Best Smartphones for Gaming
Making sure you have a handset that can handle the demands of the most advanced games is important if you're serious about smartphone gaming. Whether it's AR, VR or you're going to be playing an RPG online with friends, don't let lag and bad graphics ruin your performance - explore some of the best smartphones for gaming below.
Features to look out for
Many of the premium smartphones launched in the past year have the tech on board to support heavy gameplay, so before we dive into our top recommendations, here's a rundown of the features you should be looking out for on any phone.
Storage space
If you're going to be hitting the Apple Arcade or Google Play Store frequently, make sure the device you're interested in has plenty of internal memory - or at least the ability to increase storage space with a microSD card. Complex, graphics-heavy games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile will take up a sizable amount of GB on your phone, and if you're going to be downloading multiple games the device will start to fill up quickly.
CPU, GPU and RAM
As well as storage, you're also going to need a powerful CPU and GPU to ensure seamless gameplay. RAM (at least 3GB or more) is highly recommended too, to reduce the risk of lagging and crashing. If there's a particular game you're really interested in playing, we recommended cross-checking the game requirements with the specs of the phone in question.
Display
Last but not least, you'll need a large display. Enjoy an immersive experience and make sure you can really appreciate in-game graphics by choosing a screen tha measures at least 6 inches and sports a Full HD or higher resolution.
iPhone 11 Pro Max
At a glance: 6.5-inch Liquid Retina HD display, triple-lens 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera, 12MP True Depth front camera, 158.0 x 77.8 x 8.1mm, 226g.
If it's an iPhone you're after, you can't go wrong with iPhone 11 Pro Max. Built with the latest A13 Bionic Chip inside, a third-generation Neural Engine and up to 512GB internal storage depending on the model you choose, this is a device fully equipped for gamers. This, combined with 4GB RAM, means you'll experience lightning fast gameplay, faster response times and no lagging. The A13 Bionic Chip has been designed to improve energy efficiency, power machine learning and accelerate processing power, so you'll see these beneficial effects in those everyday tasks too. Whether you're playing with Animojis or experimenting with iPhone 11 Pro Max's fantastic triple-lens camera, Apple has made sure you'll never have issues with performance.
There's also a 3,969 mAh battery to keep you powered up for longer, and if you do need to charge up while you take a break from your favourite game, you can reach 50% in just 30 minutes thanks to fast charging technology.
OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
At a glance: 6.7-inch fluid AMOLED display, 48MP+16MP+8MP rear camera, 16MP front camera, 162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8 mm, 206g.
With a huge 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED screen, you'll be able to play Minecraft, Mario Kart and all your other favourite games like you've never played them before on the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. Vivid colours, fast refresh rates and an uninterrupted design mean you can fully lose yourself in any game with this device.
As you might have guessed from the name, the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is also 5G-ready. This means whenever you're in an area supported by 5G, you'll be able to enjoy faster download speeds and buffer-free gaming. It's especially handy for online gamers, as you'll never have to worry about losing connection while you're playing on the go.
The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G has been built with a 4,000 mAh battery, Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon chipset, and octa-core CPU. OnePlus really had gamers in mind when building this smartphone, and the addition of Fnatic Mode is proof of this. Designed to minimise interruptions, Fnatic Mode will limit calls, messages and notifications while you play, and intelligently channel all of the phone's power into your game so you can fully utilise those amazing tech specs.
Samsung Note10 Lite
At a glance: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, triple-lens 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera, 32MP front camera, 163.7 x 76.1 x 8.7mm, 199g.
Fuelled by the very latest Android 10 operating system and built with a seriously powerful core, the Samsung Note 10 Lite is the ideal phone for gamers who are looking for a handset with a mid-range price point.
With its 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity display, you can play on a seriously big screen. Take notice of the little details and enjoy true-to-life colour during gameplay and never worry about running of out charge again thanks to the 4,500 mAh battery. An octa-core CPU, Exynos 9810 chipset, 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage space all work in harmony to deliver an unrivalled performance.
There are two brilliant cameras on the Samsung Note 10 Lite too. The triple-lens 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera and the 32MP front camera take wonderful shots even in difficult conditions, and they're perfect for AR games.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
At a glance: 6.7 Super AMOLED Plus display, triple-lens 48MP+12MP+5MP rear camera, 32MP front camera, 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1mm, 186g.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite shares many similarities to the Samsung Galaxy S10, for a fraction of the price. To start, you'll find the same advanced Snapdragon 855 chipset built into the heart of the device, which has been designed to improve speed, reduce buffering and enhance energy efficiency whenever you use the phone. An octa-core processor and either 6GB or 8GB RAM keep the most demanding apps and games running effortlessly, and Android 10 is built in, meaning you'll be one of the first to benefit from the operating system's new updates.
The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus Infinity display stretches across the entire front of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, and the design includes an in-display fingerprint sensor to maximise on screen space. HDR+ certified, you're going to love playing the latest Android game releases on this smartphone. There's loads more to love about the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite as well, from an amazing triple-lens camera with a main 48MP lens and a 32MP front-facing camera.
Found a phone you're confident you'll love as your new gaming companion? Pick up an amazing device for gaming today for a great deal at Mobiles.co.uk.