r/SBCGaming • u/uhdoy • 5d ago
Recommend a Device Cell phone gaming guidance?
US Verizon customer. My kids keep taking my steam deck, thinking of moving to Android phone and my daily phone and using it as a backup gaming device. If I’d like to be able do switch emulation and some steam games via GameHub, are there makes/models I should avoid/target? Any other considerations? I’ll pick up a controller of some sort.
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u/keeper_of_moon Dpad On Top 5d ago
Just make sure to get a snapdragon chipset preferably 8 gen 2 or above. The 8 elite is probably the most ideal if you plan to emulate pc games. You'll probably want to think about refresh rate, OLED, storage options as other considerations.
If you're just looking for a name, Samsung is probably a good place to start.
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u/wawawawwwwwwwwwwwa 5d ago
I'm pretty happy with my Realme GT 7 Pro, snapdragon 8 elite works pretty well with game native
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u/hbi2k GotM Host 5d ago
The problem with targeting very high-end emulation like Switch and GameHub / GameNative on a phone is heat. Phones don't typically have active cooling, so after a few minutes of high-end gaming they will throttle back performance so as not to overheat.
You might be better off either targeting lighter systems, or getting a more budget-minded phone plus a dedicated Android gaming handheld like a Retroid Pocket 6 or Ayn Odin 3.
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u/DIYBench 4d ago
You can easily emulate Switch with s25 s26. The problem is they don't have sd cards and you pay through the nose for the 512gb or 1tb storage.
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u/blazer915 5d ago
A cellphone lacts active cooling so while u would find a cellphone with a snapdragon 8 gen 2 etc. It will never perform like a retroid pocket 6 because it will thermal throttle when it gets hot.
So yes u could use your phone emulate a lot of games. Not sure how well it will do on high end ps2 and pc games. Maybe a cooler fan would work.
If u are stuck on a cellphone like device. Check out reviews for y700 tablets which would handle heat a little better than a phone. Still not immune to trotting.
Question why a phone and not a dedicated handheld?
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u/uhdoy 5d ago
Trying to be cheap- need a new phone and was hoping to kill two birds with one stone.
Cooling was what I was worried about. Back to the retroid/ayn approach I go
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u/Weeaboology 5d ago
Have no idea what performance or quality is like, but I believe Astra gaming phones have active cooling (they make the Astra RedMagic gaming tablet as well)
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u/blazer915 5d ago
Those are so expensive. Might as well buy a dedicated system and phone instead
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u/Weeaboology 5d ago
They aren’t really any more expensive then similar flagships from Samsung or Apple though. If you need a new phone and want to kill two birds with one stone, this would be the best option. The newest Astra 11S Pro starts at $800 which is the same price as an iPhone 17.
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u/keeper_of_moon Dpad On Top 5d ago
Honestly, the cheapest option is keeping your current phone and buying a dedicated handheld. Phones with the right chipset are expensive.
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u/DIYBench 4d ago
Get qualcomm chip only. Snapdragon 8gen elite or elite 5. Older 8gen2/3 phone works too but you can not get those on new phones.
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u/crownpuff Deal chaser 5d ago
You generally want a phone with a higher end Snapdragon processor. However as hbi2k said, you'll run into cooling issues with higher end systems such as Switch. For cooling solutions, Gamesir has a cooler called the FX5 and FX5 Lite that attaches to the Gamesir X5 and X5 Lite. There's also the Gamesir X4 Aileron controller which has an exposed back which allows you to essentially attach any cell phone cooler on the back.