Smartphones can do nearly everything, including gaming. That has led to the birth of gaming-focused phones from brands like Asus with their ROG series, Lenovo's Legion series, and Xiaomi's Black Shark series. But these are not the only devices capable of gaming. If you're on the market for a gaming Android phone, you have a wide variety of options available.

Let's take a look at the key features you need when buying an Android phone for mobile gaming.

1. Processor

The first thing to check is the processor. This is a critical consideration as it determines the performance of the device. When it comes to the processor, faster is better.

While it's tempting only to consider high-end processors like Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 series or MediaTek's Dimensity 9000 range, midrange processors like the Snapdragon 6 and 7 series and the Dimensity 500 series are pretty good performers, too.

When looking for a processor, a quick check is the size of the transistors. These are measured in nanometers (nm), like 5nm, 7nm, and so on. The smaller the transistors, the more that silicon makers can fit in a chip. That can result in an increase in performance and a reduction in battery consumption.

Considering the power-hungry nature of gaming, you would want a CPU as power-efficient as possible.

2. Cooling

When processors are under a heavy workload, they need an efficient cooling mechanism to ensure that the device doesn't overheat. Generally, smartphones have improved so much when it comes to cooling thanks to the advancements in semiconductors.

With that in mind, midrange phones and flagship phones can handle heavy workloads for an extended period without getting overly hot. Modern devices have efficient cooling, not just those marketed as phones for gaming. However, gaming-focused phones tend to offer more efficient solutions.

Besides internal cooling mechanisms, Asus' ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, for example, offers an additional AeroActive Cooler 5 clip-on external cooling fan. According to the company, that clip-on fan can reduce CPU temperatures by as much as 59°F.

Having such is a plus if you plan to make a career out of mobile gaming, but it's not a must. Such additions are rare to find out of the box, but you can buy generic third-party clip-on fans for additional cooling if your device doesn't have them.

3. Display

For gaming, you need the best display. OLED or AMOLED is the best you can get; they offer true blacks, higher brightness, a wide color range, and high contrast ratios. However, IPS LCD still is impressive. 1080p is good enough, but if you need more pixels for clarity, phones with 1440p panels are available.

Besides the display technology, refresh rates are equally important. 90Hz or 120Hz is great, but the law of diminishing returns kicks in for anything above that. It's not worth spending more on a device with a 144Hz refresh rate display just for its own sake.

Fortunately, display refresh rate is not much of an issue in 2022 and beyond. All thanks to the trickle-down effect that has seen companies add 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate displays to cheaper devices. This effect has been a game-changer, and that's why you no longer need to spend top dollars to get one of the best smartphones available to experience smooth scrolling.

However, if you want an LTPO display that dynamically adjusts the refresh rate, you will certainly have to dig deeper in your pockets. If you don't know what LTPO is, we have you covered.

4. Memory and Storage

At least 128GB of internal storage should suffice for onboard storage. 64GB is less useful unless you don't play multiple games at any particular point. Smartphone games and modern games, in general, are growing in size with every update. Installation alone and setup can occupy as much as 1GB.

Therefore, you need as much space as possible. 128GB is a sweet spot, but you should go for 256GB if possible. And how much RAM do you need on a smartphone for gaming? 6GB is a good starting point. If you can get 8GB or more, go for it.

5. Hands-On Use

Mainstream smartphones have made their name for trimming bezels as much as possible. However, for the best gaming experience having a slightly large bezel is advantageous as it gives you enough room for holding your device horizontally.

It helps you avoid accidental touches that can be very disruptive. Therefore, you should look for a comfortable device to hold horizontally for extended periods. For a hands-on experience, you have to check for reviews online.

6. Gaming-Optimized Hardware and Software

One of the reasons smartphone gaming sucks is the poor touchscreen controls. Thankfully, some smartphone companies that make dedicated gaming phones are finally adding shoulder buttons. Examples include the POCO F4 GT and Xiaomi's Black Shark 4 series.

Shoulder buttons can't offer a similar experience as a dedicated controller, but such nifty additions are far less common and only available on dedicated gaming phones.

Another handy addition is a gaming mode, which is available on many devices. What gaming mode on a smartphone does is speed up your device and cut down on distractions during your gaming.

7. Battery and Fast Charging Support

Gaming consumes a lot of battery power. With that in mind, you need a device with good battery capacity. A 4500mAh battery or more is better. It will provide you with enough juice to play games without worrying about battery percentage.

Another essential component is fast charging support, which has become a mainstream feature on smartphones. Fast charging support ensures you don't wait too long before your device reaches enough levels to resume your game. The phone should have at least 18W fast charging support, but many devices can charge a lot quicker than that.

Choose the Right Phone for Gaming

Mobile gaming is growing due to ease of access, so it's no wonder some companies have a range of devices dedicated to it. However, Android gaming phones are not mainstream and tend to be very expensive, and you shouldn't beat yourself up for not being able to buy one.

A normal phone with the right combination of specs and features can do the job just as well. Consider the processor, cooling system, display, memory, storage, hands-on experience, and gaming-optimized software if you want a phone for gaming. Gaming-optimized hardware is a handy addition but not a must.

You can optimize your device for gaming by buying additional accessories later, like clip-on cooling fans and Bluetooth controllers. Hopefully, these tips should point you in the right direction in your quest to find a suitable phone for gaming.