No one needs this stuff of course, but like pretty much anything else having higher specs will (should!) contribute to an overall faster, smoother and (arguably) more satisfying experience. Like you could browse the internet on a ten year old netbook, but you'd have a shitter experience than you would on a new spec PC. And if you'd only ever used the netbook you'd probably be relatively pleased with the experience, but you'd certainly notice the difference after spending some time on the newer machine.

The 7 Pro has me twitching.

You're right. I was (am?) perfectly happy with my Pixel 2 but I got to play with a brand new OnePlus 6T a few months back and it was glorious in comparison. Maybe it was just that I've had my Pixel for well over a year and it's just... familiar but the fancy new phone felt space aged in comparison, in a way that MrsPaz's Samsung S9 didn't when it was brand new.

I've resigned myself to losing the headphone jack

Main thing I'd want an upgraded processor for is that Dolphin runs pretty well on phones with a snapdragon 845 or 855.

The Mi 8 comes with a USB-C to headphone adaptor at least

I don't want to minimise the loss of the headphone jack, because it still catches me out occasionally even though I haven't had a jack on any of my daily carry phones in two years.

But: I wouldn't give up my wireless headphones (Bose QC35) and go back to wired, and I will probably buckle at some point and get a second pair of more portable ones, possibly the OnePlus Bullets. And on the other side of the coin, I am continually annoyed that the Switch does not support wireless audio.

(Also: wireless charging is my answer to "charge and listen at the same time." I have a wireless charging stand on my desk. My phones get rotated through it during the day. Obv not all headphoneless phones have wireless charging support, however.)

Remember that I don't carry a bag. That profoundly changes the use case.

Remember that I don't carry a bag. That profoundly changes the use case.

Also: wireless charging is my answer to "charge and listen at the same time."

Just had a quick look. It seems like you can indeed buy them only they don't work.

How are wired headphones and a headphone socket not also the answer to this?

I'm not sure what question you're answering.

Gaywood has Gaywooded himself

Airpods are a lot smaller than the eBook reader you used to inexplicably carry everywhere in your pockets.

Sure, but not than your big ass cans. And the cans are large enough that I would remember them. Wireless 'phones are not.

Do you play it with the touch screen?

I have the awfully named Aftershokz Trekz Air bone conductor wireless earphones for daily use. Designed for runners, cyclists and other people who need to hear their surroundings, they don’t block the ear canal so I can still hear traffic, dogs, customers and other potential dangers. Obviously the sound quality suffers from having zero isolation, but they’re still really good. Pricey at £130 though.

I probably have lower standards than you

Looks like support is continuing for existing devices though.

I don't really understand this, since everything is made in China anyway.

I didn't even know gaming mobiles was a thing!

It isn't, really. They use the same screens, SoCs, RAM, and software as any other phone. They might have slightly uprated cooling, which might make a small difference to thermal throttling, but don't bet on it. They might have fractionally bigger batteries. But other than that they're just normal phones in a garish chassis.

And game developers all target last year's mid range phones, because the way to make money from mobile games is to go for the mainstream audience.