When they first hit the market, mobile phones were still primarily a means for communication via calls or text. However, embedded in some of the earlier models was some entertainment – a game by the name of Snake. In 1997, a mobile from Nokia that had 18 buttons and a stubby antenna hit the shelves to revolutionize the purpose of mobiles, for the Nokia 6110 introduced the world to Snake on the go.
Some 26 years later, and entertainment is one of the primary absorbers of smartphone time. General entertainment apps – not to include music or video players – are calculated to have a penetration rate greater than 83 percent among all Android users, and gaming ranks as the most popular category in Apple’s App Store. A study from 2016 found that 22 percent of smartphone time went to entertainment, matching texting. In 2023, it’s fair to say that entertainment time has moved well ahead of texting.
Given how much time goes into having fun on one’s smartphone, it’s important that you get one that suits. Here, we’re exploring three of the big areas of entertainment that need specific specs to get the best experience possible. Beyond these picks, you’ll want to make sure that the devices run all of your other preferred apps, and that you use the best practices to protect the smartphone, especially if it’s an iPhone.
Table of Contents
Best screen quality for reading
While there are a great many top-class games to try on Android and iOS when you have some time to burn, modern smartphones are large and have screens that are of a high enough quality to make them viable eReaders. Right now, OLED screens lead the way as a general category, but if you want the outright best resolutions and colors – especially if the books that you read are enriched with images or are image-heavy, like comic books – it has to be an AMOLED screen.
Whether your preferred eReader app is Ploter, Prestigio Book Reader, Kobo Books, or just Google Play Books, you’ll always benefit from a top-of-the-line screen. Luckily, you have a choice between some popular manufacturers for an AMOLED screen. At the lower end of the price ranges, you could turn to the Vivo iQOO Neo 7 or Realme GT 2. For a more premium smartphone, check out the OnePlus 11, Nubia Red Magic 8 Pro, or Xiaomi 12 T Pro.
A capable operating system
One issue plaguing smartphone buyers, specifically those who are happy to go for older and cheaper models, is that operating systems get outdated. This is both because the likes of Android and Apple update their own apps beyond the OS, but also because third-party apps need to do so to stay relevant among premium purchasers. Still, you can still keep up with modern entertainment with an OS from five years ago, like Apple’s iOS 12.0, which can be found as far back as the powerful-but-dated iPhone 5Sd iPhone 5S.
With at least iOS 12.0 or the Android equivalent – which tends to be 5.0 Lollipop from 2014 – you can still run the app required to play some of the most technologically advanced gaming options on the market. In the Apple and Android apps for Betway, you can play Andar Bahar live and in real time at a professional casino studio. Via the apps or mobile site, iOS 12.0 and Android 5.0 pack enough punch to run the live-streamed version of the classic betting card game.
Bigger screens for better entertainment value
It always seemed strange when the earlier smartphone market drifted towards ever smaller models, even after Apple’s game-changing touch screen came to the fore. Still, the market quickly corrected itself, with bigger certainly being better because of the reliance on smartphones for entertainment. At Tom’s Guide, the very best big phones to buy are ranked as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy A53, and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, all of which have screens that measure at least 6.5 inches.
With such a big screen, you’ll be able to make the most of the movie, TV, and streaming apps that have become so prevalent in smartphone app markets. You could go for a premium platform or one of the leading free movie websites like WatchMoviesFree.TV or PrimeWire. With a big screen, you could also dip into the new age of entertainment: virtual reality. Netflix VR and VR Movies Player can already immerse you in a virtual environment to watch what looks like a big screen with your smartphone nestled into a VR headset.
Entertainment apps are such a big part of the smartphone experience that you’ll want to consider the above factors before you get your next upgrade.
I am Very Enthusiastic about Writing Tech, Smart Phones, Products Reviews, Offers, and deals. I have been writing on tricks5.com since 2015.
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