It’s a good thing Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based game that isn’t open-world, unlike its real-time open-world sibling, Genshin Impact. Because that means its system requirements for mobile devices shouldn’t be too demanding. And sure enough, it’s easier to play Honkai: Star Rail on many phones, than Genshin Impact.
For reference, here’s what you’ll need in order to play Honkai Star Rail on your phone.
Minimum:
- Android: Snapdragon 835, Dimensity 720, Kirin 810, or better.
- iOS: iPhone: iPhone 8P, iPhone X, or better.
Recommended:
- Android: Snapdragon 855, Kirin 990, Dimensity 1000, or better.
- iPhone：iPhone XS, iPhoneXR, or better.
- iPad: Apple A12 processor or better (October 2018 model or later). iPad operating system must be iOS 12 or later. macOS is currently not supported.
We’re going to lean more toward the “recommended” system requirements since Honkai: Star Rail is a live-service game, meaning it will keep adding new content and consequently, higher system requirements. That also very well means those recommended requirements might change gradually in the near future.
With that in mind, the following Android phones will keep you gaming smoothly at max settings not just in Honkai: Star Rail but other games as well for at least three or more years.
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Asus ROG Phone 7 5G
PROS
- 165Hz refresh rate
- Good cooling system
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Good battery
- Large screen
- AMOLED display
- Impressive value
CONS
- Limited network carrier options
- Subjective gamer aesthetics
Specs:
- OS: Android 13.0
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Display: 6.78″ 20.4:9 (2448 x 1080) 165Hz Samsung AMOLED
- Battery: 6000 mAh
If you’re buying a phone whose main purpose is to play video games for you, then you can’t go wrong with Asus. Lately, they’ve been killing it in the gaming phone segment, and their latest offering, the Asus ROG Phone 7, has just been released; it’s glorious. It understands gamers better than most phone manufacturers.
For starters, it’s hard to trade the 6000 mAh battery for something else. That’s at 20 percent more longevity, perfect for long stretches of toilet gaming sessions. Of course, the screen is also impressive and runs at 165Hz though that might lead to higher battery consumption.
Still, if you want the smoothest gaming experience you can have on a smartphone with a reasonable price, this one’s hard to beat.
Asus ROG Phone 7 5G
OnePlus 11 5G
PROS
- Large screen
- Intricate rear camera
- AMOLED display
- 120 Hz refresh rate
- Dolby audio
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Generous RAM
- Impressive value
- 30-minute full charge
CONS
- Gets hot during certain games
- Lack of standard accessories
Specs:
- OS: Android 13.0
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Display: 6.7” 120Hz fluid AMOLED display
- Battery: 5000 mAh
Currently, one of the best gaming chipsets for phones would be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. You’ll find these featured in a lot of flagship Android phones and their price range is usually around or nearly $1,000. But thankfully, we have budget-oriented options such as the OnePlus 11 5G.
It doesn’t have the best storage or the most advanced camera or other shiny features, but underneath the hood is what matters if you’re mostly concerned with its gaming performance for Honkai: Star Rail. That Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will last you a good 5 years of relevance, likely more. By relevance, we mean being able to play all mobile games at max graphical preset in a smooth 60 FPS.
OnePlus 11 5G
Motorola Edge +
PROS
- Generous storage
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- OLED display
- Unlocked for all carriers
- Large screen
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Stock Android OS
CONS
- Touch screen is prone to occasional sensitivity issues
Specs:
- OS: Android 12.0
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 512GB
- Display: 6.7” 144Hz fluid OLED display
- Battery: 4800 mAh
Motorola came back to the fight swinging, and one of their most competitive offerings last year is still a powerful gaming device even now. The Motorola Edge + is a strong power player in the gaming phone segment, considering it sports a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
More importantly, it comes with a lot of space for your games and photos which is becoming more and more precious these days since a lot of new phone models and lineups are ditching the microSD card slot. The display is large enough for your viewing pleasure and the refresh rate is surprisingly higher compared to most other phones.
Motorola Edge +
Xiaomi Poco X4 GT
PROS
- Cheap price
- Impressive mobile gaming performance
- 144Hz refresh rate
- Large screen
CONS
- Disappointing camera
- Xiaomi bloatware
- Gets hot
Specs:
- OS: Android 12.0
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 8100
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128 GB
- Display: 6.6” 144Hz 2460×1080 FHD+ DynamicSwitch Dot display
- Battery: 5080 mAh
Despite the “budget” tag, this one actually performs so well in gaming, it puts more expensive phones to shame. MediaTek Dimensity 8100 is capable of running Honkai: Star Rail at Very High graphical preset with a 120-FPS framerate. That performance is going to last you several years of updates. It’s also worth noting that the Dimensity 8100 is only a tier below the latest Dimensity chipset, which is the 9000.
Of course, there are compromises. The default camera settings are sub-par and the camera itself is not good. Moreover, there’s plenty of Xiaomi bloatware to be expected. But at its price and gaming performance, you can’t complain.
Xiaomi Poco X4 GT
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Is Honkai: Star Rail a demanding game?
Despite the moderately demanding system requirements, you can get away with the minimum since it's a turn-based game and you don't need high framerates. -
Can you play Honkai: Star Rail offline?
No. You need to have an internet connection since all your in-game data will be saved on a server.