What Makes a Mobile Phone Good for Gaming? (2023)

You won’t have to buy a new smartphone for simple mobile games that you can download “for free” from any app store. But what about graphics-intensive games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty? Which cell phone is suitable for these games? 

We’ve upgraded a bit ourselves with an ASUS ROG Phone and some other additional equipment to play mobile FPS games at a higher level and shed some light on the subject in this article.

Join us for a little deep dive…

Note: This article was written in English. Translations into other languages may not provide the same linguistic quality. We apologize for grammatical and semantic errors.

What Makes a Phone Good for Gaming?

While mobile phones have generally improved over the last few years, the mobile gaming industry has also advanced by leaps and bounds. As a result, the games have become more resource-intensive.

As a result, having a good phone for gaming has become more important for gamers than ever before.

The choice of smartphones for gaming grows from year to year

This is a common question that nags those looking for an entertaining gaming experience.

So we’ve compiled a list of features that make a phone good for gaming.

Great CPU & GPU

Heavy-duty games put a lot of strain on the hardware. That is why having the absolute best in terms of CPU and GPU is critical.

iPhones

Talking about the iOS segment, the A15 Bionic chipset with its jaw-dropping 5nm technology delivers excellent results. 

The Hexa-core processor has enough juice to run even the most hardware-intensive games. In addition, apple’s 5 core GPU graphics further enhance the results.

Android & Samsung Phones

The Snapdragon 888+ achieves comparable results in the Android domain due to its 5nm technology. Similarly, Samsung’s top-end devices are equipped with the Exynos 2100 Chipset, which also matches the results of major competitors.

Processors in smartphones are also getting stronger every year

However, it is worth noting that to match the performance of the iPhone 13’s Hexa-core processor, the Android counterparts require an Octa-core processor.

5G Support

5G support is also paramount for a good gaming mobile phone as it ensures high-speed connectivity, which is crucial for the world of gaming. 

RAM

Consider the 18GB LPDDR5 RAM option if you are a serious gamer. However, 8 GB RAM will be enough for the average gamer.

Most high-end smartphones have this much RAM, so finding one with these specifications won’t be difficult.

Display Resolution

An AMOLED or Super Retina XDR OLED (Apple) is a must if you want highly immersive gaming experiences.

Some modern devices have a touch sampling rate of 360 Hz, which provides an overall buttery feeling while playing games.

Cooling

Even if your phone has the best hardware components, it may still perform poorly if it lacks a good cooling mechanism. That’s why an effective cooling mechanism is a must for a good gaming phone.

Huge Battery

Who would want to leave their game unfinished due to low battery? That’s why a huge battery capacity is an absolute must for a good gaming phone.

What Mobile Gaming Accessories Should I Use?

If you want to take your gaming experience to the next level, you need some additional gaming accessories. Here are a few examples of such items that will assist in fulfilling the purpose:

Gaming Controllers

Having complete control over the situation is the key to an exceptional gaming experience. 

Prototype mobile gamepad from Microsoft

While the touch screens allow you to interact with your gameplay character, meticulous attention and painstaking effort are required to carefully click at the right place.

This is especially aggravating in first-person shooter games that require quick responses. That’s why gaming controllers are one of the best gaming accessories.

Several manufacturers offer gaming controllers in various shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing you to select the one that best meets your requirements. Some of the best gaming controller options include, but are not limited to:

Gamepads

While gamepads serve a similar purpose to gaming controllers, they are also an excellent way to improve your gameplay experience. One great example of gamepads is the 8BIT DO SN30 PRO.

SN30 Pro
8BIT DO has several controllers in its portfolio that are perfectly suited for mobile gaming.

Earbuds

What can be better than having a gaming experience without the interference of any background noise or external disturbance? 

As a result, noise-canceling earbuds should be included on your list of must-have mobile gaming accessories.

Battery Bank

Over time, mobile gaming has become exceedingly resource-hungry. In addition, the high-quality graphics quickly drain the phone’s battery, which is why having a portable battery bank is essential if you want to play for long durations.

We have been using Samsung power banks for years (also for our regular smartphones and other devices). Meanwhile, they can also charge wireless earbuds, etc., which I find really awesome.

What Is A Good Internet Speed For Mobile Gaming?

Modern games are incredibly interactive that can keep players occupied for extended periods. 

However, a fast internet connection is required for such games because it can mean the difference between winning a gaming session or completely losing it.

Test it for yourself, for example, with this international speed test. Change the server your connected with according to your location in the world.

But what exactly is meant by good internet speed? The answer is highly subjective, depending on how you define the term “good.” 

However, most people believe that more than 20 Mbps is adequate for most gaming experiences.

In the case of a shared network, higher internet speed is required because, in such a situation, the overall bandwidth is divided among the users.

Similarly, many people believe that professional gamers require an internet connection speed of at least 50 Mbps to get the most out of their gaming experience.

Why Is High Internet Speed Vital For Mobile Gamers?

This begs the question of why a fast internet connection is even necessary for mobile gamers. This is because every millisecond counts in most online mobile games.

As a result, if the internet connection is slow, players may experience lags, hurting the player’s performance.

Consider this: you’re playing Fortnite or PUBG, and you’ve spotted an enemy and have the best weapon to annihilate him when your slow internet connection degrades the overall experience, and you not only lose the enemy but are killed by him.

Even though it is nagging, imagine how you would feel if you had to go through something like this.

What Do I Need (Additionally) For Professional Mobile Gaming?

Professional mobile gamers are not like regular players as they only compete with the best in the field, so every movement they make is vital.

As a result, the gear and items used by these players are far superior to those used by average players during their gameplay.

So if you want to play mobile games professionally, here are a few additional items that can help:

Larger External Displays

An external larger display is the first and foremost item you should get for a professional mobile gaming experience. 

You can use the phone’s built-in screen mirroring option for replicating the mobile phone’s display on the screen.

You can mirror your mobile screen to a regular monitor with one click.

Benefits of the external display include:

  • Larger displays eliminate the possibility of missing out on small items that would otherwise go unnoticed on the phone’s display;
  • Better posture and sitting angle. 

Phone Stand

If you don’t want to mirror their phone’s display on a larger screen, you can use a phone stand to get the best posture for a long gameplay experience.

Such stands provide an optimal angle for long durations making the gaming session more comfortable.

Gaming Controllers

A good gaming controller or gamepad is the next item you will need for a professional mobile gaming experience.

So here is why you should use a gaming controller: These gaming controllers and gamepads ensure that players get to press the correct button at the appropriate time.

Noise Canceling Earphones

Noise-canceling earphones are items that most professional gamers consider essential for a high-stakes competitive environment.

Such earphones are essential because they eliminate distractions, allowing players to concentrate solely on the gameplay. This improves performance and provides the players with an engaging experience.

Gear VR & Controller

Virtual reality is a world unto itself, and it’s a big deal, with several major gaming titles supporting this cutting-edge technology.

That’s why Gear VR can help you get the most out of your professional gaming experience, especially if you are into this type of thing.

When coupled with the controller, the gameplay becomes even more entertaining as it allows you to experience the actual dynamics of the gameplay entirely.

Final Thoughts

You don’t necessarily need the latest and most powerful smartphone for mobile gaming, even of more complex and up-to-date games, but when it comes to up-to-date mobile FPS games, you can’t around a high-performance phone.

If you are an ambitious gamer, then you will also dive into the world of mobile equipment. Of course, you can also get a lot of performance out of mobile gaming via tweaks to the operating system or in-game, but we’ll cover that in a future article.

Michael "Flashback" Mamerow has been playing video games for over 35 years and has built and led two Esports organizations. As an IT architect and casual gamer, he is dedicated to technical topics.

Top Posts related to Mobile Gaming