Best Gaming Phones of 2019 — Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Looking for the right gaming phone to take on the road with you? After all, you do not want to be floating through the world without access to your Fortnite or PUBG. Just because you are getting to see cool landmarks and spectacular natural wonders don’t mean you want to miss out. The good thing is that as phones develop and evolve most of the most recent models from the likes of Samsung and Apple are al capable of being effective gaming consoles for your mobile gaming needs. With there are companies that specialize in building phones specifically designed for gaming like ASUS and Razer. So, which one gaming phone is the right one for all your needs?
That is a hard question and one we will try to tackle in this guide. We will be taking a look at some of the best gaming phones of 2019 (though with the recent news that ASUS is releasing their ROG 2 soon this list may need an upgrade sooner rather than later) and also helping you out with some key factors you should pay attention to when looking to purchase that gaming phone that will be your godsend on long commutes or trips. So, it’s time to level up your mobile gaming experience and get down to what makes a good gaming phone.
Buyer’s Guide
So, before we breakdown 5 of the best gaming phones of 2019, let’s talk about what makes them the best. With all tech, there are always specs and features that make one model outshine the others. There are however always those that are more important than the others especially when you are looking at running games or apps that simply are beasts when it comes to their requirements. So, here are the factors we feel will inevitably lead you to find the perfect option for you! (Price isn’t on the list, but we will be addressing that in a future article, s stay tuned to this publication for that.)
OS
Oh, the age-old question…Android or iOS? This question has divided friends and family and caused many a ruckus at the Thanksgiving table. Okay maybe we are over exaggerating a little but there is a tribe effect (BTW I’m team Android all the way!) going on when you mention iOS or Android. There is a difference no matter what your Uncle who has that half-eaten apple on everything says.
The Apple phone OS does offer a slight advantage when it comes to value and performance. The ability to upgrade your model to the latest with Apple upgrade policy is a great advantage. This means that no matter where you get to in the world you will be able to be up to date and ready to squash your enemies.
Now Android is a great choice for someone looking for a wider price point range and a little more freedom of personalization.
Though the OS doesn’t really have much to do with the overall functionality of the gaming phone you choose it is still something to consider (especially if you are looking for a phone that also takes some killer photos).
Battery Life
Here is where we really get into the nitty-gritty of features that play a specific role in crafting that perfect travel-friendly gaming phone. Let’s just be honest nobody wants to be in the middle of that quest and suddenly the screen goes black. Many of these mobile games like Fortnite are labor-intensive and having a phone that has a good battery life is a crucial, must-have factor when deciding on your final decision. Plus when you’re on the road you may not always have access to a charging port so knowing that you will be fine to finish out your session without worry could be the difference between mindlessly staring at the seat in front of you or being able to reach your gaming goals.
Memory
Gone are the days you must worry about storage space on your phone. Nowadays a lot of phones come with a minimum of 64 GB already installed and if you are and Android use you can install a microSD for more. The thing is when you are using your phone for mobile gaming you best believe you need a lot of storage space. Not only will you have apps and games that take up a lot of space but let’s e real you are making your way through the world and you will need more forms of entertainment than just the gaming aspect. You will have movies, music and all kinds of other things taking up your storage. So, if you are trying to find the right gaming hone for you then you need to look for one that will support your memory needs.
RAM
Typically, you wouldn’t need much RAM if you were just looking for an everyday phone, but you are looking for a boredom killer, you are looking for a phone fit for your mobile gaming addictions. That means looking at least with 4GB more would be advisable. Many of the phones specifically designed for gaming will come with multiple options most going up to 12 GB of RAM. So, depending on what you are gaming drug of choice is you should choose the RAM that corresponds to that need.
Display
When you hit the screen you ant one that has the sharpest picture and a screen that will support it. So, though this and the OS may be the low man on the totem pole your display and resolution should be factors in making that final decision of which gaming phone to go with.
Gaming Phone Reviews
- ASUS ROG
Product Specs/Highlights:
Storage: 128/512 GB
Ram: 8GB
Battery: 3520 mAh
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo
Display resolution: 2160 x 1080
ASUS…a name many gamers already are familiar with as they build sick gaming laptops finally hit the gaming phone market in 2108 with the freshmen offering the ASUS ROG gaming phone. This phone is designed from bottom to top for the mobile gamer. From it’s unique design to its out of this world internal build the ASUS ROG gaming phone is defiantly one of the best options on the market (for now, let’s see how the sophomore model time out).
The Good:
When you are looking for a gaming phone on the go you want one that has the power and oomph to handle every game you throw at it. This phone does that. It offers you a nice display, great accessories and some amazing specs that are perfect to keep you alive on the gamer field even when you are far away from home. Plus, it just looks cool (for some you will see what we mean in just a moment).
The Bad:
So, with all the great stuff that comes with this phone, it does seem to lack in some of the basic phone areas like the camera. Not designed for that where it is meant to shine it does and it does so with a fat gold chain around its neck. A fat gold chain because that may be what you must pawn to afford the phone and the accessories to go with. By no means is it the most expensive option on our list (thanks Apple) but its defiantly a little pricier than others. There are of course a few specs that hopefully with the new model coming out the team at ASUS have cleared up. The first being no way to add additional memory…We know how much we need, and the answer is as much as we can get, so the fact that there is no slot to add a micro SD is a little disappointing. The other area that many complained about is the receptiveness and comfortability of use when it comes to the fingerprint reader. (plus, the camera!) Now the only other thing that may be a drawback as you hit the road is its design. It is not a conspicuous piece of equipment and that may make you a target for those while pickpockets and thieves.
In the end, this is a great phone for gaming but not so much the best phone for anything else. (fingers crossed the ASUS ROG 2 has better overall functionality.)
Pros:
· Great display
· Hardware quality
· Wide selection of accessories
· Touch-sensitive “AirTrigger” buttons
· Design
Cons:
· Both the accessories and phone are pricey
· No microSD slots
· Regular phone capabilities may not be as good as other models
· Design
· Functionality of the fingerprint reader (slow and uncomfortable)
2. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Product Specs/Highlights:
Storage: 128/512 GB or 1TB
Ram: 8/12 GB
Battery: 4100 mAh
OS: Android 9
Display resolution: 1440 x 3040
Now if you are looking for the best phone for overall functionality you may not find any better than the Samsung S10 Plus. It’s not a surprise the Samsung S-line has been gradually improving and bringing new capabilities to the game over the last few incarnations.
The Good:
In our mind, you want to be able to enjoy your game of choice while still getting a phone that has all the good stuff. So, though we may have an affinity for the ASUS brand this model is our choice for the best gaming phone. You get the intense computing power and RAM that you need to strafe your way across any game field and the ability to take killer photos and the battery life to let you do both, which is why if you are traveling this is the best option for you.
The Bad:
The only bad thing about this model is its price but if you have the right provider there is probably a payment plan you can take advantage to assuage these issues. Oh yeah, and some people feel that the model is a little slippery and hard to hold.
Both issues can be combatted in their own individual ways and there is absolutely no reason why as a gamer on the road shouldn’t take advantage of the Samsun S10 Plus amazing features.
Pros:
· Screen size
· Battery life
· Cameras
· Wireless accessories
· Hardware
Cons:
· Price
· Design may be difficult to hold (slippery)
3. Apple iPhone XS Max
Product Specs/ Highlights:
Storage: 4GB
Ram: 512 GB
Battery: 3174 mAh
OS: iOS 12
Display resolution: 2688 x 1242
Full disclosure, I am not an Apple fan. It is not because the tech that they produce is not high quality its s more of a principle to me. One of the best gaming phones of 2019 is the iPhone XS Max.
The Good:
The XS Max is a computing beast and for the gamers of the world, that is super important. Much like the Samsung, this is one of the models we would suggest as the best options for the traveling gamer. Not only does it have access to a great store of games and a computing power that could rival some laptops it also has amazing audio and a camera that takes almost professional-grade video/photos.
The Bad:
All of that power and those features comes with the heftiest price on our list so obviously, that could be a problem for some of us gaming travelers who have scrimped and saved for that dream trip and just want to be able to continue our gaming when we get some downtime. It also charges quite slowly which is a little annoying and it does not offer as much personalization as say the Samsung S10 Plus or other Android operated models.
If, however, you have that kind of cash floating around or you have a provider that will give you a leasing plan that fits your budget the iPhone XS Max is really a great choice for us gamers out there.
Pros:
· Computing power
· Amazing audio
· Camera
· Durable
· Great availability of games
Cons:
· Doesn’t charge as fast as other options
· Limited customization
· Price
4. Razer Phone 2
Product Specs/ Highlights:
Storage: 64/128 GB or 1TB w/ card
Ram: 6/8 GB
Battery: 4000 mAh
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo
Display resolution: 2560 x 1440
Much like ASUS, Razer is a gaming brand that jumped into the mobile world last year so that they could provide what the game geeks (don’t get mad I am one too!) around the world could have a great quality phone that would be able to handle the intense power needed to run games like Call of Duty Mobile or Survival Royale. So when they came out with the next-generation Razer Phone 2 we were all eagerly waiting to see what they had changed.
The Good:
So, the things that they took and improved made an impactful difference in performance between the first model and the second. The team at Razer upgraded the chip and built is a vapor chamber for a better cooling system. This is great and helps with the heat dissipation while having a heavy gaming session. The Razer Phone 2 has a nice display, great sound, and a stellar refresh rate. Plus, it kinda looks cool in a non-conspicuous way (we are looking at you ASUS).
The Bad:
Now with the cold design and the addition of the vapor chamber the phone has got a little heavier so that might be an issue. The screen is also much smaller compared to many of the other models we have talked about in this guide. Lastly for the price the storage capacity (even though it is 64 GB) is kind of small.
This, however, is the best budget gaming phone on our list and that may be the defining thing when it comes to your choice of the best gaming phone. You get a lot of great attributes and the few drawbacks are not enough to knock the Razer 2 out of the running.
Pros:
· Great display
· Good sound from speakers
· Price
· Great refresh rate
· Cool logo that glows
Cons:
· Bulky design
· Storage is kind of low
· Screen is a wee bit small
5. OnePlus 7 Pro
Product Specs/Highlights:
Storage: 128/256 GB
Ram: 6/8/12 GB
Battery: 4000 mAh
OS: Android 9
Display resolution: 1440 x 3120
OnePlus brings the last of the gaming phones we think the gamer on the go should consider the best. With the OnePlus 7 Pro, you get a more budget-friendly option to the higher-end phones we have reviewed above.
The Good:
Chief amongst the reasons that we have chosen this as one of the best is the price. So often good tech ends up making you take out a second mortgage (not really bit the price tag certainly makes you think that may be the only option) that when you can find a piece with reasonable affordability you need to jump on it as quick as possible. That is what the OnePlus 7 Pro is a great quality phone with amazing battery life at a price that won’t break the bank (comparatively speaking of course!).
The Bad:
There are a couple of design flaws that may make you think twice about this model. The first and possibly the most annoying is the lack of a headphone jack, Sure you can listen to music and your game with wireless headphones, but you can’t charge it wirelessly. Hat sense does that make?! Plus, though it has a good storage capacity having the option to upgrade that is always a nice touch. Plus, for the gamer on the go these cameras phone dies not to work as well as others on our list.
The bottom line is this…if you have a budget and want a gaming phone that does the job then this model is perfect.
Pros:
· Price
· Fast finger reading in-display capability
· Battery Life
Cons:
· Can’t charge wirelessly
· No headphone jacks
· Cannot up the storage capacity
· Lackluster wide-angle camera
Final Score
Picking the right gaming phone that will work with your hectic on the go life is a hard choice, for us, it would easily be the Samsung S10 Plus. Hopefully, with this guide, you will be able to make that choice easily and relatively stress-free. Once you have you will be able to head out into the world or just down the street knowing that you are set and ready to kick some butt on whichever game field you are obsessed with currently.
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