entertainment

Is high-quality gaming becoming more affordable?

gaming
Written by Nigel Simpkins

Next-generation consoles are now upon us, and the gaming industry is moving into a new era of immersion and realism. However, that comes at a cost, with the PS5 and Xbox Series X retailing for around £450. These developments would have you believe that high-quality gaming isn’t affordable in the 21st century. But that isn’t necessarily true, as evident from cheaper consoles and smartphone gaming options, like online casinos. So, let’s look at how you can enjoy the latest titles without breaking the bank. 

Most People in the UK Own a Smartphone 

Over the last few years, smartphone gaming has become all the rage, and it is now one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. According to CyberCrew, 82.9 per cent of the UK population own a smartphone, meaning that around 55.5 million British people can play the latest games. With graphics and settings alterations, mobile users can run demanding titles, such as GRID Autosport. Moreover, without having to upgrade, players can also play online roulette at Paddy Power. At the platform, bettors can immerse themselves in mobile-optimised real-time offerings and themed titles. Not only that, but irrespective of your smartphone’s specifications, there won’t be a dip in visual quality as the real-time developments use high-definition streaming technology. 

For those wanting to upgrade their smartphone to enhance their mobile gaming experiences, there’s no need to spend anything close to £450. For around £160, you can get your hands on the Honor Play 4T Pro, which is one of the best budget mobiles on the market. According to Gizmochina, the smartphone features a Kirin 810 processor and 6GB of RAM. Furthermore, it also has an OLED display, meaning that you can enjoy visual clarity across many games, including Paddy Power’s HD-ready dealer offerings. 

High-Performance Budget Options are Becoming More Popular 

While smartphone gaming is reaching new heights, it’s unlikely to appeal to everyone. As such, those who prefer consoles may opt to buy the PS5 or Xbox Series X. However, while they’re leading products within this market, they’re not the only options available. Nowadays, many PCs games come with full controller support, meaning that gamers can enjoy console-like experiences on the desktop. Moreover, there’s no need to overspend to replicate PlayStation and Xbox-quality gaming sessions on PC.  

In 2021, Intel released the Intel Core i5 11400F CPU. The central processing unit costs around £150, but don’t be fooled by the price as the product ensures high-quality gaming experiences. The CPU is only 400MHz slower than the 11600K, and it comes with six cores and 12 threads, meaning that it delivers a max turbo frequency of 4.40GHz.

If having access to the latest games is more important to you than visual quality, the Xbox Series S is an option for console gamers to consider. The stripped-back version is around £200 cheaper than the X, and it matches the more expensive product in delivering up to 120 frames per second. Although there is no disk drive with the S, it has 4 Teraflops of processing power and runs to a 1440p resolution. 

Perceptions are Changing 

The rise of smartphone gaming has changed player attitudes within the 21st century. Online casinos like Paddy Power spearheaded high-quality mobile offerings’ growth, which provided much-needed competition to costly consoles. Now, consumers will think twice before buying the latest consoles as there are more affordable options on the market