If you’re dedicated to catching them all, you need the right tools for the job. Not just your Pokéballs, but a smartphone that’s going to be reliable enough see you through your Pokémon journey. So, we’ve gathered all the technology geeks and Pokéfans in the office and have rigorously tested a variety of phones to find the best smartphone for playing Pokémon Go.
The secret to a great Pokémon Go adventure is battery life. Pokémon Go drinks battery power even in energy save mode, so you need a phone that will last all day. Pokémon are elusive and you’ll have to climb mountains and ford rivers in order to catch ’em all. An ideal Pokémon Go smartphone needs to be rugged and waterproof too. The last thing you want is smashing your screen while trying to snatch a Sandshrew! Finally, you’ll need a great screen and camera to show off your Pokés to your friends.
iPhone 6S Plus
“It’s the iPhone because iPhones are just the best.” – John
Weighing in at 192g and sporting a 5.5 inch screen, the iPhone 6S Plus is a big and beautiful. The 2,915mAh battery packs enough juice to allow for a good 6 hours nonstop Pokémon hunting. But it is unwieldy and easily damaged in the rough and tumble of exploring.
Cost: £619
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
“The camera is great for spotting Pokémon. And it’s waterproof. Really, really waterproof.” – Kit
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is powered by a beefy 3,430 mAh battery, putting it ahead of the iPhone straight off the bat. But the phone is very battery intensive, so in practice they’re quite well-matched. Unlike the iPhone, the Xperia is very waterproof, as demonstrated by Kit while he gave his Squirtle a bath.
Cost: £436.60
Galaxy S7 Edge
“It hasn’t crashed for me yet. And if I see a Gyarados, I can go swimming.” – Jade
The Galaxy S7 Edge is widely considered to be a top contender for the best Pokémon Go smartphone. It’s lighter and faster than the other phones in this list and charges quicker too. The battery lasted longer than the Xperia and iPhone, it’s waterproof, and has a screen that makes Bulbasaurs look beautiful.
Cost: £475
Kyocera DuraForce XD
“As rugged as a mountain range.” – Brad
If your Pokémon journey is getting hardcore, consider the rugged manliness of the Kycera DuraForce XD. The big battery and waterproofing make this phone the ultimate outdoor Pokétool. It’s also as rugged and as heavy as an Onix. The main drawback of this phone is that the screen is awful and the processor is sluggish, making Pokémon Go crash much more often than usual. Also, for its cost, you don’t get a lot of the features you expect from most smartphones.
Cost: £360
Nexus 6P
“The price drop makes it more worth it” – Ray
The Nexus 6P is another big phone, sporting a 5.7inch screen. One of the biggest selling points about this smartphone is its Marshmallow power-saving technology, USB3 fast charging and big battery. All of this goes towards supporting the vast amounts of tech inside. For the Pokémon Go user, the 6P is the most affordable and fastest charging. This one is a real contender.
Cost: £439.99
Verdict
So, which is the best smartphone for playing Pokémon Go? After throwing over 500 Pokéballs and walking over 60km the team have concluded that the best smartphone for Pokémon Go is…
Galaxy S7 Edge
This phone just works in every way that counts. For the Pokémon trainer on the go, the Edge is rugged, waterproof, has fantastic battery life. Yes, it is more expensive than the 6P, but you can expect better charging than the 6P until USB 3.0 ports become more common. All of these phones have their plus points, but the best smartphone for playing Pokémon Go is the Galaxy S7 Edge. So next time you hit up the local Pokémon (Shopping) Centre, grab one of these!
