With smartphones getting faster and cheaper every year, the demand for gaming phones has risen dramatically. While flagship phones can easily run new games at the highest settings available, they are too expensive and out of budget for most mobile gamers. Thanks to consistent innovations in smartphone technology, gaming can now be experienced in all its glory on devices that won't break the bank. If you are looking for a new gaming phone that can run games like BGMI, Garena Free Fire, and Genshin Impact without any lags or stutters, here are some of the best options available under Rs 40,000. Poco F6 Launched earlier this year in May, the Poco F6 is one of the best value-for-money smartphones that offers great performance for the asking price. Featuring the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which sits somewhere between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 8+1 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the chipset is pretty stable and can easily run all mobile games at adequate settings. As is the case with all Poco F series phones, the chipset feels snappy and does not heat up. In our review, we noted that the phone scored over 1.3 million on AnTuTu has a stability score of 89 per cent and sometimes outperforms the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which costs almost four times the price of the F6. While the Poco F6 may not look or feel premium compared to other phones on the list, thanks to its plastic back, it is pretty lightweight and ergonomic. The phone has a flat 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED screen that is bright both indoors and outdoors. Like most mid-range phones, it has a dual camera setup that comprises of a 50MP primary sensor which takes good photos in all lighting conditions, but the 8MP ultrawide struggles to capture good photos in low light conditions. The Poco F6 has a 5,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging support, which on paper should easily last a day, but some users have complained of battery drain issues. which may be because of poor software optimisation. Launched for Rs 29,999, the base variant of the Poco F6 comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage and is currently selling on Flipkart for Rs 23,999, but we recommend going with the 512GB version if you can spend a bit more. Realme GT 6T Looking for a phone that can easily run games like BGMI, CarX: Street and Honkai: Star Rail at high graphics and frame rates without burning a hole in your pocket? The Realme GT 6T might meet your needs. Powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, which Qualcomm says has an AnTuTu score of more than 1.5 million, the Realme GT 6T comes close to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of raw performance. The phone has a 6.78-inch 120Hz LTPO AMOLED screen that can go up to 1,600 nits, which is pretty bright under direct sunlight. While the chipset does not get hot even during extended gaming sessions, you will have to dial down a few settings to get more frame rates. Realme GT 6T has a dual-tone back, with the upper half of the phone housing a 50MP primary camera and an 8MP ultrawide lens. As is the case with most mid-range phones, the primary camera takes detailed photos in all lighting conditions while the ultrawide sensor suffers during nighttime. It packs a 5,550mAh battery with 120W fast charging support, making it one of the fastest-charging gaming phones in the price bracket. The base variant of the phone which comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB gets UFS 3.1 storage, but if you are a hardcore mobile gamer, we recommend going with the 256GB variant as it comes with the much faster UFS 4.0. It is currently selling on Amazon for Rs 29,999, but you can buy it for Rs 25,749 using the included Rs 4,250 coupon. iQOO Neo 9 Pro Vivo's sub-brand iQOO is often known for making phones that cater to mobile gamers on a budget. Launched earlier this year, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro is one of the best mid-range gaming phones that punches above its weight. Featuring Qualcomm's last year's flagship chipset - the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, we noted in our review that the iQOO Neo 9 Pro had an AnTuTu score of 1614272 and did not throttle. Coupled with 8GB RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, the phone can easily run games like Genshin Impact, Zenless Zero, CarX and more without dropping frames. It has a 6.78-inch 144Hz LTPO AMOLED screen that can go up to 1,400 nits under direct sunlight, allowing gamers to play their favourite games even under direct sunlight. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14 and packs a 5,160mAh battery that supports 120W wired charging, which is really handy if all you do is play games. The back of the phone has a triple camera setup that consists of a 50MP primary camera accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide lens. The primary sensor takes crisp and detailed photos during both day and night time, but the ultrawide sensor is average at best. If you want a phone that charges really fast, does not throttle and can run all your favourite games without lags, the iQOO Neo 9 Pro (review) is an easy recommendation. It is available on Amazon and starts from Rs 35,999. OnePlus 12R Want a gaming phone with a decent camera and great build quality? Check out the OnePlus 12R, the company's latest premium mid-range device. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the phone looks pretty similar to its expensive counterpart - the OnePlus 12 but instead of a leather back, features a glossy plastic back. Performance-wise, the phone packs a punch and does not lag or stutter when playing for hours on end. Backed by a 5,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging, the OnePlus 12R can charge from zero to full in under an hour. However, some users have complained about heating issues, which may be worrisome if you live in a city like New Delhi, which is quite hot for most of the year. Compared to other devices, the OnePlus 12R is a bit heavy, weighing 207 grams. While the 50MP primary camera, 8MP ultrawide lens and 2MP macro sensor might look good on paper, the camera is on par with devices priced under Rs 30,000. So if you are someone who takes lots of photos, this is something to keep in mind. The base version of the OnePlus 12R (review), which has 8GB RAM and 256GB can be purchased from Amazon for Rs 37,990, but it might sell for much less in the coming months. While this may not be the best or fastest phone for the asking price, if you are looking for a OnePlus device, this is one of the best mid-range gaming phones money can buy. Xiaomi 14 Civi Featuring the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which also powers the likes of Realme GT 6T and Poco F6, the Xiaomi 14 Civi may not be the fastest phone in the under Rs 40,000 price segment, but it does come with really good cameras. Weighing just 177 grams, it also happens to be one of the lightest phones of 2024. The Xiaomi 14 Civi has a 6.55-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and runs on HyperOS based on Android 14 out of the box. It has a glass back and a huge circular camera island that houses a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. However, compared to other phones on the list, the 4,700mAh battery might not be enough for heavy users and you might need to charge the phone after a few hours if all you do is play games. Xiaomi 14 Civi's base version of 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is currently selling for Rs 39,880, but if you have some extra cash, the 12G Band 512GB version can be purchased for Rs 43,999. Mobile gamers no longer need to burn a hole in their wallets to enjoy some incredible games. With a wide range of options under Rs 40,000, users can experience smooth gameplay on some of the most popular titles. The above-listed devices offer a good balance of power, performance, and affordability.
