Gaming on an Android phone isn’t just about having the absolute most powerful device available on the market. The truth is that most flagship phones will have pretty similar processing power, and the vast majority of mobile games will seamlessly scale to the hardware you have available anyway. But that doesn’t mean all phones are created equal. Gaming on any phone will drain the battery and eat up tons of RAM, which are very important considerations for a device that you also likely use as your primary mode of communication. Software support is also huge since some games simply won’t run on old or outdated versions of Android for various security and feature-related reasons.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung’s current top-of-the-line flagship phone, with a Snapdragon 888 processor and options for either 12GB or 16GB of RAM. Right now, we’re patiently waiting for Samsung to announce their S22 model sometime in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for it. Despite the impending yearly refresh, the S21 Ultra remains as capable as the day it was released. With regular software updates, a 5,000mAh battery, and an IP68 water rating, you’re going to be able to game all day and in just about any environment. The screen also sports a 120Hz refresh rate, so games with support for higher framerates will get the full benefit. Samsung also includes their built-in game booster software that lets you access other apps, gaming related options, and performance modes without having to exit your game.
The S21 model did ditch expandable storage that previous models had, so be sure to pick up one with enough built-in storage to fit your needs. Samsung has also loosened their grip on the UI, and users can now change default launchers and programs more readily than they have been in the past.
Google Pixel 6 Pro
While Google stumbled a bit with the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5, the Pixel 6 Pro is by all accounts an extremely well-made phone. It uses its own Google Tensor processor, which is competitive with the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 and has 12GB of RAM. Just as far as raw horsepower, this puts it in the same class as the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, despite being just a touch behind in benchmarks. Practically, that tiny gap in performance is going to be imperceptible and even further masked by Google’s minimal-yet-functional Pixel launcher. Google tends to take a less is more approach to UI design, and it’s on full display with their Pixel line.
Like other flagship phones, this generation of the Pixel 6 Pro offers a 120Hz AMOLED screen, which is great for gaming. It also matches the likes of Samsung with an IP68 water resistance rating and a 5,000mAh battery, but then one ups them with a lower price tag.
OnePlus 9 Pro
OnePlus has been a bit of a darling in the Android world. They burst onto the scene offering clean, minimal, affordable phones with smart hardware choices but forewent their larger competitors' flashy marketing and unnecessary features. Like most other flagship phones, this generation features a Snapdragon 888 processor, a 120Hz screen, and IP68 water resistance. It’s offered in either 8GB or 12GB variants, but for gaming, more RAM will always be the smarter choice. It does lag a bit behind the competition with its slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery, so having a power bank on hand might not be a bad idea if you do a lot of gaming on the go.
The OnePlus 10 Pro is on the horizon and slated for sometime in Spring 2022. But in the meantime, the OnePlus 9 is still a great device, and OnePlus has been committed to keeping their devices up to date with the latest version of Android.
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ASUS ROG Phone 5
ASUS doesn't mess around with their ROG line, which extends to their mobile offerings. While many gaming-specific phones out there either fall short or lack support, ASUS has been going strong with their ROG phone product line. It comes packed with a Snapdragon 888, a maximum of 16GB of RAM, a 144Hz AMOLED screen, a headphone jack, and a massive 6,000mAh battery. In other words: you can plug in, tune out, and game all afternoon on the ROG Phone 5 with no issue.
ASUS also makes a separate active cooling device that clips onto the back of the phone to ensure you won't experience any thermal throttling while gaming, and as a bonus, it includes two trigger buttons. It also comes packed with edge sensors that can be mapped to on-screen controls and activated by tapping or sliding the phone's edge. Their Game Genie overlay software offers a plethora of game-related features that you can quickly toggle on and off without having to quit your game and open a settings menu.
However, you will be giving up a few features for this extreme gaming focus. The camera isn't amazing, has no water resistance, and doesn't feature wireless charging. But, if all you're after is pedal to the metal gaming performance, then it's the Ferrari of gaming phones.
When writing, we are on the cusp of new phones being announced and hitting the market, but you don't necessarily need to get swept up in that new tech fever to get a solid gaming device. The biggest technological leaps from device to device are often camera-related technologies, while general processing power takes only a marginal leap. Plus, once the new devices are out and people are scrambling to pick up the latest and greatest, it's a fantastic time to pick up last year's model for cheap.
For more hardware guides check out Best Wireless Gaming Keyboards and Best Gaming Mouse for Laptops on Pro Game Guides.
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Published: Jan 28, 2022 10:43 am