When it comes to smartphones, performance is a top priority. You don't need to empty your wallet to get a powerful gaming device.

The sub-$250 smartphone market is buzzing with options, making it challenging to find the perfect fit. That's why today, we've compiled a list of 4 smartphones equipped with robust processors, excellent gaming capabilities, and stunning designs to make your decision easier.

Nubia Neo 8GB 256GB

Leading the pack among sub-$250 phones is the Nubia Neo. It delivers a gaming phone experience within the $250 range, boasting a sleek design that rivals dedicated gaming devices. Its 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate ensures immersive entertainment moments.

The device is powered by the Unisoc T820 chipset, a new mid-range contender from Chinese chipset manufacturer Unisoc. Despite its unfamiliar name, this chip packs a punch in terms of performance.

Nubia Neo scores 450,034 points on Antutu, 889 in single-core and 2,380 in multi-core on Geekbench 6. These scores are quite high compared to other devices in the same price range. With these impressive scores, it can handle many popular games on the market with moderate settings or even the lowest graphics.

TECNO POVA 5 8GB 128GB

In the sub-$100 phone segment, Tecno Pova 5 is also a good choice for users who like a modern design, robust gaming performance, and want to stand out. It's hard for users to find such a beautiful and unique design at this price range.

The large 6.78-inch screen offers a large display area, making it easier to view content and play games. With a TFT LCD panel, FullHD+ resolution, and vivid colors, it ensures an impressive user experience, entertainment, and viewing with true-to-life, beautiful colors, smooth touch response, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

The highlight of Tecno Pova 5 is its configuration, equipped with the Helio G99 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. It can handle many popular games on the market today such as Mobile Legends, FreeFire, PUBG Mobile with moderate settings, and Genshin Impact can still be played but at the lowest settings. Additionally, the device has a 6,000mAh battery for over 1 day of continuous usage.

Here are the performance scores of the device for your reference:

POCO M5 4GB 64GB

POCO M5, while not sporting a rugged gaming design like the ones listed above, still exudes uniqueness with its faux leather back, large and stylish camera module, giving it a distinctive and standout appearance. This design brings a refreshing feel compared to most smartphones in the current market.

POCO M5 features a 6.58-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution, offering decent performance for daily tasks such as watching movies, browsing the web, and enjoying TikTok. It's also equipped with a triple rear camera setup consisting of 50MP, 2MP, and 2MP lenses, providing users with authentic and sharp image quality.

With the current price below $100, its hardware includes the Helio G99 chipset similar to Tecno Pova 5, enabling smooth gaming experiences. Just like Tecno's device, POCO M5 can handle popular MOBA games like Arena of Valor, Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile at medium settings, and Genshin Impact at lower settings.

Here are the performance benchmarks for your reference:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 

And finally, in the sub-$100 phone category, we have the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12, which seems to be the most balanced device in terms of configuration, design, and camera features. Standing out with its square, flat design that looks modern and follows the trend, a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate truly shines in the sub-$100 segment.

Featuring a high-resolution 108MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 delivers sharp and detailed photos, offering users a creative photography experience with vivid colors and high detail.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is powered by the Snapdragon 685 chipset. While its performance scores may not be exceptionally high, they are sufficient for everyday tasks and certain popular MOBA games like Arena of Valor and Mobile Legends, ensuring smooth gameplay. It also comes with a 5,000mAh battery and 33W fast charging, providing long-lasting usage throughout the day for work and study.

You can check out the performance benchmarks below:

And those are the top 4 smartphones under $100 with good specs and strong performance for long-term usage. Let us know which one you choose in the comments below!