Gaming on Android is booming right now, and we’re seeing a lot of amazing titles being released on the platform. It’s only natural that you would want the best gaming smartphones available right now in the market to enjoy those graphically intensive titles. As a console and PC gamer myself, I enjoy playing video games on my Android smartphone as well. This is a great way to kill some time during a particularly boring class or an equally draining office meeting. A while back Sony released their PlayStation-branded Android smartphone with an actual gamepad hidden beneath it. It was a sliding design and in functionality it worked well, but the thickness of the smartphone was a big hindrance. It is sad to see that Sony is not pursuing that line of smartphones anymore, and we only have the standard looking gaming smartphones. To be honest, the smartphones are not made especially for gaming; these are flagships from different manufacturers that happen to run video games at high graphic settings as well as great frame rates. So without further ado let’s dive into the list of the best gaming smartphones available right now.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung has upped their game with their latest flagship by introducing gaming-centric features that are quite great. Not only the smartphone can handle almost any title without any hitches but also there are specific options available to enhance your experience. We have discussed this at length on the hidden settings of Samsung Galaxy S7 articles as well as the best features of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. By default, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge can help you in keeping your games in a singular folder. The folder is aptly named Game Launcher as well. You can also use Game Tools, in the game to enhance your experience. It is a floating button that allows you to toggle different settings during a video game. That’s not all, though, you can easily download Game Tuner, a first party utility that can enable a lot of different options for video games on your Android device. All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the best gaming smartphone in the market right now.
2. LG G5
The latest LG flagship smartphone the LG G5 is a little small in size but has the same Snapdragon 820 chipset as the US version of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The smartphone also has the same amount of 4 GB RAM and is very similar to the Samsung flagship in more than one ways. The screen is also the same QHD resolution. However, the smartphone is shrouded in metal and is very pleasant. Having used the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge personally, I can attest that the smartphone gets a little uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of gaming. However, the same cannot be said for the LG G5, which remains pleasantly comfortable to hold throughout long gaming sessions. But, the LG G5 is also prone to get a lot warmer than the Samsung counterpart, so you have to make sure you are not gaming outside a lot. Apart from that, the smartphone will be able to handle almost any gaming titles you throw at it, including the best graphic video games for Android.
3. HTC 10
If you are gaming without your earphones, you might need to consider the HTC 10. The Samsung and LG’s flagship smartphones are great for gaming, but when it comes to the sound, they are very mediocre. The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge especially sounds tinny when you’re not using your ear pods. HTC, however, has Boom sound technology that has been one of their biggest selling points in recent times. The sound coming out of that small smartphone is simply amazing. I was pleasantly surprised to hear such loud and substantial sound coming out of the HTC 10. There is no doubt that the HTC flagship is the best gaming smartphone around when it comes to audio. Apart from that the flagships from almost every company this year come with a QUALCOMM Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM so, when it comes to gaming performance they are almost equally great. However, a point to be noted here is that the HTC 10 just like the LG G5 is a fully metallic smartphone and metal will get a little hotter under extreme load. The problem is not as profound as the HTC M9, but it is still there. Image Credits
4. Nexus 6P
If you’re looking for a large-screen smartphone that is capable of running the most demanding Android games with ease, then you will like Nexus 6P. As it is a Nexus device, you’ll be getting raw Android experience that is smooth and reliable. Although the smartphone uses a slightly outdated QUALCOMM Snapdragon 810 processor, it is still able to produce great graphics on its large screen. Another reason to consider Nexus 6P over, let’s say the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, is the price. The Nexus 6P is around $300 cheaper than the Samsung flagship. Another big reason to go for the Nexus 6P is the availability of the latest version of Android. I also really like the front-facing stereo speakers that the Nexus 6P has; they give a great audio/visual experience.
5. Samsung Galaxy S7
To be blunt, I find the edge on the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to be okay at best. It is not revolutionary, and it is certainly not as useful as Samsung’s marketing may have led you to believe. Sure, it makes the smartphone look incredibly beautiful and stylish, but there is very little utility to it. When it comes to gaming, the edge certainly doesn’t have an edge over the standard Samsung Galaxy S7 variant. The innards of both smartphones are identical so gaming performance will be the same. The only difference is that the Samsung Galaxy S7 comes at a lower price but also has a smaller battery due to its smaller size. Apart from that, you’ll be getting identical features on both smartphones, and if you’re not a fan of the edge, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the best Android smartphone for gaming right now.
Conclusion
These were five best gaming smartphones available right now that allow you to game for hours. I have played open world games as well as racing games for Android on my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and I was impressed by how long the smartphone lasted on a full charge. It usually takes me around 4 ½ hours to completely drain the smartphone by gaming. It can last around 5 ½ hours while surfing the Internet or watching movies, so the gaming experience is relatively great when compared to other smartphones. I would wholeheartedly recommend the number one phone on the list for gaming. If you have any questions or queries about the smartphones, feel free to ask them in the comments below. Feature Image Credits
