Mobile gaming has never been as popular as it is today. In 2020, Apple’s App Store had almost 1 million different mobile games that could be downloaded to its iPhones and iPads, with Google’s Play Store also having a similar number.
Some of the most popular games, such as Candy Crush Saga, Call of Duty: Mobile and Fortnite have received hundreds of millions of downloads from players all over the world. Part of their huge success has come from the fact the games are free-to-play, contrasting sharply with the high prices charged for the privilege of having a new title on a console or PC.
Another driving force behind mobile games is the flexibility they offer. Gamers can pull out their smartphone and start enjoying the title in a matter of seconds.
But what smartphone should you be pulling from your pocket? If you’re in the market for a new mobile device to play your favorite games in 2021, here are some of the best options on the market.
The Premium Option
Samsung’s Galaxy S21 smartphone is almost ready to go on sale. It is the successor to the successful Galaxy S20, which was one of the most expensive flagship smartphones on the market in 2020.
In Europe, the three S21 models will go on sale for €849, €1,049, and €1,399 making the base model will be €50 cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro. It’s also €150 cheaper than the launch price of the S20 in 2020.
For this money, you’ll get 5G connectivity, 8-12 GB of RAM, three (or more) rear cameras (including a telephoto lens), and a 6.2-6.8 inch HD screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Most crucially, you’ll get the new Snapdragon 888 processor, a 5-nanometre chip that’s been designed to improve the mobile gaming experience. Its built-in Adreno GPU can render graphics 35% faster than its predecessor, something that gamers will definitely appreciate.
So if you’re looking for the top of the range mainstream phone to play your favorite titles on, then the Galaxy S21 may well be the best option.
The Mid-Range Option
Unlike PC gaming, where having up-to-date hardware is vital if you want the best gaming experience, mobile gaming doesn’t actually require an expensive device. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing card games like PokerStars, digital board games like Words With Friends, or battle royale titles like Fortnite, lower-powered and older devices will work just fine. In fact, most games will run on devices that are five or more years old.
So if you’re more cost-conscious, you can still get a great new phone for playing games without having to break the bank. There are plenty of options, including the Honor 20 Lite, the Pixel 4a, and the Galaxy M31.
One of the best devices to do this on right now is the OnePlus Nord or even its soon-to-be-released Nord N10 and N100 budget variants will work just as well.
The Nord is classed as a mid-range smartphone because it uses slightly lowered powered components. Its slogan “pretty much everything you could ask for” is a fair summation of the device though. The Snapdragon 765G CPU and up to 12 GB of RAM are by no means sluggish and its 6.44 inch HD screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate will make whatever you’re playing look fantastic.
And with prices around £300-400 in the UK and similar figures in Europe, it’s half the price of the Galaxy S21.
The Apple Option
The previous two devices were both Android smartphones, meaning you can only download apps from the Google Play Store (or some unofficial sources if you know what you’re doing). But if you want to access games made exclusively for the Apple Arcade or the Apple App Store, then you’ll need to buy an iPhone.
If you want a cheap iPhone, then the iPhone SE could be a good option. It costs slightly more than the OnePlus Nord and contains much of the same hardware as the iPhone 11, but in a smaller and less-modern looking handset.
Alternatively, you could opt for the flagship iPhone 12. The standard model comes with a 6.1-inch display with a resolution of 2531×1170, one of the highest on the market. It packs in the latest A14 Bionic chip processor, which rivals the Snapdragon 888 in the S21 in terms of performance.
In terms of the hardware itself, there’s little to distinguish between the iPhone 12 and the Galaxy S21 aside from camera specifications and screens. Deciding between the two will come down to your Android/Apple preference and whether you want access to the Apple-exclusive content.
