Gaming phones are a thing in 2018 and experts believe that the trend is just starting. No, these aren’t your regular smartphones that can do it all, including gaming. Gaming phones have been designed for gaming first and then everything else.
What we’ve seen with laptops like the Alienware from Dell, ROG series from Asus and even the Omen line up from HP, will become evident in the mobile space. But the question is, why do we need gaming phones in the first place and who thinks of replacing their PCs or consoles with mobiles?
The likes of Xiaomi, Asus and gaming specialists like Razer see a market for such products but do people really need one?
Because, Why Not
When you can have gaming laptops, heavy on hardware, suited for long hour gaming, why not have phones with similar features? That’s not our thinking, this is what mobile manufacturers have decided and that’s why you’re seeing a few laptop makers like Asus and Razer venturing into the space.
Gaming phones will pack powerful specs, with up to 8GB of RAM on offer but that itself isn’t going to differentiate a regular phone from its gaming counterparts. You’ll need ample (up to 256GB if possible) storage space to accommodate all sets of gaming titles.
Mind you, these devices won’t come cheap, and only the hardcore set of buyers (those who don’t worry about shelling out big money on laptops) will find solace in buying these phones.
And with high-speed connectivity via 5G being strongly advocated, expect multi-gaming on mobiles to take off in the coming years.
Design Them Differently
Smartphones these days are made with aesthetics in mind. Also, the trend for 18:9 or 19:9 screen has grown manifold since the launch of Apple iPhone X last year. For those making gaming phones, it has got to be more than just a shiny piece of mirror in front of you.
Nobody is going to complain if these phones are heavy and look ugly, especially if these come loaded with a high capacity battery. From what we’ve seen with the Asus ROG and Razer phone, the battery capacity goes up to 4,000mAh. This might not be a lot and mobile gamers might have to spend extra on accessories like powerbanks to keep going.
Chipset makers will have to work on new processors which will specifically cater to heavy-duty needs of a gamer. Also, make sure the device manages to cool down effectively.
The other important aspect of these phones will be its handling and how the controls (soft-touch or physical) behave with varied set of games on the device. Because, people aren’t going to splurge on these phones if they don’t work with all the games.
Games, They Are a Changin’
From PC games, to consoles and now mobile gaming, we’ve come a long way and this is just the start. With games like PUBG and Fortnite, we have seen that the craze for popular titles can go beyond the regular gaming markets.
Unlike previous years, mobile games offer impressive range of graphics, with focus on character building or detailing. And above all, the multiplayer gaming feature appeals to everyone.
Even in India we have seen massive traction for these games, even though Fortnite has yet to reach Android devices. The reason for that? Unlike your PC and console games, these titles on a mobile are free. Just download and play.
This is a big deal for many people who haven’t ventured into gaming, because games are expensive. With phones like these, you’re sure to get gaming titles in the near future that will cater to all the basic needs of a gamer, without pinching his/her pocket.
Who’s Buying!
Very few markets are catering to these phones for now. But gamers in India should be excited about the fact that brands like Razer and Asus will launch their gaming devices in the country by end of this year itself.
I have to confess that there is still a lot of ambiguity as to who the target audience is for gizmos like these. Everything new takes its own sweet time to settle in. I for one am eager to see what these phones can do and most importantly, how much will they cost in a price-conscious market like ours.
Find the right balance between pricing and gaming titles on offer, and you’ve got a winning package ready to hit the market.
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