The best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones to spend your money on

Publish date: 2022-04-21

David Imel / Android Authority

Gaming aficionados want the best performance a mobile chipset can offer. The Snapdragon 855 Plus was the cream of the crop in 2019. Since then, some time has passed, but the SoC is still more than suitable for gamers and power users. And because many of these phones are older, you can get them at a discount! Picking the right handset is no easy feat, so we have put together a list of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones currently available.

Also: These are the best Android phones available today

The best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones:

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones.

More about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus

The Snapdragon 855 Plus brought CPU and GPU improvements to elevate the mobile gaming experience. The primary change is the overclocked Kryo 485 CPU Prime core, clocked at 2.96GHz. This contrasts with the Prime core in the standard Snapdragon 855, which clocked up to 2.84GHz. The Adreno 640 GPU gets a 15% increase in performance too.

The Snapdragon 855 Plus brought CPU and GPU improvements to elevate the mobile gaming experience.Edgar Cervantes

Besides these two changes, most of the chipset’s specs remained the same. The Snapdragon 855 Plus uses the X24 multi-gigabit 4G LTE modem and X50 5G modem. It also brought improvements over the Snapdragon 845, like the fourth-generation multi-core AI engine and support for Vulcan 1.1.

Also read: Should you pick the Snapdragon 855 Plus over the regular 855?

It is an incremental upgrade, and we can’t say everyone should buy a Snapdragon 855 Plus phone over a Snapdragon 855 one, but an added boost in performance is always welcomed. Especially for those who have phones with higher refresh rate screens. Remember Qualcomm has since launched the Snapdragon 865 family and even the Snapdragon 888 for newer devices. The newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is also making it to 2022 devices.

Asus ROG Phone 2

David Imel / Android Authority

The Asus ROG Phone 2 was the first Snapdragon 855 Plus phone, a top performer. Asus’ gaming phone is extremely beefy elsewhere, offering 12GB of RAM as standard, along with 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.0 storage, and a massive 6,000mAh battery. It also stands out as one of the few phones packing an OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which was rarer when the phone launched.

The ROG Phone 2 offers air triggers that act as shoulder buttons, a 48MP+13MP ultrawide rear camera pairing, a 24MP selfie camera, and an array of accessories. It’s undoubtedly one of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones out there, especially if you’re into gaming aesthetics and customizations.

Asus ROG Phone 2 specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

David Imel / Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip isn’t only one of the best Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus phones; it was one of the most unique handsets in the market. The foldable design takes you back to the flip phone days, and it makes the phone fit in any pocket comfortably. Unfold it, and you got yourself a modern display that spans 6.7 inches diagonally.

Also: The best foldable phones with flexible displays

It’s likely the best option for those who want a flip phone style design, as it came with more powerful specs and a lower price than its main competitor, the Moto Razr. It’s still a pricey phone, but it’s downright awesome too. And you might be able to find it at a lower cost now that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is around.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip specs:

OnePlus 7T, 7T Pro, and 7T Pro McLaren

David Imel / Android Authority

The OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro might not be branded as gaming phones, but they pack the Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset, so they have what it takes to handle the most demanding titles. Aside from raw power, these handsets feature a 90Hz AMOLED display. There are differences in size and definition, with the 7T Pro sporting a larger 6.67-inch QHD+ panel and the 7T downsizing to a 6.55-inch FHD+ screen.

Also: The best OnePlus phones in different categories

Other specs include 8GB of RAM, 128GB to 256GB of storage, and a 4,085mAh battery on the 7T Pro (3,800mAh on the 7T). Toss in a triple rear camera (48MP, 16MP ultrawide, and 12MP telephoto) and a 16MP pop-up selfie shooter, and you’ve got a couple of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones around.

OnePlus 7T specs:

OnePlus 7T Pro specs:

OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren specs:

Realme X3 SuperZoom

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

There weren’t many Snapdragon 855 Plus phones coming out in 2020. The Realme X3 SuperZoom was one of the few latest integrations to this market, and it has plenty to offer.

Aside from a powerful chipset, the device offers a tremendous 120Hz display, clean software, an awesome quad-camera setup that offers amazing shooting versatility, and a pretty enticing price for a device like this one.

Realme X3 SuperZoom specs:

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro

The Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G builds upon the foundation of the Mi 9 series, adding the fastest processing package around, 30W wireless charging, and an improved camera.

Memory and storage are pretty good too, but the big deal about this phone was that it supported 5G and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. That was a rare thing. It looks great as well. The only issue is availability, as it’s hard to get this model outside of China.

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro specs:

Vivo Nex 3

David Imel / Android Authority

The Vivo Nex 3 has a lot more than a Snapdragon 855 Plus processor going for it. It sports a large 6.89-inch display, a curved display, and high-end specs. In his review, our very own Bogdan Petrovan called it “a solid alternative to the Mate 30 Pro” due to the many similarities between the two. The Nex 3 comes with a similar design, packs a triple camera setup at the back, and is also available in a 5G variant.

Next: The best cheap phones available right now

It has its drawbacks, like any other phone. The software experience leaves a lot to be desired, and the image quality can be inconsistent at times, among other things. But it’s still a great device, and one of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones. The Nex 3 was not released in Western markets, but you can still get it relatively easily.

Vivo Nex 3 specs:

Nubia Red Magic 3s

Gary Sims / Android Authority

The Nubia Red Magic 3S was a great addition to ZTE’s sub-brand gaming line, and there’s more to it than the stereotypical, garish design. Nubia’s device packs a Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, 8GB to 12GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery with 18-watt fast charging.

You’ve also got a 6.65-inch 90Hz OLED screen and capacitive shoulder triggers, making its claim as a gaming phone more concrete than many other devices. In other words, you should expect great gaming performance and better-than-average endurance.

ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3s specs:

Black Shark 2 Pro

Black Shark

The Black Shark 2 Pro is one of the more prominent gaming phones on the market, and it deserves a place on the list of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones.

This version is very similar to the standard Black Shark 2, with the two main differences being the chipset and UFS 3.0 storage. Other notable features include a “direct touch liquid cooling” system, a 240Hz touch response, and a pressure-sensitive display. All of these gaming-focused features and the powerful specs make the Black Shark 2 Pro one of the best Snapdragon 855 Plus phones you can get.

Black Shark 2 Pro specs:

The Snapdragon 855 Plus may be plenty good for gaming, but we have much more powerful technology now if you’re willing to pay the premium. We have a dedicated list of the best gaming smartphones around, so check it out if you’re looking for the absolute best of the best.

Next: The best phones for gaming

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