Android devices offer immersive gaming experiences on the go. Just like any powerful machine, they can benefit from some fine-tuning. This guide includes some optimization tips to take your Android gaming to the next level!
Note: Android phone manufacturers offer different UI and features in their phones. Some of the features discussed here may have different names on your phone or may not exist at all. If you don’t find the feature, search online for the correct location/name for your phone model.
Enable Performance Mode
Unless you have a gaming phone, there is a good chance your phone runs on Balanced mode by default. Balanced mode is great for creating a balance between performance and battery timing while keeping the phone cool. However, when you want better performance – like for gaming – you should switch to Performance mode.
In Android Settings, go to the Battery option, and change Current mode to Performance mode.
Your phone CPU/GPU will run faster without throttling and offer overall battery performance in the game. Of course, it will generate more heat and drain the battery life faster, so only enable it when you need the performance boost.
Use the Built-in Gaming Mode
Most Android manufacturers add their own gaming modes to their phones to improve the overall gaming experience. The mode name and features are different from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, Xiaomi has Game Turbo, OnePlus has Fnatic Mode, and Samsung phones have Game Booster.
Usually, searching for “game” in the Android settings gives you the option to access the game mode provided by your manufacturer. For me, Game Turbo lets me improve game performance, view CPU/GPU power consumption, bulk uninstall games, avoid overheating, prioritize game processes, and much more.
Manage Android Cache
I am sure you have been advised to clear the cache on Android to boost performance. However, clearing the cache isn’t always a performance boost, as it can actually be bad for performance, depending on the circumstances.
In the context of games, cache keeps temporary files that help games load the assets faster. If there is too much cache data, it can bloat the RAM and phone storage and lead to slow performance. However, it will also make the in-game loading and assets rendering process slow as it downloads data again.
When looking for a performance boost, you need to understand what your phone needs. Clearing the cache would be better if it has low RAM and storage space. If the phone has enough power to handle the game, don’t clear the cache to speed up the game, as you will need to download the data again.
Take Advantage of Developer Options
Developer options are hidden advanced settings that hold many powerful tweaks, such as optimizing games. However, you’ll need to enable the developer options first, then enable the below options as needed:
Turn on Force 4x MSAA: it could improve the visual quality of games that use OpenGL ES 2.0, while putting more pressure on the GPU. Asphalt 9:Legends is a good example of such a game.
Turn on Force GPU Rendering: it will force apps to use GPU for 2D drawing, improving interface performance in the game.
Turn on Disable HW Overlays: it forces the GPU to handle everything on the screen instead of sending simpler tasks to the overlay plane. This will increase GPU load but can improve overall performance and possibly fix glitches.
Decrease animation scale: you’ll find multiple animation scales here. Decreasing them can make transition effects feel snappier and slightly decrease the load on resources. You can disable them too, but I recommend using a .5x scale for a better feel.
Manage Background Process Limit: this controls the number of background processes that are allowed to open at the same time. You can decrease the number to free up more resources for the game you are playing in the foreground. Generally, three processes are considered balanced.
Remember to undo these changes if you notice problems like overheating, freezes, or crashes.
Keep the Phone Cool
For performance, keeping the device cool is more important than using features that boost performance. When your Android phone overheats, the CPU/GPU performance is automatically throttled to cool it down. This will heavily decrease your in-game performance.
Learn how to cool down your Android phone. I also recommend playing the game in battery-saving mode if it’s not too demanding. A low-performance setting will still offer better performance than an overheated throttled phone.
Manage Screen Resolution
Screen resolution plays a very important role in both visual quality and performance, deciding the pixel density on the screen. If you have a higher screen resolution, the content will be more detailed. However, this means the GPU will have to render more pixels, which will affect its performance.
Depending on whether you want better visuals or performance, you can increase or decrease screen resolution. I recommend adjusting it in the game’s settings, as many games let you adjust screen resolution. You can also adjust your phone’s resolution by going to Settings -> Display -> Screen Resolution.
If your phone doesn’t have this option, you can manually adjust it in the developer options. Look for the Smallest width option under the Drawing section, and increase/decrease its value to find a comfortable resolution. You can’t select resolution in pixels, as it uses Device-independent pixel (DP) units. I recommend adjusting 20dp units at a time to easily find a comfortable resolution.
Use a Gaming VPN
If you play online reaction-based games, then a gaming VPN can be a great addition. On mobile devices, ping can be problematic, as you typically can’t use an Ethernet connection and must rely on a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. A gaming VPN can optimize your connection to reduce latency and prevent lag spikes.
Thankfully, most of the popular gaming VPNs have a version for mobile devices, including Exitlag and WTFast. Make sure you check the trial version first before you pay for it to see if it improves your ping or not.
Get a Game Booster App
Personally, I don’t recommend using a third-party game booster app, as most of the boosting features can be accessed using built-in tools. However, if you prefer ease of use or need additional features, it’s worth using. I recommend Game Booster, as it also has a nice GFX tool to override game graphics settings.
You can add games in the Game Booster interface, then optimize them before playing. It will clear RAM, prioritize resources for the game, and use AI to configure in-game settings. Its GFX tool will let you use custom resolution, FPS, and graphics settings for supported games.
Apart from these tips, I also advise to not have too many apps/processes running in the background. Many times, your phone can handle the game, but too many background processes eat up all the resources.
Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.
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