The answer to the question as to which phone is the best for gaming is tightly connected to the question as to which phone is the best, period. It’s because more often than not, the best phones for gaming are those with the best hardware specs. Well known phone brands seem to be in a tight race to come up with the best technology available and the flagship devices are rightly recognized for their top specs.
The question as to which phone can deliver the best gaming experience is ultimately a question that can only be answered subjectively. Mobile games are varied and mobile gamers are similarly diverse. However, in a general sense, the best phones for mobile gaming have something to do with the best display and the fastest internals. When you judge phones against these two basic criteria, the phones in this list will be considered as the best for gaming. The competition is actually tighter than you might think and choosing any phone in this group will be a good choice in one way or another.
Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is considered as the best Android phone to date and there’s a good reason for that. It has an amazing display and an equally amazing set of hardware specs. The Galaxy S4 packs the fastest processor in this list – a 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor. It also has a great 5-inch full HD Super AMOLED display and a good set of connectivity options.
HTC One
The HTC One also has a full HD display and a quad-core processor. The display is sharper compared to the Galaxy S4, technically speaking that is, since it has a smaller 4.7-inch screen that translates to 468ppi density. Its processor is however admittedly lower compared to the Galaxy S4.
Sony Xperia Z
The Sony Xperia Z is the most attractive in terms of design. It has an almost similar display as the Galaxy S4, with the same resolution and the same density. It’s however the slowest in this group in terms of processor, rocking only a 1.5-GHz Qualcomm quad-core processor.
LG Optimus G Pro
The LG Optimus G Pro has the biggest screen at 5.5 inches and the biggest battery at 3140mAh. It has a 1.7GHz quad-core processor just like the HTC One. It’s therefore also a good option, although it’s not the best, unless you are only concerned with the display size.
Here is a comparison of the main specs of the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Sony Xperia Z and LG Optimus G Pro.
Samsung Galaxy S4 | HTC One | LG Optimus G Pro | Sony Xperia Z | |
Screen | 5-inch Super AMOLED | 4.7-inch Super LCD3 | 5.5-inch LCD | 5-inch LCD |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
Pixel Density | 441 | 468 | 401 | 441 |
Processor | 1.9-GHz Qualcomm quad-core | 1.7-GHz Qualcomm quad-core |
1.7-GHz Qualcomm quad-core |
1.5-GHz Qualcomm quad-core |
RAM | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB |
Storage | 16GB, 32GB, 64GBmicroSD slot up to 64GB | 32GB, 64GB | 32GBmicroSD slot | 16GBmicroSD slot |
Connectivity | 4G LTE, HDSPA+42 | 4G LTE, HSPA, GSM | 4G LTE, HSUPA, HSDPA | 4G LTE, HSPA+, GSM |
Wireless | 802.11a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC |
802.11a/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC |
802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC |
802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC |
Battery | 2600mAh (removable) | 2300mAh | 3140mAh | 2330mAh |
Weight | 4.6 oz | 5.04 oz | 6.07 oz | 5.15 oz |
Size (inch) | 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 | 5.4 x 2.68 x 0.36 | 5.91 x 3 x 0.37 | 5.47 x 2.79 x 0.31 |
There’s really no clear runaway winner here but overall, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is a hair better than the rest of the phones featured here. It has the best combination of features but the others also stand out in some features. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice. But whatever phone you choose from this bunch, it’s bound to be a good choice. Any of these phones can play the most popular games like Angry Birds, Temple Run 2, 4 Pics 1 Word, Jetpack Joyride, or the graphics-intensive games like Real Racing 3, Arcane Legends, Modern Combat 4, Need for Speed Most Wanted or Dead Trigger. It can even be used to play online games Firefly Online, Ayakashi: Ghost Guild or Lucky Nugget online slots. Again, everything boils down to personal taste, and to the kind of games played, of course.
The iPhone 5 is also a great phone for gaming, but its display is simply limited. The performance is good however so it’s also a good choice, especially if you prefer the iOS platform over Android. Phablets have been excluded from this list since it’s different a category altogether but if huge display is your thing, you can of course check out the Galaxy Note series from Samsung or phablets from other brands like the Sony Xperia Z Ultra
2 Comments
I love and want the New LG Optimus G pro “King of phablet”.
with it’s 5.5fullHD IPS display.. Goodfor gaming tlga.. cool ung Graphics! Laki pa ng Screen :)
Still the S4 is the beast!