What to Consider When Choosing the Best Gaming Mobile Device

Cell phones used to be just, you know, phones. Sure, games like Snake were a big hit amongst early Nokia users, but text messages and calls were what your phone was for. That's it.

It's safe to say that those days are long gone. Smartphones are now fully-fledged gaming machines, with recent models capable of replacing gaming juggernauts like the Nintendo Switch.

The problem? Too many choices. How are you meant to pick a phone that will run the games you want to play (and do everything else you need it to)? In this guide, I'll give you the skinny on how to do just that.

Display: Panel Type, PPI, and Resolution

When it comes to mobile gaming, your display is absolutely critical to your gaming experience. But it's not all about having a big screen (although the bigger the better, usually). Here's what you need to keep in mind:

• Resolution. Put simply, the higher, the better. 
• Display size. For most gamers, having a bigger screen is a plus. Just make sure that the resolution matches the real estate.
• Pixels per inch. Not as useful as the other two measures, and it's mostly marketing speak.

Refresh Rates

If you're a PC gamer, you'll know all about refresh rates. The figure refers to the number of times your screen/display will ‘refresh' itself in a second. The higher that number, the better the graphical performance.

For mobile devices, this is becoming increasingly important. Most will have a standard 60Hz, which is fine for the majority of titles, but gaming phones offer that delicious smoothness you get with refresh rates between 90Hz-120Hz.

So what should you go for? In my opinion, it's only worth paying top dollar for a higher refresh rate if you like resource-intensive games like FPS or racing games. Anything that's fast-paced will need a high refresh rate.

What Type of Games Will You Play?

There's no such thing as a generic gamer. There are complex nuances to each individual gamer that will affect the device you want to go for. The type of game you prefer, for example, can make one model ideal and the other an expensive brick.

For example, if you like console/PC ports like the GTA series or Oddworld games, you may want to opt for a phone that offers controller compatibility. Certain titles are just so much better when using a controller, and a small number I'd consider unplayable without one.

Other games work perfectly well on any modern smartphone with decent specs and don't need a gaming-specific device. Retro games like Streets of Rage Classic or Sonic, mobile-friendly casino games, and low-requirement collections like Gamesnacks will run perfectly well on a regular smartphone (as long as it's not an ancient model).

What About the Cooling System?

Gaming is incredibly resource-heavy. This in turn generates plenty of heat, which can damage your smartphone and reduce its lifespan. Oh, and it'll quickly start feeling like a hot potato, not exactly a good thing when it comes to the gaming experience.

Cooling is something you, therefore, need to keep in mind when it comes to gaming. Some offer external cooling fans that clip onto the back, although some may see this as a hassle and want an inbuilt cooling solution. Others use a copper heat pipe that offers ‘liquid cooling', while recent phones boast internal cooling fans.

Oh, Think About Battery Life

Games kill battery life. It's a fact of life you're going to have to get accustomed to. You need a game that has a large battery, or carry a battery pack with you as standard. The best way to combat the battery drain is to buy a phone that is primed for fast charging.

Engineers haven't quite figured out how to extend battery life by much, which means that means of recharging is the strategy you need to go for. If a quick ten minutes of charge will boost that battery by double figures, your gameplay experience will be far more enjoyable.

Last Question: Would an All-Rounder be Better?

Companies are now manufacturing smartphones that are specifically geared for gaming. But that doesn't mean you should buy one of these phones, especially if you plan on using your device for a range of other activities. Some of the gamer-centric phones on the market aren't necessarily suited to much else. Don't take that as a blanket statement, but it is something to watch out for.

If you're looking for an all-rounder, look for companies that have made an effort to accommodate gamers as part of their suite of ‘regular phones'. For example, Samsung has released a range of models with a purpose-build Game Mode, which includes a different aspect ratio, disabling notifications, and other features to allow for an immersive gaming experience.

Ask yourself what's more important, a gaming device or a smartphone for work or school. Can you blend the requirements into a single device? Or are you better off buying a Switch or Nintendo 2DS in addition to a smartphone? We've given you the advice, but it's up to you to make the final call.