Which of the following phones is more suitable for mobile gaming experience: ASUS's ROG Phone, Xiaomi's Pocophone F1, or the Razer Phone 2 that recently entered the Taiwanese market?
While there are also Xiaomi-backed Black Shark, Nubia's Red Magic, and Honor's phones designed for gaming, these phones are not currently sold through official import channels and are only sold by some local businesses. Therefore, they are not included in the scope of this discussion, but those interested can still refer to my previous report.
Press
- Nubia launches a refreshed Red Magic Mars with new edge virtual buttons and more accessories
- Black Shark Helo unveiled, featuring 10GB of RAM and handheld gaming functionality
- Huawei unveils the Honor Note 10, a gaming phone with CPU Turbo technology that keeps performance stable.
- Mate 20 also has a giant version Mate 20 X that also corresponds to high-performance experience
- Hands-on play / ASUS's latest weapon to fill the gaming market, ROG Phone, combines peripherals to expand gaming needs
- Razer Phone 2 unveiled, offering a whole new mobile experience and enhanced gaming performance
- Xiaomi's Pocophone F4, which has been in the works for four years, finally debuts as the cheapest S1 flagship phone.
- Interview/How does Apple's A11 Bionic processor make "Final Glory" a better gaming experience?
Why build a gaming phone specifically?
Before the gaming phone category was even introduced, gamers and the general public simply played games on standard mobile phones. However, similar to the emergence of esports consoles from traditional PCs and laptops, more and more mobile games are emphasizing 3D graphics and rich content. Furthermore, the production standards for mobile game content are gradually becoming comparable to those of standard home consoles. Consequently, the computing power and display capabilities of mobile processors have also increased, putting the heat dissipation, battery life, overall thermal management, and peak performance of mobile phones under scrutiny.
With the increasing diversity of gaming content, simple touch controls inevitably lead to slow response times. Therefore, the ROG Phone utilizes ultrasonic wave blocking recognition, allowing users to use the sides of the phone's single frame as "L" and "R" buttons when holding the phone in landscape orientation. This allows users to even use an external controller for enhanced control, making gaming even more convenient. Specific design features also make it easier to charge the phone while gaming, while dedicated accessories provide additional cooling and facilitate online live streaming.
On the other hand, gaming phones are, to some extent, driven by market development. For example, Razer's acquisition of Nextbit and its rapid launch of its first phone, the Razer Phone, were largely motivated by a desire to convince investors that it possessed the capabilities to invest in the mobile phone market. Similarly, ASUS's launch of the ROG Phone was simply a way to connect with its own ROG Republic of Gamers brand. With mobile gaming now increasingly entering the esports market, having its own phone designated for tournaments can also generate significant publicity for the brand.
In reality, it doesn't really matter what type of phone the average gamer uses to play games. However, for hardcore gamers, declining computing performance and delayed internet speeds can often be crucial in determining the outcome of a match. Furthermore, brand marketing in the esports market will likely impact the development of gaming phone products.
Are there really better gaming phones?
Considering the Snapdragon 845, Qualcomm's top-of-the-line processor for this year, many phones on the market this year utilize this processor. While some gaming phones emphasize additional processor clock speed improvements, their primary features include increased memory capacity, improved screen specifications, additional user interfaces tailored to gaming needs, and optimized execution for specific mobile games—areas rarely enhanced in more general mobile phones.
However, some manufacturers are also focusing on the demand for mobile gaming and are therefore upgrading the features of their flagship models. For example, Huawei has incorporated technologies like GPU Turbo into its Honor and nova models, allowing users to experience smoother performance while playing mobile games. However, these manufacturers do not specifically promote these phones as gaming phones.
Furthermore, mobile phones are no longer limited to gaming; they also encompass basic phone functions, the use of multiple apps, and even the need to represent one's personal identity. Furthermore, the vast majority of games can be played on regular mobile phones, so many people will likely still consider purchasing current mainstream mobile phone products.
However, gaming phones are designed with additional optimizations for battery capacity, heat dissipation, and overall operational stability. For example, the ROG Phone emphasizes that excessive heat generation during charging and gaming won't affect processor performance, while ensuring stable operation. The Razer Phone 2 also emphasizes improved overall heat dissipation compared to the first-generation model. Coupled with support for a 120Hz refresh rate display, it can maintain an optimal experience during extended gaming sessions. These specific features are relatively lacking in conventional phones.
How to choose among these three mobile phones?
If you're a serious gamer, or even someone who uses apps like live streaming, the ASUS ROG Phone and its accessories are clearly sufficient for a wide range of use cases, and the phone itself isn't too obtrusive. If you're looking for a smooth display and are comfortable for general use like streaming, the Razer Phone 2's screen clearly offers a significant advantage. Its inherited Nextbit Robin design also makes it a very stable device, making it easy to hold while binge-watching.
Although it's not strictly a gaming phone, if your budget is limited, Xiaomi's Pocophone F1 is undoubtedly a cost-effective choice. Its MIUI interface ensures smooth operation, while its heat dissipation design also performs well.
summary
In reality, the demand for a dedicated gaming phone isn't as high as consumers might imagine. However, if it's positioned as a "phone to use while gaming," it's somewhat similar to how Meitu positioned its Xia Meitu phone: primarily a second phone, with selfie-focused marketing. While gaming phones may not become the primary choice for many users, they could become a second choice for avid gamers.
The emergence of gaming phones is driven not only by the need for more buzz in current mobile product promotions, but also by the market development strategies of some brands. For example, ASUS needs to expand the ROG brand's reach across a wider range of gaming platforms by launching the ROG Phone. For Razer, this is naturally a response to market and investor expectations. With the launch of the Razer Phone and Razer Phone 2, the company demonstrates that its gaming market strategy also includes investment in mobile gaming applications.
In addition, the emergence of gaming mobile phones naturally echoes the current trend of mobile games entering the e-sports market. Therefore, through cooperation and sponsorship with brand manufacturers, mobile phone brands can also be more closely tied to the development of the e-sports market.
As for the actual user experience, strictly speaking, whether there will be a huge difference in game execution between gaming phones and general commercially available mobile phones depends mainly on the compatibility of the phone itself with the game, and whether the phone itself has a differentiated design for the operating experience. Otherwise, it is recommended to choose a mobile phone product that suits your personal preferences.
Razer Phone 2 Unboxing
