Xbox Game Pass gives you access to dozens of cloud-streaming titles, available on both tablets and phones. So, what are the best phones to buy for it? The service is only available on Android natively as of writing, although iPhone users can experience the fun too via Xbox.com/play. Right now, our pick for "best" phone for Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming goes to the OnePlus 8, balancing power, affordability, and features. However, there are also some great alternatives to consider, too.
Best overall: OnePlus 8
The OnePlus 8 is one of the best value-for-money flagships out there. A stunning edge-to-edge, notchless OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate must be seen to be believed, offering fluid motion for games that manage to achieve 60 frames per second (FPS) or above. The OnePlus 8 also boasts decent screen time at around six hours permanently streaming video, although this will probably be around five hours when you factor in the additional data for controller inputs and Bluetooth connectivity.
The OnePlus OS is one of the best versions of Android out there, offering subtle customization and Xbox-like accent colors, without piles of ridiculous bloatware like some of its competitors. OnePlus truly represents the best of Android right now, and is the perfect phone for newcomers and veterans alike.
Pros:
- Smooth 90Hz display
- Great gaming specifications
- Clean software
- Great value
- 4,300mAh battery
- 5G
Cons:
- Wireless charging comes in the more expensive "Pro" version
Best overall
OnePlus 8 smartphone
Xbox Cloud Gaming on an amazing device
OnePlus really is the "flagship killer," offering premium quality, features, and user experiences for substantially less than its competitors.
Best budget Android: Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel range is designed to represent the best of Android, and when it comes to budget handsets, Google really nails it here. While the 4a is supposedly the "budget" variant of its Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 cousins, it still rocks a relatively polished experience across the board. There are some elements straight off the regular line, like the Pixel's excellent camera technology.
Google's efforts with its advanced camera tech and clean OS are exemplary, but the 3,140mAh battery in the Pixel 4a makes for relatively limited screen time. For longer sessions, you may want to throw in an external battery pack.
There are cheaper phones out there, but if you want a device that meets a baseline level of quality purely for Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming, this is a great option.
Pros:
- Best camera below $500
- Mimics Pixel 4's premium touch
- Google's pure Android experience
Cons:
- No water resistance
- Sub-par battery life
- No 5G
Best budget Android
Google Pixel 4a smartphone
The most affordable XCloud-ready phone
Thanks to its great price, the Pixel 4a will help the budget-conscious jump into the Android ecosystem without issues.
Best with 5G: Samsung Galaxy S21
If you want to futureproof your Xbox Game Pass experience against the proliferation of 5G wireless, consider the Samsung Galaxy S21, which is arguably also the best premium handset on the market right now.
The Galaxy S21 also sports unique connectivity with Microsoft services, notably Your Phone for connectivity between your PC and mobile. It also supports Samsung DeX output to PC, which allows you to experience Project xCloud and Xbox game streaming on a larger display.
The S21 also sports 5G options, which will provide the best over-the-air connectivity for Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming. It also has a large display option, screen, nice battery life, and huge amounts of power, making it a great gaming device.
Pros:
- 5G connectivity
- Large display
- Powerful specs
Cons:
- Quite expensive
Best with 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone
A serious phone with a serious price
The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the best Android handset line on the market right now, and should probably be considered first above everything else for enthusiasts.
Unique option: Surface Duo
Thanks to a deluge of price drops, the Surface Duo might actually be a contender in the Xbox Game Pass space now, for a single good reason: foldability!
The Surface Duo, as a phone, has a ton of problems. The software isn't particularly great, the camera is poor, and the battery life is average at best. Where the Duo shines, however, is in its unique form factor. Two fully reversible displays make up the Surface Duo, and thanks to a unique feature for owners, Xbox Game Pass cloud players can turn it into a Nintendo 3DS-like experience with a touch gamepad, right on the lower screen.
This is awesome for several reasons. Number one, you don't need to carry around an additional controller. Two, the touch controls don't obscure the actual game with their overlays. And three, the display also lets you put it into an upright tent mode, ideal for connecting a controller if you want more tactility.
The main downsides here are the lack of 5G, the general phone experience, and, well, the price. It's still a pretty expensive boi, despite several price drops in the U.S. and other territories. However, despite the issues, there's something a bit magical about this option. If you fancy yourself a bit of an early adopter, you could consider this one instead of the more tried-and-tested options above.
Pros:
- Unique folding experience with touch gamepad
- Gorgeous hardware in an impressively slim device
- A decent display with capable specs
Cons:
- Truly absurd RRP, and very expensive outside of the U.S.
- Average overall phone experience
- No 5G
Unique option
Microsoft Surface Duo tablet
A unique option
The Surface Duo isn't the best phone in the world, but it might be among the best phones for Xbox cloud gaming. Thanks to its unique folding form factor, you get a stand, a built-in digital gamepad, and an upright display in a single package.
Bottom line
The OnePlus 8 remains the best all-rounder, when it comes to balancing power, price, and features.
What makes the OnePlus 8 is that it manages to cram premium qualities into a far cheaper handset than you might normally pay. For iPhone users coming into Android for the first time, it's an ideal device owing to the polished OS experience, too. If you're a current Android user looking to upgrade to something that will truly last, OnePlus is your best bet.
Do consider the Surface Duo too, despite the issues. If you can get one secondhand or cheaply, it provides a unique experience thanks to its doubled-up display, giving you an experience unlike anything else out there right now.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Jez Corden is a full-time writer for Windows Central, focusing on Xbox, Surface, and Windows PC. He spends the vast majority of his time gaming, or writing about gaming, with a mission to provide gamers in the Microsoft ecosystem the best and most up-to-date info possible.
No comments: