Gaming Smartphones vs. Regular Smartphones: Difference?

There’s a split when it comes to mobile devices. On one hand you have gaming smartphones—the behemoths that can breeze through everything from PUBG Mobile to Genshin Impact. And then there are the everyman smartphones that most of us use to browse, text and sometimes play a game of Candy Crush.

So how is a phone designed for gaming any different from one that simply answers calls? So, let us explain it not very technically (you should not have a mobile technology PhD, am I right?).

1. Performance Power: It’s All About the Hardware

The foremost and most significant difference is performance between a gaming smartphone versus a normal one. Gaming smartphones are a bit like the Olympic athletes of the smartphone world —super specialised devices whose success metrics often come down to using exaggerated expressions of hardware. Faster processors, better graphics chips and of RAM are all things that help keep your games running smoothly, so it’s what you’ll find here.

Take running a marathon vs a jog in the park. The best gaming smartphone is the marathon runner — fast and ready to go for miles when the occasion calls for it. Meanwhile, regular phones? They’re like the relaxed public joggers who stick to a steady pace. On a regular phone you will also not enjoy an FPS (frames per second) advantage as on a gaming phone.

For example, If you are playing Genshin Impact, a regular phone may face issues but a Gaming smartphone will run on ultra graphics settings without issues with low lag. A big difference, right?

2. Display: Smooth Moves vs. Casual Scrolling

Next up is the display. If you ever tried gaming on a low refresh phone, you know the agony. This is like playing Fortnite on a flip phone. They feature high refresh rate screens (120Hz, 144Hz or even 165Hz) that make animations smoother and inputs more responsive. And that is particularly important when you are trying to dodge bullets in a Battle Royale.

Regular smartphones? Well, the majority have 60Hz panels. That, let’s be honest, kind of just feels like a slide show rather than a game really. Therefore, if you really care about smooth gameplay — you’ll want to look at one of the best gaming phones.

Pro Tip: If you’re into mobile esports, high refresh rate phones for gaming are a must. They’ll give you that edge you need to dominate in those tournaments.

3. Battery Life: Ready for the Long Haul

This is where it gets a little spicy. Smartphones come with bigger batteries as gaming phones need them to ensure you do not run out of power halfway through a long gaming session. It, too, can be 5000mAh or more on some models.

On the other hand, regular smartphones have smaller batteries because most users aren’t year-round gaming marathons. Your battery would wear out faster than a leaking boat, so if you are playing with Call od Duty Mobile on a normal phone then you won’t be able to charge your phone ever again.

And of course, fast charging capabilities should help you get back in the game faster than you can say “I’m owning!” on most gaming phones. If mobile gaming is your scene, then phones boasting top-of-the-line graphics for gaming and fast-charging go together like peanut butter and jelly.

4. Cooling: No One Likes a Hot Phone

They are mobile fridges — note the plural. They are equipped with high-tech cooling systems that ensure it doesn’t overheat throughout long gaming hours. Regular phones? Sure, I mean they can get a little warm after a couple of days but they’re not going to have the same cooling capacity to keep everything cool halfway through an intense game.

It can lead to slowdowns if things get too hot, resulting in lagging, or jarring drops in frames — not something you want during a Mobile Legends match. Well, if you are a hardcore gamer then you are going to need a gaming phone that is capable enough to withstand the heat.

5. Design: Flashy vs. Subtle

Let’s talk about looks. Gaming smartphones are all about a little showmanship. They are usually accompanied by aggressive designs and RGB lights. A gaming phone is a piece of obvious hardware — the rockstar of phones, if you will.

Regular phones? They tend to be a bit more… understated. Their whole focus is slim and clean, so not much of that gamer feel there. But if you don’t care for a phone that resembles more of your average business casual type dude, then any regular phone works perfectly well to satisfy the occasional gaming itch.

Tip: Camouflage or RGB lights make it look good, but not all gamers like those RGB lights on the phone,what? Those guys who like gamer aesthetics will definitely love mobile esports phones.

6. Price: Pay More for the Performance

Now, let’s talk about money. All that specialised hardware, cooling, and design features doesn’t come cheap; gaming phones tend to be pricey. You are spending on an ultimate gaming performance, so you cannot expect to pay a few pennies.

Regular phones, on the other hand, are generally more affordable since they don’t need all that high-performance gear. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to game on the go, look for best budget gaming phones or phones for gaming under 30K. They might not be as fancy as a high-end gaming smartphone, but they’ll still let you enjoy your favorite games without breaking the bank.

The Verdict: So, Which One Should You Get?

For basic folks who want to pass the time playing Angry Birds or Subway Surfers, any old smartphone will do. But if you are serious about mobile gaming, then you want a gaming smartphone. They provide the performance, display quality, battery life and cooling needed to make your gaming experience more seamless and smooth.

But hey, regular smartphones are fine if you are okay with playing games for 30FPS with an overheating phone. Well, just don’t say we didn’t warn you when your game crashed at the most crucial moment. Oops!

Bottom line: For ultimate gaming, buy the best gaming phones. If all you want to do is play a few rounds here or there, then ordinary phones should be fine. Regardless, just ensure your phone can dignify withering under the pressure of your gaming fetish without tumbling down crashing faster than WiFi. Happy gaming!