Are Gaming Phones Really Worth The Splurge?

When gamers ask for the best specs, no distraction, and peripherals, smartphone makers answer with gaming phones.

The most notable offer of this week is arguably the feature-rich ROG Phone 2. With a 120Hz screen, RAM of 12GB, SnapDragon 855+, and a battery that can provide power for days, you will be hard-pressed to find anything more suitable for gaming than this phone, at least on papers. There have been over 1.6 million people pre-order the phone in just that matter of days.

In India, the phone is expected to be priced at Rs. 35,090, but is it worth the plunge?

Top Performance

What you will definitely get when you opt for almost any gaming phone now are the top specs. Running video games are as processor-intensive as content creation, so to make sure that the devices can meet all the demands, top-notch hardware is a must.

The most well-known names in this niche are Xiaomi Black Shark 2, Asus ROG Phone 2, and Razer Phone 2. Their specs can rival flagship offers from other companies like iPhone XS and OnePlus 7 Pro. Even if you want to break yourself from gaming for a while, these devices can handle day-to-day tasks with ease.

Great For Entertainment

Most gaming phones nowadays come equipped with a 120Hz screen. You can find it on Razer Phone and ROG Phone. The difference can be felt right away when you browse the menu and play games.

The 120Hz is way ahead of what everyone else offers right now. Most Samsung Galaxy smartphones and iPhones feature 60Hz, and OnePlus 7 Pro brings that up to 90Hz.

That sounds like a sweet deal to pay for, but those who have experienced that feature said that the advantage disappeared when they play in the multiplayer mode online. With a slow Internet connection, the smoothness is gone, even if you have the 120Hz. So the refresh rate is not the only thing that can impact your gameplay.

How useful the refresh rate is still up for debate, but at least we have a consensus over the front-firing speakers. The position makes sense because most gamers will hold the phone in landscape mode when they play. Once you have tried it, you will never want to go back. Gamers do not want only visual satisfaction, they also demand great sounds for a more immersive experience.

Peripheral Support

One of the most annoying aspects of gaming on smartphones is the fact that you have to put your fingers on the corners of the device. There is no way to change this, at least for now, so developers have to find a way around the problem. Most people will also appreciate peripherals and modular controllers you can fix to the phones to avoid your fingers from touching the screen by accident.

Many of these phones have the ability to change the angle of the camera without the need to reach the opposite edge of the device. Touch screen controls have many advantages, but they are a nightmare for those with sweaty palms.

These phones also come with features that do not have much of an effect on the overall performance of the device, like the motorized fan, and you have to pay for them too.

Paying For Gimmicks

While the iPhone follows the minimalistic style, gaming phones go in the exact opposite direction.

The ROG Phone 2’s copper panels make it looks like the device is extremely powerful, but in reality, they are just for decoration. While the phone does look great, many gamers will not understand why they have to pay more for something that has no real application.

The RGB lights are customizable with an app, and you can change the color of the logo on the rear of the smartphone. That sounds cool but again, unnecessary. Many will argue that Asus should have allocated that cost to something more useful.

Compromises

To achieve something, most of the time, you have to sacrifice some others, and that holds true in making gaming phones. The appearance of these devices is one of the bets that phone makers have to consider. Many will love the extra features, while others may find them an eyesore. In adopting things like the copper panels and RGB lights, these companies must have believed that the number of gamers belonging to the former group is larger than that of the latter.

Apart from the appearance, the camera setup is another possible compromise. Most devices in the gaming niche are far behind smartphones from Samsung or OnePlus on the same price bracket when it comes to taking pictures.

Many of these phones for casual users also feature top specs. That, coupled with a better camera arrangement, makes them a seemingly sweeter deal.

The Harsh Reality

So to decide if gaming-centric phones are worth the investment, it is up to you to make up your mind about what you value more, the compromises or the games. In terms of specs, gaming phones are not much different from flagship smartphones. So the deciding factors here are additions and gimmicks just for gamers.

Many games nowadays offer pay-to-win structure, so the question here is that whether it is worth investing in a gaming-centric phone hoping to get the best support.

The gaming market is constantly changing with just a few titles that stay for years. So many gamers will not see the point of going pro in one game anymore, neither does the need for a gaming smartphone. With the money saved, you can buy yourself a new Nintendo Switch Lite.