Best Phones For Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming gets less attention than it used to. But ignore this corner of the market at your peril.
According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, The Global Gaming Market was valued at $173.70 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $314.40 billion by 2026, a compound annual growth rate of 9.64% over the forecasted period of 2021-2026.
A key trend highlighted in that same report is that smartphone gaming is expected to witness significant growth - a direct result of the technological advancements in the market, such as AR, VR, and cloud gaming.
Some gaming phones are so advanced they’re able to compete with portable consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch. But as they can be described as ‘niche’ and less available on the refurbished market - we won't focus on those here.
Instead, we’re going to look at 5 phones you may consider buying anyway that have brilliant gaming potential.
What makes a good gaming phone?
A few key things – a big, high res screen, fast refresh rate, plenty of processing power, and of course, a great battery life so you can play on the go without worrying you’ll lose charge. Because who wants the phone to switch off when you just made the final 3 of whatever Battle Royale arena is flavour of the week? Definitely not you.
*Top 5 mainstream mobile gaming phones 2021
1. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
A god-tier choice for gaming and much more.
Will suit those with deep pockets who want top processing power, a big and beautiful screen, and camera capabilities dialled up to 11.
Released Jan 2021
Weight: 228g
Dimensions: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.8-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3200
CPU: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888
RAM: 12/16GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: 5,000mAh
Rear camera: 108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP
Front camera: 40MP
2. iPhone 13 Pro Max
For iPhone lovers who want it all. The Apple App Store and Apple Arcade subscription service gives you more gaming content than dedicated gaming phones.
The slick 6.7-inch 1284 x 2778 screen, and serious amount of power means everything looks and runs exceptionally well. And the 120Hz refresh rate guarantees a smooth performance, coupled with the best battery life of any iPhone to date.
Released Sept 2021
Weight: 240g
Dimensions: 160.8mm x 78.1mm x 7.7mm
OS: iOS 15
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1284 x 2778
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery: 4,352mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 12MP
3. OnePlus 9 Pro
Ever lost out on achieving gaming greatness because your phone screen couldn’t keep up with your thumbs? Then you’ll love Hyper Touch – boosting the touch sampling rate from 240Hz to 360Hz. This makes the screen extraordinarily responsive to your input.
Boasting all the power you’ll need for gaming, plenty of storage, and everything looks great on the big, sharp screen with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The battery can’t compare to those phones that top this list, but it supports 65W charging (50W wireless), so you’ll never be out of juice for long. If you’re into live gaming on the go, you might want to carry a charging pack.
Released March 2021
Weight: 197g
Dimensions: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3216
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 8/12GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 48MP + 50MP + 8MP
4. Oppo Find X3 Pro
This phone has everything a gamer needs – great looking screen, powerful processor, fast charging, and more. And when you’re out experiencing the game of life, you’ll also love the bespoke camera sensors and modes. The customisation goes a long way too – giving you the freedom to make this phone truly your own.
All that said, she’s a pricey one – especially considering the design is a slight downgrade from the previous model. Best for professionals and those with big budgets.
Released March 2021
Weight: 193g
Dimensions: 163.6 x 74 x 8.3mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1440 x 3216
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 8/12GB
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 50MP + 13MP + 50MP + 3MP
Front camera: 32MP
5. Motorola Edge Plus / Motorola Edge
Stunning waterfall displays on this big, edge screen will make your mobile gaming a sight to behold. Digital trigger buttons hang over the screen's edge, making the physical design stand up to other gaming devices.
It’s fast and packed with high spec features that make this a device worth waiting for (and Motorola definitely made us wait). It’s reasonably priced compared to other flagships though notably harder to come by. And if you’re happy to forego some specs to pay half as much - the ‘not plus’ version still packs a punch. Battery isn’t the best on this list - live gamers might want to carry extra juice. You can even plug your favourite headset into the 3.5mm headphone jack (remember those?)
Released May 2020
Weight: 203g / 188g
Dimensions: 161.1 x 71.4 x 9.6 mm / 161.6 x 71.1 x 9.3 m
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.7-inch / 6.7-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2340 / 1080 x 2340
CPU: Snapdragon 865 / Snapdragon 765G
RAM: 12GB/6GBStorage: 256GB / 128GB
Battery: 5,000mAh / 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 108MP + 8MP + 16MP / 64MP + 8MP + 16MP
Front camera: 25MP / 25MP
On a budget?
Buy refurbished to have it all, for less. Find your next gaming phone on doji.co.uk
