Best phones under $600 for gaming (2026)
US list prices up to about $600. Ranked for gaming. Editorial scores, MSRP bands, and links to full guides—no sponsored picks.
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Top picks
OnePlus 12R
$499–$883
The OnePlus 12R (2024) — a OnePlus phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.
Catalog label: Top quartile
POCO F7 Pro
$549–$911
The POCO F7 Pro (2025) — a Xiaomi phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.
Catalog label: Top quartile
realme GT 6
$599–$989
The realme GT 6 (2024) — a Realme phone in the mid-range tier with editorial scoring for camera, battery, performance, display, and value.
Catalog label: Top quartile
Why these phones?
We start from every device in our catalog with validated US MSRP bands, apply your filters, then rank using the same 1–10 category scores documented in our methodology. “Top pick” is the highest composite for this page’s intent—not a paid placement.
Full ranked list
OnePlus 12R
OnePlus · 2024
POCO F7 Pro
Xiaomi · 2025
realme GT 6
Realme · 2024
iPhone 16e
Apple · 2025
iPhone 16e (Unlocked)
Apple · 2025
Pixel 9a
Google · 2025
Pixel 9a (Unlocked)
Google · 2025
Xiaomi 14T
Xiaomi · 2024
Nothing Phone 2
Nothing · 2023
vivo V50 Pro
vivo · 2025
OnePlus Nord 5
OnePlus · 2025
OPPO Reno 13
OPPO · 2025
POCO X 5 (2023)
Xiaomi · 2023
POCO X 5 (2024)
Xiaomi · 2024
POCO X 5 (2025)
Xiaomi · 2025
POCO X 6 (2023)
Xiaomi · 2023
POCO X 6 (2024)
Xiaomi · 2024
POCO X 6 (2025)
Xiaomi · 2025
POCO X 7 (2023)
Xiaomi · 2023
POCO X 7 (2024)
Xiaomi · 2024
POCO X 7 (2025)
Xiaomi · 2025
POCO X7 Pro
Xiaomi · 2025
iPhone 13
Apple · 2021
iPhone 17e
Apple · 2025
iPhone 17e (Unlocked)
Apple · 2025
Pixel 8a
Google · 2024
Pixel 8a (Unlocked)
Google · 2024
iPhone SE (3rd gen)
Apple · 2022