Knowing how to choose the right mobile phone for gaming greatly affects your gaming experience. Some phones are made to play games seamlessly while others can’t play games that require a lot of storage capacity.
Whether you are planning to buy a gaming phone or already has a phone in mind to buy, it is always worth exploring the factors that make a good gaming phone.
Your phone choice backed by research will be more rewarding than just choosing one based on price or unfounded reviews.
When you buy your gaming phone, you always look at the specifications because that’s where you’ll see how powerful the device is.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at the phone specs that you have to consider when choosing the right mobile phone for gaming.
CPU and GPU
CPU
The CPU or Central Processing Unit is the main chip in your phone that handles all the processing. This is important for gaming because it processes all the game data and sends it to the screen.
A higher clock speed means that a CPU can handle more information at a time and would be important for games that tend to be more demanding on a phone’s resources than other apps.
Additionally, a higher clock speed can lead to smoother gameplay and shorter load times.
For a quality CPU for gaming, the following are some of the good choices should be looking for in a phone:
- A15 Bionic
- Dimensity 9000
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
- Samsung Exynos 2100
GPU
The GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is responsible for rendering the graphics that you see on your screen. This is important for gaming because it affects how well the game will look.
Choosing GPU for a smartphone can be a little tricky. In general, you’ll want to choose a phone with a high-end GPU if you’re looking to play demanding games. A lower-end GPU will suffice if you’re only looking to play casual games.
Additionally, some phones come with GPUs that are specifically designed for gaming. These GPUs can offer better performance than a standard GPU.
Some of the good GPUs for phones are:
- A14 Bionic’s GPU
- Adreno 660
- Mali-G78 MP24
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Phones use a lot less RAM than a gaming PC but the more RAM available for your phone to use, the better.
RAM stores the active apps’ data and determines how responsive your phone will be when you access an application.
Some mobile games consume a lot of memory and advanced graphics system so therefore would require sufficient RAM to function smoothly. If your RAM max out, your game streak could be interrupted by an app crash.
Aim for at least 8GB of RAM for a gaming phone. If you want high performing phone, then get one with more RAM.
Storage Capacity
When it comes to storage capacity, if you’re looking into downloading several top MMORPGs then you need more storage capacity. There are phones with micro SD slots and there are phones that already have storage for as high as 512 internal storage.
Each app right now takes about 45 MB to 2G of phone storage. And of course, you would need to take into consideration the constant updates that you need to download.
Aim for at least 16GB of storage capacity. But if you’re a pro gamer who’s looking to download several games then look for a phone with 50GB and up for storage capacity.
Screen Resolution and Display
Resolution
Smartphones for gaming should have a high-resolution display to render superb graphics. Your smartphone of choice should have a high-pixel density. The higher the screen resolution, the better.
You might have noticed how manufacturers use Quad High Definition (QHD) or Ultra High Definition (UHD). QHD has 2560×1440 pixels or 2k while UHD has 3840×2160 pixels or 4k.
Display
For Display type also is an integral part of a gaming smartphone. The color reproduction, as well as battery consumption, are affected by the display. There are two most commonly used display types, the In-Plane Switching Liquid Crystal Displays (IPS) and Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED/OLED).
The OLED display is the preferred display for gaming but costs more than a phone with an IPS screen. But more and more manufacturers have been switching to this type of display lately so when you choose a phone, you might see that most is using this type of display.
Refresh Rate and Battery Capacity
Higher refresh rates mean better gaming without lags and tap delays. Choose a gaming phone with 90Hz to 120 Hz for quality gaming.
With higher refresh rates, tiredness and eye strain can also be lessened.
Another important factor to consider is your gaming phone’s battery capacity. The recommended battery capacity for a gaming phone is at least 3000mAh. If you’re into long gaming sessions, then aim for higher battery capacity.
Size and Price
The size of your gaming phone is a matter of preference. Some gamers prefer smaller phones so they can easily carry them around with them everywhere they go. Others prefer bigger phones because it’s easier to hold and play games on.
As for the price, there is a wide range of gaming smartphones available at different price points. You can find budget-friendly options as well as high-end gaming phones depending on your budget and needs.
Support for Third-Party Accessories
If you have a preferred accessory to use while gaming like a Bluetooth headset or wireless earbuds, checking if your gaming phone can support accessories is another important thing to consider.
Some gaming phones have a 3.5mm headphone jack while others don’t. If you want to use your preferred wired headset, make sure to check if your gaming phone has a headphone jack before making a purchase.
There are also gaming phones that come with their line of accessories like the 2018 Razer Phone 2 which has its line of Razer Raiju Mobile gaming controllers.
Operating System (OS)
The two most popular operating systems for gaming phones are Android and iOS. If you’re looking for more games to choose from, then Android is the way to go.
But if you want a more seamless gaming experience, then iOS is the better choice.
Conclusion
There are several things to consider when choosing a gaming phone. But the most important thing is to find one that fits your budget and needs.
Take into consideration the factors mentioned above to help you narrow down your choices and find the best gaming phone for you. With so many options available, you’re sure to find the perfect gaming phone for your needs.
