SGg Here are a few Android phones under $544 that are known for smooth gaming performance, decent thermals, and capable GPUs:
POCO F4:
- Chipset: Snapdragon 870 (solid gaming performance)
- Cooling: LiquidCool Technology 2.0 helps manage heat under heavy load
- Why It’s Good: The Snapdragon 870 is well-optimized for games like PUBG and CoD Mobile, and the POCO line usually offers great value for money.
Realme GT Neo 2 or GT Neo 3 (if found on sale):
Chipset: Snapdragon 870 (GT Neo 2) or Dimensity 8100 (GT Neo 3)
Cooling: Both have vapor chamber cooling systems that help reduce throttling
Why It’s Good: Realme’s GT series emphasizes performance at a competitive price.
iQOO Neo 6 or Neo 7:
Chipset: Snapdragon 870 (Neo 6) or Dimensity 8200 (Neo 7)
Cooling: Usually features a large vapor chamber and multi-layer cooling
Why It’s Good: iQOO is often gaming-focused, delivering smooth frame rates with minimal overheating.
OnePlus Nord 2T (if you can find it under $544):
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 1300
Cooling: Not as advanced as some gaming-focused phones, but generally does well with moderate gaming
Why It’s Good: Balanced performance and OxygenOS runs smoothly, although it might run a bit warmer under heavy load compared to a Snapdragon 870 phone.
If you can find any of these models (or their equivalents) on sale or used, they should stay within your budget and deliver a reasonably lag-free experience for PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile, thanks to their efficient cooling systems and powerful chipsets. Always check for the specific RAM/storage variant, as more RAM (at least 6GB–8GB) will help with multitasking and gaming stability.