Gaming has long been a popular pastime, and thanks to modern technology not only are we no longer tied to physical board or card games, but we can also play hyper-realistic cinematic games on our mobile phones now too.
Video games themselves have seen quite a large growth in the last few decades; we have moved from arcade cabinets and computers that take up entire rooms to personal computers and consoles that allow play at home.
There are so many types of games available for PC, tablet, console, and smartphone which means that there is a game type for you. Whether you want to shoot aliens in a space war, drive ridiculously overpowered cars on a race track, or simply while away the time matching candies, you want to find the perfect device for you to use. There are so many different ways to play games today, you are spoiled for choice.
One of the best ways to play games today is on a smartphone – if you have one in your pocket, you have access to computing that is even more powerful than the computers in the Mars rover, which is pretty incredible.
The Top Three Gaming Phones
If you are looking for a smartphone that is built for gaming, there are some specific manufacturers that focus on creating excellent devices. These are made for playing high-resolution and technically complicated games, but they are also excellent for playing your favourite casino games or even Candy Crush with stunning graphic capabilities.
If you are on the market for a gaming phone, there are a few things that you will want to look out for, including:
- Latest processor
- Big screen
- Great performance
- Resolution
- Good battery life
- High refresh rate
- Efficient cooling
Asus ROG Phone 6D
The Asus ROG (Republic of Gamers) range of phones are built for gamers to an incredibly high spec, and they have the price tag to show for it. The 6.78inch OLED screen makes playing any game from Starburst slots with Virgin Games to Fortnite wonderful, with a 165Hz refresh rate and an eye-catching gamer aesthetic.
The ROG Phone 6D runs on Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which when coupled with a 720Hz touch sample rate gives players a lag-free gaming experience that can handle even the most complex of video games.
It has superb performance, which you would expect from a gaming phone, but for most people it would be considered to be prohibitively expensive.
Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro
This is a gaming phone that is built to excellent specifications, with magnetic shoulder triggers that pop out, making it more like a controller for a console when it is needed.
Although not quite as powerful as the processor in the Asus ROG, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is more than capable of running even the most graphically intensive games, and even though the refresh rate might be slightly lower than the Asus, it is not a noticeable difference.
The battery has slightly less capacity than usual, at only 4650mAh, but the 120W charging can bring the battery up to full in less than 30 minutes.
One of the best things about the Black Shark is that it offers a camera spec that is similar in operation to more everyday smartphones, which makes it more of an all-rounder than the others on this list.
Nubia Red Magic 7
The Red Magic has the biggest screen on this list, with a high refresh rate of 165Hz and a stunning AMOLED display. Running off the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it is fast and capable of running intense games with no lag.
Players will enjoy the side-mounted, touch based shoulder triggers as well as the advanced haptic feedback for gameplay – and the phone itself looks the part with a specific design made to appeal to the gamers.
This phone offers the best value for money on the market, and is just as good for social media scrolling, taking selfies, and sending messages as it is for playing games.
Other Gaming Devices
There are different ways to play your favourite games – and every gamer will have their favourite way to get online and play.
For those who love the technical side of gaming, PCs and laptops are always an excellent choice, while consoles can connect to high-definition TVs for a cinematic experience like no other.
There are several excellent manufacturers of devices made for gaming – and any of the below would be a good choice.
Top Gaming PC Manufacturers
Gaming PCs can be as complicated or as simple as you like, and there are a few designers that you should be keeping in mind if you want a gaming PC.
- Omen
- Corsair
- Alienware
Top Gaming Laptop Manufacturers
Laptops are a slightly more mobile way to game, and they are designed to offer optimum performance with excellent cooling. Look for the following manufacturers:
- Asus
- Razer
- Lenovo
Top Gaming Tablet Manufacturers
Tablets are a good meeting point between a laptop or PC and a smartphone, offering a bigger screen than a phone with more mobility than a laptop
- Apple iPad
- Samsung Galaxy
- Microsoft Surface
Choosing the best device for your needs can be as simple as upgrading your smartphone to the latest iteration of the iPhone or a new Samsung; in many cases, these all-rounder phones are more than capable of providing the computing power and graphic capabilities to run the most intense games with excellent network connections.