Best Phones for Pokemon Go (6 Best Phones to Play Pokemon)
I had a hand-me-down iPhone 7 in college, and despite its condition, it served me well 😊. Admittedly, I had to swap out the old battery and change the cracked display, but other than that, it ran fine.
I especially liked that I could play Pokemon Go on it despite its poor battery life and display.
However, looking back, I realized I didn’t care about that, provided I got my daily fix. That nostalgic memory inspired me to share my top six devices for running Pokemon Go.
Can you play Pokemon Go on your phone?
Yes. You can play Pokemon Go on your phone. This game uses augmented reality to superimpose Pokemon into the real world. It relies on your phone’s GPS and location services to help you track, capture, and train Pokemon.
Apart from its addictive gameplay, Pokemon Go’s popularity stems from its low system requirements, making it compatible with older and newer devices.
Here’s a table summarizing the minimum device requirements to run Pokemon Go 👇.
|
Minimum requirements |
iOS |
Android |
|
Software |
iPhone 6s and above. iOS 14 and above. |
Android 7 and above. |
|
RAM |
2GB |
2GB |
|
Screen Resolution |
750 X 1334 Pixels |
720 X 1280 Pixels |
|
Connection |
Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G |
Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G |
|
Others |
GPS and Location services enabled |
GPS and Location services enabled |
From the table, it’s clear that any device with adequate RAM, good screen resolution, and a decent processor can run this game. It’s worth noting, however, that Pokemon Go doesn’t run on jailbroken or rooted devices, at least not officially 😈.
Niantic actively seeks and weeds out jailbroken and weeded devices. They argue that these devices compromise the game’s security.
In fact, one of their updates includes SafetyNet, which scans your device to determine if it’s rooted. This has prompted players to use Magisk, a software that bypasses SafetyNet.
6 Best phones to play Pokemon Go
As mentioned, Pokemon Go is relatively lightweight and doesn’t require the latest devices to run. Here’s a list of the six best devices to play Pokemon Go. We’ve avoided the latest high-end devices since most run this game.
One Plus 7
Released in June 2019, One Plus 7 is a performance beast. This device’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 ensures a buttery-smooth gaming experience.
Additionally, it sports an Adreno 640 Graphics card, 6/8GBs of RAM, 128/256GB internal storage, and an immersive 6.41-inch AMOLED display.
If you’re looking for speed but don’t want to shell out thousands of dollars for the latest device, One Plus 7 is a great option.
iPhone XR
Next is the iPhone XR. Released in October 2018, this is the oldest iPhone supporting iOS 17. It sports the A12 Bionic Chipset, Apple Quad-core GPU, 3GB RAM, 64/128/256GB internal storage, and a 6.1-inch liquid Retina IPS LCD display.
The iPhone XR is perfect if you prefer an Apple device but don’t have an iPhone 15 budget. Its 3GB RAM is perfectly optimized to run Apps and ensure a smooth experience.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about its battery. Nevertheless, you’ll get about a day’s use before needing to plug in.
Google Pixel 5
Released in October 2020, the Google Pixel 5 sports a 6-inch full HD display, Qual-comm Snapdragon 765 chipset, a 64-bit Octa-Core Processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage.
Like other phones on the list, the performance and price are its selling points. Additionally, the phone supports Android 12, meaning you’ll get Pokemon Go updates for a while.
Xiaomi Mi 11i
The Xiaomi Mi 11i is a fan-favorite among gamers, and it’s easy to see why. This device sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage, a Snapdragon 888 processor, and an Adreno 660 GPU.
These specs were designed for graphic-intensive games and will run Pokemon Go without a hitch. Like others on the list, the Xiaomi Mi 11i is budget-friendly, making it ideal for college students and avid gamers on a budget.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
This flagship device was released in January 2021. It sports a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM, and an Exynos 2100 Octa-core CPU.
This phone’s processor, battery optimization, and gigantic screen make for a perfect Pokemon Go companion. Additionally, you can get it at a relatively affordable price.
Realme 6 Pro
If you’re on a tight budget, the Realme 6 Pro is your go-to. Released in May 2020, this device comes loaded with a Snapdragon 720G, Adreno 618 GPU, 6/8GB RAM, 64/128 internal memory, and a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
You get all these features in a device under $300 💰.
Finally, the Realme 6 Pro’s 4300 mAh battery keeps you playing all day. Plus, it supports fast charging, so you can top up to 90% in an hour.
Of course, being a budget device, you’ll have to contend with the obligatory bloatware.
