News: 5 Reasons Why the Galaxy S20 Is a Beastly Gaming Phone

Mobile gaming has exploded, with roughly $70 billion in revenue in 2019. This gave rise to the so-called gaming phone, headlined by names like Razer and ASUS. While the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra are being marketed as everyman devices, make no mistake — these are unstoppable mobile gaming machines.

Unlike the ROG Phone II or ZTE nubia Red Magic 3s, none of the Galaxy S20 models have that gamer aesthetic. No angular lines, neon accent pieces, or RGB logos, just a normal looking phone. But as they say, it's the inside that counts. These phones have the specs of an otherworldly gaming phone, and that's all that really matters.

#1. That Gorgeous 120 Hz Display

In addition to having big displays, all Galaxy S20 series have an ideal aspect ratio for gaming. At 20:9, the phone is more comfortable to hold in landscape mode gaming sessions.

You also get an HDR10/10+ display for improved contrast on supported games, and resolution (and thus, pixel density) are off the charts. There's no large notch to get in the way, either — just a punch hole.

But better than all that, the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra have a 120 Hz refresh rate. This is a hallmark of gaming phones, as the extra frames lead to much smoother gameplay. And unlike other 120 Hz phones, this display doesn't compromise in any other areas.

#2. Google Stadia Support IS COMING

Google's highly anticipated cloud gaming service is out, and it will soon make its way to the S20. Stadia, as it's called, renders games on Google's servers and streams them to your mobile device, Chrome browser, or Chromecast. So far, only Google Pixel phones are supported, but the next phone getting Stadia access will be the S20.

• Buy Google Stadia Premiere Edition from Google starting at $129

At an event in 2019, Google talked about how they plan to increase Stadia's frame rate to 120 fps. With the Galaxy S20 rocking a 120 Hz screen, you're future-proof. While there is no timeline as to when 120 fps will be added, you'll be ready.

#3. You Can Already Stream PC Games

But let's say you can't wait to play console games on the go. In 2019, Samsung introduced PlayGalaxy Link, an app that lets you stream your PC games to your phone on either Wi-Fi or cellular data. Your PC renders your game and streams it over the web (think Google Stadia, but with your own PC). This service is completely free, and it will be available to the S20 on day one.

But that isn't the only game in town. Steam Link offers the same feature, but unlike PlayGalaxy Link, it uses your Steam library, so you may already own a ton of games that will stream to the phone.

#4. Still Sporting Stereo Speakers

While picture quality is essential in games, sound quality is a close second. The S20's speakers will deliver louder, more crisp audio than other phones simply because there are two of them. One speaker is in the earpiece, the other is on the bottom edge, so you're less likely to block both while gaming in landscape.

These speakers also support Dolby Atmos for louder audio and support its gaming mode, which opens Dolby Atmos' directional sound to games. This mode also amplifies lower volume sounds (like footsteps), allowing you to hear your opponent's movements so you can get the jump on them.

#5. I Mean, Just Look at Those Specs!

Finally, the Galaxy S20 has an incredible specs sheet beyond the display. If you were to compare it to the top performing phone at the moment, it actually kind of embarrasses the iPhone 11 Pro Max on paper. No matter what you throw at this thing, it has a top-notch internal component to handle it.

All three phones use the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, and they all have huge batteries with an included Super Fast Charging power brick that can get you topped up in less than an hour. For connectivity, you have access to Wi-Fi 6 for a strong connection at home and 5G for fast internet on the go. Finally, Bluetooth 5.1 is included for an even better wireless connection with controllers and headphones.