5 Best Phones for Pokemon GO in 2022 – All you need to know

Best phone for Pokemon Go

Are you wondering which is the best phone for Pokemon Go? Well, you’ve come to the right place. This article will help you find the perfect gadget for all your needs. We have a passion for phones and deep love for good games. So we know a thing or two when it comes to this topic. Below you will find all the information you need before you make the purchase.

Pokemon Go is a beloved and widely popular mobile game. Even after all these years people still seem to enjoy it. And why wouldn’t they? The game is always searching for new ways to keep things interesting. Now it’s not just about finding Pokemon. You can also battle other Pokemon Go trainers online or team up with them to catch even more powerful Pokemon. This is an augmented reality game. It uses GPS to locate the magical creatures, which you then need to find and catch. The game is very cool as creatures appear as if they were a part of the real world. Moreover, the game also has health benefits. Pokemon Go promotes physical activity. Instead of gaming in a comfy chair, you actually need to go outside and find those creatures. You are out in the fresh air, you walk, you get some exercise. What could be better for your health? But most importantly, the game is very fun to play and there are tones of adventures just waiting for you.

When asking which phone is the best for this particular game, the answer may not seem so simple.  Sure there is an absolute best, but do you actually need it to enjoy the game. Well, we leave this up to you. After all, you know best what you need and what you don’t need. There is a variety of good phones that can run this game. However, it is on you to decide what kind of gaming experience you want. You can get the best of the best, which will make sure you have fun. Alternatively, you may want to look into a budget option that will give you a great experience at an affordable price. To make this decision a bit easier, we have prepared a selection of 5 best phones for Pokemon Go. Each is capable of running this game and will give you the experience you desire. So let’s look into them, shall we?

If you want to read a full detailed review of our recommended phone for Pokemon GO click here. Or if you are more interested in our top budget pick we got you covered here.

DID YOU KNOW: The app is widely popular as over 750 million people have downloaded it so far. Each day, over 5 million players play the game. All together, Pokemon Go players have taken over 144 billion steps. That’s enough to take you to the Moon and back 143 times. That’s a pretty long trip!

NOTE: Below you can find a comparison table and a detailed description of the best phones for Pokemon GO.


BUDGET RECOMMENDED
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Huawei P30

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite

Huawei P30
Display 6.53 inches 6.67 inches 6.4 inches 6.7 inches 6.1 inches
CPU Helio G85 Snapdragon 732G Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 * Snapdragon 855 Kirin 980
GPU Mali-G52 Adreno 618 Mali-G72 or Adreno 630 * Adreno 640 Mali-G76
Resolution 1080 x 2340 (395 ppi density) 1080 x 2400 (395 ppi density) 1440 x 2960 (516 ppi density) 1080 x 2400 (394 ppi density) 1080 x 2340 (422 ppi density)
Battery 5020 mAh, non-removable 5160 mAh, non-removable 4000 mAh, non-removable 4500 mAh, non-removable 3650 mAh, non-removable
Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon

best phone for Pokemon GO – Phone System Requirements

ANDROID

MINIMUM

  • GPS and Location Services
  • Memory – 1GB RAM
  • OS – Android 6.0 and above
  • Internet connection (at least3G)
  • GPS and Location Services
  • Memory – 2GB RAM
  • OS – Android 8.0 and above
  • Strong internet connection (Wi-Fi or 4G)

IPHONE OR IPAD

  • iOS 12 or above
  • iPhone 6 or above
  • Strong internet connection (Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G)
  • GPS and Location Services

Some less powerful iPhones will still be able to run the game, but the gaming experience may not be as smooth as with officially supported devices.


What are the best phones for Pokemon GO?

XIAOMI Redmi Note 9

One of the best phone for Pokemon GO
CUSTOMER REVIEWS

KEY GAMING FEATURES

CPU RAM BATTERY
Helio G85 3, 4 or 6 GB 5020 mAh

PHONE DESCRIPTION

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is one of the brand’s cool phones, which sells at a very low price. It has a decent chipset and an extremely good battery life. It also comes with an IR blaster, which a very cool and useful feature that allows you to control certain appliances, like a TV for example. This makes the phone good, despite the low price. After all, there is no need to pay a lot for quality. Therefore it makes our list of the best phones for Pokemon GO.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 runs on an Helio G85 chipset. This is a very power-efficient chip. However, the overall performance isn’t as good as on Snapdragon. Still, it works well enough and can run all sorts of tasks. The phone is even appropriate for gaming. However, you might get a better experience on phones with better chips. The GPU is Mali-G52 MC2, which reduces the power consumption and ensures a long gaming experience. As far as RAM goes, you will probably get a version with 4 GB of RAM, however, there are options for 6 GB. There is plenty of storage for this phone. You are most likely to find a version with 128 GB of internal storage, however, you might also stumble across the one with 64 GB. In any case, storage is further expandable.

If you are interested in more details about the phone you can read more by clicking here.

WHAT WE LIKED
  • Very affordable. Great price/performance ratio
  • Sleek design makes it Easy to handle and place into pockets
  • Even 4 GB model will be able to handle games pretty good
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
  • The processor chip may be a bit weak for more demanding games. If this will be your primary gaming phone you should consider some higher-end models on this list.
LEARN MORE OR CHECK PRICE

XIAOMI Poco X3 NFC – Top Budget Phone for Pokemon GO

One of the best phone for Pokemon GO
CUSTOMER REVIEWS

KEY GAMING FEATURES

CPU RAM BATTERY
Snapdragon 732G 6 or 8 GB 5160 mAh

PHONE DESCRIPTION

Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC is a good mid-range phone that brings a lot of trendy features. It comes with a quad-camera setup, a high refresh rate screen, and a great chipset. Battery life is very good and the phone truly delivers what it promises. Another big plus is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on these features. Poco X3 NFC comes at a very affordable price. That’s why we decided to put it on our list of the best phones for Pokemon GO.

The phone runs on a good Snapdragon 732G chipset. It offers some of the best performance in its class. It has a very good CPU and a high-quality GPU, which is Adreno 618. The phone can outperform almost all other mid-rangers. In fact, 732G was actually optimized for gaming. This means that the graphics card is higher clocked and that also supports high resolutions. Anyway, the gaming experience is great and games run very smoothly on this phone. There are also no problems with overheating. You will most likely find a version with 6 GB of RAM, although there is a possibility of finding one with 8 GB. Anyhow, 6 GB of RAM is more than enough for just about any use. It is actually a sweet spot for an average user, but it will work fine for advanced uses too. This phone can come with 64 or 128 GB of internal storage built-in. So pay attention to this if storage is important to you. However, in either case, it is expendable. So if you feel like you need more space for photos and other stuff you just upgrade it a little.

If you are interested in more details about the phone you can read more by clicking here.

WHAT WE LIKED
  • Many people argue that you get a lot of the phone for the price. We agree
  • We really like 120 Hz 6.67 inch screen. It is bright, large and perfect for watching videos, playing games or browsing the web
  • The powerful mid-range chip will allow you to play graphic intense games smoothly
  • Large battery and a 33W charger is a dream combination
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
  • There is no wireless charging
LEARN MORE OR CHECK PRICE

SAMSUNG Galaxy NOTE 9

One of the best phone for Pokemon GO
CUSTOMER REVIEWS

KEY GAMING FEATURES

CPU RAM GPU
Snapdragon 845 8 GB Adreno 630

PHONE DESCRIPTION

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 used to be Samsung’s top flagship. It was released in 2018 so it seems a bit outdated right now. However, back then it was best of the best and it can still compete with today’s top phones, especially as it costs less. It is a great and affordable choice in the field of Note phones, which can deliver a great user experience. Therefore, we decided to put in on the list of the best phones for Pokemon GO.

Galaxy Note 9 is powered either by Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810, which is the same as what Note 10 Lite has. Further, the processors are paired either with Adreno 630 or Mali-G72 MP18 graphic processing unit. These are all great chipsets and GPUs and can run even the most demanding games, so this is definitely a gaming phone. Note 9 is also optimized for all sorts of difficult tasks. Both chipsets are very fast and can handle heavy multitasking, without slowing down. As far as the memory goes, you can get a version with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. You can also get a version with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, which is more appropriate for heavy users, especially gamers.

If you are interested in more details about the phone you can read more by clicking here.

WHAT WE LIKED
  • It is an older high-end flagships so the price has been reduced by more then 50%. But the specs are still better then some new upper mid-range phones. It is a bargain powerhouse
  • S-pen features and screen are amazing
  • Though not the newest the chipset will run any game without stuttering
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
  • Not the newest device on the list
LEARN MORE OR CHECK PRICE
One of the best phone for Pokemon GO
CUSTOMER REVIEWS

KEY GAMING FEATURES

CPU RAM BATTERY
Snapdragon 855 6 or 8 GB 4500 mAh

PHONE DESCRIPTION

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite is the newest addition to the S10 lineup. This is a very capable phone and is certainly one of the best phones of its time. It can be compared to many high end phones and has an advantage of more reasonable price. Therefore, we list it as one of the best phones for Pokemon GO.

The phone is powered by Snapdragon 855 chipset, which is paired with Adreno 640 graphics processing unit. The GPU is very fast, and the components in general have a very good status of high end products. The phone in general is very fast and works well for all sorts of tasks. That includes gaming. However, for heavy gaming, a better version would be Snapdragon 888 chipset. But this one is still very capable and the phone will be able to run just about any game. Galaxy S10 Lite can have either 6 GB of RAM, or 8 GB of RAM. Furthermore, there is also difference in storage capacity, as you can get 128 GB or 512 GB of internal storage. For gaming and other heavy use, we recommend you find a version with 8 GB of RAM.

If you are interested in more details about the phone you can read more by clicking here.

WHAT WE LIKED
  • This phone has a solid built, feels good in the hands and feels premium
  • The camera on the S10 Lite is absolutely amazing. In combination with the beautiful screen on the device, your pictures will truly look as though they were taken with an actual camera
  • The 6.7 inch super AMOLED display makes everyday tasks as well as gaming and watching videos a very enjoyable experience
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
  • No wireless charging or IP protection which is a tradeoff for lower price
LEARN MORE OR CHECK PRICE

HUAWEI P30

One of the best phone for Pokemon GO
CUSTOMER REVIEWS

KEY GAMING FEATURES

CPU RAM GPU
Kirin 980 6 or 8 GB Mali-G76

PHONE DESCRIPTION

Huawei P30 is one of brand’s really good mid-range phones. It features beautiful design, good camera setup and awesome chipset performance. Now it lacks some of the features that a more premium version P30 Pro has. However, it is still a very good deal, especially as it is cheaper. Based on its capabilities, it makes one of the best phones for Pokemon GO.

Looking at the hardware, we see that the P30 is powered by Kirin 980 chipset. This is a really good chipset as it is not just more powerful than its competitor Snapdragon 845, it is also more power efficient. The phone provides good gaming experience and performs very well in all sorts of tasks. Everything works nice and smooth, just like on P30 Pro. The GPU that comes with the chipset is Mali-G76 MP10. This is also a high end graphic processing unit that generally works well. As far as the RAM goes, you are most likely to find a version with 6GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users. It is enough to run most of the games without any problems. However, if you are into heavy gaming, there is also an option of 8GB of RAM, so you might prefer this version as it will perform better with demanding games. Normally, P30 comes with 128 GB of internal storage. However, this can vary depending on where you buy the phone. You might get only 64 GB, or you can get 256 GB of internal storage. So keep an eye on that as the price may vary with it as well.

If you are interested in more details about the phone you can read more by clicking here.

WHAT WE LIKED
  • Above average battery life. A feature that is important for gaming phone
  • Nice built quality. Gives a feeling of a top high-end flagship
  • An excellent screen
  • Very responsive performance even with 6 GB version
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED
  • The phone lacks wireless charging capabilities
LEARN MORE OR CHECK PRICE

Additional hardware information

CPU

The processor is the central processing unit in an electronic system such as a smartphone. The alternative and common English designation is CPU (Central Processing Unit). A processor is used to control various processes in the system. It handles task management and the distribution of data between individual units. The gigahertz value of a processor indicates its performance. It denotes the clock frequency with which the processing unit executes processes.

A cell phone processor works analogously to the CPU of a computer or controller in an electrical device. It processes individual instructions and program sections sequentially or simultaneously. At the same time, it manages data processing in the cell phone, for example during copy operations from the internal memory to a memory card or another device. The processor can consist of one or more computing cores that form the heart of an electronic system. In a smartphone, the CPU is responsible for the following tasks, among others:

  • Execution of installed applications
  • Controlling graphical displays via the graphics card
  • Establishing connections such as WLAN or UMTS
  • Processing user data

In simple words, the more powerful your CPU is, the better the game will run.

GPU

The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a dedicated graphics processor in mobile devices. Its main task is to support the smartphone processor (CPU) in displaying 3D data. Including image processing, games, animations, VR applications, and augmented reality. A strong GPU affects the performance of the entire device and can also significantly improve energy efficiency. Therefore the battery capacity is exhausted more slowly.

With the constantly increasing specifications of mobile devices, especially due to ever higher display and camera resolutions, the role of the GPU is becoming more and more important. Accordingly, improved models are constantly entering the market. In system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs, the GPU is lasered into a chip together with the main processor and other components (multimedia processor, LTE modem, signal processor).

RAM

As soon as you execute a program, the associated data is stored in RAM. This means that programs load faster and are still available, even if you have already closed them. When you open an app, it loads all data into RAM the first time you start it. If you now close the app and start it again, the loading process takes less time. The data remains in the RAM as long as the device is supplied with power. If you turn off your smartphone or computer, all data stored in RAM is lost and has to be reloaded when you restart your apps and programs. Don’t worry, the draining of the memory does not affect any data that is in the main memory. So pictures, videos, and co. are still safe even after the power is turned off.

How long the app data remains in the RAM of your phone depends on how much it is available and how much of it other apps are using it. But the more you have it the better. And this is true also if you want to achieve the best gaming experience.

DISPLAY

The display is the most obvious component of a smartphone. It is the showcase for all content and the surface through which you interact with the device. The screen turns the built-in components inside out: It shows whether a smartphone works with a strong or weak chipset via smooth or jerky animations. It lets you judge the quality of the camera. And of course, it shows all the data and apps that are in the device’s memory.

Currently, two panel types are mainly found in smartphones: IPS LCD and OLED. In LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology, the individual pixels consist of liquid crystals that, in combination with a polarization filter, display a certain color depending on their orientation. In an IPS panel (In-Plain-Switching), the crystals are constructed in such a way that the display is particularly viewing angle stable. The flat backlight is crucial for the LC display.

The main advantage of OLEDs over IPS is the lower energy consumption. Especially with dark content, even illumination, and high contrast. One disadvantage is that the LEDs lose their luminosity to some degrees due to uneven use. This can result in a burn-in effect. Since the display substrate for the OLED matrix is often made of flexible plastic the phones can also have curved displays. OLED displays are being used more and more, especially in high-end phones.

BATTERY

The battery capacity of your phone does in principle tell you how long it will last before you need to recharge it. The bigger the battery the longer it should last. But it depends also on the power consumption which is in direct correlation with the hardware that is included in the phone, and the battery management algorithms that try to reduce the consumption and preserve the battery as much as possible. Except for the battery capacity, these values are never written in the specification of the phone as they are irrelevant for an average user.

The reason is that the biggest factor to how long your phone will last on one charge is how much you use it and how. For example the screen is one of the biggest energy consumers. So if you are using your phone a lot the battery will get drained quicker, obviously. Heavy multitasking and gaming are also energy demanding.

But nowadays many phones support fast charging, wireless charging etc. So you can charge your phone very quickly and you are good to go.

best phone for Pokemon GO – CONCLUSION

Choosing a phone that will give you great gaming experience is a lot like choosing a gaming computer. You need to first look at the official hardware requirements for the game you are interested in. If you want to get the best experience the phone should meet at least recommended requirements. But actually when it comes to smartphones you should aim even higher.

It is well known that smartphones tend to get a little “slower” over time. Additionally, mobile games usually get updated more frequently. So to be on the safe side a good rule of thumb is to pick a phone that has at least one grade better components than recommended.

Any phone from our list will give you the best gaming experience. So if you stay within our selection of best phone for Pokemon GO you are good and ready to go. Have fun gaming.

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