Engadget's latest buying guide focuses on what to look for when purchasing an Android phone for gaming. The publication notes that anyone who likes gaming on an Android phone needs a device that can handle the graphics and processing required. That makes hardware capability the central consideration for this group of buyers.
Because the guide is framed around gaming workloads, it suggests that performance should take priority over other features for these shoppers. The source does not mention specific models or benchmarks, but it is clear that a phone's ability to keep up with demanding games is the key deciding factor.