With all eyes on the Euro 2020 Final, we can’t move without hearing ‘It’s Coming Home’ from cars driving past, Facebook or a packed Wembley Stadium. But for those fans unable to watch the game live or on the big screen, streaming it on your phone is the next best thing. After all, these days you’re carrying a portable powerhouse around, so why not use it?
With that in mind we thought we’d take a look at the best phones for streaming and let you know what to look our for.
Picking out a Phone for Streaming
First things first, you need to know what you’re looking for. You want this to be easy, effortless and enjoyable. Not a task to be endured, squinting at a tiny screen as you try to see the game. Any phone that runs on iOS or Anrdoid can use streaming apps fairly easily. No need to worry there. And it goes without saying that you’ll want your phone to have the biggest screen possible.
But it’s not just size that matters. Aspect ratio is also important. This measures how wide the screen is when viewed horizontally compared to how tall it is. It’s an important number because every stream is designed for 16:9. Most phones now use that ratio, with some Samsung’s going to 18:9 and beyond. We’d recommend 16:9 to save you from any dreaded black bars appearing.
Screen Resolution and Battery
We’ve all heard the term 4K and that’s not come to phones just yet, but you can certainly get full-HD especially on larger screens. 720p is fine, but it’s not going to give you a crisp and clear image. When checking out the specs of potential phones, we recommend taking the time to look at its resolution. 1080p should be the standard, but if you want to get a truly great experience you’ll want to look for 1440p.
Nothing eats your battery life like streaming. Blaring out sounds and your screen always being on drains your battery. ‘Plus’ sized phones will give you the best shot at streaming the game without fumbling for your charger, but it’s always worth checking out the estimated battery life when picking your next streaming device.
What are the Best Devices?
The Apple iPhone 12’s OLED display will give you the same type of picture as a high-end TV from the palm of your hand. The ‘notch’ at the top of the screen can take a little getting used to, but it doesn’t affect video playback one bit. You’ve also got access to 5G, so you can stream without buffering if you’re on a bus or in a cab on your way back home.
You can buy the Apple iPhone 12 here.
If iOS is less your speed, then the Samsung S21+ get our highest recommendation. With a 6.7 inch OLED screen it’s half an inch bigger than the iPhone. It also has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, meaning that you’ll be able to stream with no delays at all, as long as you have a good connection. With 11.5 hours of battery life, you’ll have plenty to get you through the game!
You can buy the Samsung 21+ here.
