Gaming has become a staple entertainment enjoyed by billions of people around the world. Just as we’ve seen droves of people opt for gaming-ready laptops and desktops over ones that are less equipped at similar price tags in recent years, we’re now seeing the smartphone masses gravitate to devices that can offer them the best gaming experiences on the go.
With mobile set to account for nearly half of the global games market, generate over $92 billion, and boast over 2.8 billion players, it makes sense that gaming phones are becoming the preference. Of course, there are network speeds and connectivity to consider whenever gaming competitively in any format, but you can always give yourself the best launching point by following up on the following considerations.
Consider the Kinds of Competitive Games You’ll Play
Smartphones are getting more and more powerful each year, and yet, you’ll find that a lot of competitive and eSports-oriented mobile games have kept to less demanding software. This way, the games become more accessible while still offering intense competition. Looking at the top prize money pools in mobile eSports, the titles that stand out are Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, and Monster Strike as the less demanding offerings.
Still, in all cases, you’ll need a device that meets the minimum operating system requirements of the apps. Where this isn’t the case is in the competitive gaming space of online casinos. With mobile-optimized browser platforms ready to roll, these sites offer free spins to new players to try out on slots, and then add tournaments to their promotions pages. In these, there are daily prizes to be won in slot tournaments and even roulette leaderboards.
As higher specs tend to mean paying more, having a browser-based way to compete is always a good alternative option. Likewise, if you play the eSports mobile titles that are less demanding, then you can save some cash on your next upgrade. If you’re more into the likes of PUBG Mobile, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Free Fire, and even Honor of Kings, getting a device towards the upper end of the scale would be the optimum choice.
Gaming Devices and Handy Accessories
The best smartphones on the market for high-end mobile gaming right now tend to boil down to a three-horse race across the three main categories. For gaming overall, the consensus points to the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro with its inclusion of the latest chipset and hefty battery life. As Apple remains the must-have brand for annual phone buyers, when it comes to gaming, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the best choice, owing to its huge display.
Finally, if you want high-quality mobile gaming but without paying flagship or Apple prices, the OnePlus 12R will give you enough of a boost to enjoy a smooth gaming experience for hours on end. With the budget choice, you may also have a bit more to spend on accessories. Now, while all accessories are optional, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who actually enjoys using the touchscreen for the most competitive mobile games.
To solve this, you’ll either need a controller and a device stand or a slide-on controller frame. The Backbone One has long been the pick of the bunch, with their range offering a grand selection of well-worked slide-on controllers. Alternatively, you could hook up the 8BitDo Pro 2 to use a console-like controller, or explore the increasingly impressive range of accessories from Razer.
So, when you upgrade your smartphone next, consider the games that you want to play on it, your budget, and then find the best devices and accessories to suit your play.
