Every year across the internet, thousands of YouTube videos, blogs and forums are a buzz with reviews and opinions on the latest release of new devices from some of mobile’s top players. Just as mobile games require new updates, so too does our hardware and mobile devices evolve to become more efficient and practical for our needs.
Many new mobile devices include a new feature or capability that allows developers to take their games to the next level. Whether it’s a better RAM, memory size, speakers or battery life - new device capabilities can open up a realm of new gaming opportunities for developers.
So what new devices will shake up the mobile gaming community in 2020? We’ve compiled a list of some of the top new Android device models set to take your user game experience to the next level.
Samsung Galaxy S20
The Galaxy S20 is the latest release from the highly popular and long running range fromSamsung. While photographer-enthusiasts will be excited by the upgraded camera capabilities, it’s the faster processing and memory upgrades that have gamers talking.
The Galaxy S20 features a 120Hz refresh rate alongside its existing top quality Quad HD AMOLED display, meaning your game’s animation will flow beautifully on screen. Large games are no trouble for the new model, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 and 12GB RAM processing even the heaviest of games with ease. And with an upgraded battery life of 4000mAh, there’s nothing to stop you playing your favourite games for hours.
ASUS ROG Phone II
Asus’s ROG Phone II delivers some of the most advanced gaming features on a mobile device ever. The device's unique design was created with gamers in mind, so, for example it features a side charging point that allows the user to continue gaming in landscape mode - although the monster 6000mAh battery should keep you going for a while!
A 6.6inch AMOLED 10-bit HTR screen coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate promises smooth and colourful gameplay. Another cool feature unseen in other devices in the Air Trigger touch sensors, which allow users to use the corners of the phone as triggers for shooting games. The phone also includes an external Aero Active Cooler accessory, designed to help keep your device cool by neatly fitting to the exposed head sync on the back of the phone.
All in all, the ASUS ROG Phone II is a great model for avid gamers who are looking for a device that will provide the best quality gameplay on a mobile device.
OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus’ 7 Pro is another mobile option for gamers, even if it wasn’t intentionally marketed for them in the first place.
While it features a slightly lower refresh rate of 90Hz in comparison to gamer centric mobiles, animations are still guaranteed to be vibrant and buttery smooth on the 6.55 inch AMOLED screen. Similar to other competitor models, the OnePlus 7 Pro has Qualcomm’s SnapDragon 855 chipset at its core, allowing for super fast processing of any game. One of the cool additions to the device is also the Warp Charge 30T which allows you to fast-charge your phone while playing, without running the risk of overheating or experiencing connectivity issues.
All in all, the OnePlus 7 Pro is great value for money, sharing many of the capabilities and tech features of other competitors at a much lower price point.
Sony Xperia 1
The Sony Xperia 1 is a great choice for gamers wanting to see, hear and feel a great user gaming experience. Equipped with a Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB of RAM, gamers will have no trouble with performance regardless of the game. However it’s the screen size, audio improvements and external design that have people talking.
As you’d expect from a company with the video heritage of Sony the latest Xperia 1 boasts a new display called ‘CineAlta’ or ‘CinemaWide’, where the 6.5inch 4K OLED display projects a 21:9 aspect ratio. This ‘CinemaWide’ effect is designed to mimic the wide-screen style often seen at the cinemas, creating a beautiful gaming experience for those landscape set games. The audio also received an upgrade being enhanced with Dolby Atmos and the hardware also features a more comfortable curved back glass - a welcome change from previous Xperia 1 models.
Finally the Xperia 1 also comes with a ‘Game Enhancer’ mode, that gives gamers the option to curate the best gamer experience. The mode allows you to set custom options for performance, battery optimization, muting or limiting notifications and locking out the navigation bar on a per-game basis.
Huawei P30 Pro
Always running out of battery life when gaming. If so the Huawei P30 Pro could be the answer. It sports one of the largest battery sizes on the market at 4200Hz and fast charging with HUAWEI 40 W SuperCharge, means you can play your favourite games for longer.
The P30 Pro also features some of the top spec of other flagship models, including 8GB RAM and 7NM power and ease of processing games as you play. Your gaming experience is also unrestricted on the 6.47” OLED double 3D curved glass screen that maximises your screen, bringing vibrant colour to the very edge of your screen.
All in all, it’s a great phone for those looking for all the top flagship specs plus an unbeatable battery life.
What can we expect from models in 2021?
As always with technology and hardware, there is room for improvement which means we’ll no doubt be expecting another wave of exciting new flagship mobiles in 2021. It’s already rumoured that Apple is set to release a foldable phone, similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip. The introduction of this new screen size could create an opportunity for a host of new games based on a larger square-like screen.
While the models we mentioned in this article don’t offer VR compatibility, there are many existing Android devices that do support VR headsets. As social apps continue to explore AR in the form of filters, it again presents another opportunity where developers can create an exciting game experience by incorporating VR and AR features.
Keeping this in mind, for now it would appear that the mobile companies are listening to users and recognising the importance of the ever growing gamer community. Every year, we’re seeing hardware and software equipped to handle the needs of gamers in flagship mobile phones. Now all there’s left to do is wait for 2021 and see what the new models will bring to the table.
