Is it worth buying a dedicated gaming phone in 2019?
Thanks to the popularity of some modern gaming titles, more and more smartphone manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon and designing flagship phones with gaming as their main focus and selling point. In fact, some of the latest offerings like the ASUS ROG Phone 2 can even beat gaming laptops (at least, specifications-wise). But is it worth buying a dedicated gaming phone? Certainly, YES!
Designed for pure gaming experience
There is a growing similarity between high-end phones and gaming phones but the latter still has features that set it apart from flagship handsets. Some newcomers like the Nubia Red Magic 3, Black Shark 2, and ASUS ROG Phone 2 come with built-in liquid cooling, dedicated air vents, customizable LEDs, and programmable buttons that offer the gaming experience that no flagships can match today.
Features that are absolute must for uncompromising gaming experience
Playing games on a mobile means you will have to use it in landscape mode. Hence, it is important that the phone offers front-firing speakers that won't get muffled by your grip. Also, a good gaming phone should have a great screen and a high refresh rate. Notably, the latest offerings boast of upto 120Hz AMOLED HDR screens that significantly enhance your gaming experience.
Powerful chipset and a big battery
To derive the optimum performance out of the latest power-hungry games, you'll need a device with the best hardware available. In 2019, that means your gaming phone has a flagship chipset (even better if it has a gaming-focused processor like the Snapdragon 855 Plus), higher RAM, and a massive battery that can charge up quickly. Interestingly, all the latest gaming handsets check these boxes.
From accessories to dedicated gaming modes
Beyond the handset itself, manufacturers like ASUS and Black Shark are introducing gaming accessories like controllers with physical keys or desktop docks that let you connect your phone to external displays for a wholesome gaming experience. On the software front, modern gaming phones offer customizable gaming settings that you can trigger by one-touch to boost network, improve RAM management, and block all notifications.
Can the regular flagship phone offer the same gaming experience?
Frankly, all the games available on the Google Play Store can be played at maxed-out settings on a premium flagship offering. But not all top-end phones will match the uncompromising experience (smoother animations, louder audio, better thermal management) you can get from dedicated gaming phones. But if you're not a serious gamer, you can surely skip all the fancy handsets that are grabbing headlines.
So, should you buy a dedicated gaming phone?
If you are a serious gamer, I think it is a smart idea to invest in a phone that is tailor-made for gaming. They surely offer a fresher and nuanced mobile gaming experience that other premium handsets cannot match. And considering how gaming is set to evolve with Google Stadia and Microsoft-Sony's upcoming cloud-based gaming service, it's good to become future-proof in present.
