Well, affordable phones are now quite good, at least as far as the performance aspect is concerned. Many mid-range chips from MediaTek and Qualcomm are capable enough of handling high-end games smoothly. Besides, the fact that faster-inbuilt storage (UFS 2.1) and faster LPDDR4X RAM are fast turning into a norm helps too. So, if you are looking for a good phone for gaming under Rs 20,000, here are some of the best options that you may consider.

Best gaming phones under Rs. 20,000 to buy in 2022

1. Poco X3 Pro

Poco X3 Pro (review) is the only phone in this list that comes running on Snapdragon 800 series chipset. Xiaomi’s spin-off brand has launched its new flagship with a 7 nm-based Snapdragon 860 octa-core chipset along with Adreno 640 GPU. The Poco X3 Pro features a 120Hz IPS LCD with HDR10 support and excellent touch response. The phone has LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage which further compliments Snapdragon 860 speed. On the downside, it’s a tad heavy. Display: 6.67-inch (20:9) Full HD+ IPS | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 860G octa-core CPU | RAM: 6GB/8GB| Storage: 128GB/256GB | Software: MIUI 11 (Android 11) | Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 215g | Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm |Battery: 5020mAh

2. iQOO Z3

iQOO has been aggressively pushing itself in the affordable segment. Eying Millenials, most of whom are into PUBG Mobile or some other RPG game would find iQOO Z3 (review) as an impressive option to buy. It comes with an IPS LCD screen which ensures you enjoy game graphics on the phone. iQOO Z3 has powered the iQOO Z3 with a Snapdragon 768 processor which can handle games like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, and Call of Duty Mobile in medium settings. The phone features a 6.58-inch full HD+ well-calibrated screen with 120hz refresh rate. The phone is offered with 6GB RAM and a 128GB storage option under Rs 20,000. iQOO new OriginOS also includes an interesting game mode that can be used to avoid interruptions while gaming. Display: 6.58-inch FHD+ display; 2340 x 1080 resolution | Processor: 2.8 GHz octa-core, Snapdragon 768 CPU; Adreno 620 GPU Mali-G72 MP3  | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Software: Android 11 | Rear camera: 64MP (f/1.8) + 8MP (f/2.2) + + 2MP (f/2.2) | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 185g | Dimensions: 164 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm | Battery: 4400mAh, 33W fast charging supported

3. Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Gaming enthusiasts on a budget will find the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max to be an appealing option. Xiaomi’s latest Redmi Note rocks Snapdragon 732G chipset which delivers staggering benchmark numbers for a budget device. The Redmi Note 10 Pro max comes with a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with full HD+ resolution. Xiaomi offers the Note 10 Pro Max with up to 8GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. The 5020mAh battery provides the necessary juice to power up the device. Xiaomi ships the phone with a 33W fast charger. Display: 6.67-inch (20:9) Full HD+ AMOLED 120Hz | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G octa-core CPU | RAM: 6GB/8GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB | Software: MIUI 11 (Android 11) | Rear camera: 108MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP | Front camera: 8MP | Weight: 209g | Dimensions: 164.5 x 76.15 x 8.1 mm |Battery: 5020mAh

4. Moto G60

Moto G60 (review) is worth considering by people who are into gaming. The Moto G60 offers a 120Hz refresh-rate display, 108MP primary rear camera, and Snapdragon 732G octa-core gaming chipset for under INR 18,000. It is in fact cheapest 108MP camera phone in India to date. The Moto G60 offers the cleanest software experience in this price bracket. Unlike most phones in this list, the Moto G60 has no bloatware or ads popping up every now then.
Moto G60 Pro specs Display: 6.78inch FHD+ display; 2460*1080 resolution; 120Hz | Processor: 2.3GHz octa-core, Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G CPU; Adreno 618 GPU  | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Software: Android 11 | Rear camera: 108MP +8MP +2MP | Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 182g | Dimensions: 158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm |Battery: 4500mAh, 65W fast charging supported

5. Moto G40 Fusion

Moto G40 Fusion (review) is another smartphone based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G platform, which has proven to be an excellent chip for gaming on affordable phones. Its Adreno 618GPU gives it a slight edge over the Snapdragon 730 chipset. We’d recommend you go with the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. The Moto G40 Fusion has a sharp and vibrant 120 Hz full HD+ display with HDR 10 support. Thanks to the power-efficient chipset, the 6000mAh battery lasts really long and the 16MP selfie camera is an added bonus. Display: 6.78-inch Full HD+ IPS | Processor: Snapdragon 732G SoC | RAM: 4GB/6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Software: Android 11| Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 220g | Dimensions: 163.8 x 75.8 x 9.6 mm | Battery: 6000mAh, 20W fast charging

6. Poco X3

Poco X3 (review) is a recommendable option for mobile gamers with a limited budget to spend on hardware. The Poco X3 has the muscle to smoothly run most demanding titles thanks to the Snapdragon 732G chipset onboard. It is the first phone to employ Snapdragon 730G’s successor in India. It has liquid cooling technology that keeps things cool even when you are engaged in a demanding battle royal game or drifting a car on a race track. The 120Hz IPS Display with a 240Hz touch sampling rate also enhances the overall gaming experience. Display: 6.67-inch Full HD+ IPS; 120Hz refresh rate | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G octa-core CPU | RAM: 6GB/8GB| Storage: 64GB/128GB | Software: MIUI 12 (Android 10) | Rear camera: 64MP + 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 225g | Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm |Battery: 6000mAh

7. Realme X7 5G

Realme X7 5G (review) comes powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor with 5G support coupled with Mali-G57 GPU, up to 8GB RAM, and up to 128GB inbuilt storage. There is copper liquid cooling for a longer sustained performance. Speaking of which, there is a 4310mAh battery that keeps the phone alive with support from a 50W fast charger.
Upfront, the phone sports a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080×2400 pixels resolution. You may note that this is just a 60Hz panel. Within the left-cornered punch hole lies a 16MP front camera. As for the rear setup, there is a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide snapper, and a 2MP macro capture. Display: 6.4-inch sAMOLED FHD+ display; 2400*1080 resolution | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 800U; Mali-G57 GPU  | RAM: up to 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP +8MP +2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 176g | Dimensions: 160.9×74.4×8.1 mm |Battery: 4310mAh, 50W fast charging supported

8. Realme Narzo 30 Pro

The recently announced Narzo 30 Pro (review) is also worth consideration under Rs 20,000. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 800U which is considered to be at par with Sanpseagon 732G. The gaming-centric SoC is powerful enough to steer you through the most demanding games. The Realme Narzo 20 Pro 6.5-inch 120Hz IPS display with a 120Hz touch sampling rate. It also packs a 5000mAh battery with 30W fast charging.
Display: 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS display; 120Hz refresh rate | Processor: 2.4 GHz octa-core, MediaTek Dimensity 800U CPU; Mali-G57 GPU  | RAM: up to 8GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Software: Android 10; Realme UI | Rear camera: 48MP +8MP +2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 191g | Dimensions: 162.2 x 75.1 x 9.1mm | Battery: 5000mAh, 30W fast charging

9. Realme 8 Pro

Realme 8 Pro (review) includes Snapdragon 720G SoC which is a year old but it is still capable to run tier 1 titles like PUBG mobile or Call of Duty mobile. The Realme 8 Pro is not just capable of gaming but does well in terms of optics. It features a 108MP led quad rear camera setup and a 16MP selfie camera on the front. Display: 6.4-inch FHD+ display; 2400 x 1080 | Processor: Snapdragon 720G | RAM: up to 8GB | Storage: up to 128GB | Software: Android 11 based Realme UI | Rear camera: 108MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 176g | Dimensions: 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm | Battery: 4500mAh, 50W fast charging

10. Realme 8s 5G

If you are a gaming enthusiast with a limited budget and also want to invest in a 5G phone right now, then the Realme 8S 5G is another option worth considering. This Dimensity 810 based phone is enough powerful to handle most of the popular games comfortably. The Mali-G57 MC2 GPU ensures that games run smoothly, even when played on higher game settings and there’s a 5020mAh battery to further assist the cause. The phone houses a 6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen that comes with a 19:5:9 aspect ratio. Gaming enthusiasts can take advantage of a new gaming mode and 4D vibration motor that will enhance their gameplay experience. Display: 6.5-inch FHD+ display; 2340×1080 resolution | Processor: 2.4 GHz octa-core, MediaTek Dimensity 810 CPU; Mali-G57 MC2 GPU | RAM: up to 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Software: Android 11 based Color OS| Rear camera: 64MP +2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 191g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.8 mm |Battery: 5000mAh, 33W fast charging supported Also Read: Realme XT vs Realme X2 vs Redmi Note 8 Pro Comparison

Best Phone for Gaming under 20,000 INR to buy in India in 2022

These are some of the best available gaming mobile phones under Rs. 20,000. If you are willing to extend your budget, you can consider options like iQOO Z5, Realme X3 Zoom, and OnePlus Nord.

Here’s the list of best gaming phones under Rs. 20,000 that you can buy in January 2022 in India

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